mg.cityofcrime-第33部分

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ng　squadron　were　targets　enough。
　From　the　rear；　The　Shadow　pummeled　shots　along　the　road。　Uniformed　crooks　ran　ahead；　hoping　to　join　the　thugs　who　had　once　formed　a　vanished　cordon。　The　Shadow's　aids　pursued；　keeping　along　the　banks；　they　harried　the　newly　routed　horde　and　drove　them　off　into　the　darkness。
　Those　scattered　men　would　not　soon　return。　When　they　did；　they　would　find　their　cars　useless。　Again；　The　Shadow　and　his　half　dozen　agents　had　routed　more　than　a　score。　The　Shadow's　agents　held　together；　their　task　acplished；　they　were　returning　to　the　house；　to　hold　it　in　case　enough　enemies　rallied　to　attempt　invasion。
　
　
　THERE　was　one　car　that　had　remained　unscathed　throughout　the　fray；　for　the　simple　reason　that　it　had　been　left　alone。　This　automobile　had　e　up　behind　the　others。　It　had　stopped　at　the　mand　of　a　man　in　back。　It　was　Director　Borman's　official　car。　Borman　had　told　his　chauffeur　to　wait。
　Fuming；　Kirk　Borman　recognized　all　that　had　happened。　The　pick　of　his　Flying　Squadron　had　been　ambushed。　He　wanted　to　get　back　to　town　again；　to　summon　other　details；　particularly　the　group　that　he　had　left　idle　at　Judge　Benbrook's　house。　With　a　growl；　Borman　told　the　chauffeur　to　swing　the　car　about。
　The　chauffeur　obeyed；　as　he　swung　the　big　car　past　the　verge　of　a　ditch；　blackness　rose　from　the　fringe　of　the　headlights。　The　chauffeur　alone　saw　it；　he　yanked　a　revolver　and　jabbed　it　from　the　window。
　A　slugging　fist　came　through；　swinging　an　automatic。　The　chauffeur's　cap　was　bashed　down　over　his　head；　the　man　tilted　sidewise；　he　sprawled　to　the　roadway　as　the　door　yanked　open。
　Kirk　Borman　made　a　leap　for　the　front　seat。　A　black…cloaked　avalanche　came　in　from　space。　Springing　past　the　steering　wheel；　The　Shadow　met　the　fighting　police　director；　gloved　fingers　found　their　hold　on　Borman's　neck。　The　police　director　slumped　to　the　floor　by　the　rear　seat。
　The　Shadow　picked　handcuffs　from　a　pocket　in　a　rear　door。　They　were　useful　items　in　a　police　director's　car；　The　Shadow　had　noted　them　when　he　had　ridden　with　Borman；　in　the　guise　of　Trig　Callister。　He　put　the　bracelets　on　the　director's　wrists。　Borman　offered　no　struggle；　he　was　still　gasping　for　air。
　Leaving　Borman　sprawled　in　back；　The　Shadow　dropped　behind　the　wheel。　He　stepped　on　the　gas；　shot　the　big　car　back　toward　town。　The　tires　jounced　along　the　bumpy　road；　while　Borman　bounced　helplessly　about　in　back；　striking　his　head　against　the　seat　and　the　doors；　experiencing　new　grogginess　every　time　he　started　to　recover。
　One　laugh　of　triumph　from　The　Shadow's　hidden　lips；　then　the　cloaked　victor　maintained　silence。　Sooner　or　later；　he　would　meet　roving　units　of　the　Flying　Squadron。　They　would　let　him　pass；　recognizing　the　police　director's　car。　The　Shadow　was　traveling　far　ahead　of　any　reports　that　would　e　from　the　battle　ground　where　he　and　his　agents　had　dealt　with　thugs　and　false　upholders　of　the　law。
　In　effecting　his　capture　of　Kirk　Borman；　The　Shadow　had　topped　off　a　well…planned　campaign。　He　had　known　that　his　presence　would　bring　the　police　director　to　the　scene　outside　of　Westford。　The　Shadow　had　counted　upon　this　capture　as　a　final　stroke。
　Each　strategic　move　had　succeeded。　Massed　hordes　vanquished；　The　Shadow　was　ready　to　meet　Stephen　Ruthley　and　his　remaining　lieutenants；　to　deal　with　them　as　effectively　as　he　had　with　Kirk　Borman。
　
　
　CHAPTER　XXV　
　WITHIN　THE　DEN　
　HALF　an　hour　had　passed　since　The　Shadow's　victory　on　the　road。　Stephen　Ruthley　was　standing　in　the　center　of　his　luxurious　den；　eyeing　Elvin　Marclot　and　Louis　Wilderton。　The　mayor　and　the　district　attorney　both　looked　troubled；　but　with　different　reasons。
　〃Kirk　Borman　ought　to　be　back　soon；〃　purred　Ruthley；　staring　from　a　front　window　to　study　the　lighted　boulevard。　〃He's　taken　along　all　the　men　that　he　had　posted　here。〃
　〃Men　we　posted　here？〃　queried　Wilderton。　〃Why　was　that；　Mr。　Ruthley？〃
　〃For　the　same　reason　that　we　should　have　had　men　at　Judge　Benbrook's；〃
　returned　Ruthley。　〃Any　honest　man　is　in　danger；　living　here　in　Westford。　I　requested　guards；　Borman　gave　them　to　me。〃
