mg.cityofcrime-第14节

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intended　contact　with　Woodstock。　Since　Ruthley　was　absent；　it　followed　that　he　could　have　gone　to　Woodstock's　home。
　
　
　HAVING　seen　Kirk　Borman　leave　the　apartment　house　after　a　definite　visit；　The　Shadow　knew　that　Ruthley　must　have　been　at　home　while　the　police　director　was　here。　Therefore；　Ruthley　must　have　chosen　another　exit。
　For　the　moment；　The　Shadow　did　not　consider　the　large　painting　on　the　wall；　for　it　seemed　likely　that　Ruthley　could　have　gone　out　by　a　back　door　of　the　apartment　itself。　The　Shadow　decided　to　look　for　such　an　exit。　Before　he　did　so；　he　went　to　the　telephone；　lifted　the　receiver　and　dialed　Woodstock's　number。
　The　only　response　was　a　busy　signal。　It　meant　either　that　Woodstock　was　talking　over　the　telephone　or　that　the　contractor　had　taken　his　receiver　from　the　hook。　Hanging　up；　The　Shadow　went　out　through　the　hallway　of　the　apartment；　to　begin　a　stealthy　search　for　another　outlet。
　The　Shadow　had　not　proceeded　far　before　he　found　reason　to　abandon　his　search。　As　he　turned　the　corner　of　a　hallway；　he　heard　the　creep　of　footsteps。
　Gliding　through　the　doorway　of　a　darkened　room；　The　Shadow　found　another　opening　and　reached　the　hall　near　Ruthley's　den。　Again；　he　heard　a　guarded　creep。
　Someone　had　heard　the　click　of　the　telephone　dial　when　The　Shadow　had　used　it。　That　person　had　visited　the　den　following　The　Shadow's　departure。　His　presence　known；　The　Shadow　had　need　of　strategy。　His　best　course　was　to　return　to　the　den；　since　the　vigilant　guard　had　already　been　there。　The　Shadow　crossed　the　hallway。　His　tall　form　threw　a　long　silhouette　upon　the　floor；　almost　to　a　corner　beyond　the　door　of　the　den。　Gliding　into　the　lighted　room；　The　Shadow　neared　the　desk；　intending　to　pass　beyond　it。　A　sound　made　him　wheel；　he　faced　the　doorway　just　as　a　wiry　attacker　sprang　into　view。
　It　was　Haija。　Almost　as　stealthy　and　as　observant　as　The　Shadow；　the　keen　Japanese　had　spotted　the　silhouette　upon　the　hallway　floor。　ing　from　beyond　the　corner；　he　had　reached　the　doorway　of　the　den。　Seeing　The　Shadow；　Haija　was　leaping　to　prompt　attack。　The　fact　that　The　Shadow　swung　to　meet　him　did　not　perturb　the　speedy　Jap。　Haija　was　grinning　as　he　came。
　With　nimble　hands；　Haija　caught　The　Shadow's　right　arm；　as　it　swung　toward　the　front　of　the　black　cloak。　Haija　thought　that　The　Shadow　was　reaching　for　a　gun。　His　guess　was　wrong。　The　Shadow　had　recognized　a　jujitsu　thrust；　his　move　was　a　bluff　to　counteract　it。
　As　Haija　performed　a　back…spin；　expecting　to　speed　The　Shadow　over　his　shoulders；　a　gloved　left　hand　hooked　cross…arm；　to　clutch　the　Jap's　neck。　Haija　jolted　short。　The　Shadow　whipped　backward；　his　long　arms　were　like　tremendous　levers；　as　they　hoisted　Haija　from　the　floor。　Releasing　his　grip；　The　Shadow　let　Haija　hurtle　over　an　armchair；　shoulder　foremost；　the　Japanese　bashed　against　the　side　of　the　heavy　framed　painting　that　adorned　the　wall。　The　canvas　quivered　from　the　thud；　instantly；　The　Shadow　recognized　that　it　served　as　a　door。
　
　
