mg.cityofcrime-第7部分

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　They　came　from　both　directions。　The　Flying　Squadron　was　ing　to　the　scene　of　battle。　To　others；　that　arrival　signified　the　law。　To　The　Shadow；　it　meant　something　else。
　The　Shadow　knew　the　extent　of　crime　in　Westford；　he　knew　that　the　Flying　Squadron　was　a　bluff。　Crooks　would　make　their　get…away　amid　wild　pursuit；　the　squadron　would　gain　credit　for　prompt　action。　That　was　exactly　what　had　happened　last　night；　after　Lieutenant　Maclare's　raid。
　The　Shadow　knew　more。　He　had　guessed　the　personnel　of　the　picked　men　who　formed　the　Flying　Squadron。　He　knew　that　they　were　as　dangerous　as　crooks；　otherwise；　they　would　not　be　party　to　the　fake　pursuit　that　they　so　often　staged。
　Because　of　that；　The　Shadow　saw　danger　in　his　own　position。　His　guns　were　empty；　he　would　have　no　chance　to　battle　uniformed　men　who　merely　pretended　to　uphold　the　law。　They；　however；　would　be　pleased　at　the　opportunity　to　drill　The　Shadow。
　Already；　cars　and　motorcycles　were　swinging　into　view；　converging　toward　the　very　spot　where　The　Shadow　stood；　a　fact　that　signified　that　they　knew　where　to　find　Dunson's　body。　The　Shadow　had　one　lone　path　to　safety。　That　was　the　passage　past　Judge　Benbrook's　house；　the　route　along　which　he　had　sent　the　girl。
　Turning；　The　Shadow　swiftly　entered　the　passage；　swinging　the　gate　shut　behind　him。　Hardly　had　he　started　through　the　darkened　space　before　he　heard　a　siren　stopping　on　the　rear　street。　One　of　the　Flying　Squadron's　cars　had　arrived　there；　Borman's　men　were　ing　through　from　the　back。
　Quickly；　The　Shadow　swung　into　the　shelter　of　an　alcove　at　the　side　of　the　house。　He　stumbled　a　short　flight　of　steps；　as　he　caught　himself　against　the　wall；　he　heard　a　whispered　voice　just　above　his　head。　The　voice　gave　question：
　〃You…you're　safe？〃
　It　was　the　girl　who　spoke。　She　had　taken　this　shelter　ahead　of　The　Shadow。
　She　had　guessed　that　the　person　stumbling　in　darkness　was　the　one　who　had　saved　her　from　death。　The　Shadow　gave　quiet　response。
　〃I　am　safe；〃　he　whispered。　〃Remain　silent　until　everyone　has　gone。〃
　〃I　have　my　key；〃　began　the　girl。　〃If　I　could　only　unlock　this　door…〃
　Almost　instantly；　The　Shadow　blinked　a　tiny　flashlight。　By　the　glow；　he　saw　the　key　that　the　girl　was　holding；　her　hand　was　shaking　as　she　tried　to　fit　it　into　a　door。　Quickly；　The　Shadow　plucked　the　key　with　gloved　fingers。　He　found　the　lock；　opened　the　door　and　thrust　the　girl　inward。
　Following；　The　Shadow　closed　the　door　behind　him；　inserted　the　key　from　the　inside　and　turned　the　lock。
　
　
　LOOKING　about；　The　Shadow　found　himself　in　an　entry　that　led　to　a　dimly　lighted　hall。　The　girl　had　gone　through；　she　was　staring　back；　trying　to　discern　the　man　who　had　so　promptly　aided　her　with　the　door。
　The　Shadow　stepped　forward　into　the　light。　The　girl　gasped；　as　she　saw　his　weird；　cloaked　figure。　She　silenced；　as　The　Shadow　gave　a　whisper。　Fascinated；　the　girl　met　the　gleam　of　The　Shadow's　burning　eyes。　She　heard　him　speak；　not　a　question；　but　a　statement。
　〃You　are　Judge　Benbrook's　daughter？〃
　The　girl　nodded。
　〃Estelle　Benbrook；〃　stated　The　Shadow。　〃I　have　heard　of　you。〃
　Though　more　amazed　than　ever；　Estelle　Benbrook　found　her　voice。　She　thanked　her　rescuer。
　〃You　saved　my　life；〃　declared　the　girl。　〃You　have　my　gratitude！　But…but…〃
　The　Shadow　waited　for　the　girl　to　continue。　Estelle　finally　expressed　her　thoughts。
　〃But　the　police　are　now　outside！〃　blurted　the　girl。　〃Why　did　we　need　to　avoid　them？〃
　〃They　are　as　dangerous　as　the　others；〃　replied　The　Shadow；　calmly。
　〃Criminals　were　ready　to　eliminate　all　who　saw　Prescott　Dunson　die。　These　police　would　willingly　do　the　same。〃
　Estelle　Benbrook　continued　to　watch　The　Shadow's　eyes。　When　the　girl　spoke；　her　tone　was；　one　of　conviction。
　〃I　believe　you；〃　she　declared；　firmly。　〃I　recognized　Prescott　Dunson；　when　I　saw　his　body。　My　father　has　said　that　matters　were　wrong　in　Westford；　but　I　have　never　repeated　his　statements。　He　is　an　old　man；　his　mind　seems　tired。　Yet　I　have　known　that　he　speaks　the　truth。〃
　The　girl　paused；　then　added：