　〃He　offered　to　guard　Judge　Benbrook's　house；〃　put　in　Marclot；　taking　Ruthley's　cue。　〃But　the　judge　wanted　none。〃
　〃Director　Borman　should　have　insisted　upon　it；〃　asserted　Wilderton。　〃In　spite　of　Judge　Benbrook's　protest。〃
　〃Do　not　blame　the　police　for　laxity；〃　retorted　Marclot。　〃If　criminals　were　convicted　in　this　town；　we　would　have　no　need　for　the　Flying　Squadron！〃
　Wilderton　winced　at　the　reference　to　the　inefficiency　of　the　district　attorney's　office。　Ruthley　clapped　the　young　prosecutor　on　the　back；　and　smoothed　his　feelings　with　honeyed　mendation。
　〃You　have　done　well；　Louis；〃　asserted　Ruthley。　〃Which　reminds　me。　We　must　soon　start　to　the　meeting。　If　Judge　Benbrook　fails　to　arrive；　we　must　do　our　utmost　to　preserve　the　fine　spirit　that　he　aroused。　Unfortunately；　his　absence　will　bring　adverse　ment。　He　will　no　longer　be　acceptable　as　a　candidate　for　district　attorney's　office。〃
　〃Too　bad；〃　remarked　Marclot。　〃It　cannot　be　helped；　though。　Many　persons　doubted　that　Judge　Benbrook　could　stand　the　strain　of　reappearance　in　public　life。〃
　〃We　still　have　you；　Louis；〃　resumed　Ruthley；　addressing　the　district　attorney。　〃You　are　the　right　man。　Your　support　of　Judge　Benbrook　won　you　many　friends。　We　shall　return　to　our　original　plan；　your　reelection。〃
　Wilderton　tried　to　look　pleased；　but　he　was　too　worried　about　the　references　to　Judge　Benbrook's　absence。　At　last　he　decided　that　Ruthley　was　right。　It　would　be　impossible　to　depend　upon　the　judge。　Seeing　Wilderton's　change　of　expression；　Ruthley　strolled　again　to　the　window。
　〃Kirk　is　back！〃　he　exclaimed。　〃I　see　his　car　outside。　He　must　have　returned　while　we　were　talking。　I　suppose　the　Flying　Squadron　is　still　out。　I　see　a　few　of　the　precinct　police　on　duty。〃
　The　appearance　of　bluecoats　disturbed　neither　Ruthley　nor　Marclot。　The　apartment　house　was　not　in　Lieutenant　Maclare's　precinct。　As　Ruthley　stepped　back　from　the　window；　the　doorbell　rang。　Ruthley　heard　Haija　in　the　hall。　The　boss　stood　waiting　for　Borman　to　appear。
　Suddenly；　Ruthley　glowered；　his　glinting　eyes　denoted　perplexity。　Mayor　Marclot　looked　in　the　same　direction　and　gasped。　Louis　Wilderton　came　to　his　feet　with　a　glad　gasp。
　Kirk　Borman　had　entered；　sober…faced　and　glum。　With　the　police　director　was　a　man　whom　none　expected。　Borman's　panion　was　Judge　Martin　Benbrook。
　
　
　ERECT　and　firm　of　step。　Judge　Benbrook　strode　to　the　center　of　the　room。
　While　Ruthley　and　Marclot　looked　to　Borman　for　an　explanation；　the　judge　drew　a　large　envelope　from　his　pocket。　From　it；　he　drew　objects　that　made　Stephen　Ruthley　gape。
　〃These　are　for　you；　Louis；〃　stated　the　judge；　to　Wilderton。　〃You　will　recognize　this；　perhaps。　It　is　a　list　of　names　that　you　gave　to　Stephen　Ruthley。　Turn　it　over；　Louis。〃
　Wilderton　took　the　crumpled　sheet　of　paper；　turned　it　over　and　saw　Woodstock's　name　and　telephone　number。　Judge　Benbrook　mented　dryly：
　〃Ask　Ruthley　if　he　recognizes　his　own　handwriting。〃
　A　look　of　understanding　dawned　on　Wilderton's　owlish　face。　He　blinked　through　his　spectacles。
　〃What　does　this　mean？〃　he　exclaimed。　〃You　called　Woodstock；　after　I　was　here；　Mr。　Ruthley？〃
　Ruthley's　glower　had　faded。　The　big…shot　was　smoother　than　ever。
　〃I　do　not　recall　that　I　ever　called　Adam　Woodstock；〃　he　began。　〃In　fact；　I　scarcely　knew　the　man　by　sight。〃
　〃Yet　you　visited　him　that　same　night；〃　remarked　Judge　Benbrook；　coldly；　〃and　left　your　signature　upon　the　blotter　on　his　desk。　Along　with　Woodstock's　own　signature。〃
　From　the　envelope；　the　judge　took　the　telltale　blotter。　He　gave　it　to　Wilderton；　who　recognized　both　signatures　despite　their　reversed　form。　Smiling；　Ruthley　purred　his　protest。
　〃Why　should　I　have　signed　my　name　in　Woodstock's　presence？〃　he　questioned。
　〃On　what　sort　of　document　would　I　have　placed　it？〃
　〃At　the　bottom　of　Woodstock's　statement；〃　accused　Judge　Benbrook；　in　tone　of　firm　denunciation。　〃The　sheet　from　which　you　clipped　your　signature　later；　after　you　had　bluffed　Woodstock　into　signing　the　statement　himself。　Take　this　paper；　Wilderton！〃　The　judge　unfolded　a　sheet　and　gave　it　to　the　district　attorney。　〃It　is　Wilderto