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a¡¡lever¡£¡¡A¡¡door¡¡slid¡¡open¡¡at¡¡the¡¡far¡¡wall¡£
¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡reached¡¡the¡¡front£»¡¡jamming¡¡the¡¡brakes¡¡of¡¡the¡¡roadster£»¡¡he¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡thoroughfare¡£¡¡In¡¡that¡¡instant£»¡¡he¡¡thought¡¡that¡¡the¡¡far¡¡door¡¡had¡¡been¡¡open¡¡when¡¡Lance¡¡entered¡¡the¡¡garage£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡coupe¡¡was¡¡speeding¡¡through¡¡it¡£¡¡To¡¡give¡¡a¡¡last¡¡zest¡¡to¡¡his¡¡pursuit£»¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡swung¡¡his¡¡roadster¡¡into¡¡the¡¡garage£»¡¡intending¡¡to¡¡drive¡¡clear¡¡through¡¡and¡¡follow¡¡the¡¡crooks¡¡a¡¡few¡¡blocks¡¡farther¡£
¡¡He¡¡realized¡¡his¡¡error£»¡¡as¡¡he¡¡sped¡¡his¡¡car¡¡through¡¡the¡¡front¡¡doorway¡£
¡¡The¡¡rear¡¡door¡¡slid¡¡shut¡¡before¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡could¡¡reach¡¡it¡£¡¡Jamming¡¡the¡¡brakes£»¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡shoved¡¡the¡¡gear¡shift¡¡lever¡¡into¡¡reverse¡£¡¡Again£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡too¡¡late¡£¡¡The¡¡front¡¡door¡¡slithered¡¡shut¡¡before¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡could¡¡back¡¡out¡¡through¡¡it¡£
¡¡Lights¡¡showed¡¡the¡¡garage¡¡devoid¡¡of¡¡cars¡£¡¡A¡¡stone¡walled¡¡room¡¡some¡¡sixty¡¡feet¡¡square£»¡¡it¡¡formed¡¡a¡¡sealed¡¡snare£»¡¡once¡¡the¡¡doors¡¡had¡¡closed£»¡¡for¡¡they¡¡were¡¡of¡¡metal¡£¡¡More¡¡ominous¡¡still¡¡were¡¡two¡¡small£»¡¡boxlike¡¡rooms¡¡at¡¡each¡¡side¡¡of¡¡empty¡¡garage¡£¡¡They¡¡were¡¡sheeted¡¡with¡¡metal£»¡¡their¡¡closed¡¡doors¡¡were¡¡fronted¡¡with¡¡loopholes¡£
¡¡The¡¡tiny¡¡rooms¡¡were¡¡pill¡boxes¡safe¡¡spots¡¡from¡¡which¡¡hidden¡¡sharpshooters¡¡could¡¡riddle¡¡anyone¡¡who¡¡occupied¡¡the¡¡center¡¡of¡¡the¡¡garage¡¡floor¡£
¡¡Once¡¡the¡¡barrage¡¡began£»¡¡it¡¡would¡¡spell¡¡instant¡¡doom¡¡for¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡£
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¡¡CHAPTER¡¡XXI¡¡
¡¡THE¡¡SHADOW'S¡¡EXIT¡¡
