mg.cityofcrime-µÚ2½Ú
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¡¡motion¡¡began¡¡within¡¡the¡¡old¡¡hotel¡£¡¡Until¡¡that¡¡moment£»¡¡it¡¡had¡¡been¡¡a¡¡quiet¡looking¡¡frame¡¡structure£»¡¡its¡¡dim¡¡windows¡¡silent¡¡except¡¡for¡¡the¡¡jerky¡¡music¡¡of¡¡an¡¡overloud¡¡player¡¡piano¡£¡¡But¡¡the¡¡whistle¡¡blast¡¡that¡¡marked¡¡the¡¡beginning¡¡of¡¡raid¡¡was¡¡like¡¡a¡¡spark¡¡igniting¡¡dynamite¡£
¡¡Shouts¡¡burst¡¡from¡¡the¡¡hotel¡£¡¡Tables¡¡clattered£»¡¡lights¡¡blinked¡¡on¡¡and¡¡off¡£
¡¡Gunfire¡¡sounded£»¡¡heavy¡¡footsteps¡¡pounded¡£¡¡Doors¡¡ripped¡¡open¡¡at¡¡the¡¡back¡¡of¡¡the¡¡building£»¡¡the¡¡vanguard¡¡of¡¡a¡¡horde¡¡of¡¡hoodlums¡¡appeared¡£¡¡As¡¡three¡¡men¡¡leaped¡¡from¡¡rickety¡¡steps¡£¡¡Lieutenant¡¡Maclare¡¡snapped¡¡a¡¡mand¡¡to¡¡his¡¡main¡¡squad£º
¡¡¡¨Take¡¡them¡¡as¡¡they¡¡hit¡¡the¡¡street£¡¡¨¡¡The¡¡bluecoats¡¡spread£»¡¡fanwise¡£¡¡With¡¡Maclare¡¡in¡¡the¡¡center£»¡¡they¡¡closed¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡back¡¡doors¡¡of¡¡the¡¡hotel¡£¡¡The¡¡first¡¡fugitives¡¡dropped¡¡against¡¡the¡¡steps£»¡¡raising¡¡their¡¡arms¡¡in¡¡surrender¡£¡¡Footsteps¡¡told¡¡that¡¡more¡¡were¡¡ing£»¡¡Maclare¡¡and¡¡his¡¡men¡¡were¡¡ready¡¡to¡¡bag¡¡them¡¡the¡¡instant¡¡that¡¡they¡¡arrived¡£
¡¡Then¡¡came¡¡the¡¡unexpected¡£¡¡From¡¡the¡¡low¡roofed¡¡buildings¡¡of¡¡the¡¡coal¡¡yards£»¡¡searchlights¡¡poured¡¡a¡¡sudden¡¡glare¡¡that¡¡made¡¡the¡¡street¡¡like¡¡day¡£¡¡Huge¡¡beams¡¡of¡¡light¡¡showed¡¡the¡¡entire¡¡squad¡¡of¡¡police£»¡¡flat¡footed¡¡on¡¡the¡¡sidewalk£»¡¡against¡¡the¡¡paintless¡¡back¡¡wall¡¡of¡¡the¡¡hotel¡£
¡¡Maclare£»¡¡swinging¡¡about£»¡¡stood¡¡scowling¡¡from¡¡the¡¡center¡¡of¡¡his¡¡raiders¡£
¡¡Snarled¡¡oaths¡¡sounded¡¡from¡¡fences¡¡and¡¡roofs£»¡¡delivered¡¡by¡¡thugs¡¡who¡¡were¡¡out¡¡of¡¡sight¡¡behind¡¡the¡¡searchlights¡£¡¡A¡¡harsh¡¡voice¡¡barked¡¡an¡¡order¡£¡¡Revolvers¡¡crackled¡¡from¡¡the¡¡darkness¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡sharp¡¡rattle£»¡¡the¡¡opening¡¡outburst¡¡of¡¡a¡¡machine¡¡gun¡£¡¡It¡¡ended¡¡almost¡¡instantly£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡trigger¡¡man¡¡had¡¡started¡¡it¡¡too¡¡soon¡£
