mg.cityofcrime-第12节

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hat　they　could　keep　in　contact　with　the　men　below。　Evidently；　the　police　intended　to　keep　guard　all　night。
　A　clouded　sky　had　rendered　the　darkness　almost　plete。　That　suited　The　Shadow。　Silently；　he　made　his　way　toward　the　house。　He　paused　close　beside　the　building　while　muffled　feet　tramped　past　him。　A　flashlight　blinked；　but　did　not　turn　in　his　direction。　When　the　guard　had　passed；　The　Shadow　crept　to　the　wall　of　the　house。
　
　
　THE　building　was　a　frame　structure；　a　trellis　showed　vaguely　in　the　darkness。　The　Shadow　used　it　as　a　ladder　and　made　a　quiet　climb　to　a　kitchen　roof。　He　found　a　darkened　window　above；　used　it　to　reach　a　ledge。　He　was　outside　a　third…story　window；　the　shape　of　the　roof　indicated　that　this　story　of　the　house　was　an　attic。
　The　window　was　a　round　one；　on　a　pivot。　The　Shadow　swung　it　to　a　horizontal　position；　using　his　cloak　to　muffle　any　sound。　Head　first；　he　wriggled　through　the　half　opening；　came　to　the　rough；　unfinished　floor　of　the　attic。　Using　a　tiny　flashlight　in　guarded　fashion；　The　Shadow　studied　the　room；　foot　by　foot。
　The　attic　had　been　searched　by　the　police。　Pieces　of　old　furniture　had　been　shoved　about；　trunks　had　been　pulled　away　from　the　wall。　The　Shadow　reached　a　flight　of　steps；　crept　downward；　to　a　door　that　was　locked　from　the　other　side。　This　discovery　pleased　him。　As　long　as　that　door　remained　locked；　neither　the　house…owners　nor　the　law　would　bother　with　another　search。　This　attic　could　be　The　Shadow's　refuge　as　long　as　he　chose。
　Eventually；　he　would　have　the　choice　of　two　exits：　the　window　by　which　he　had　entered；　or　the　door　at　the　foot　of　the　stairs。　Though　the　door　was　locked；　The　Shadow　could　easily　open　it。　His　picks；　lock…opening　instruments　expertly　handled；　had　overe　barriers　that　were　far　more　formidable　than　that　lower　door。
　Back　in　the　attic；　The　Shadow　made　himself　fortable。　He　found　an　old　couch　that　was　thick…cushioned；　despite　its　shabbiness。　Opening　a　trunk；　he　discovered　blankets。　Rolling　one　as　a　pillow；　he　used　the　other　for　bedding；　and　stretched　himself　upon　the　couch。
　From　where　he　lay；　The　Shadow　could　see　through　the　window。　He　watched　the　motion　of　flashlights　through　the　darkness。　They　would　continue　until　dawn；　then　there　would　be　a　search　by　day。　That　hunt　would　cover　many　places；　but　it　would　not　reach　this　attic；　except　by　some　freak　of　chance。　If　the　search　came　here；　The　Shadow　would　be　ready。　If　not；　he　would　remain　in　the　attic　throughout　the　day。
　For　The　Shadow　expected　no　more　trouble　in　Westford　until　tomorrow　night。
　His　present　policy　was　to　let　matters　cool　there。　Word　would　go　around　that　Beezer　Dorsch　had　fled　the　city；　the　same　would　be　said　about　The　Shadow。
　Crooks　would　be　bluffing　when　they　spoke　of　Beezer；　they　would　think　that　they　told　the　truth；　in　the　case　of　The　Shadow。
　Thus　the　stage　would　be　set　as　The　Shadow　wanted　it；　when　he　returned。