¡¡IN¡¡a¡¡single¡¡instant£»¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡sized¡¡his¡¡situation¡£¡¡Big¡¡doors¡¡had¡¡clanged£»¡¡to¡¡leap¡¡from¡¡the¡¡roadster¡¡and¡¡attempt¡¡to¡¡open¡¡them¡¡would¡¡be¡¡the¡¡worst¡¡move¡¡possible¡£¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡machine¡¡gunners¡¡were¡¡sequestered¡¡in¡¡the¡¡pill¡boxes£»¡¡ready¡¡to¡¡begin¡¡their¡¡fire¡¡the¡¡moment¡¡that¡¡he¡¡bobbed¡¡into¡¡view¡£
¡¡Even¡¡the¡¡roadster¡¡offered¡¡but¡¡temporary¡¡safety¡£¡¡Bullets¡¡would¡¡spray¡¡it¡¡soon¡£¡¡Yet£»¡¡for¡¡some¡¡reason£»¡¡the¡¡opening¡¡hail¡¡had¡¡been¡¡delayed¡£¡¡Quick¡¡to¡¡note¡¡that¡¡fact£»¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡looked¡¡for¡¡the¡¡answer£»¡¡and¡¡found¡¡it¡£¡¡A¡¡glance¡¡from¡¡the¡¡side¡¡of¡¡the¡¡roadster¡¡enabled¡¡him¡¡to¡¡see¡¡a¡¡scudding¡¡man¡¡in¡¡overalls£»¡¡making¡¡across¡¡the¡¡stone¡¡floor¡¡for¡¡the¡¡pill¡box¡¡on¡¡the¡¡left¡£
¡¡It¡¡was¡¡the¡¡attendant¡¡who¡¡had¡¡pulled¡¡the¡¡levers¡¡to¡¡close¡¡the¡¡garage¡¡doors¡£
¡¡The¡¡fellow¡¡was¡¡still¡¡inside¡¡the¡¡garage£»¡¡the¡¡men¡¡in¡¡the¡¡pill¡box¡¡were¡¡giving¡¡him¡¡time¡¡to¡¡join¡¡them¡£¡¡The¡¡door¡¡of¡¡the¡¡pill¡box¡¡was¡¡moving¡¡open£»¡¡ready¡¡to¡¡admit¡¡the¡¡scudding¡¡thug¡£
¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡had¡¡an¡¡automatic¡¡handy¡£¡¡He¡¡could¡¡have¡¡dropped¡¡the¡¡rowdy¡¡as¡¡he¡¡ran¡£¡¡Such¡¡a¡¡move¡¡would¡¡have¡¡been¡¡futile¡£¡¡If¡¡their¡¡pal¡¡fell£»¡¡the¡¡men¡¡in¡¡the¡¡pill¡boxes¡¡would¡¡have¡¡no¡¡further¡¡need¡¡to¡¡delay¡¡their¡¡machine¡¡gun¡¡fire¡£
¡¡Nor¡¡would¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡gain¡¡by¡¡blazing¡¡bullets¡¡into¡¡the¡¡doorway¡¡of¡¡the¡¡pill¡box¡¡when¡¡it¡¡opened¡£¡¡Unless¡¡he¡¡clipped¡¡every¡¡occupant£»¡¡the¡¡door¡¡would¡¡slam¡¡again¡£¡¡Even¡¡if¡¡he¡¡did¡¡wound¡¡that¡¡crew¡¡of¡¡sharpshooters£»¡¡the¡¡men¡¡in¡¡the¡¡second¡¡pill¡box¡¡would¡¡make¡¡up¡¡for¡¡it¡£¡¡Not¡¡for¡¡an¡¡instant¡¡did¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡forget¡¡that¡¡he¡¡lay¡¡between¡¡two¡¡bands¡¡of¡¡murderers¡£
¡¡Without¡¡reaching¡¡for¡¡the¡¡¡£45¡¡that¡¡lay¡¡on¡¡the¡¡seat¡¡beside¡¡him£»¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡staged¡¡a¡¡prompt¡¡surprise¡£¡¡His¡¡move¡¡was¡¡totally¡¡unexpected£»¡¡for¡¡that¡¡reason£»¡¡it¡¡left¡¡his¡¡enemies¡¡momentarily¡¡bewildered¡£¡¡The¡¡thug¡¡who¡¡was¡¡dashing¡¡for¡¡the¡¡pill¡box¡¡had¡¡thirty¡¡feet¡¡to¡¡go¡£¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡resolved¡¡to¡¡block¡¡him¡¡off£»¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡him¡¡in¡¡a¡¡spot¡¡of¡¡danger¡¡as¡¡bad¡¡as¡¡The¡¡Shadow's¡¡own¡¡predicament¡£