¡¡That¡¡warning¡¡sound¡¡told¡¡how¡¡hopelessly¡¡the¡¡police¡¡were¡¡trapped¡£¡¡Crooks¡¡had¡¡surprised¡¡the¡¡raiders¡£¡¡Hidden¡¡in¡¡ambush£»¡¡men¡¡of¡¡crime¡¡were¡¡equipped¡¡to¡¡wipe¡¡out¡¡Lieutenant¡¡Maclare¡¡and¡¡his¡¡entire¡¡squad¡¡at¡¡an¡¡instant's¡¡notice¡£
¡¡
¡¡
¡¡CHAPTER¡¡II¡¡
¡¡SCATTERED¡¡HORDES¡¡
¡¡THE¡¡menace¡¡of¡¡the¡¡situation¡¡was¡¡but¡¡partially¡¡grasped¡¡by¡¡Lieutenant¡¡James¡¡Maclare¡£¡¡He¡¡and¡¡his¡¡men¡¡had¡¡faced¡¡about£»¡¡they¡¡were¡¡blinking¡¡at¡¡the¡¡blinding¡¡searchlights¡£¡¡None¡¡had¡¡been¡¡hit¡¡by¡¡the¡¡first¡¡revolver¡¡fire£»¡¡the¡¡machine¡¡gun¡¡had¡¡stopped¡¡without¡¡delivering¡¡death¡£
¡¡It¡¡occurred¡¡to¡¡Maclare¡¡that¡¡ambushed¡¡crooks¡¡had¡¡intended¡¡no¡¡more¡¡than¡¡a¡¡warning£»¡¡that¡¡they¡¡were¡¡afraid¡¡to¡¡deliver¡¡heavy¡¡fire¡¡because¡¡their¡¡own¡¡men¡¡were¡¡ing¡¡from¡¡the¡¡hotel¡£¡¡Looking¡¡about£»¡¡Maclare¡¡saw¡¡that¡¡a¡¡dozen¡¡fugitives¡¡had¡¡arrived£»¡¡but¡¡they¡¡were¡¡no¡¡longer¡¡in¡¡flight¡£¡¡They¡¡were¡¡a¡¡leering£»¡¡contemptuous¡¡throng£»¡¡massed¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡back¡¡steps¡¡of¡¡the¡¡hotel¡£
¡¡Like¡¡the¡¡thugs¡¡behind¡¡the¡¡searchlights£»¡¡these¡¡crooks¡¡had¡¡the¡¡police¡¡covered¡£¡¡The¡¡inference¡¡seemed¡¡plain¡¡to¡¡Maclare¡£¡¡If¡¡the¡¡police¡¡stood¡¡by¡¡and¡¡let¡¡the¡¡crooks¡¡from¡¡the¡¡hotel¡¡make¡¡their¡¡get¡away£»¡¡there¡¡would¡¡be¡¡no¡¡massacre¡£
¡¡Maclare¡¡was¡¡partly¡¡right¡¡in¡¡this¡¡conclusion¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡to¡¡learn¡¡later¡¡just¡¡how¡¡far¡¡he¡¡was¡¡wrong¡£¡¡Sizing¡¡the¡¡situation£»¡¡the¡¡lieutenant¡¡realized¡¡that¡¡he¡¡could¡¡not¡¡count¡¡on¡¡aid¡¡from¡¡Sergeant¡¡Cassley£»¡¡he¡¡knew¡¡also¡¡that¡¡the¡¡Flying¡¡Squadron¡¡would¡¡not¡¡arrive¡¡for¡¡ten¡¡minutes¡£¡¡Much¡¡though¡¡he¡¡hated¡¡to¡¡see¡¡crooks¡¡gain¡¡their¡¡way£»¡¡Maclare¡¡could¡¡not¡¡forget¡¡the¡¡welfare¡¡of¡¡his¡¡men¡£¡¡He¡¡saw¡¡no¡¡use¡¡in¡¡allowing¡¡the¡¡slaughter¡¡of¡¡his¡¡squad¡£
¡¡Scowling£»¡¡the¡¡lieutenant¡¡lowered¡¡his¡¡revolver¡¡and¡¡stepped¡¡out¡¡into¡¡the¡¡middle¡¡of¡¡the¡¡street¡£¡¡His¡¡move¡¡was¡¡an¡¡order¡¡for¡¡his¡¡men¡¡to¡¡spread¡¡away¡¡and¡¡let¡¡the¡¡armed¡¡men¡¡from¡¡the¡¡hotel¡¡make¡¡a¡¡calm¡¡departure¡£
