mg.cityofcrime-第5节

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　a　place　of　absolute　security。　With　his　aid；　I　can　lift　the　lid。　I　can　not　only　tell　the　truth；　I　can　prove　it。〃
　
　
　STOOPING；　Dunson　picked　up　the　newspaper　that　he　had　dropped。　He　opened　it　to　the　editorial　page；　pointed　to　a　paragraph。
　〃Look；　Martha；〃　he　said。　〃Already；　they　state　that　they　expect　to　hear　from　Prescott　Dunson；　that　I　have　promised　to　throw　light　on　hidden　corruption；　to　name　men　who　have　bled　this　city。　When　I　officially　and　publicly　announce　myself　as　candidate　for　district　attorney；　I　shall　wither　the　rogues　whose　names　I　mention。　I　shall…〃
　Dunson　broke　off。　A　telephone　bell　was　ringing　in　the　hall。　With　a　nod　to　his　wife；　Dunson　lowered　his　tone　and　ordered：
　〃Answer　it。〃
　The　woman　laid　aside　her　knitting；　she　went　to　the　telephone；　held　a　brief　conversation。　She　came　back　into　the　room；　to　whisper：
　〃Someone　wishes　to　speak　to　you；　Prescott。　He　says　that　his　name　is　Shaw。〃
　Dunson　bounded　across　the　room。　In　the　hall；　he　seized　up　the　telephone；　began　a　quick　conversation。
　〃Yes；　yes。。。〃　Mrs。　Dunson　heard　all　that　her　husband　said。　〃Of　course；　Mr。
　Shaw。。。　I　knew　that　you　would　learn　where　I　was　living。。。　Yes；　I　have　my　car　here。。。　The　garage。。？　Right　in　back　of　the　house。。。　Certainly。　I　understand。
　〃Twenty　minutes。。。〃　Dunson　nodded　as　he　spoke。　〃Yes；　I　can　make　it　in　that　time。。。　Parking　lot　beside　the　Majestic　Hotel。。。　Up　through　the　fire　tower。。。
　Room　304。。。　Very　well；　Mr。　Shaw。　I　shall　be　there　within　a　half　hour。〃
　Hanging　up　the　receiver；　Dunson　came　into　the　parlor。　He　told　his　wife　the　import　of　the　call。
　〃Shaw　wants　me　to　meet　him　at　the　Majestic　Hotel。　I'm　going　straight　up　to　his　room。　Pack　my　bag　at　once；　Martha。〃
　〃Is　it　safe；　Prescott？〃
　〃Absolutely！　I　am　to　park　my　car　by　the　side　of　the　hotel；　in　that　parking　space　that　we've　used　so　often。　I'll　go　in　by　the　side　door；　up　the　fire　tower　to　Shaw's　room。　I'll　call　you；　after　I　have　talked　with　him。〃
　Donning　coat　and　vest；　Dunson　clapped　a　battered　hat　upon　his　head。　He　went　out　through　the　kitchen；　while　Mrs。　Dunson　started　upstairs　to　pack　the　suitcase。
　Five　minutes　later；　Mrs。　Dunson　arrived　downstairs；　carrying　a　light　bag。
　She　heard　the　kitchen　door　slam；　Dunson　arrived；　fuming　incoherently。　Taking　the　bag；　he　explained　the　reason　for　his　annoyance。
　〃The　battery　is　dead；〃　he　told　his　wife。　〃I'll　take　the　trolley　into　town。〃
　〃Didn't　Mr。　Shaw　tell　you　to　drive　in　your　car？〃
　〃Yes。　Probably；　because　I　said　that　I　had　one　available。〃
　〃Perhaps　you　should　call　him　at　the　hotel。〃
　〃No。　That　would　be　unnecessary。〃
　Kissing　his　wife　good…by；　Dunson　stepped　toward　the　door。　He　paused　long　enough　to　add　a　last　assurance。
　〃The　trolley　stop　is　only　one　block　from　the　Majestic　Hotel；〃　reminded　Dunson。　〃That　block　is　a　quiet　one。　I　can　walk　along　the　left　side　of　the　street；　in　front　of　Judge　Benbrook's　old　house。　Then　I　get　past　there；　I　can　cross　over　to　the　parking　lot；　and　enter　the　hotel　as　Shaw　suggested。〃
　
　
