mg.cityofcrime-第24节

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　take　it　to　the　country；　the　night　before。
　〃There　were　some　cops　out　front　when　I　came　in；〃　stated　The　Shadow。　〃They　looked　me　over　pretty　closely；　Lance。〃
　〃Some　of　Maclare's　bunch；〃　snorted　Lance。　〃He　always　keeps　a　flatfoot　near　here。　Sometimes　two　or　three。　He's　still　sore　because　he　never　pinned　anything　on　me。　He　had　to　give　me　an　alibi　once；　I　guess　he's　never　gotten　over　the　shock。〃
　〃Maybe　you'd　better　steer　me　out　by　the　back　way；〃　suggested　The　Shadow。
　〃The　cops　may　be　suspicious　at　seeing　me　e　out　so　soon。　I　don't　want　to　be　slowed　up　by　an　argument　with　a　couple　of　dumb　harness　bulls。〃
　Lance　nodded　agreement。　He　opened　the　panel　in　the　wall；　urged　The　Shadow　into　the　passage　beyond　it。　They　followed　along　the　passage　to　its　end。　At　the　left　was　a　large　door　that　served　as　the　only　entrance　to　Lance's　secret　apartment；　in　an　adjoining　building。　At　the　right　was　a　stairway。　Lance　led　The　Shadow　downward。
　There　they　found　a　small　entry；　with　a　steel　door　beyond　it。　The　entry　was　dim；　it　was　guarded　by　a　huge　bruiser　who　was　almost　the　size　of　Jericho。　In　fact；　Lance　had　pared　the　huge　African　with　this　particular　husky　when　he　had　viewed　Jericho　and　admired　the　latter's　bulk。
　〃Open　the　gate；　Boscul；〃　ordered　Lance。　〃Lock　it　up　as　soon　as　Trig　goes　out。〃
　〃So　long；　Lance；〃　remarked　The　Shadow。　〃Don't　bother　to　wait。　I'd　better　e　in　this　way；　though；　when　I　e　back。〃
　〃Give　three　quick　raps。　Then　two　slow　ones。　That's　the　signal；　Trig。〃
　With　this　information　The　Shadow　was　quite　willing　that　Lance　should　wait　around。　The　gambler；　however；　followed　The　Shadow's　suggestion　and　went　upstairs。　That　made　it　even　better。　While　Boscul　was　still　drawing　back　a　series　of　big　bolts；　The　Shadow　laid　his　hand　bag　on　the　floor。　Tightening　in　a　crouch；　he　prepared　to　spring。
　
　
　THE　lookout　must　have　caught　some　sign　of　the　attack　that　was　to　e。　He　spun　suddenly　from　the　door；　his　dull　face　lighted　in　a　glare。　Boscul　gave　a　snarl　just　as　The　Shadow　sprang　forward。　With　hamlike　hands；　the　big　husky　met　The　Shadow's　onrush。
　Boscul　thought　that　he　was　dealing　with　Trig　Callister。　That；　perhaps；　gave　him　more　courage　than　he　would　have　shown　against　a　cloaked　attacker。
　Boscul　beat　back　The　Shadow's　thrust　before　long　fingers　could　gain　the　clutch　they　wanted。　With　a　fierce　cry；　he　hurled　the　limber　attacker　across　the　entry。
　Fortunately；　Lance　Gillick　was　too　far　away　to　hear　that　shout。　The　Shadow　had　enough　to　do；　handling　Boscul。　He　managed　to　ward　off　a　punch　that　the　big　lookout　swung　in　his　direction。　He　followed　with　a　quick　jab　that　bobbed　Boscul's　head　backward；　even　though　it　failed　to　stagger　the　huge　fighter。
　The　two　locked。　Boscul's　arms　tightened　like　the　grip　of　a　python。　He　hoisted　The　Shadow　from　the　floor；　intent　upon　crushing　the　supposed　Trig　Callister　into　submission。　Swinging　one　wrist　free；　The　Shadow　squeezed　choking　fingers　about　Boscul's　throat。　The　fellow　gurgled；　relaxed　his　fierce　grip。