¡¡It¡¡was¡¡not¡¡until¡¡he¡¡had¡¡detached¡¡himself¡¡from¡¡his¡¡squad£»¡¡that¡¡Maclare¡¡realized¡¡another¡¡purpose¡¡behind¡¡the¡¡ambush¡£¡¡Hardly¡¡was¡¡the¡¡lieutenant¡¡standing¡¡entirely¡¡alone¡¡before¡¡a¡¡rasped¡¡voice¡¡called¡¡from¡¡a¡¡low¡¡roof¡¡top£º
¡¡¡¨Get¡¡Maclare£¡¡¨
¡¡One¡¡man¡¡alone¡¡was¡¡marked¡¡to¡¡die£»¡¡that¡¡was¡¡Maclare¡¡himself¡£¡¡Crooks¡¡wanted¡¡the¡¡raiding¡¡lieutenant¡¡dead£»¡¡they¡¡were¡¡contemptuous¡¡of¡¡the¡¡policemen¡¡who¡¡formed¡¡the¡¡squad¡£¡¡Maclare£»¡¡by¡¡his¡¡own¡¡action£»¡¡had¡¡placed¡¡himself¡¡in¡¡the¡¡very¡¡spot¡¡that¡¡his¡¡enemies¡¡wanted¡£
¡¡Bluecoats£»¡¡like¡¡crooks£»¡¡heard¡¡the¡¡death¡¡order¡£¡¡The¡¡cry¡¡electrified¡¡them¡£
¡¡They¡¡responded¡¡more¡¡quickly¡¡than¡¡the¡¡gloating¡¡thugs¡£¡¡They¡¡were¡¡loyal¡¡to¡¡Maclare£»¡¡the¡¡danger¡¡that¡¡threatened¡¡him¡¡was¡¡to¡¡be¡¡theirs¡£¡¡Almost¡¡as¡¡one£»¡¡the¡¡policemen¡¡raised¡¡their¡¡guns¡£¡¡Some¡¡aimed¡¡blindly¡¡for¡¡the¡¡coal¡¡yards£»¡¡along¡¡with¡¡Maclare£»¡¡others¡¡wheeled¡¡about£»¡¡to¡¡fire¡¡at¡¡men¡¡whom¡¡they¡¡could¡¡see¡£¡¡Their¡¡targets¡¡were¡¡the¡¡massed¡¡thugs¡¡on¡¡the¡¡steps¡£
¡¡The¡¡scene¡¡was¡¡set¡¡for¡¡massacre¡£¡¡The¡¡street¡¡looked¡¡like¡¡the¡¡stage¡¡of¡¡a¡¡theater£»¡¡beneath¡¡the¡¡glare¡¡of¡¡a¡¡spotlight¡£¡¡All¡¡eyes¡¡were¡¡focused¡¡upon¡¡Maclare£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡bluecoats¡¡clustering¡¡about¡¡him¡£¡¡The¡¡patrol¡¡wagons£»¡¡standing¡¡deserted¡¡on¡¡either¡¡side£»¡¡were¡¡like¡¡the¡¡wings¡¡of¡¡the¡¡stage¡£¡¡All¡¡was¡¡dim¡¡beyond¡¡those¡¡vehicles¡£
¡¡
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¡¡DURING¡¡these¡¡tense¡¡moments£»¡¡an¡¡event¡¡had¡¡occurred¡¡offstage¡£¡¡Unseen£»¡¡a¡¡figure¡¡had¡¡e¡¡up¡¡to¡¡the¡¡far¡¡side¡¡of¡¡a¡¡patrol¡¡wagon£»¡¡almost¡¡beneath¡¡the¡¡shelter¡¡of¡¡a¡¡coal¡¡yard¡¡fence¡£¡¡Like¡¡an¡¡actor¡¡expecting¡¡his¡¡cue£»¡¡this¡¡silent¡¡arrival¡¡had¡¡risen¡¡on¡¡the¡¡running¡¡board¡¡of¡¡a¡¡black¡¡Maria¡£¡¡His¡¡head¡¡and¡¡shoulders¡¡projected¡¡above¡¡the¡¡wagon¡¡top£»¡¡where¡¡they¡¡were¡¡outlined¡¡dimly¡¡by¡¡the¡¡fringe¡¡of¡¡a¡¡searchlight's¡¡path¡£
