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¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡had¡¡dropped¡¡from¡¡the¡¡back¡¡of¡¡the¡¡roof£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡crossing¡¡the¡¡tracks¡¡of¡¡the¡¡railroad¡¡yard¡£¡¡His¡¡quick¡¡shots¡¡clipped¡¡two¡¡marksmen¡¡who¡¡were¡¡firing¡¡at¡¡the¡¡roof¡£
¡¡A¡¡hoarse¡¡voice¡¡shouted¡¡from¡¡between¡¡two¡¡buildings¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡the¡¡same¡¡leader¡¡who¡¡had¡¡issued¡¡the¡¡mand¡¡to¡¡get¡¡Maclare¡£¡¡His¡¡new¡¡order¡¡was¡¡a¡¡mand¡¡for¡¡flight¡£¡¡All¡¡thugs¡¡who¡¡were¡¡able£»¡¡dashed¡¡for¡¡the¡¡street£»¡¡crossed¡¡it¡¡and¡¡made¡¡off¡¡through¡¡alleys¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡front¡£¡¡Others¡¡sprang¡¡back¡¡into¡¡the¡¡hotel¡£
¡¡Lieutenant¡¡Maclare¡¡shouted¡¡for¡¡pursuit¡£¡¡Two¡¡of¡¡his¡¡eight¡¡men¡¡had¡¡fallen¡¡in¡¡the¡¡fight£»¡¡leaving¡¡a¡¡pair¡¡to¡¡care¡¡for¡¡them£»¡¡Maclare¡¡headed¡¡through¡¡the¡¡hotel£»¡¡followed¡¡by¡¡the¡¡remaining¡¡four¡£
¡¡Inside£»¡¡thugs¡¡were¡¡making¡¡for¡¡the¡¡front£»¡¡Cassley¡¡and¡¡his¡¡detail¡¡let¡¡them¡¡go¡¡through¡£¡¡Loud¡whining¡¡sirens¡¡were¡¡announcing¡¡the¡¡arrival¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Flying¡¡Squadron¡£
¡¡Crooks¡¡should¡¡have¡¡found¡¡a¡¡new¡¡trap£»¡¡but¡¡when¡¡Lieutenant¡¡Maclare¡¡reached¡¡the¡¡front¡¡door¡¡of¡¡the¡¡hotel£»¡¡he¡¡witnessed¡¡a¡¡wild¡¡get¡away¡£¡¡The¡¡Flying¡¡Squadron£»¡¡a¡¡score¡¡of¡¡men¡¡in¡¡pursuit¡¡cars¡¡and¡¡on¡¡motorcycles¡¡were¡¡ing¡¡in¡¡from¡¡the¡¡left¡£
¡¡Scattered¡¡crooks¡¡had¡¡converged¡¡to¡¡the¡¡right£»¡¡there¡¡they¡¡were¡¡boarding¡¡an¡¡assortment¡¡of¡¡automobiles¡¡that¡¡were¡¡parked¡¡beside¡¡an¡¡old¡¡brewery¡£
¡¡As¡¡the¡¡Flying¡¡Squadron¡¡pulled¡¡up£»¡¡Maclare¡¡bellowed¡¡the¡¡news¡¡and¡¡pointed¡¡past¡¡the¡¡brewery¡£¡¡Promptly£»¡¡the¡¡picked¡¡squadron¡¡took¡¡up¡¡the¡¡chase¡£
¡¡The¡¡brief¡¡delay¡¡had¡¡served¡¡the¡¡crooks¡£¡¡Cutting¡¡through¡¡to¡¡another¡¡street£»¡¡a¡¡dozen¡¡of¡¡them¡¡made¡¡a¡¡get¡away£»¡¡in¡¡three¡¡cars¡¡that¡¡contained¡¡four¡¡men¡¡each¡£
