mg.cityofcrime-第20节

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iption　of　his　own。
　Outside　of　the　judge's　house；　other　matters　had　reached　a　settlement。　The　coroner　had　declared　the　death　of　Adam　Woodstock　to　be　suicide。　His　verdict　had　been　based　on　definite　evidence；　the　papers　found　in　Woodstock's　strong…box　stood　as　clear　proof　that　Woodstock　had　been　the　man　〃higher　up〃　who　hired　Beezer　Dorsch　to　slay　Prescott　Dunson。
　The　coroner　was　an　honest　official；　though　an　unimportant　one。　He　did　not　belong　to　Stephen　Ruthley's　ring；　but　he　had　been　bluffed　by　the　master　crook's　game。
　Prescott　Dunson　had　promised　to　reveal　truth　concerning　corruption　linked　with　crime。　Apparently；　all　could　be　laid　upon　Woodstock。　The　dead　contractor's　own　statement　proved　that　he　had　swindled　the　city　of　Westford。　All　this　evidence　had　been　placed　in　the　hands　of　Louis　Wilderton。
　The　young　district　attorney　had　stated　that　he　would　force　Woodstock's　pany　to　disgorge　its　half　million　of　excess　profit。　The　corporation　was　wealthy；　it　had　promptly　paid　up　without　argument。　Thus　Mayor　Elvin　Marclot　had　received　the　fund　in　question；　it　was　back　in　the　city　treasury。　Money　that　did　not　belong　there；　but　which　would　not　stay　long。　Marclot　was　already　looking　for　another　fat　corporation；　headed　by　another　of　Woodstock's　ilk；　a　man　who　would　〃play　ball〃　and　kick　back　the　required　graft　in　return　for　the　contract。
　One　thing　had　caused　trouble。　The　Shadow's　presence　at　Woodstock's　had　made　the　coroner　hesitate　in　his　verdict　of　suicide。　Director　Borman　had　handled　that；　he　had　talked　headquarters　detectives　into　swearing　that　The　Shadow　had　been　entering　the　house　when　they　trapped　him。　Hence；　he　could　not　be　blamed　for　Woodstock's　death。　The　crooks　would　have　relished　a　decision　that　classed　The　Shadow　as　a　murderer；　but　they　preferred　to　have　Woodstock's　death　pass　as　suicide。
　None　of　the　headquarters　men　had　gained　a　good　look　at　The　Shadow；　nor　had　Lieutenant　Maclare　or　his　bluecoats。　Only　the　fake　cops　who　formed　the　Flying　Squadron　knew　who　it　was　that　they　had　fought。　They　testified　that　the　intruder　had　been　the　mysterious　man　called　Shaw。　Thus　it　was　decided　that　Shaw　had　served　as　go…between　for　Adam　Woodstock　and　Beezer　Dorsch。
　Like　Beezer；　Shaw　was　wanted；　and　neither　had　reappeared。　Ruthley　and　his　fellow　crooks　decided　that　The　Shadow　had　gained　his　fill　of　Westford。
　Nevertheless；　Lance　Gillick　expressed　the　view　that　The　Shadow　might　some　day　return。　Ruthley　decided　to　take　no　chances。　Through　Borman；　the　master　crook　had　arranged　for　members　of　the　Flying　Squadron　to　keep　guard　about　his　apartment　house。
　Ruthley　did　not　know　that　The　Shadow　had　found　the　secret　entrance　through　the　adjacent　house；　nevertheless；　he　wanted　absolute　security。　The　Shadow's　path　to　Ruthley's　was　blocked；　even　if　he　should　choose　to　use　it。
　Beezer　Dorsch　was　hiding　out　in　fortable　fashion　at　Lance　Gillick's　apartment。　Popular　belief　had　it　that　Beezer　had　fled　Westford；　the　night　of　Dunson's　death。
　
　