¡¡That¡¡head¡¡was¡¡topped¡¡by¡¡a¡¡slouch¡¡hat¡£¡¡The¡¡shoulders¡¡were¡¡shrouded¡¡by¡¡a¡¡black¡¡cloak¡£¡¡Two¡¡black¡gloved¡¡fists¡¡projected¡¡from¡¡the¡¡cloak£»¡¡each¡¡gripped¡¡the¡¡heavy¡¡handle¡¡of¡¡a¡¡¡£45¡¡automatic¡£¡¡Those¡¡guns¡¡were¡¡leveled¡¡at¡¡the¡¡instant¡¡the¡¡hidden¡¡crook¡¡shouted¡¡the¡¡word¡¡to¡¡get¡¡Maclare¡£
¡¡As¡¡policemen¡¡leaped¡¡to¡¡Maclare's¡¡side£»¡¡ready¡¡to¡¡die¡¡with¡¡their¡¡leader£»¡¡that¡¡strange¡¡marksman¡¡loosed¡¡the¡¡fire¡¡of¡¡one¡¡gun¡¡from¡¡atop¡¡the¡¡black¡¡Maria¡£¡¡His¡¡target¡¡was¡¡a¡¡large¡¡one£»¡¡he¡¡picked¡¡the¡¡glass¡¡front¡¡of¡¡a¡¡blazing¡¡searchlight¡£¡¡As¡¡his¡¡trigger¡¡finger¡¡tugged£»¡¡a¡¡bullet¡¡ripped¡¡to¡¡its¡¡mark¡£¡¡The¡¡searchlight¡¡vanished¡¡with¡¡a¡¡clatter¡¡of¡¡glass¡£
¡¡Crooks¡¡gazed¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡patrol¡¡wagon¡£¡¡They¡¡saw¡¡no¡¡one£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡marksman¡¡had¡¡picked¡¡the¡¡nearer¡¡searchlight¡¡and¡¡was¡¡no¡¡longer¡¡in¡¡the¡¡edge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡glare¡£
¡¡But¡¡mobsters¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡next¡¡token¡¡that¡¡came¡¡from¡¡the¡¡blotted¡¡wagon¡¡top¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡another¡¡stab¡¡of¡¡flame£»¡¡loosed¡¡from¡¡the¡¡second¡¡automatic¡£
¡¡Another¡¡crash¡¡marked¡¡the¡¡finish¡¡of¡¡the¡¡second¡¡searchlight¡£¡¡The¡¡street¡¡looked¡¡black£»¡¡feeble¡¡lamplights¡¡and¡¡illumination¡¡from¡¡the¡¡hotel¡¡were¡¡pitiful¡¡at¡¡best¡£¡¡They¡¡were¡¡pletely¡¡inadequate¡¡as¡¡an¡¡aftermath¡¡to¡¡the¡¡glare¡¡that¡¡had¡¡been¡¡so¡¡promptly¡¡extinguished¡£
¡¡From¡¡the¡¡sheltering¡¡patrol¡¡wagon¡¡came¡¡a¡¡sudden¡¡sound¡¡that¡¡belonged¡¡with¡¡darkness¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡the¡¡strident¡¡burst¡¡of¡¡a¡¡sinister£»¡¡mocking¡¡laugh£»¡¡that¡¡brought¡¡alarm¡¡to¡¡every¡¡thug¡¡who¡¡was¡¡straining¡¡his¡¡eyes¡¡to¡¡offset¡¡the¡¡gloom¡£
¡¡Men¡¡of¡¡crime¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡taunt¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡the¡¡laugh¡¡of¡¡The¡¡Shadow£¡