　HAIJA　lay　motionless　on　the　floor；　stunned　by　a　bump　his　head　had　taken　when　he　sprawled。　The　Shadow　stepped　to　the　telephone；　again；　he　dialed　Woodstock's　number；　to　get　another　busy　signal。　Hardly　had　he　finished　with　the　dialing　when　he　heard　sounds　from　elsewhere　in　the　apartment。　Ruthley　had　servants　beside　Haija。　They　had　heard　the　crash　of　the　Jap's　fall；　they　were　ing　to　learn　its　cause。
　For　a　moment　The　Shadow　paused；　ready　to　begin　new　fray。　His　gloved　fingers；　dipping　beneath　the　cloak；　crinkled　the　paper　that　he　had　placed　there。
　The　Shadow　changed　his　plan。　Stepping　over　toward　Haija's　prone　body；　he　tried　the　edge　of　the　picture　frame。　He　found　the　catch；　shoved　Haija　aside　with　one　foot　as　he　drew　the　portrait　toward　himself。　Listening；　The　Shadow　noted　that　there　were　no　approaching　steps。　Probably　the　servants　were　conferring　among　themselves；　reluctant　to　advance　until　they　knew　more。
　Leaving　the　big　portrait　ajar；　The　Shadow　hurried　from　the　den。　He　reached　the　hallway；　gained　the　outer　door　and　opened　it；　making　a　clatter　as　he　did　so。
　Giving　the　door　a　slam。　The　Shadow　wheeled　back　toward　the　den。　As　he　passed　the　unconscious　form　of　Haija；　he　heard　the　pound　of　footsteps。
　Servants　knew　at　last　that　there　was　an　intruder　in　the　apartment。　They　thought　that　the　unknown　visitor　had　fled　by　the　front　door。　With　courage　gained；　they　were　making　a　pursuit。　Calmly；　The　Shadow　stepped　through　the　opening　behind　the　portrait；　closed　the　doorlike　painting　and　heard　the　catch　click　automatically。
　Stephen　Ruthley；　when　he　returned；　would　never　guess　that　The　Shadow　had　found　the　secret　exit。　Haija　would　testify　to　a　battle　in　the　den；　the　other　servants　would　swear　that　an　invader　had　fled　through　the　front　door。　As　for　the　crumpled　paper　that　he　had　gained；　The　Shadow　doubted　that　Ruthley　would　even　remember　it。　The　master　crook　had　considered　it　of　no　importance。
　
　
　THE　SHADOW　however；　regarded　the　paper　as　valuable。　He　pocketed　it　securely；　as　he　picked　his　way　by　flashlight　through　the　interior　of　the　vacant　house。　That　paper　was　evidence　of　a　sort　that　could　be　used；　when　the　proper　time　arrived。　There　was　a　chance；　though；　that　it　might　never　prove　necessary。
　For　The　Shadow　was　taking　a　shortcut　to　reach　Stephen　Ruthley。　He　was　convinced　that　the　master　crook　had　gone　to　the　residence　of　Adam　Woodstock。
　Knowing　Ruthley's　ways。　The　Shadow　was　positive　that　he　would　find　the　rogue　engaged　in　secret　parley　with　the　contractor。　If　the　two　were　hatching　a　new　scheme　of　graft；　it　would　be　worth　The　Shadow's　while　to　listen；　then　deal　with　Ruthley　afterward。
　Reaching　the　blind　alley　in　back　of　the　row　of　houses；　The　Shadow　followed　devious　turns　until　he　reached　an　obscure　garage　that　was　well　away　from　brightly　lighted　streets。　An　attendant　was　dozing　in　the　office；　he　did　not　awaken　when　The　Shadow　entered　a　small　roadster　and　coasted　the　car　to　the　street。
　This　was　a　reserve　automobile；　that　The　Shadow　had　purchased　from　a　〃used…car〃　lot　in　Westford。　He　was　employing　it　to　reach　Adam　Woodstock's　home；　on　the　other　side　of　town。　The　Shadow　knew　the　location　of　the　contractor's　residence；　it　was　one　of　the　largest　houses　in　Westford。
