mg.cityofcrime-第3部分

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　leaping　down　the　steps；　cutting　loose　with　their　revolvers。
　Those　mobsters　in　ambush　fired　for　the　area　where　Maclare　and　his　men　had　clustered。　They　fired　uselessly；　for　the　police　had　spread。　Those　ing　from　the　hotel　sizzled　futile　shots　in　the　direction　of　the　patrol　wagon。　They；　too；　were　late。　The　Shadow　had　sprung　to　the　fence；　e　up　to　the　top　and　slugged　down　a　lone　thug　who　was　stationed　on　the　flank。
　All　that　carried　menace　were　the　machine　guns；　for　they　began　to　spray　their　fire。　There　were　two　of　them；　clicking　like　typewriters　from　a　roof　top　midway　along　the　fence。　One　rattling　weapon　ceased；　as　The　Shadow　blasted　a　fusillade　at　the　gunners　behind　it。　He　had　picked　them　by　the　spurting　fire。
　
　
　CROOKS　fired　for　The　Shadow；　but　their　shots　were　wide。　He　had　e　up　to　a　roof　top；　there；　he　ripped　another　barrage；　that　settled　the　men　who　handled　the　second　machine　gun。　Both　weapons　were　silenced；　everywhere；　crooks　were　springing　to　the　ground；　to　avoid　the　enfolding　fire　that　The　Shadow　had　begun。
　By　outflanking　the　foe；　The　Shadow　had　routed　all　but　a　few；　they　were　the　ones　upon　the　very　roof　top　where　he　had　so　suddenly　arrived。
　Three　in　number；　those　crooks　leaped　forward　with　swinging　revolvers；　hoping　to　beat　down　the　fighter　whose　shape　was　vague　before　their　eyes。　An　automatic　thudded　against　a　skull；　the　other　。45　spat　its　singeing　flame　between　the　eyes　of　an　attacker。　The　third　crook　dived　for　the　ground　as　his　panions　sprawled。
　Meanwhile；　Maclare　and　his　squad　had　done　gallant　duty。　Flattened　in　the　street；　some　had　aimed　for　the　fence　and　roof　tops；　while　others　had　delivered　quick　fire　toward　the　open　doors　of　the　hotel。　This　choice　had　been　a　smart　one；　the　officers　who　took　it　gained　massed　targets。　Thugs　who　had　wasted　opening　shots　at　the　patrol　wagon　were　caught　against　the　framed　light　of　doorways。　Four　sagged　in　quick　succession。
　Scattering　crooks　had　paused　to　aim　for　the　low　roof　where　The　Shadow　had　handled　three　foemen。　They　blazed　for　that　darkened　spot；　again　to　no　avail。
　The　Shadow　had　dropped　from　the　back　of　the　roof；　he　was　crossing　the　tracks　of　the　railroad　yard。　His　quick　shots　clipped　two　marksmen　who　were　firing　at　the　roof。
　A　hoarse　voice　shouted　from　between　two　buildings。　It　was　the　same　leader　who　had　issued　the　mand　to　get　Maclare。　His　new　order　was　a　mand　for　flight。　All　thugs　who　were　able；　dashed　for　the　street；　crossed　it　and　made　off　through　alleys　toward　the　front。　Others　sprang　back　into　the　hotel。
　Lieutenant　Maclare　shouted　for　pursuit。　Two　of　his　eight　men　had　fallen　in　the　fight；　leaving　a　pair　to　care　for　them；　Maclare　headed　through　the　hotel；　followed　by　the　remaining　four。
　Inside；　thugs　were　making　for　the　front；　Cassley　and　his　detail　let　them　go　through。　Loud…whining　sirens　were　announcing　the　arrival　of　the　Flying　Squadron。
　Crooks　should　have　found　a　new　trap；　but　when　Lieutenant　Maclare　reached　the　front　door　of　the　hotel；　he　witnessed　a　wild　get…away。　The　Flying　Squadron；　a　score　of　men　in　pursuit　cars　and　on　motorcycles　were　ing　in　from　the　left。
　Scattered　crooks　had　converged　to　the　right；　there　they　were　boarding　an　assortment　of　automobiles　that　were　parked　beside　an　old　brewery。
　As　the　Flying　Squadron　pulled　up；　Maclare　bellowed　the　news　and　pointed　past　the　brewery。　Promptly；　the　picked　squadron　took　up　the　chase。
　The　brief　delay　had　served　the　crooks。　Cutting　through　to　another　street；　a　dozen　of　them　made　a　get…away；　in　three　cars　that　contained　four　men　each。
　The　three　automobiles　took　different　routes　within　the　next　few　blocks；　to　split　the　pursuing　squadron。　Maclare；　fuming　at　the　door　of　the　raided　hotel；　heard　the　sirens　fade　in　the　dim　distance。
　
　
　THERE　was　a　fourth　car　that　had　fled；　it　had　taken　a　route　of　its　own。
　Rounding　the　brewery；　this　machine　had　followed　a　street　that　led　across　the　railroad　tracks；　a　block　away　from　the　Mississippi　Hotel。　Swinging　past　a　freight　siding；　the　crooks…three　in　number…were　greeted　by　shots　from　the　shelter　of　a　steel　freight　car。