¡¡The¡¡three¡¡automobiles¡¡took¡¡different¡¡routes¡¡within¡¡the¡¡next¡¡few¡¡blocks£»¡¡to¡¡split¡¡the¡¡pursuing¡¡squadron¡£¡¡Maclare£»¡¡fuming¡¡at¡¡the¡¡door¡¡of¡¡the¡¡raided¡¡hotel£»¡¡heard¡¡the¡¡sirens¡¡fade¡¡in¡¡the¡¡dim¡¡distance¡£
¡¡
¡¡
¡¡THERE¡¡was¡¡a¡¡fourth¡¡car¡¡that¡¡had¡¡fled£»¡¡it¡¡had¡¡taken¡¡a¡¡route¡¡of¡¡its¡¡own¡£
¡¡Rounding¡¡the¡¡brewery£»¡¡this¡¡machine¡¡had¡¡followed¡¡a¡¡street¡¡that¡¡led¡¡across¡¡the¡¡railroad¡¡tracks£»¡¡a¡¡block¡¡away¡¡from¡¡the¡¡Mississippi¡¡Hotel¡£¡¡Swinging¡¡past¡¡a¡¡freight¡¡siding£»¡¡the¡¡crooks¡three¡¡in¡¡number¡were¡¡greeted¡¡by¡¡shots¡¡from¡¡the¡¡shelter¡¡of¡¡a¡¡steel¡¡freight¡¡car¡£
¡¡Wildly£»¡¡they¡¡fired¡¡in¡¡return¡£¡¡Their¡¡bullets¡¡flattened¡¡on¡¡the¡¡steel¡¡wall¡¡of¡¡the¡¡freight¡¡car¡£¡¡The¡¡driver£»¡¡clipped¡¡by¡¡a¡¡slug¡¡from¡¡darkness£»¡¡lost¡¡control¡¡and¡¡swung¡¡from¡¡the¡¡crossing¡£¡¡His¡¡sedan¡¡jolted¡¡down¡¡a¡¡low¡¡embankment£»¡¡slewed¡¡sidewise¡¡and¡¡crashed¡¡against¡¡a¡¡signal¡¡tower¡£
¡¡There¡¡was¡¡no¡¡stir¡¡within¡¡the¡¡car£»¡¡when¡¡it¡¡halted¡£¡¡Distant¡¡policemen¡¡heard¡¡the¡¡crash¡£¡¡Footsteps¡¡racing¡¡upon¡¡sidewalks¡¡told¡¡that¡¡they¡¡were¡¡ing¡¡to¡¡witness¡¡the¡¡result¡£¡¡One¡¡car¡load¡¡of¡¡fugitives¡¡had¡¡been¡¡bagged£»¡¡even¡¡though¡¡the¡¡other¡¡three¡¡had¡¡outraced¡¡the¡¡Flying¡¡Squadron¡£
¡¡Blackness¡¡moved¡¡from¡¡beside¡¡the¡¡freight¡¡car¡£¡¡The¡¡purple¡¡light¡¡of¡¡a¡¡switch¡¡signal¡¡glowed¡¡upward¡¡to¡¡show¡¡a¡¡shrouded¡¡form£»¡¡tall¡¡in¡¡its¡¡guise¡¡of¡¡black¡£
¡¡Gloved¡¡hands¡¡dipped¡¡mammoth¡¡automatics¡¡beneath¡¡the¡¡front¡¡of¡¡a¡¡flowing¡¡cloak¡£
¡¡Unseen¡¡lips¡¡voiced¡¡a¡¡grim¡¡laugh¡¡from¡¡the¡¡muffling¡¡front¡¡of¡¡an¡¡upturned¡¡collar¡£
¡¡Weird£»¡¡chilling¡¡tones¡¡betokened¡¡the¡¡final¡¡stroke¡¡of¡¡the¡¡night's¡¡victory¡£
¡¡The¡¡sardonic¡¡mirth¡¡faded£»¡¡as¡¡the¡¡cloaked¡¡figure¡¡passed¡¡from¡¡the¡¡purplish¡¡glow¡£
¡¡The¡¡battle¡¡was¡¡ended£»¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡had¡¡left¡¡the¡¡field¡¡to¡¡the¡¡law¡£
¡¡
¡¡