　Again；　he　could　thrust　from　darkness；　meet　crooks　and　stagger　them。　To　date；　The　Shadow　had　steadily　progressed。　He　had　saved　Lieutenant　Maclare；　only　Prescott　Dunson's　own　mistakes　had　spoiled　The　Shadow's　efforts　toward　a　second　rescue。
　Likewise；　chance　had　favored　Beezer　Dorsch；　when　The　Shadow　had　trapped　the　murderer。　The　same　chance　had　driven　The　Shadow　to　this　place　of　refuge；　but　he　had　not　lost　ground　in　his　battle　against　crime。　Every　fight　had　crippled　more　foemen；　always；　The　Shadow　had　e　through　unscathed；　departing　into　darkness。
　Tomorrow　night；　The　Shadow's　plans　called　for　a　greater　thrust；　a　move　to　the　very　place　where　crime　was　fostered。　His　investigations　in　the　city　of　Westford　had　given　him　close　knowledge　of　all　who　were　concerned　in　crime。
　Unfortunately；　The　Shadow　had　not　been　present　at　that　conference　between　Stephen　Ruthley　and　his　four　associates。　The　Shadow's　absence　from　that　meeting　had　caused　him　trouble　when　he　trapped　Beezer　Dorsch。　It　was　due　to　provide　him　with　more　difficulties　when　he　again　went　into　Westford。
　
　
　HAD　The　Shadow　gained　an　inkling　of　the　next　move　that　Stephen　Ruthley　intended；　he　would　not　have　considered　it　wise　to　remain　in　this　secluded　attic。　His　policy　would　have　been　to　slip　the　cordon　of　watchers　and　return　to　Westford　on　this　very　night。
　As　yet；　The　Shadow　had　dealt　only　with　those　lieutenants　who　served　the　overlord　of　crime。　He　had　not　encountered　Stephen　Ruthley　in　action；　nor　did　he　expect　to　meet　the　master　villain　on　the　move。　Ruthley；　as　The　Shadow　sized　him；　was　a　cunning　brain　who　could　sit　back　and　let　others　follow　his　mand。　Past　events　had　backed　The　Shadow's　opinion。　The　future；　however；　could　tell　another　story。
　Stephen　Ruthley；　at　this　very　moment；　was　pleting　a　plan　of　crime　that　would　give　The　Shadow　new　and　different　evidence　of　the　master　villain's　ways。
　
　
　CHAPTER　XI　
　WITHIN　THE　LAIR　
　EARLY　the　next　evening；　an　automobile　stopped　in　front　of　Stephen　Ruthley's　big　apartment　house。　The　man　who　parked　the　car　appeared　to　be　a　privileged　person；　for　the　curb　where　he　pulled　up　bore　the　sign：　〃NO　PARKING。〃
　Entering　the　apartment　house；　this　visitor　walked　up　a　broad　flight　of　stairs　to　the　second　floor。　He　rang　a　bell；　at　the　imposing　door　that　formed　the　entrance　to　Ruthley's　apartment。　Haija　answered　the　ring；　the　Jap　bowed　when　he　saw　the　visitor。
　〃Good　evening；　Honorable　Mr。　District　Attorney；〃　said　Haija。　〃Honorable　Master　expect　you。〃
　The　district　attorney　followed　the　house…man　to　Ruthley's　den。　Ruthley　received　him　with　outstretched　hand；　the　gray…haired　boss　acpanied　the　gesture　with　his　most　genial　smile。
　〃Good　evening；　Wilderton！〃　greeted　Ruthley。　〃Sit　down；　have　a　cigar。　Make　yourself　right　at　home。〃
　Louis　Wilderton　took　a　chair　opposite　the　portrait　of　Aramis。　The　glow　of　a　floor　lamp　showed　the　prosecutor　to　be　a　man　in　his　thirties；　a　serious　chap　who　tried　to　appear　older　than　he　was。　Wilderton　was　frail　of　build；　light…haired　and　peaked　of　face。　His　pointed　nose　supported　a　pair　of　large　spectacles　that　gave　him　an　owlish　expression。
　〃Trouble；　Wilderton？〃　Ruthley　purred　the　question　in　a　fatherly　tone。
　Wilderton　nodded。