　〃I　have　never　spoken　this　before；　not　even　to　Louis　Wilderton。　He　would　not　believe　me。　He　thinks　that　all　is　well　in　Westford。　If　Louis　could　only　understand…〃
　〃He　will　learn；〃　interposed　The　Shadow；　quietly；　〃when　the　right　time　arrives。　Until　then；　you　must　remain　silent。〃
　〃I　promise；〃　declared　Estelle。　〃I　shall　say　nothing　of　what　I　saw　tonight。
　Terrible　though　it　was；　it　has　given　me　courage。〃
　The　Shadow　stepped　back　into　the　passage。　He　listened　at　the　side　door；　he　heard　the　shuffle　of　departing　feet。　The　members　of　the　Flying　Squadron　had　pleted　their　search　in　the　passage　beside　the　house。　They　had　gone　forward　to　join　the　ones　at　the　front。
　The　Shadow　turned　the　key　in　the　lock：　Estelle　saw　the　motion　of　his　hand　as　she　joined　him　in　the　passage。　Anxiously；　the　girl　queried：
　〃Are　you　sure　that　the　way　is　safe？〃
　The　Shadow's　response　was　a　whispered　laugh；　mirthless；　it　was　scarcely　audible　in　the　darkness。　It　betokened　ill　for　any　who　might　block　his　path。
　Estelle；　as　witness　of　The　Shadow's　mighty　battle；　understood　the　grim　significance。　As　The　Shadow　drew　the　door　inward；　Estelle　reached　forward；　she　found　the　key　and　plucked　it　from　the　lock。
　〃Take　this　key；〃　pleaded　the　girl　〃I　have　another。　Sometime；　you　may　wish　to　return。　Perhaps…perhaps　there　may　be　new　danger；　greater　than　that　which　you　faced　tonight。〃
　Gloved　fingers　grasped　the　key。　Estelle　released　it。　She　sensed　that　The　Shadow　had　moved　outward；　but　she　expected　him　to　speak　again。　It　was　not　until　half　a　minute　later　that　she　realized　that　The　Shadow　had　departed。　Silently；　he　had　closed　the　door　behind　him。　Estelle　Benbrook　stood　alone。
　
　
　SLOWLY；　the　girl　went　through　the　lighted　hall。　She　reached　a　front　room　and　turned　on　a　desk　lamp。　The　glow　showed　her　well…formed　face；　attractive　despite　the　paleness　which　dominated　it。　The　darkness　of　her　hair　made　her　pallor　seem　more　evident；　for　Estelle　Benbrook　was　a　pronounced　brunette。
　The　girl　had　steadied　since　her　ordeal。　Her　hand　had　no　tremble；　as　it　found　another　key　in　the　desk。　Steadily；　Estelle　returned　to　the　side　door　and　inserted　the　key。　She　found　the　door　locked。　The　Shadow　had　silently　attended　to　that　detail　from　outside。　Estelle　managed　a　slight　laugh；　as　she　went　into　the　hall　and　placed　the　key　in　her　hand　bag。
　A　puzzled　frown　appeared　upon　her　forehead。　She　would　have　liked　to　have　learned　more　concerning　this　mysterious　stranger　from　the　night。　She　recalled　rumors　that　she　had　heard　this　very　day；　concerning　the　raid　made　last　night；　by　Lieutenant　Maclare。　There　was　talk　of　persons　unknown；　who　had　sided　with　the　law。
　Estelle　believed　that　rumor；　but　she　was　convinced　that　one　fighter；　not　a　group；　had　been　responsible　for　the　aid　that　Maclare　had　received。　Estelle　could　form　that　opinion　from　her　own　observation。　She　was　still　overwhelmed　with　admiration　for　The　Shadow's　prowess　in　tonight's　battle。
　As　she　closed　the　hand　bag；　Estelle　smiled。　After　all；　The　Shadow　had　taken　the　key　that　she　had　offered。　That　seemed　more　than　courtesy。　Sometime　…
　soon；　she　hoped…the　black…clad　stranger　might　return。
　In　her　thoughts；　Estelle　pictured　this　house　as　a　real　haven　in　the　heart　of　Westford；　should　The　Shadow　need　the　refuge　that　it　could　afford。　Such　need　seemed　likely　to　Estelle；　when　she　considered　the　odds　that　this　lone　fighter　faced。　Circumstances　could　arise　to　make　The　Shadow's　return　imperative。
　Though　Estelle　Benbrook　did　not　guess　it；　such　circumstances　were　already　in　the　making。
　
　
　CHAPTER　VI　
　CROOKS　CONNIVE　
　NOT　far　from　the　center　of　Westford　stood　a　large　apartment　house　that　fronted　on　a　boulevard。　This　new　and　pretentious　edifice　had　supplanted　part　of　a　row　of　old　brick　houses。　The　remnants　of　the　row　began　at　the　side　of　the　apartment　house　and　continued　to　a　corner。　Deserted　and　dilapidated；　they　were　ready　for　demolition。
　The　front　windows　on　the　second　floor　of　the　apartment　house　were　heavily　curtained；　all　in　the　same　style。　They　gave　the　impression　that　they　belonged　to　one　apartment；　which　they　did。　That　apartment　was　the　residence　of　Stephen　Ruthley；　the　wealthiest　man　in　Westford。
　R