¡¡With¡¡his¡¡left¡¡hand£»¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡jerked¡¡the¡¡roadster's¡¡wheel¡£¡¡He¡¡rammed¡¡the¡¡gear¡¡shift¡¡into¡¡low£»¡¡with¡¡his¡¡right¡£¡¡His¡¡foot¡¡thrust¡¡the¡¡accelerator¡¡to¡¡the¡¡floor¡£¡¡The¡¡roadster¡¡leaped¡¡as¡¡if¡¡alive£»¡¡skewed¡¡to¡¡the¡¡left¡¡and¡¡roared¡¡like¡¡a¡¡thunderbolt¡¡straight¡¡for¡¡the¡¡pill¡box£»¡¡just¡¡as¡¡the¡¡door¡¡of¡¡that¡¡tiny¡¡stronghold¡¡slid¡¡wide¡£
¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡passed¡¡the¡¡running¡¡thug¡¡in¡¡a¡¡split¡second¡£¡¡Jamming¡¡the¡¡brakes£»¡¡he¡¡again¡¡yanked¡¡the¡¡wheel¡¡to¡¡the¡¡left¡£¡¡The¡¡roadster¡¡halted¡¡with¡¡a¡¡screech£»¡¡squarely¡¡between¡¡the¡¡startled¡¡thug¡¡and¡¡the¡¡opened¡¡door¡¡of¡¡the¡¡pill¡box¡£
¡¡Again£»¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡pulled¡¡a¡¡surprise¡£¡¡As¡¡the¡¡man¡¡in¡¡overalls¡¡heeled¡¡about¡¡and¡¡dashed¡¡in¡¡the¡¡other¡¡direction£»¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡let¡¡him¡¡go¡£¡¡Diving¡¡to¡¡the¡¡right£»¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡banged¡¡the¡¡roadster's¡¡door¡¡outward£»¡¡with¡¡his¡¡left¡¡hand£»¡¡while¡¡his¡¡rightmost¡¡grabbed¡¡the¡¡automatic¡¡from¡¡the¡¡seat¡£¡¡In¡¡one¡¡continuous¡¡leap£»¡¡he¡¡hurtled¡¡onward£»¡¡straight¡¡through¡¡the¡¡opened¡¡door¡¡of¡¡the¡¡pill¡box¡£
¡¡Two¡¡startled¡¡hoodlums£»¡¡crouched¡¡in¡¡darkness£»¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡cloaked¡¡avalanche¡¡whirl¡¡in¡¡upon¡¡them¡£¡¡Dropping¡¡their¡¡machine¡¡gun£»¡¡they¡¡sprang¡¡to¡¡meet¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡£
¡¡His¡¡right¡¡arm¡¡swished¡¡downward£»¡¡the¡¡automatic¡¡smashed¡¡a¡¡thug's¡¡skull¡£¡¡As¡¡the¡¡fellow¡¡sprawled£»¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡swung¡¡a¡¡side¡¡blow£»¡¡clipped¡¡the¡¡second¡¡gunner¡¡and¡¡rolled¡¡him¡¡out¡¡through¡¡the¡¡door¡¡of¡¡the¡¡pill¡box¡£