　All　that　disturbed　The　Shadow　was　the　fact　that　it　had　taken　him　a　dozen　minutes　to　reach　the　garage　where　he　had　placed　the　old　car。　That　interval　had　delayed　his　start　to　Woodstock's。　There　was　a　chance　that　the　conference　might　be　ended　before　The　Shadow　arrived　at　the　contractor's　home。
　Had　The　Shadow　learned　the　real　purpose　of　Stephen　Ruthley's　visit　to　Adam　Woodstock；　he　would　have　realized　that　the　odds　were　badly　against　him。　Though　he　was　to　profit　by　his　present　mission；　The　Shadow　was　faring　into　new　and　greater　hazards　than　those　that　he　had　previously　faced　in　Westford。
　
　
　CHAPTER　XIII　
　DEATH'S　FALSE　TALE　
　EVEN　before　The　Shadow's　bat　with　Haija；　Stephen　Ruthley　had　reached　the　home　of　Adam　Woodstock。　Admitted　by　the　contractor　himself；　Ruthley　had　gone　to　a　room　on　the　second　floor；　there　to　confer　with　the　man　he　had　e　to　see。
　Adam　Woodstock　was　a　dreary…faced　individual；　his　bloodless　countenance　was　almost　as　gray　as　the　thin　fringe　of　hair　that　surrounded　his　bald　head。
　Seated　at　a　desk　in　the　room　that　he　called　his　study；　Woodstock　assumed　a　listening　attitude　while　Stephen　Ruthley　spoke。　Woodstock　had　an　odd　habit　of　tilting　his　head　to　the　right；　Ruthley　noticed　it　particularly　tonight。
　Across　the　desk　from　Woodstock；　Ruthley　was　purring　a　persuasive　story。　It　concerned　the　contract　on　which　Woodstock　had　already　paid　back　the　half　million　dollars　that　had　been　required　of　him。
　〃There　are　several　of　us　in　this　deal；〃　confided　Ruthley。　〃Marclot　and　I　are　not　alone。　That　is　why　I　have　e　to　see　you；　Woodstock。　These　papers　explain　the　situation。〃
　Spreading　the　documents　that　he　had　brought　from　his　own　files；　Ruthley　chose　one　and　passed　it　across　the　desk　to　Woodstock。
　〃This　is　the　most　important　one；〃　declared　Ruthley。　〃It　contains　an　itemized　statement　that　you　gave　to　Marclot。　The　bottom　line　lists　five　hundred　thousand　dollars　under　the　head　of　excess　profit。〃
　〃Quite　right；〃　returned　Woodstock；　in　a　drawly　tone。　〃I　listed　my　own　profit　as　one　hundred　thousand；　ten　per　cent　of　a　million。　The　five　hundred　thousand　represents　the　amount　that　I　turned　over　to　Marclot。〃
　〃We　know　that；〃　nodded　Ruthley；　〃but　some　of　my　associates　have　doubted　the　authenticity　of　the　figures。〃
　〃But　Marclot　received　the　half　million…〃
　〃True。　Nevertheless；　we　have　only　his　word　for　it　that　your　figures　are　correct。〃
　Adam　Woodstock　blinked。　In　unbelieving　tone；　he　questioned：
　〃Do　you　mean　to　say　that　someone　has　suggested　that　Marclot　and　I　might　have　worked　a　side　deal　of　our　own？〃
　〃Just　that；〃　replied　Ruthley。　〃Of　course；　it　sounds　ridiculous。　I　said　so　myself。　But　the　others　did　not　think　so。　They　had　a　reason　for　their　doubts。〃
　〃What　could　that　be？〃
　〃The　fact　that　you　did　not　sign　the　statement。〃
　Woodstock　delivered　a　short　laugh。　Head　still　tilted；　he　reached　for　a　pen　that　lay　beside　his　desk　telephone。　Ruthley　noted　that　the　telephone　was　off　its　stand。　He　had　suggested　that　Woodstock　leave　it　so；　in　order　not　to　be　tro