mg.cityofcrime-第31部分

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d　waited。　Soon；　her　ears　again　caught　a　slight　sound。　It　was　the　opening　of　the　door　to　the　upstairs　front　room…the　chamber　The　Shadow　had　occupied…where　Estelle　had　forgotten　to　turn　out　the　lights。
　The　girl　sprang　from　her　hiding…place；　she　saw　the　door　wide　open　and　reached　the　threshold。　She　saw　a　black…clad　figure　in　the　room。　The　Shadow　had　returned。
　He　was　turned　away　from　Estelle；　he　was　removing　his　slouch　hat　and　dropping　the　folds　of　his　cloak。　He　spun　about　as　Estelle　delivered　a　sharp　cry。　Face　revealed；　The　Shadow　stared　into　the　muzzle　of　the　revolver　that　the　judge's　daughter　held。
　Estelle's　cry　ended；　her　grip　on　the　。32　became　firm。　She　was　ready　to　pull　the　trigger　if　The　Shadow　made　a　move。　Estelle　Benbrook　had　gained　proof　of　the　treachery　that　she　believed　had　been　The　Shadow's。
　The　face　of　The　Shadow　was　that　of　Trig　Callister。
　
　
　CHAPTER　XXIII　
　AMENDED　STRATEGY　
　THE　instant　that　he　saw　the　leveled　revolver；　The　Shadow　recognized　a　situation　as　crucial　as　any　that　he　had　met　in　Westford。　He　had　encountered　dangers　that　seemed　far　greater；　but　this　one　carried　the　worst　possible　hazards。
　Estelle　showed　by　action　that　she　knew　how　to　manage　a　revolver；　she　had　aimed　the　weapon　straight　for　The　Shadow's　heart。　The　girl's　frenzied　expression　showed　that　she　had　lost　control　of　her　wits。　She　was　prepared　to　fire　a　steady　series　of　bullets　on　any　provocation；　real　or　imaginary。
　The　Shadow　realized　the　futility　of　explanations。　With　her　acceptance　of　fallacies；　instead　of　facts；　Estelle　might　interpret　any　statement　incorrectly。
　Mere　mention　of　her　father's　name　might　drive　her　to　the　wild　belief　that　The　Shadow　had　killed　the　judge。　One　chance　thought　would　be　enough。　Estelle　would　fire　to　kill。
　For　one　full　second；　The　Shadow　met　the　girl's　vengeful　gaze。　He　realized　that　each　succeeding　second　would　increase　the　risk；　that　any　moment　might　be　his　last。　It　was　a　time　for　astounding　action；　some　deed　as　outlandish　as　Estelle's　imaginary　beliefs。　Knowing　it；　The　Shadow　acted　in　accord。
　His　cloak　was　half　from　his　shoulders；　retained　by　his　left　hand。　He　was　holding　the　slouch　hat　with　his　right。　For　a　moment；　The　Shadow　seemed　to　cower；　as　he　shrank　away；　his　body　huddled　lower。
　The　move　lessened　Estelle's　vigilance　for　an　instant；　then；　suspecting　trickery；　the　girl　became　more　frenzied。　She　stepped　forward；　thrusting　the　revolver　ahead。　Her　finger　tightened　on　the　trigger。
　Huddled；　The　Shadow　spun　about；　he　started　a　sidelong　lunge　for　a　corner　of　the　room。　Estelle　sped　the　gun　muzzle　in　the　same　direction；　as　the　cloaked　form　faded　floorward；　she　pressed　the　trigger　and　stabbed　quick　shots。
　The　cloak　crumpled；　the　slouch　hat　bounced　on　the　floor。　As　Estelle　fired　again；　a　lithe　shape　seemed　to　weave　up　toward　her；　as　if　conjured　from　space　itself。
　The　Shadow　had　caught　cloak　collar　and　hat　brim　with　both　hands；　he　had　shoved　them　away　toward　the　corner；　releasing　them　as　Estelle　fired。　Reversing　his　spin；　he　was　swinging　back；　free　from　the　cloak　before　the　fatal　moment。
　It　was　the　skillful　move　of　the　matador；　who　whisks　free　from　his　cloak　at　the　moment　of　the　bull's　onrush。　The　Shadow's　twist　was　far　more　speedy　and　better　timed　than　that　of　any　bullfighter。　He　had　to　be　away　before　bullets　zimmed　in　his　direction。　He　was　away；　and　his　long；　returning　lunge　was　below　the　line　of　Estelle's　aim。
　The　girl　did　not　have　time　to　fire　again。　Sighting　The　Shadow；　she　tried　to　aim；　his　quick　clutch　caught　her　wrist　and　held　it　numbed。　Estelle　struggled；　still　managing　to　clutch　the　revolver。　As　she　went　backward　toward　the　door；　she　heard　a　cry　behind　her。　Arms　other　than　The　Shadow's　clutched　the　girl's。
　The　Shadow　plucked　away　the　revolver　as　Estelle　subsided。　Looking　up；　the　girl　saw　the　person　who　had　seized　her。　A　happy　gasp　told　her　relief；　as　she　viewed　the　whitened　face　of　her　father。
　
　
　BENBROOK'S　whole　countenance　was　tinged　with　alarm。