¡¡OUT¡¡of¡¡darkness£»¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡had¡¡arrived¡¡to¡¡deal¡¡with¡¡crime¡¡in¡¡Westford¡£
¡¡Into¡¡gloom£»¡¡he¡¡had¡¡returned¡after¡¡his¡¡efforts¡¡had¡¡saved¡¡the¡¡life¡¡of¡¡Lieutenant¡¡Maclare¡¡and¡¡a¡¡squad¡¡of¡¡officers¡£¡¡Yet¡¡the¡¡chill¡¡of¡¡his¡¡eerie¡¡laugh¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡hover£»¡¡for¡¡that¡¡spectral¡¡tone¡¡had¡¡carried¡¡a¡¡touch¡¡that¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡concern¡¡the¡¡future¡£
¡¡Like¡¡Lieutenant¡¡Maclare£»¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡had¡¡recognized¡¡the¡¡significance¡¡of¡¡tonight's¡¡episode¡£¡¡Fierce¡¡though¡¡the¡¡fray¡¡had¡¡been£»¡¡it¡¡scarcely¡¡scratched¡¡the¡¡surface¡¡of¡¡the¡¡evil¡¡that¡¡lurked¡¡deep¡¡within¡¡this¡¡prosperous¡¡city¡£
¡¡Crime¡¡and¡¡death¡¡would¡¡be¡¡due¡¡again¡¡in¡¡Westford¡£¡¡Here£»¡¡evil¡¡was¡¡organized¡¡far¡¡beyond¡¡the¡¡extent¡¡that¡¡Lieutenant¡¡Maclare¡¡had¡¡guessed¡£¡¡There¡¡would¡¡be¡¡need¡¡for¡¡more¡¡and¡¡greater¡¡effort¡¡before¡¡crime¡¡and¡¡corruption¡¡could¡¡be¡¡banished¡£
¡¡The¡¡Shadow¡¡knew¡¡those¡¡facts¡£¡¡His¡¡appearance¡¡in¡¡tonight's¡¡battle¡¡was¡¡but¡¡proof¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡long¡¡been¡¡present¡¡in¡¡Westford£»¡¡investigating¡¡the¡¡iniquity¡¡which¡¡held¡¡the¡¡city¡¡in¡¡its¡¡grip¡£
¡¡
¡¡
¡¡CHAPTER¡¡III¡¡
¡¡BEHIND¡¡THE¡¡SCENES¡¡
¡¡HALF¡¡an¡¡hour¡¡after¡¡the¡¡raid¡¡on¡¡the¡¡Mississippi¡¡Hotel£»¡¡Lieutenant¡¡James¡¡Maclare¡¡arrived¡¡back¡¡at¡¡the¡¡first¡¡precinct¡¡station¡£¡¡Muffled¡¡oaths¡¡and¡¡dull¡¡clatter¡¡greeted¡¡Maclare¡¡when¡¡he¡¡crossed¡¡the¡¡patrol¡¡room¡£¡¡The¡¡sounds¡¡came¡¡from¡¡the¡¡cell¡¡room£»¡¡where¡¡policemen¡¡had¡¡housed¡¡an¡¡assortment¡¡of¡¡hoodlums¡¡unloaded¡¡from¡¡the¡¡patrol¡¡wagons¡£
¡¡There¡¡had¡¡been¡¡many¡¡captures¡¡following¡¡the¡¡raid¡£¡¡Cornered¡¡riffraff¡¡had¡¡thrown¡¡away¡¡their¡¡guns£»¡¡to¡¡surrender£»¡¡denying¡¡that¡¡they¡¡had¡¡carried¡¡weapons¡£
¡¡Practically¡¡all¡¡of¡¡these¡¡were¡¡men¡¡who¡¡had¡¡been¡¡inside¡¡the¡¡hotel¡¡at¡¡the¡¡beginning¡¡of¡¡the¡¡raid¡£