　Wildly；　they　fired　in　return。　Their　bullets　flattened　on　the　steel　wall　of　the　freight　car。　The　driver；　clipped　by　a　slug　from　darkness；　lost　control　and　swung　from　the　crossing。　His　sedan　jolted　down　a　low　embankment；　slewed　sidewise　and　crashed　against　a　signal　tower。
　There　was　no　stir　within　the　car；　when　it　halted。　Distant　policemen　heard　the　crash。　Footsteps　racing　upon　sidewalks　told　that　they　were　ing　to　witness　the　result。　One　car…load　of　fugitives　had　been　bagged；　even　though　the　other　three　had　outraced　the　Flying　Squadron。
　Blackness　moved　from　beside　the　freight　car。　The　purple　light　of　a　switch　signal　glowed　upward　to　show　a　shrouded　form；　tall　in　its　guise　of　black。
　Gloved　hands　dipped　mammoth　automatics　beneath　the　front　of　a　flowing　cloak。
　Unseen　lips　voiced　a　grim　laugh　from　the　muffling　front　of　an　upturned　collar。
　Weird；　chilling　tones　betokened　the　final　stroke　of　the　night's　victory。
　The　sardonic　mirth　faded；　as　the　cloaked　figure　passed　from　the　purplish　glow。
　The　battle　was　ended；　The　Shadow　had　left　the　field　to　the　law。
　
　
　OUT　of　darkness；　The　Shadow　had　arrived　to　deal　with　crime　in　Westford。
　Into　gloom；　he　had　returned…after　his　efforts　had　saved　the　life　of　Lieutenant　Maclare　and　a　squad　of　officers。　Yet　the　chill　of　his　eerie　laugh　seemed　to　hover；　for　that　spectral　tone　had　carried　a　touch　that　seemed　to　concern　the　future。
　Like　Lieutenant　Maclare；　The　Shadow　had　recognized　the　significance　of　tonight's　episode。　Fierce　though　the　fray　had　been；　it　scarcely　scratched　the　surface　of　the　evil　that　lurked　deep　within　this　prosperous　city。
　Crime　and　death　would　be　due　again　in　Westford。　Here；　evil　was　organized　far　beyond　the　extent　that　Lieutenant　Maclare　had　guessed。　There　would　be　need　for　more　and　greater　effort　before　crime　and　corruption　could　be　banished。
　The　Shadow　knew　those　facts。　His　appearance　in　tonight's　battle　was　but　proof　that　he　had　long　been　present　in　Westford；　investigating　the　iniquity　which　held　the　city　in　its　grip。
　
　
　CHAPTER　III　
　BEHIND　THE　SCENES　
　HALF　an　hour　after　the　raid　on　the　Mississippi　Hotel；　Lieutenant　James　Maclare　arrived　back　at　the　first　precinct　station。　Muffled　oaths　and　dull　clatter　greeted　Maclare　when　he　crossed　the　patrol　room。　The　sounds　came　from　the　cell　room；　where　policemen　had　housed　an　assortment　of　hoodlums　unloaded　from　the　patrol　wagons。
　There　had　been　many　captures　following　the　raid。　Cornered　riffraff　had　thrown　away　their　guns；　to　surrender；　denying　that　they　had　carried　weapons。
　Practically　all　of　these　were　men　who　had　been　inside　the　hotel　at　the　beginning　of　the　raid。
　Lieutenant　Maclare　felt　pleased　as　he　took　a　seat　at　his　desk　and　began　to　prepare　a　report。　Armed　resistance　had　made　the　case　against　the　prisoners　a　stronger　one。　Maclare　could　see　jail　terms　awaiting　many　of　the　participants。
　Maclare's　pleasure　increased；　when　Sergeant　Cassley　knocked　at　the　door　to　announce　a　visitor。　The　arrival　was　none　other　than　Kirk　Borman；　the　police　director。
　Maclare　was　on　his　feet　when　Borman　entered。　Tall；　heavy　of　build；　the　police　director　was　as　much　a　fighter　as　Maclare。　Borman's　face　was　sharp…featured；　his　lips　showed　a　broad　smile　between　his　hooked　nose　and　his　pointed　chin。　Advancing　to　Maclare's　desk；　Borman　thrust　a　congratulating　hand　across　the　top；　to　grip　Maclare's　hand　in　a　solid　shake。
　〃Fine　work；　Jim；〃　mended　Borman；　in　a　short…clipped　tone。　〃You　cleaned　out　a　nest　of　bad　eggs。　Carry　on　with　it。　Go　after　the　gilt…edged　places　in　this　precinct。〃
　〃You　mean　the　Club　Adair？〃　queried　Maclare。　〃That's　one　place　I'd　like　to　get；　Kirk。　Lance　Gillick　has　a　gambling　joint　somewhere　in　back　of　that　fancy　night　club　front。〃
　〃Go　after　it；　tomorrow　night；〃　ordered　Borman。　〃Telephone　me　first；　though。　I　have　two　headquarters　men　watching　things　over　there。　I'm　going　to　drop　in　there　this　evening　and　look　the　place　over　for　myself。〃
　〃Lance　Gillick　will　probably　see　you；〃　remarked　Maclare。　〃If　he　does；　he'll　pass　you　a　lot　of　smooth　talk。〃
　〃All　the　better；〃　decided　Borman。　〃If　he　thinks　I'm　the　man　he　has　to　deal　with；　he　won't　be　expecting　you　tomorrow