　LEAVING；　the　house；　Dunson　took　to　a　secluded　sidewalk。　The　suburban　street　was　deserted；　Dunson　felt　secure　as　he　paced　in　the　direction　of　the　car　line。　He　reached　the　car　stop；　stood　under　the　darkened　shelter　of　a　large　tree。
　In　a　few　minutes；　a　jouncy　trolley　car　came　along　the　street。　Dunson　stepped　into　the　glow　of　its　headlight　and　halted　it。
　There　were　only　five　passengers　on　the　trolley　car。　None　noted　Dunson　particularly。　Setting　his　bag　on　the　seat　beside　him；　Dunson　shoved　his　hat　back　from　his　bulgy　forehead　and　stared　from　the　window　as　the　car　rolled　along。
　After　a　few　blocks；　the　car　halted。　A　policeman　stepped　aboard　the　back　platform；　grunted　a　〃hello〃　to　the　conductor。　The　car　started　on；　the　officer　remained　on　the　rear　platform。　The　trolley　had　traveled　another　block　before　he　happened　to　glance　in　through　the　door。
　〃Say！〃　exclaimed　the　bluecoat；　to　the　conductor。　〃Isn't　that　Prescott　Dunson；　the　fellow　that's　going　to　run　for　district　attorney？〃
　〃Guess　it　is；〃　rejoined　the　conductor；　peering　through　the　door。　〃Looks　like　the　pictures　I've　seen　of　him。〃
　The　cop　whistled。
　〃We　got　orders　tonight　to　watch　for　him；〃　he　informed。　〃On　account　of　that　battle　last　night；　the　police　director's　taking　no　chances。　Guess　he　figures　there'll　be　crooks　looking　for　Dunson。　Ring　for　a　stop　at　the　next　corner。　I'd　better　put　in　a　call　to　the　precinct。〃
　〃Want　me　to　hold　the　car　for　you？〃
　〃Naw！　I'll　take　the　next　one。　I　wasn't　told　to　go　along　with　Dunson。
　Orders　were　to　report　if　I　saw　him。〃
　The　conductor　signaled　the　motor…man。　The　trolley　stopped　long　enough　for　the　policeman　to　drop　off；　then　resumed　its　jerky　course。　ing　into　the　heart　of　the　city；　it　was　halted　frequently　by　traffic　lights；　but　took　on　few　passengers。
　After　ten　minutes；　the　trolley　neared　the　corner　where　Dunson　intended　to　get　off。　The　conductor；　staring　toward　the　street；　noted　that　a　touring　car　was　loitering　along　beside　the　trolley；　but　he　quickly　forgot　the　fact。　The　trolley　swung　into　a　one…way　street；　Dunson　arose　and　pressed　a　button。　When　the　car　stopped；　the　big　man　alighted　at　his　corner。
　
　
　DUNSON'S　first　move　was　to　cross　the　street。　This　brought　him　to　the　left　side　of　a　short　block。　To　his　left　was　the　looming　bulk　of　an　old…fashioned　mansion；　the　residence　of　Judge　Martin　Benbrook；　who　was　long　retired　from　the　bench。　There　were　two　gates　in　the　iron　picket　fence　that　ran　in　front　of　the　old　house。　One　offered　access　to　the　front　door；　the　other　led　to　a　side　passage　that　ran　to　the　rear　of　the　house。
　Just　past　Judge　Benbrook's　home；　the　remaining　half　of　the　block　was　posed　of　buildings　with　lighted　fronts。　Across　from　them　was　the　Majestic　Hotel；　on　the　right　side　of　the　street。　Nestled　against　the　hotel　were　parked　cars；　scarcely　discernible　in　the　darkness　of　the　parking　lot。
　Dunson　strolled　along　at　leisurely　gait；　he　saw　that　he　could　easily　cross　the　street　unnoticed；　after　he　had　passed　Judge　Benbrook's。