　WHAT　most　concerned　the　quieted　city　on　this　particular　day　was　a　meeting　of　the　Civic　Club；　the　chief　reform　organization　in　Westford。　That　meeting　was　scheduled　for　late　afternoon；　in　the　club's　own　headquarters。　When　the　hour　arrived；　the　place　was　thronged。　The　chairman　was　Stephen　Ruthley　himself。
　Standing　on　the　rostrum；　Ruthley　beamed　at　the　audience。　In　dulcet　tones；　he　mended　the　city　officials　for　their　successful　war　against　crime　and　graft。　There　were　plaudits　from　the　crowd；　bows　from　Mayor　Marclot　and　Director　Borman；　who　were　seated　on　the　platform　behind　Ruthley。　Finally；　Ruthley's　tone　became　sorrowful；　he　began　an　eulogy　for　Prescott　Dunson。
　〃We　must　not　forget　one　man　who　stood　for　a　cause；〃　droned　Ruthley。　〃That　man　was　Prescott　Dunson！　Though　he　had　not　fully　gained　our　support；　we　were　prepared　to　give　it；　in　return　for　his　promise　to　end　corruption。　I　believe　that　our　present　district　attorney〃…Ruthley　turned　to　Wilderton；　who　was　seated　near　by…〃would　have　stepped　aside　for　Prescott　Dunson。　As　it　is；　Dunson's　work　has　been　pleted。　He　was　a　martyr　to　the　cause　of　reform！
　〃Fearing　Dunson；　the　man　who　was　behind　corruption　overstepped　his　bounds。
　I　refer　to　Adam　Woodstock；　who　hired　murderers　to　do　his　evil　bidding。　Woodstock　himself　weakened　under　the　strain。　His　suicide　was　the　result。　It　has　cleared　the　atmosphere。　All　is　well　in　Westford。
　〃We　can　carry　on　as　we　have　in　the　past；　our　courage　strengthened　by　the　noble　example　that　Prescott　Dunson　set　for　us。　Someone　must　hold　the　office　that　Dunson　sought。　I　can　think　of　no　one　better　than　Louis　Wilderton；　the　present　incumbent。　I　call　upon　you　for　unanimous　support…〃
　Stephen　Ruthley　halted；　disturbed　by　a　motion　at　the　rear　of　the　auditorium。　His　words　were　drowned。　Men　were　rising　to　cheer　an　unexpected　arrival；　a　man　whose　entry　came　as　a　bombshell　to　Stephen　Ruthley。
　Striding　down　the　center　aisle；　step　firm　and　carriage　erect；　came　a　man　with　keen　face　and　flowing　hair。　Like　a　crusader　from　the　past；　his　very　appearance　awoke　thunderous　applause。　Wildly；　the　reformers　were　cheering　Judge　Martin　Benbrook。
　As　the　judge　reached　the　platform；　Ruthley　stepped　aside；　bowing　and　smiling；　for　he　knew　that　he　must　side　with　enthusiasm。　As　the　judge　stepped　forward；　a　hush　fell　upon　the　audience。　In　brief　words；　the　elderly　jurist　announced　his　purpose。
　〃I　have　e；〃　he　declared　firmly；　〃to　announce　my　return　to　public　life。
　I　intend　to　be　a　candidate　for　the　office　of　district　attorney！〃
　The　crowd　went　wild　again。　Judge　Benbrook　waited　for　the　enthusiasm　to　end。　Stephen　Ruthley　retained　his　forced　smile。　Mayor　Marclot　and　Director　Borman　restrained　their　nervousness。　As　the　hubbub　ended；　the　judge　added：
　〃I　hold　high　regard　for　the　present　district　attorney。〃　He　turned　toward　Wilderton　as　he　spoke。　〃Yet　I　feel　that　he　has　been　handicapped　through　adverse　conditions。　My　experience　on　the　bench　will　enable　me　to　carry　through　thoroughly　the　functions　of　the　office。　As　my　foremost　assistant；　I　shall　need　Louis　Wilderton。〃
　Roars　of　approval。　Wilderton　was　on　his　feet；　shaking　away　from　Ruthley；　the　young　county　prosecutor　sprang　forward　and　clutched　Judge　Benbrook's　hand。