¡¡The¡¡first¡¡thug¡¡partly¡¡blocked¡¡the¡¡door¡£¡¡Stopping£»¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡seized¡¡his¡¡shoulders¡¡and¡¡pitched¡¡his¡¡senseless¡¡body¡¡out¡¡beside¡¡the¡¡dazed¡¡man¡¡who¡¡had¡¡floundered¡¡on¡¡the¡¡step¡¡of¡¡the¡¡roadster¡£¡¡That¡¡done£»¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡grabbed¡¡the¡¡handle¡¡of¡¡the¡¡door¡¡and¡¡clanged¡¡the¡¡barrier¡¡shut¡£¡¡Safe¡¡in¡¡the¡¡pill¡box£»¡¡he¡¡peered¡¡through¡¡the¡¡tiny¡¡loophole¡£
¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡had¡¡pletely¡¡tricked¡¡the¡¡gunners¡¡in¡¡the¡¡far¡¡pill¡box¡£¡¡His¡¡car¡¡had¡¡blocked¡¡their¡¡view¡¡of¡¡his¡¡rapid¡¡action¡£¡¡They¡¡learned¡¡what¡¡had¡¡happened¡¡too¡¡late¡¡to¡¡defeat¡¡it¡£¡¡Their¡¡knowledge¡¡came¡¡when¡¡the¡¡thug¡¡on¡¡the¡¡roadster's¡¡step¡¡suddenly¡¡grabbed¡¡his¡¡unconscious¡¡pal¡¡and¡¡dragged¡¡him¡¡out¡¡in¡¡front¡¡of¡¡the¡¡halted¡¡car¡£
¡¡It¡¡was¡¡stalemate£º¡¡a¡¡trio¡¡of¡¡crooks¡¡in¡¡one¡¡pill¡box£»¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡in¡¡the¡¡other¡£¡¡The¡¡abandoned¡¡roadster¡¡made¡¡a¡¡barrier¡¡in¡¡between£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡meant¡¡nothing¡£
¡¡The¡¡Shadow£»¡¡like¡¡the¡¡crooks£»¡¡had¡¡a¡¡machine¡¡gun¡¡and¡¡could¡¡fire¡¡through¡¡the¡¡open¡¡sides¡¡of¡¡the¡¡small¡¡car¡£¡¡Volleys¡¡would¡¡prove¡¡useless£»¡¡however£»¡¡for¡¡both¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡and¡¡his¡¡opponents¡¡were¡¡safely¡¡entrenched¡£
¡¡True£»¡¡there¡¡were¡¡three¡¡men¡¡somewhere¡¡on¡¡the¡¡garage¡¡floor£»¡¡two¡¡of¡¡them¡¡were¡¡now¡¡dragging¡¡a¡¡third¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡front¡¡door¡£¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡could¡¡have¡¡picked¡¡out¡¡those¡¡crooks¡¡and¡¡finished¡¡them£»¡¡but¡¡they¡¡were¡¡unimportant¡£¡¡He¡¡needed¡¡some¡¡way¡¡to¡¡break¡¡this¡¡stalemate£»¡¡to¡¡leave¡¡the¡¡pillbox¡¡and¡¡be¡¡on¡¡his¡¡way¡¡to¡¡other¡¡tasks¡£
¡¡That¡¡was¡¡The¡¡Shadow's¡¡real¡¡dilemma¡£
¡¡Had¡¡crooks¡¡recognized¡¡the¡¡situation£»¡¡they¡¡would¡¡have¡¡let¡¡matters¡¡remain¡¡as¡¡they¡¡were¡£¡¡They£»¡¡however£»¡¡disliked¡¡the¡¡condition¡¡for¡¡reasons¡¡of¡¡their¡¡own¡£¡¡They¡¡knew¡¡the¡¡identity¡¡of¡¡their¡¡foeman¡£¡¡They¡¡were¡¡incensed¡¡because¡¡they¡¡had¡¡let¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡nullify¡¡their¡¡advantage¡£