¡¡Lieutenant¡¡Maclare¡¡felt¡¡pleased¡¡as¡¡he¡¡took¡¡a¡¡seat¡¡at¡¡his¡¡desk¡¡and¡¡began¡¡to¡¡prepare¡¡a¡¡report¡£¡¡Armed¡¡resistance¡¡had¡¡made¡¡the¡¡case¡¡against¡¡the¡¡prisoners¡¡a¡¡stronger¡¡one¡£¡¡Maclare¡¡could¡¡see¡¡jail¡¡terms¡¡awaiting¡¡many¡¡of¡¡the¡¡participants¡£
¡¡Maclare's¡¡pleasure¡¡increased£»¡¡when¡¡Sergeant¡¡Cassley¡¡knocked¡¡at¡¡the¡¡door¡¡to¡¡announce¡¡a¡¡visitor¡£¡¡The¡¡arrival¡¡was¡¡none¡¡other¡¡than¡¡Kirk¡¡Borman£»¡¡the¡¡police¡¡director¡£
¡¡Maclare¡¡was¡¡on¡¡his¡¡feet¡¡when¡¡Borman¡¡entered¡£¡¡Tall£»¡¡heavy¡¡of¡¡build£»¡¡the¡¡police¡¡director¡¡was¡¡as¡¡much¡¡a¡¡fighter¡¡as¡¡Maclare¡£¡¡Borman's¡¡face¡¡was¡¡sharp¡featured£»¡¡his¡¡lips¡¡showed¡¡a¡¡broad¡¡smile¡¡between¡¡his¡¡hooked¡¡nose¡¡and¡¡his¡¡pointed¡¡chin¡£¡¡Advancing¡¡to¡¡Maclare's¡¡desk£»¡¡Borman¡¡thrust¡¡a¡¡congratulating¡¡hand¡¡across¡¡the¡¡top£»¡¡to¡¡grip¡¡Maclare's¡¡hand¡¡in¡¡a¡¡solid¡¡shake¡£
¡¡¡¨Fine¡¡work£»¡¡Jim£»¡¨¡¡mended¡¡Borman£»¡¡in¡¡a¡¡short¡clipped¡¡tone¡£¡¡¡¨You¡¡cleaned¡¡out¡¡a¡¡nest¡¡of¡¡bad¡¡eggs¡£¡¡Carry¡¡on¡¡with¡¡it¡£¡¡Go¡¡after¡¡the¡¡gilt¡edged¡¡places¡¡in¡¡this¡¡precinct¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨You¡¡mean¡¡the¡¡Club¡¡Adair£¿¡¨¡¡queried¡¡Maclare¡£¡¡¡¨That's¡¡one¡¡place¡¡I'd¡¡like¡¡to¡¡get£»¡¡Kirk¡£¡¡Lance¡¡Gillick¡¡has¡¡a¡¡gambling¡¡joint¡¡somewhere¡¡in¡¡back¡¡of¡¡that¡¡fancy¡¡night¡¡club¡¡front¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨Go¡¡after¡¡it£»¡¡tomorrow¡¡night£»¡¨¡¡ordered¡¡Borman¡£¡¡¡¨Telephone¡¡me¡¡first£»¡¡though¡£¡¡I¡¡have¡¡two¡¡headquarters¡¡men¡¡watching¡¡things¡¡over¡¡there¡£¡¡I'm¡¡going¡¡to¡¡drop¡¡in¡¡there¡¡this¡¡evening¡¡and¡¡look¡¡the¡¡place¡¡over¡¡for¡¡myself¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨Lance¡¡Gillick¡¡will¡¡probably¡¡see¡¡you£»¡¨¡¡remarked¡¡Maclare¡£¡¡¡¨If¡¡he¡¡does£»¡¡he'll¡¡pass¡¡you¡¡a¡¡lot¡¡of¡¡smooth¡¡talk¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¨All¡¡the¡¡better£»¡¨¡¡decided¡¡Borman¡£¡¡¡¨If¡¡he¡¡thinks¡¡I'm¡¡the¡¡man¡¡he¡¡has¡¡to¡¡deal¡¡with£»¡¡he¡¡won't¡¡be¡¡expecting¡¡you¡¡tomorrow¡£¡¨