　The　pact　was　sealed；　Ruthley's　hopes　were　spiked。　As　champion　of　reform；　his　part　was　to　uphold　such　accord。
　When　new　silence　came；　Judge　Benbrook　began　a　speech。　His　statements　were　mild　at　first；　gradually；　they　carried　veiled　accusation。
　〃The　death　of　Prescott　Dunson　was　the　cause　of　my　decision；〃　the　judge　told　the　reformers。　〃He　promised　to　reveal　the　truth　of　crime　and　corruption。
　He　promised　to　drive　them　forever　from　Westford。　Have　we　proof　that　Dunson's　hopes　have　been　fully　acplished？　No！　You　would　like　to　hear　the　reason；　therefore；　I　shall　give　it。
　〃There　is　laxity　in　our　city　government。〃　The　judge　paused　to　let　his　words　carry　home。　〃If　it　had　functioned　to　its　full；　crime　and　corruption　would　never　have　gained　a　foothold。　Where　were　our　police；　when　they　allowed　murderers　to　infest　this　city？　What　happened　with　our　higher　officials；　when　they　permitted　such　contracts　as　Adam　Woodstock's　to　be　signed？〃
　The　words　were　indictments　of　Mayor　Marclot　and　Director　Borman。　The　two　officials　winced；　looked　uneasy　as　they　shifted　in　their　chairs。　Judge　Benbrook　drove　home　a　final　statement。
　〃As　district　attorney；〃　he　announced；　〃I　shall　make　a　full　inquiry　into　every　department　of　our　administration！　I　know　that　our　honest　officials　will　wele　such　investigation。　They　were　elected　on　a　reform　ticket。　I　trust　that　they　have　stood　by　their　pledges　and　done　their　utmost　to　further　good　government。〃
　Cleverly；　the　old　judge　had　softened　his　impeachment。　His　words　gave　Marclot　and　Borman　a　chance　to　regain　their　tottering　favor。　Both　were　too　jittery　to　see　the　opportunity；　but　Ruthley　was　quick　to　grasp　it。
　Smiling　in　his　best　fashion；　the　master　crook　started　a　new　round　of　applause；　lifting　his　hands　to　bring　the　audience　to　its　feet。　He　managed　a　nod　to　Borman；　who　nudged　Mayor　Marclot。　The　two　came　up；　joined　enthusiastically　in　the　tribute　to　Judge　Benbrook。
　
　
　OFF　in　the　judge's　own　home；　The　Shadow　was　seated　in　the　parlor；　listening　to　a　radio　hook…up　that　brought　Judge　Benbrook's　voice　to　his　ears。
　The　meeting　of　the　Civic　Club　was　being　broadcast　throughout　Westford。　The　tumults　of　applause　told　their　own　story　of　the　reception　that　the　judge　had　gained。
　The　Shadow　turned　off　the　radio；　ascended　the　stairs　to　the　second　floor。
　Judge　Benbrook　had　followed　a　course　as　outlined　by　The　Shadow。　It　had　brought　results。　Through　the　judge's　cooperation；　The　Shadow　had　thrown　confusion　into　the　ranks　of　crime。
　
　
　THE　meeting　had　ended　at　the　Civic　Club。　Mayor　Marclot　and　Director　Borman　were　the　first　to　shake　Judge　Benbrook's　hand；　hoping　thereby　to　prove　that　they　were　foremost　of　the　honest　officials　whom　he　had　mentioned。　Stephen　Ruthley　pressed　forward；　mended　the　speech　in　flowery　tones。　As　members　of　the　audience　thronged　the　platform；　Marclot　and　Borman　made　an　inconspicuous　departure。
　They　headed　for　Ruthley's　apartment。　They　were　there　when　the　boss　arrived；　to　announce　that　he　had　left　Judge　Benbrook　still　surrounded　by　enthusiastic　admirers。　Ruthley　stopped　their　questi