¡¡Hoarse¡¡shouts¡¡came¡¡from¡¡the¡¡far¡¡pill¡box¡£¡¡The¡¡words¡¡were¡¡incoherent¡¡to¡¡The¡¡Shadow£»¡¡due¡¡to¡¡the¡¡echoes¡¡from¡¡the¡¡barren¡¡walls¡£¡¡To¡¡the¡¡men¡¡who¡¡were¡¡in¡¡the¡¡open£»¡¡the¡¡cries¡¡were¡¡understandable¡£¡¡One¡¡dropped¡¡the¡¡senseless¡¡man¡¡whom¡¡he¡¡was¡¡lugging£»¡¡leaped¡¡for¡¡a¡¡wall¡¡and¡¡pulled¡¡a¡¡light¡¡switch¡£¡¡The¡¡garage¡¡was¡¡plunged¡¡into¡¡darkness¡£
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¡¡ON¡¡the¡¡face¡¡of¡¡it£»¡¡this¡¡move¡¡seemed¡¡merely¡¡a¡¡protection¡¡for¡¡the¡¡men¡¡who¡¡were¡¡still¡¡at¡¡large¡£¡¡Crooks¡¡naturally¡¡expected¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡to¡¡stay¡¡where¡¡he¡¡was¡£
¡¡Instead£»¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡found¡¡the¡¡handle¡¡of¡¡the¡¡pill¡box¡¡door¡£¡¡He¡¡slid¡¡the¡¡door¡¡open£»¡¡slowly¡¡and¡¡cautiously¡£¡¡His¡¡move¡¡was¡¡just¡¡in¡¡time¡£
¡¡The¡¡thug¡¡by¡¡the¡¡outer¡¡door¡¡had¡¡found¡¡another¡¡switch¡£¡¡He¡¡pulled¡¡it¡£¡¡The¡¡result¡¡was¡¡sensed¡¡immediately¡¡by¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡£¡¡His¡¡pill¡box¡¡began¡¡a¡¡descent¡¡into¡¡the¡¡floor£»¡¡lowering¡¡like¡¡an¡¡elevator¡£¡¡The¡¡smooth¡¡action¡¡was¡¡acpanied¡¡by¡¡the¡¡rhythmic¡¡hum¡¡of¡¡hidden¡¡machinery¡£
¡¡Had¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡still¡¡been¡¡behind¡¡a¡¡closed¡¡door£»¡¡he¡¡could¡¡not¡¡have¡¡left¡¡the¡¡descending¡¡pill¡box£»¡¡for¡¡it¡¡went¡¡down¡¡into¡¡the¡¡floor¡¡so¡¡steadily¡¡that¡¡the¡¡delay¡¡of¡¡opening¡¡the¡¡door¡¡would¡¡have¡¡been¡¡fatal¡£¡¡However£»¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡had¡¡already¡¡attended¡¡to¡¡the¡¡detail¡¡of¡¡opening¡¡the¡¡door¡£¡¡His¡¡quick¡¡brain¡¡caught¡¡the¡¡need¡¡for¡¡immediate¡¡action¡£
¡¡With¡¡both¡¡hands£»¡¡he¡¡grabbed¡¡the¡¡edge¡¡of¡¡outside¡¡floor¡¡when¡¡it¡¡was¡¡just¡¡waist¡high¡£¡¡With¡¡a¡¡long£»¡¡forward¡¡leap¡¡from¡¡the¡¡floor¡¡of¡¡the¡¡descending¡¡pill¡box£»¡¡he¡¡shot¡¡headforemost¡¡through¡¡the¡¡closing¡¡space£»¡¡performed¡¡a¡¡quick¡¡roll¡¡that¡¡brought¡¡his¡¡legs¡¡clear£»¡¡just¡¡before¡¡the¡¡top¡¡of¡¡the¡¡pill¡box¡¡doorway¡¡could¡¡trap¡¡them¡£