¡¡Black¡clad¡¡master¡¡who¡¡battled¡¡evil£»¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡was¡¡here¡¡in¡¡Westford£»¡¡covering¡¡the¡¡very¡¡spot¡¡where¡¡slaughter¡¡had¡¡been¡¡ordered¡£¡¡His¡¡first¡¡coup¡¡had¡¡been¡¡to¡¡deprive¡¡crooks¡¡of¡¡their¡¡most¡¡important¡¡weapons£º¡¡those¡¡searchlights¡¡on¡¡the¡¡coal¡¡yard¡¡roofs¡£¡¡With¡¡two¡¡strategic¡¡shots£»¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡had¡¡equalized¡¡the¡¡battleground¡£
¡¡True£»¡¡crooks¡¡outnumbered¡¡Maclare¡¡and¡¡his¡¡squad£»¡¡they¡¡also¡¡had¡¡machine¡¡guns¡¡in¡¡readiness¡£¡¡But¡¡the¡¡law¡¡had¡¡gained¡¡an¡¡ally¡¡whose¡¡strength¡¡could¡¡offset¡¡a¡¡score¡¡of¡¡foemen¡£¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡was¡¡on¡¡hand£»¡¡prepared¡¡for¡¡instant¡¡battle¡£
¡¡Again£»¡¡the¡¡automatics¡¡spoke¡£¡¡From¡¡his¡¡vantage¡¡point£»¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡fired¡¡along¡¡the¡¡fence¡¡top¡£¡¡Lieutenant¡¡Maclare¡¡shouted¡¡an¡¡order¡£¡¡Policemen¡¡dived¡¡everywhere£»¡¡firing¡¡as¡¡they¡¡took¡¡to¡¡cover¡£¡¡Revolvers¡¡spat¡¡from¡¡the¡¡coal¡¡yard£»¡¡machine¡¡guns¡¡began¡¡a¡¡hasty¡¡rattle¡£¡¡Thugs¡¡at¡¡the¡¡doorways¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Mississippi¡¡Hotel¡¡came¡¡leaping¡¡down¡¡the¡¡steps£»¡¡cutting¡¡loose¡¡with¡¡their¡¡revolvers¡£
¡¡Those¡¡mobsters¡¡in¡¡ambush¡¡fired¡¡for¡¡the¡¡area¡¡where¡¡Maclare¡¡and¡¡his¡¡men¡¡had¡¡clustered¡£¡¡They¡¡fired¡¡uselessly£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡police¡¡had¡¡spread¡£¡¡Those¡¡ing¡¡from¡¡the¡¡hotel¡¡sizzled¡¡futile¡¡shots¡¡in¡¡the¡¡direction¡¡of¡¡the¡¡patrol¡¡wagon¡£¡¡They£»¡¡too£»¡¡were¡¡late¡£¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡had¡¡sprung¡¡to¡¡the¡¡fence£»¡¡e¡¡up¡¡to¡¡the¡¡top¡¡and¡¡slugged¡¡down¡¡a¡¡lone¡¡thug¡¡who¡¡was¡¡stationed¡¡on¡¡the¡¡flank¡£
¡¡All¡¡that¡¡carried¡¡menace¡¡were¡¡the¡¡machine¡¡guns£»¡¡for¡¡they¡¡began¡¡to¡¡spray¡¡their¡¡fire¡£¡¡There¡¡were¡¡two¡¡of¡¡them£»¡¡clicking¡¡like¡¡typewriters¡¡from¡¡a¡¡roof¡¡top¡¡midway¡¡along¡¡the¡¡fence¡£¡¡One¡¡rattling¡¡weapon¡¡ceased£»¡¡as¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡blasted¡¡a¡¡fusillade¡¡at¡¡the¡¡gunners¡¡behind¡¡it¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡picked¡¡them¡¡by¡¡the¡¡spurting¡¡fire¡£