　From　then　on；　it　was　The　Shadow's　fight。　Gaining　a　footing；　he　beat　off　Boscul's　clutch；　drove　the　lookout　across　the　floor　with　a　series　of　slashing　blows。　Again；　they　grappled；　this　time；　The　Shadow　clutched　Boscul　as　he　had　gripped　Haija　in　that　fight　at　Ruthley's。
　The　husky's　bulk　was　greater　than　that　of　the　Japanese；　but　it　did　not　save　him　from　disaster。　Like　a　mongoose　overpowering　a　cobra；　The　Shadow　whipped　his　giant　antagonist　headlong　toward　the　steel　door。　Boscul　crashed　the　barrier。　He　slumped　to　the　stone　floor。
　Opening　his　hand　bag；　The　Shadow　brought　out　his　black　garb。　He　donned　cloak　and　hat；　eyed　Boscul　while　he　added　gloves　to　his　attire。　The　husky　was　groggily　trying　to　rise。　The　Shadow　spilled　him　to　one　side　and　opened　the　door　that　Boscul　had　already　unbolted。　The　door　came　inward；　its　outer　surface　showed　only　battered　wood；　not　steel。
　Viewed　from　the　outside　alley；　that　door　excited　no　suspicion。　Its　steel…sheeted　interior；　however；　made　it　immune　to　ordinary　attack。
　The　alleyway　was　darkened。　The　Shadow　was　invisible　as　he　edged　into　its　space。　Producing　an　automatic　from　its　holster；　he　pointed　the　。45　upward；　fired　two　quick　shots　in　the　air。　Immediately　afterward；　he　swung　back　into　the　entry；　took　quick　concealment　behind　the　opened　door。
　There　was　motion　in　the　alley。　Pounding　from　the　darkness　came　half　a　dozen　men；　with　them　was　Lieutenant　James　Maclare。　The　raiders　were　blue…uniformed　police。　Their　presence　was　explained　by　Maclare's　own　shout。
　〃Keep　going；　men！〃　ordered　the　lieutenant。　〃I　thought　this　tip…off　was　on　the　level！　Those　shots　were　the　signal　we　were　told　to　wait　for！　We'll　have　the　goods　on　Lance　Gillick　this　time！〃
　Opposition　came；　as　the　police　surged　into　the　doorway；　but　it　was　not　long…lived。　Boscul　had　found　his　feet；　he　tried　to　grapple　with　the　foremost　bluecoat。　Another　officer　swung　a　nightstick；　he　clubbed　the　groggy　lookout　into　insensibility。　Maclare　and　his　men　dashed　up　the　stairs；　never　stopping　to　look　behind　the　opened　door。
　They　found　the　passage　to　Lance's　office；　reaching　the　end　of　it；　they　saw　a　glimmer　of　light　through　the　back　of　the　painting。　Maclare　took　one　look　through　the　peep　hole；　then　ripped　through　the　canvas；　followed　by　his　squad。
　
　
　SHRIEKS　arose　from　the　gaming　room；　where　play　had　started　for　the　night。
　Croupiers　were　trapped　at　the　roulette　wheel；　money　and　chips　scattered　everywhere　as　the　police　rounded　up　snarling　waiters　and　frightened　customers。
　The　door　of　the　office　opened；　Lance　Gillick　peered　at　the　scene。　He　bobbed　from　sight；　slamming　the　door。　Maclare　leaped　for　it；　ordered　officers　to　slash　the　barrier　with　axes。　One　of　the　bluecoats　gave　a　sudden　shout：
　〃There　goes　Lance！〃
　The　gambler　had　opened　the　office　panel；　to　reach　the　passage。　The　policeman　had　spied　him　through　the　ruined　painting。　Maclare　sprang　away　from　the　office　door；　led　the　chase　with　a　pair　of　bluecoats　following。　Lance　reached　the　door　of　his　apartment；　yanked　it　open。　Peering　from　the　entry　below；　The　Shadow　saw　another　man　spring　out　to　join　the　gambler。
　It　was　Beezer　Dorsch。　Lance　had　feared　that　the　killer　would　be　trapped。