¡¡The¡¡pill¡box¡¡stopped¡¡its¡¡descent¡¡with¡¡a¡¡sharp¡¡click¡£¡¡Reaching¡¡along¡¡the¡¡garage¡¡floor¡¡in¡¡the¡¡darkness£»¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡found¡¡that¡¡the¡¡roof¡¡of¡¡the¡¡pill¡box¡¡was¡¡coated¡¡with¡¡cement£»¡¡that¡¡formed¡¡a¡¡perfect¡¡level¡¡with¡¡the¡¡floor¡£¡¡He¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡the¡¡other¡¡pill¡box¡¡must¡¡operate¡¡in¡¡the¡¡same¡¡fashion£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡reason¡¡was¡¡obvious¡£¡¡With¡¡the¡¡pill¡boxes¡¡lowered¡¡into¡¡their¡¡pits£»¡¡the¡¡garage¡¡floor¡¡would¡¡appear¡¡quite¡¡ordinary£»¡¡and¡¡would¡¡therefore¡¡excite¡¡no¡¡suspicion¡¡when¡¡not¡¡in¡¡use¡¡as¡¡a¡¡trap¡£
¡¡Some¡¡crook¡¡had¡¡seen¡¡a¡¡smart¡¡way¡¡to¡¡render¡¡The¡¡Shadow's¡¡capture¡¡of¡¡the¡¡pill¡box¡¡worse¡¡than¡¡useless¡£¡¡The¡¡pull¡¡of¡¡the¡¡wall¡¡switch¡¡had¡¡turned¡¡the¡¡stronghold¡¡into¡¡a¡¡prison£»¡¡as¡¡close¡walled¡¡as¡¡a¡¡tomb¡£¡¡Harsh£»¡¡gleeful¡¡cries¡¡amid¡¡the¡¡darkness¡¡told¡¡that¡¡men¡¡of¡¡crime¡¡were¡¡sure¡¡that¡¡their¡¡ruse¡¡had¡¡worked¡£¡¡A¡¡raucous¡¡voice¡¡called¡¡for¡¡lights¡£
¡¡Quickly£»¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡rolled¡¡beneath¡¡the¡¡roadster¡£¡¡He¡¡lay¡¡there£»¡¡face¡¡downward£»¡¡clasping¡¡an¡¡automatic¡¡in¡¡each¡¡fist¡£¡¡The¡¡lights¡¡came¡¡on£»¡¡crooks¡¡piled¡¡from¡¡their¡¡pill¡box¡¡to¡¡join¡¡the¡¡others¡¡on¡¡the¡¡floor¡£¡¡Together£»¡¡they¡¡surged¡¡to¡¡the¡¡wall¡¡beside¡¡the¡¡roadster£»¡¡they¡¡tramped¡¡roughly¡¡on¡¡the¡¡leveled¡¡roof£»¡¡they¡¡bent¡¡to¡¡shout¡¡jeers¡¡that¡¡they¡¡hoped¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡would¡¡hear¡¡within¡¡his¡¡tomb¡£
¡¡While¡¡thugs¡¡made¡¡merry£»¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡prepared¡¡to¡¡end¡¡their¡¡revelry¡£¡¡The¡¡far¡¡side¡¡of¡¡the¡¡roadster¡¡was¡¡deserted£»¡¡except¡¡for¡¡the¡¡one¡¡thug¡¡who¡¡lay¡¡unconscious¡£
¡¡Three¡¡from¡¡the¡¡pill¡box£»¡¡two¡¡from¡¡the¡¡floor£»¡¡had¡¡all¡¡assembled¡¡above¡¡the¡¡tight¡sealed¡¡prison¡¡where¡¡they¡¡believed¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡trapped¡£¡¡Edging¡¡outward£»¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡was¡¡almost¡¡ready¡¡to¡¡e¡¡to¡¡his¡¡feet£»¡¡when¡¡an¡¡interruption¡¡sounded¡£
¡¡Someone¡¡was¡¡pounding¡¡at¡¡the¡¡front¡¡door¡¡of¡¡the¡¡garage¡£¡¡For¡¡beyond¡¡that¡¡heavy¡¡barrier¡¡came¡¡the¡¡shouted¡¡order£º
¡¡¡¨Open£¡¡¡In¡¡the¡¡name¡¡of¡¡the¡¡law£¡¡¨
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