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¡¡CROOKS¡¡fired¡¡for¡¡The¡¡Shadow£»¡¡but¡¡their¡¡shots¡¡were¡¡wide¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡e¡¡up¡¡to¡¡a¡¡roof¡¡top£»¡¡there£»¡¡he¡¡ripped¡¡another¡¡barrage£»¡¡that¡¡settled¡¡the¡¡men¡¡who¡¡handled¡¡the¡¡second¡¡machine¡¡gun¡£¡¡Both¡¡weapons¡¡were¡¡silenced£»¡¡everywhere£»¡¡crooks¡¡were¡¡springing¡¡to¡¡the¡¡ground£»¡¡to¡¡avoid¡¡the¡¡enfolding¡¡fire¡¡that¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡had¡¡begun¡£
¡¡By¡¡outflanking¡¡the¡¡foe£»¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡had¡¡routed¡¡all¡¡but¡¡a¡¡few£»¡¡they¡¡were¡¡the¡¡ones¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡very¡¡roof¡¡top¡¡where¡¡he¡¡had¡¡so¡¡suddenly¡¡arrived¡£
¡¡Three¡¡in¡¡number£»¡¡those¡¡crooks¡¡leaped¡¡forward¡¡with¡¡swinging¡¡revolvers£»¡¡hoping¡¡to¡¡beat¡¡down¡¡the¡¡fighter¡¡whose¡¡shape¡¡was¡¡vague¡¡before¡¡their¡¡eyes¡£¡¡An¡¡automatic¡¡thudded¡¡against¡¡a¡¡skull£»¡¡the¡¡other¡¡¡£45¡¡spat¡¡its¡¡singeing¡¡flame¡¡between¡¡the¡¡eyes¡¡of¡¡an¡¡attacker¡£¡¡The¡¡third¡¡crook¡¡dived¡¡for¡¡the¡¡ground¡¡as¡¡his¡¡panions¡¡sprawled¡£
¡¡Meanwhile£»¡¡Maclare¡¡and¡¡his¡¡squad¡¡had¡¡done¡¡gallant¡¡duty¡£¡¡Flattened¡¡in¡¡the¡¡street£»¡¡some¡¡had¡¡aimed¡¡for¡¡the¡¡fence¡¡and¡¡roof¡¡tops£»¡¡while¡¡others¡¡had¡¡delivered¡¡quick¡¡fire¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡open¡¡doors¡¡of¡¡the¡¡hotel¡£¡¡This¡¡choice¡¡had¡¡been¡¡a¡¡smart¡¡one£»¡¡the¡¡officers¡¡who¡¡took¡¡it¡¡gained¡¡massed¡¡targets¡£¡¡Thugs¡¡who¡¡had¡¡wasted¡¡opening¡¡shots¡¡at¡¡the¡¡patrol¡¡wagon¡¡were¡¡caught¡¡against¡¡the¡¡framed¡¡light¡¡of¡¡doorways¡£¡¡Four¡¡sagged¡¡in¡¡quick¡¡succession¡£
¡¡Scattering¡¡crooks¡¡had¡¡paused¡¡to¡¡aim¡¡for¡¡the¡¡low¡¡roof¡¡where¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡had¡¡handled¡¡three¡¡foemen¡£¡¡They¡¡blazed¡¡for¡¡that¡¡darkened¡¡spot£»¡¡again