　〃Don't　worry　about　Dunson's　death；〃　remarked　Ruthley。　He　picked　up　a　copy　of　the　Daily　Banner　and　pointed　to　the　headlines。　〃It's　up　to　the　police　to　arrest　this　killer；　Dorsch。　When　they　once　find　him；　you　will　have　no　trouble　convicting　him　of　murder。〃
　〃I　know　that；〃　vouchsafed　Wilderton。　〃It's　something　else　that　bothers　me；　Mr。　Ruthley。　Prescott　Dunson　intended　to　run　against　me；　for　district　attorney。
　People　haven't　forgotten　that。〃
　〃He　would　not　have　gained　the　support　of　the　reform　party；〃　remarked　Ruthley。　〃You　have　proven　yourself　petent；　Wilderton。〃
　〃Thank　you；　Mr。　Ruthley。　Just　the　same；　Dunson　had　many　supporters；　chiefly　those　who　expected　him　to　make　startling　revelations。　That　puts　it　up　to　me。〃
　〃To　do　what？〃
　〃To　disclose　the　facts　that　Dunson　promised　to　reveal。　I　must　find　the　man　higher　up；　the　one　whom　Dunson　intended　to　attack。〃
　Stephen　Ruthley　nodded　in　mending　fashion。　Approaching　Wilderton's　chair；　he　clapped　the　district　attorney　upon　the　shoulder。
　〃You　have　a　great　head；　Louis；〃　approved　Ruthley。　〃I　admire　your　foresight。　Yes；　you　must　make　every　effort　to　find　the　man　who　ordered　Dunson's　death。〃
　
　
　LOUIS　WILDERTON　produced　a　sheet　of　paper　and　handed　it　to　Ruthley。　It　bore　a　list　of　names；　written　in　pencil。
　〃This　is　confidential；〃　stated　Wilderton；　in　a　strained　tone。　〃I　have　written　down　the　names　of　a　dozen　men；　any　one　of　whom　might　have　had　reason　to　fear　Dunson。　I　would　like　your　opinion　on　it；　Mr。　Ruthley。〃
　Ruthley　studied　the　list　solemnly。　As　he　expected；　his　own　name　was　absent；　so　were　those　of　Elvin　Marclot　and　Kirk　Borman。　Even　Lance　Gillick's　name　was　missing；　for；　today；　Lieutenant　Maclare　had　openly　testified　that　he　had　raided　the　Club　Adair　prior　to　Dunson's　murder　and　that　Gillick　was　there　at　the　time　the　killing　took　place。
　The　names　on　the　list　were　those　of　small…fry　politicians；　also　a　few　local　contractors。　Ruthley　suppressed　a　pleased　smile　as　he　noted　the　name　of　Adam　Woodstock。
　〃Understand；　Mr。　Ruthley；〃　remarked　Wilderton；　〃I　have　no　evidence　whatever　against　any　of　these　men。　I　have　merely　assumed　that　someone　in　Westford　must　have　wanted　Dunson　to　die。〃
　〃I　understand。〃　Ruthley　placed　the　paper　on　his　desk。　〃Wilderton；　I　think　that　the　best　course　is　to　wait。　This　matter　will　smooth　itself。〃
　〃How　so？〃
　〃If　one　of　those　men　is　responsible；〃　returned　Ruthley；　indicating　the　list；　〃he　will　soon　lose　his　nerve。　Dunson's　murder　has　raised　a　huge　cry。　The　fact　that　the　police　so　promptly　identified　Dorsch　as　the　killer　will　make　the　man　behind　the　murder　feel　uneasy。　He　will　do　something　that　will　prove　his　part　in　crime。　Your　problem　will　be　solved。〃
　〃I　hope　that　you　are　right；　Mr。　Ruthley。〃
　〃I　feel　confident　that　I　am　right。　Be　tranquil；　Louis。　Sit　tight…let　us　say　for　the　next　two　days…and　if　nothing　has　occurred　within　that　time；　e　to　me　again。〃
　Wilderton　arose。　He　smiled　wanly；　pleased　by　Ruthley's　reassurance。
　Glancing　at　his　watch；　the　prosecutor　remembered　an　appointment。　Ruthley　showed　him　to　the　door。
　
　
　AS　soon　as　Wilderton　was　gone；　Ruthley　returned　to　his　desk。　He　pi