¡¡Kirk¡¡Borman¡¡clapped¡¡his¡¡hand¡¡upon¡¡Lieutenant¡¡Maclare's¡¡shoulder£»¡¡then¡¡turned¡¡about¡¡and¡¡strode¡¡from¡¡the¡¡office¡£¡¡Policemen¡¡saluted£»¡¡as¡¡the¡¡director¡¡passed¡¡through¡¡the¡¡patrol¡¡room¡£¡¡Outside¡¡the¡¡station¡¡house£»¡¡Borman¡¡stepped¡¡aboard¡¡an¡¡official¡¡limousine¡¡and¡¡told¡¡the¡¡chauffeur¡¡to¡¡take¡¡him¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Club¡¡Adair¡£
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¡¡LOCATED¡¡just¡¡within¡¡the¡¡limits¡¡of¡¡the¡¡first¡¡precinct£»¡¡the¡¡Club¡¡Adair¡¡fronted¡¡on¡¡one¡¡of¡¡Westford's¡¡main¡¡streets¡£¡¡The¡¡club¡¡itself¡¡was¡¡on¡¡the¡¡second¡¡floor£»¡¡over¡¡a¡¡row¡¡of¡¡shops¡£
¡¡Alighting¡¡from¡¡his¡¡car£»¡¡Kirk¡¡Borman¡¡entered¡¡a¡¡pretentious¡¡doorway¡¡and¡¡ascended¡¡a¡¡broad¡¡flight¡¡of¡¡thick¡carpeted¡¡stairs¡£¡¡At¡¡the¡¡top£»¡¡he¡¡left¡¡his¡¡hat¡¡and¡¡coat¡¡at¡¡a¡¡check¡¡room¡£¡¡Attired¡¡in¡¡tuxedo£»¡¡the¡¡police¡¡director¡¡entered¡¡a¡¡glittering¡¡night¡¡club£»¡¡where¡¡tobacco¡¡smoke¡¡clouded¡¡a¡¡thick¡¡throng¡¡of¡¡dancers¡¡who¡¡occupied¡¡the¡¡center¡¡of¡¡the¡¡floor¡£
¡¡An¡¡orchestra¡¡was¡¡producing¡¡strident¡¡music¡£¡¡Buzzed¡¡conversation£»¡¡bursts¡¡of¡¡laughter¡¡sounded¡¡everywhere¡£¡¡The¡¡place¡¡was¡¡doing¡¡capacity¡¡business£»¡¡a¡¡bowing¡¡head¡¡waiter¡¡was¡¡apologetic¡¡when¡¡he¡¡ushered¡¡the¡¡police¡¡director¡¡to¡¡an¡¡obscure¡¡table£»¡¡behind¡¡a¡¡pillar¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡few¡¡tables¡¡that¡¡remained¡¡vacant¡£
¡¡A¡¡heavy¡jowled¡¡man¡¡spied¡¡Borman¡¡immediately¡¡and¡¡came¡¡over¡¡to¡¡the¡¡director's¡¡table¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡headquarters¡¡men£»¡¡he¡¡reported¡¡in¡¡an¡¡undertone£º
¡¡¡¨They've¡¡been¡¡going¡¡through¡¡that¡¡door¡¡over¡¡there£»¡¡a¡¡lot¡¡of¡¡em¡£¡¡Looks¡¡like¡¡the¡¡gambling¡¡joint's¡¡on¡¡the¡¡other¡¡side¡¡¨
¡¡Borman¡¡whispered¡¡an¡¡interruption¡£¡¡The¡¡headquarters¡¡man¡¡silenced¡¡as¡¡the¡¡head¡¡waiter¡¡approached¡¡the¡¡table¡£¡¡Directly¡¡behind¡¡the¡¡head¡¡waiter¡¡came¡¡a¡¡man¡¡in¡¡full¡¡evening¡¡clothes¡£¡¡The¡¡arrival¡¡was¡¡Lance¡¡Gillick¡£