　Estelle　began　to　sob。　Judge　Benbrook　gazed　anxiously　toward　The　Shadow；　he　saw　a　smile　upon　the　false　lips　of　Trig　Callister。　The　uncloaked　fighter　was　unhurt。　Satisfied　on　that　point；　the　judge　spoke　to　his　daughter。
　〃You　were　mistaken；　Estelle〃　he　told　the　girl。　〃The　Shadow　is　our　friend。
　How　you　guessed　that　he　came　here　as　Trig　Callister；　I　do　not　know…〃
　〃I　found　the　make…up　box；〃　sobbed　Estelle。　〃I　thought…I　guessed…〃
　〃Your　guess　was　wrong；　my　dear。〃　Estelle　turned　about；　to　see　The　Shadow　regaining　his　cloak　and　hat。　He　donned　the　garments；　his　quiet　whisper　silenced　Estelle　as　she　tried　to　express　her　regrets　for　her　mistaken　action。　Judge　Benbrook　delivered　an　interjection。
　〃You　were　going　to　see　Stephen　Ruthley　as　Trig　Callister！〃　he　exclaimed。
　〃Have　you　changed　the　plan？〃
　〃Yes；〃　replied　The　Shadow。　〃I　believe　that　Estelle　has　already　disclosed　my　double　identity。〃
　〃I　have；〃　admitted　the　girl。　〃Louis　Wilderton　was　here。　I　told　him　my　suspicions。　He　has　gone　to　Ruthley's…to　see　Director　Borman。〃
　〃Our　hopes　are　ruined；〃　groaned　Judge　Benbrook。　〃Estelle；　this　was　arranged　when　The　Shadow　gave　me　that　written　message。　I　knew　who　he　was　when　he　came　here　as　Trig　Callister。〃
　〃You　should　have　told　me；　father。〃
　〃No。　It　was　better　not。　Had　we　returned　in　time　tonight；　all　would　have　been　well。　Tell　me；　Estelle〃…the　judge's　tone　was　more　anxious　than　ever　…
　〃did　Wilderton　take　the　envelope　with　him？〃
　Estelle　shook　her　head。　The　Shadow　delivered　a　whispered　laugh　that　brought　immediate　encouragement　to　Judge　Benbrook。
　〃We　need　new　strategy；〃　declared　The　Shadow。　〃e　downstairs。　We　must　first　obtain　the　envelope；　then　be　on　our　way。〃
　The　judge　and　Estelle　followed　The　Shadow　downstairs。　He　had　the　key　to　the　music　cabinet；　he　unlocked　it　and　tendered　the　sealed　envelope　to　Judge　Benbrook。　Noting　the　clock　on　the　mantel；　The　Shadow　made　quick　calculation。〃
　〃We　are　leaving　here　at　once；〃　he　stated。　〃You　will　both　remain　in　a　place　of　safety　until　you　hear　from　me。〃
　Judge　Benbrook　was　puzzled。　He　could　think　of　no　safe　spot　in　Westford。
　Nevertheless；　he　beckoned　to　Estelle；　they　followed　The　Shadow　through　the　side　door；　thence　to　the　rear　street；　where　they　entered　The　Shadow's　sedan。
　〃Borman　will　e　to　the　house；〃　declared　The　Shadow；　as　he　started　the　car。　〃To　your　house；　judge。　Not　finding　you　there；　he　will　hurry　to　the　country。　My　work　lies　there；　since　my　part　has　bee　known。〃
　〃But　you　spoke　of　a　place　where　Estelle　would　be　safe；〃　reminded　Judge　Benbrook。　〃One　where　you　wanted　me　to　wait　until　I　heard　from　you。〃
　〃Here　is　the　place。〃
　The　Shadow　stopped　the　car　in　front　of　the　first　precinct　station。　A　light　was　showing　from　Lieutenant　Maclare's　office。　Judge　Benbrook　gained　sudden　understanding　of　The　Shadow's　plan。　He　stepped　from　the　car　with　Estelle；　then　asked：
　〃How　much　shall　I　tell　Maclare？〃
　〃As　much　as　is　necessary；〃　replied　The　Shadow。　〃He　has　already　gained　an　inkling　of　matters　in　Westford。　You　will　find　him　ready　to　follow　any　suggestion　that　you　give　him。〃
　With　that；　The　Shadow　sped　away；　leaving　Judge　Benbrook　and　Estelle　to　treat　with　the　one　man　in　Westford　who　could　mand　loyal　forces　that　would　fight　for　the　law。
　
　
　AT　the　time　of　The　Shadow's　departure；　events　were　shaping　elsewhere　exactly　as　he　predicted。　Louis　Wilderton　had　reached　Stephen　Ruthley's。　There；　the　district　attorney　had　just　finished　pouring　out　his　news。　Stephen　Ruthley；　his　countenance　imposing；　was　quick　to　deliver　a　denunciation。
　〃We　owe　you　much；　Wilderton；〃　affirmed　the　pretended　reformer。　〃I　speak　for　Mayor　Marclot　and　Director　Borman；　as　well　as　for　myself。　e；　Borman！〃　he　turned　to　the　police　director；　who　was　sitting　rigid；　in　a　corner　of　the　den。
　〃You　must　act　at　once　to　find　Judge　Benbrook！〃
　〃So　I　must！〃　exclaimed　Borman；　ing　suddenly　to　life。　〃We'll　scour　the　countryside　with　the　Flying　Squadron！〃
　Rising；　Borman　strode　from　the　den。　Mayor　Marclot；　also　a　stunned　listener；　came　to　his　feet　and　followed。　Ruthley　purred　a　smooth　ment　to　Wilderton；　who　had　sunk　into　a　chair；　too　strained　to　notice　the　alarm　that　had　gripped　Marclot　and　Borman。
　〃No　need　for　Marclot　to　go　also；〃　declared　Ruthley。　〃He　should　stay　with　us；　to　d