　The　police　had　passed　the　apartment　door　in　order　to　raid　the　gambling　joint；　but　their　return　was　imminent。　Lance's　pressing　thought　was　to　make　a　getaway　with　Beezer。
　The　pair　dashed　down　the　stairway；　just　as　revolvers　blasted　along　the　passage　above。　The　Shadow　dropped　behind　the　door。　He　let　the　fugitives　get　past；　then　bobbed　out　to　follow　them。　He　could　easily　have　halted　the　two　rogues；　but　he　had　a　reason　for　permitting　their　escape。
　Dashing　along　the　alleyway；　Lance　and　Beezer　ducked　through　an　opening　in　time　to　avoid　policemen　ing　from　the　front　street。　The　Shadow　was　close　behind　the　crooks；　but　the　clatter　of　their　own　footsteps　drowned　the　slight　sounds　of　his　pursuit。　Lance　and　Beezer　reached　a　garage；　they　rushed　in　and　boarded　a　coupe。
　By　the　time　the　coupe　swung　into　sight；　The　Shadow　was　in　a　small　roadster；　much　like　the　car　that　he　had　used　in　his　last　flight　from　the　Flying　Squadron。　He　took　up　the　chase；　within　two　blocks　Lance　and　Beezer　knew　that　they　were　being　tagged。
　Recognizing　that　by　the　burst　of　speed　that　the　coupe　showed；　The　Shadow　unlimbered　an　automatic　and　dispatched　two　quick　shots　after　the　coupe。　Bullets　whistled　close　enough　for　the　crooks　to　guess　who　was　on　their　trail。
　〃The　Shadow！〃　snarled　Lance；　as　he　gripped　the　wheel　of　the　coupe。　〃Lucky　he　didn't　bag　Trig　Callister。　He　must　have　barged　in　before　Boscul　had　time　to　lock　the　back　door。〃
　〃Yeah；〃　growled　Beezer；　〃and　he　tipped　off　Maclare　to　raid　your　joint。　We　gotta　shake　him；　Lance。〃
　〃You　bet　we　have　to！　We　don't　want　him　to　know　where　we're　headed。〃
　〃Where's　that？〃
　〃To　Ruthley's。　Where　else　would　be　safe　for　you　to　hide　out；　Beezer？〃
　Again；　Lance　Gillick　was　playing　into　The　Shadow's　hands。　In　this　pursuit；　The　Shadow　could　have　overtaken　the　crooks　as　easily　as　he　could　have　dropped　them　on　the　stairway。　His　plan；　however；　called　for　their　get…away。　He　wanted　them　to　be　at　Ruthley's　later；　for　The　Shadow　intended　an　end　to　crime　tonight。
　
　
　WITHIN　the　next　few　blocks；　The　Shadow　was　prepared　to　slow　his　pursuit；　to　give　Lance　the　very　chance　that　the　gambler　wanted。　Once　in　the　clear；　Lance　would　head　for　Ruthley's　apartment　house；　duck　from　his　car　and　take　Beezer　along　with　him；　straight　to　the　big…shot's　lair。
　Oddly；　luck　was　to　trick　The　Shadow。　Had　he　ended　his　pursuit　a　few　blocks　sooner；　all　would　have　gone　well。　However；　during　the　last　stretch；　Lance　Gillick　became　jittery。　He　started　to　express　his　worriment　to　Beezer；　then　stopped　short　as　he　saw　a　sign　that　read：　〃Century　Garage。〃
　〃What　a　break！〃　ejaculated　Lance。　〃Just　the　place　for　us　in　a　pinch；　Beezer！〃
　Beezer　recognized　the　sign。
　〃Yeah！〃　he　agreed。　〃It's　the　joint　the　boss　told　us　about；　in　case　we　needed　to　use　it。　Head　in　there；　Lance。〃
　Lance　spun　the　wheel；　jerked　the　coupe　suddenly　from　the　street；　straight　into　the　open　doorway　of　the　garage。　He　shouted　as　he　applied　the　brakes；　a　waiting　garage　man　caught　his　words　and　yanked　a　lever。　A　door　slid　open　at　the　far　wall。
　The　Shadow　reached　the　front；　jamming　the　brakes　of　th