¡¡The¡¡night¡¡club¡¡proprietor¡¡was¡¡tall¡¡and¡¡long¡limbed¡£¡¡His¡¡manner¡¡was¡¡polished£»¡¡his¡¡speech¡¡was¡¡suave¡£¡¡His¡¡features¡¡were¡¡handsome£»¡¡despite¡¡their¡¡sallowness¡£¡¡His¡¡wavy¡¡black¡¡hair£»¡¡his¡¡pointed¡¡mustache¡¡gave¡¡him¡¡a¡¡debonair¡¡air¡£
¡¡¡¨Good¡¡evening£»¡¡Director¡¡Borman£»¡¨¡¡greeted¡¡Gillick£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡bow¡£¡¡¡¨It¡¡is¡¡not¡¡often¡¡that¡¡I¡¡have¡¡the¡¡pleasure¡¡of¡¡meeting¡¡you¡¡here¡£¡¡I¡¡somewhat¡¡expected¡¡your¡¡arrival¡¡tonight¡¨¡Lance¡¡smiled£»¡¡as¡¡he¡¡looked¡¡in¡¡the¡¡direction¡¡of¡¡the¡¡headquarters¡¡man¡¡¨because¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡two¡¡of¡¡your¡¡advance¡¡agents¡£¡¡This¡¡gentleman¡¡and¡¡the¡¡other£»¡¡over¡¡by¡¡the¡¡wall¡£¡¨
¡¡Borman¡¡turned¡¡to¡¡the¡¡headquarters¡¡man¡£
¡¡¡¨Go¡¡over¡¡there£»¡¡Thompson£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡ordered£»¡¡¡¨and¡¡bring¡¡Rhine¡¡here¡£¡¡I¡¡want¡¡both¡¡of¡¡you¡¡to¡¡e¡¡along¡¡with¡¡me¡£¡¨
¡¡Lance¡¡Gillick¡¡arched¡¡his¡¡clipped¡¡eyebrows£»¡¡as¡¡he¡¡heard¡¡Borman¡¡give¡¡the¡¡order¡£¡¡When¡¡the¡¡two¡¡headquarters¡¡men¡¡arrived¡¡at¡¡the¡¡table£»¡¡Borman¡¡snapped¡¡brisk¡¡words¡¡to¡¡Lance£º
¡¡¡¨We're¡¡going¡¡through¡¡that¡¡far¡¡door£»¡¡Gillick£¡¡¡You¡¡can¡¡conduct¡¡us¡¡there£¡¡¨
¡¡¡¨With¡¡pleasure£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Lance£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡bow¡£¡¡¡¨e¡¡at¡¡once£»¡¡director¡£¡¨
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¡¡LANCE¡¡led¡¡the¡¡way¡¡to¡¡the¡¡door¡¡in¡¡question¡£¡¡He¡¡rapped¡¡a¡¡signal£»¡¡the¡¡door¡¡opened¡£¡¡Borman¡¡and¡¡his¡¡men¡¡followed¡¡through¡¡into¡¡a¡¡large¡¡room£»¡¡where¡¡some¡¡twenty¡¡people¡¡were¡¡seated¡¡at¡¡tables£»¡¡laughing¡¡as¡¡they¡¡chatted¡¡and¡¡drank¡£¡¡All¡¡were¡¡well¡¡attired£»¡¡the¡¡men¡¡in¡¡evening¡¡clothes£»¡¡the¡¡women¡¡in¡¡evening¡¡gowns¡£
¡¡The¡¡room£»¡¡itself£»¡¡was¡¡magnificent¡£¡¡Its¡¡walls¡¡were¡¡adorned¡¡with¡¡huge¡¡oil¡¡paintings£»¡¡the¡¡windows¡¡were¡¡covered¡¡by¡¡expensive¡¡velvet¡¡dra