　It　was　when　Dunson　neared　the　second　gate；　that　the　first　token　of　danger　came。　A　touring　car　had　swung　the　corner　which　the　trolley　had　left。　Its　lights　flashed　suddenly　from　dim　to　bright。　Dunson's　walking　figure　was　outlined　in　their　glare。　For　an　instant；　the　big　man　paused；　hoping；　the　lights　would　swing　away。　They　did；　but　in　their　place　came　the　vivid　glow　of　a　spotlight。
　Prescott　Dunson　was　caught　in　full　view；　turned　half　toward　the　side　gate　in　the　picket　fence。　He　was　clutching　his　suitcase；　blinking　into　the　brilliance　that　had　so　plainly　revealed　him。　To　his　startled　ears　came　the　sound　of　a　rasped　mand；　that　delivered　two　words　only：
　〃Give　it！〃
　The　suitcase　dropped　from　Dunson's　shaky　hands。　In　that　tense　instant；　the　doomed　man　realized　that　he　was　on　the　spot。
　Prescott　Dunson　had　walked　into　the　snare　of　death。
　
　
　CHAPTER　V　
　DEATH　DELIVERED　
　OTHER　eyes　than　Dunson's　had　seen　the　sudden　glare　of　the　revealing　spotlight。　They　were　eyes　that　were　not　blinded　by　the　unexpected　brilliance。
　Across　the　street；　but　beyond　the　spot　where　Dunson　stood；　a　lurking　figure　was　watching　from　the　shelter　of　cars　stationed　in　the　parking　lot。
　To　that　observer；　the　spotlight　told　its　story。　He　saw　the　helpless　man　caught　in　the　path　of　light。　With　a　quick　spring；　this　watcher　came　from　his　place　of　security。　Street　lights　showed　him　as　a　shrouded　shape。　The　Shadow　was　again　on　hand　to　offset　crime。
　Before　thugs　could　obey　the　mand　of　their　leader；　The　Shadow's　fists　came　up。　With　quick　fingers；　he　pulled　the　triggers　of　automatics；　dispatched　whining　bullets　straight　for　the　death　car　that　lay　almost　between　him　and　Prescott　Dunson。　Cries　came　from　the　slowly　moving　touring　car。　The　Shadow　had　scored　hits　upon　human　targets。
　Those　shots　saved　Dunson　for　the　moment。　They　gave　the　doomed　man　a　needed　opportunity。　Close　beside　Dunson　was　the　gate　to　the　side　passage　that　led　beyond　Judge　Benbrook's　house。　Had　Dunson　dropped　his　suitcase　and　pressed　through　the　gate；　he　could　have　gained　the　shelter　that　would　save　him。
　Instead；　Dunson　stood　rooted。　He　seemed　hypnotized　by　the　light　that　blinded　him。　The　death　car　veered；　to　escape　The　Shadow's　bombardment。　While　the　automatics　still　tongued；　a　clatter　began　from　within　the　touring　car。　One　crouching　machine　gunner　had　lain　below　The　Shadow's　fire；　was　pushing　the　muzzle　of　the　death　gun　through　the　opening　of　a　half…opened　door；　on　Dunson's　side　of　the　street。　That　killer　profited　by　Dunson's　lack　of　motion。　He　let　the　doomed　man　have　it。
　The　touring　car　sped　forward；　while　bullets　still　streamed　from　its　side。
　The　driver　was　low　behind　the　wheel；　the　machine　gunner　was　crouched　on　the　rear　floor。　Others　were　hanging　from　the　side　of　the　car　while　it　ran　the　gantlet　of　The　Shadow's　fire。　One　in　the　front　seat；　the　other　in　the　rear；　two　thugs　had　stopped　the　bullets　that　had　entered　the　right　side　of　the　car。
　The　Shadow　boomed　last　shots　at　the　driver。　They　failed　to　get　him；　for　the　rolling　form　of　an　intervening　thug　shielded　the　man　at　the　wheel。　As　the　touring　car　wheeled　leftward　to　the　main　street；　The　Shadow　put　a　bullet　through　the　gasoline　tank；　but　the　automobile　kept　onward　and　disappeared　from　view。
　
　
　THE　SHAD