mg.cityofcrime-第8节

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　The　fact　did　not　annoy　Borman；　he　was　too　anxious　to　divulge　the　contents　of　the　letter。
　〃This　was　from　a　man　named　Shaw；〃　he　began。　〃Evidently　the　fellow　had　written　to　Dunson　before…〃
　〃Wait！〃
　
　
　STEPHEN　Ruthley　had　heard　a　slight　sound　that　came　from　behind　the　panting　on　the　wall。　He　arose；　went　to　the　picture　and　pressed　a　hidden　catch　in　the　side　of　the　frame。　He　swung　the　picture　inward；　in　doorlike　fashion。
　Two　men　stepped　over　the　sill；　to　join　the　conference　in　Ruthley's　den。
　The　foremost　was　Lance　Gillick；　sleek　in　his　evening　attire。　The　big…shot　gambler　indulged　in　one　of　his　suave　smiles。　He　stepped　aside　to　let　his　panion　enter。　The　other　man　was　short　and　squatty；　his　leering　face　showed　crossed　scars　on　its　left　cheek。　The　man　looked　like　a　murderer；　and　he　was。
　Lance's　panion　was　〃Beezer〃　Dorsch；　the　mobleader　who　was　supposed　to　be　at　odds　with　the　sleek　gambler。　As　Lance　had　mentioned　to　Borman　the　night　before；　the　two　were　actually　in　league。　Because　of　that；　Lance　had　brought　Beezer　to　this　conference。
　The　ring　of　crime…makers　was　plete。　Stephen　Ruthley；　king　of　villainy；　sat　smiling　as　he　viewed　the　faces　of　his　four　lieutenants。　With　Elvin　Marclot　to　play　the　part　of　a　pompous　mayor；　with　Kirk　Borman　to　pose　as　an　efficient　police　director；　Ruthley　held　two　aces　for　a　start。
　This　other　pair　were　quite　as　essential　to　his　schemes。　Lance　Gillick　served　as　hidden　lieutenant　who　manded　henchmen　from　the　underworld；　while　Beezer　Dorsch　took　charge　of　action　in　the　field。　In　a　sense；　Lance　and　Beezer　corresponded　to　Marclot　and　Borman。　One　pair　represented　the　law；　the　other　pair；　crime。
　The　second　duo　of　aces　gave　Stephen　Ruthley　the　full　hand　that　he　wanted。
　All　were　his；　to　take　his　mands。　Tonight's　action　had　been　the　murder　of　Prescott　Dunson。　The　kill　had　been　made。　Ruthley　was　prepared　to　order　further　measures　to　cover　up　the　crime。
　
　
　CHAPTER　VII　
　THE　FINGER　POINTS　
　ELVIN　MARCLOT　and　Kirk　Borman　were　not　at　all　annoyed　by　the　arrival　of　Lance　Gillick　and　Beezer　Dorsch。　The　mayor　and　the　police　director　had　long　since　e　to　recognize　those　two　as　panions　in　arms。　There　was；　in　fact；　a　reason　why　both　Marclot　and　Borman　felt　pleased　when　they　learned　that　Ruthley　had　summoned　his　representatives　in　the　underworld。　Until　tonight；　neither　Marclot　nor　Borman　had　made　the　actual　acquaintance　of　Beezer　Dorsch。
　Nearly　all　contact　between　these　pairs　of　lieutenants　had　been　when　Kirk　Borman　had　visited　Lance　Gillick；　on　pretense　that　he　was　looking　into　the　gambler's　affairs。　Marclot　and　Borman　paid　their　own　visits　to　Stephen　Ruthley；　but　they　always　entered　by　the　front　door。　When　Ruthley　needed　to　see　Lance　or　Beezer；　he　had　those　outlaws　e　in　through　the　secret　entry。
　The　picture　that　served　as　a　door　covered　a　passage　through　the　deserted　house　at　the　end　of　the　row。　Lance　and　Beezer　reached　it　by　entering　the　old　house　from　a　narrow；　blind　alley；　well　hidden　from　the　lights　of　the　front　boulevard。
　Tonight；　it　was　apparent　that　Lance　and　Beezer　had　brought　news。
　Therefore；　Kirk　Borman　postponed　his　own　report。　He　pocketed　the　letter　that　he　had　found　on　Dunson's　body　and　settled　back　in　his　chair　to　listen。　Lance　Gillick　picked　out　one　of　Ruthley's　cigars；　while　Beezer　Dorsch　produced　a　cigarette　and　lighted　it。　Lance　gave　a　nod。
　〃Spill　it；　Beezer；〃　he　ordered。　〃The　boss　will　want　to　hear　what　went　sour。〃
　Beezer　turned　directly　to　Ruthley。
　〃I　was　going　to　tell　you　about　last　night；〃　he　began。　〃Only　I　got　more　dope　to　spring；　the　way　things　has　happened。　We　muffed　that　Maclare　job；　on　account　of　a　guy　who　queered　our　set…up。　I　was　wise　to　who　he　was。　He　was　The　Shadow！　And　it　was　him　again　tonight！〃
　For　an　instant；　Stephen　Ruthley's　eyes　showed　a　hard　glint。　The　boss　had　heard　of　The　Shadow；　for　he　had　delved　deeply　into　the　lore　of　crime。
　Ruthley　turned　to　Borman。
　〃Too　bad　your　Flying　Squadron　was　slow；〃　purred　the　boss。　〃They　could　handle　this　trouble…maker；　if　they　went　after　him。〃
　〃They'll　have　orders　to　bag　The　Shadow；〃　returned　Borman；　grimly。　〃When　I　tell　them　to　look　for　The　Shadow；　they'll　find　him！〃
　
　
　LANCE　and　Beezer　smiled　hopefully。　Ruthley　settled　back　in　his　chair　to　ponder　over　the　facts　that　he　had　heard。　During　the　lull；　Mayor　Marclot　suddenly　reverted　to　his　former　subject。
　〃We　can't　forget　Dunson；〃　pleaded　Marclot。　〃Something　has　to　be　brought　to　light；　to　cover　the　stir　he　has　made。〃
　Ruthley　smiled　blandly。　He　arose　and　went　to　the　filing　cabinet　in　the　corner。　Opening　a　drawer；　he　produced　a　folder　filled　with　papers。　He　brought　them　back　to　his　chair；　laid　them　upon　a　table。　Motioning　for　silence；　he　spoke　in　calm；　authoritative　tone。
　〃Prescott　Dunson　is　dead；〃　announced　Ruthley。　〃He　was　murdered　because　he　threatened　to　make　important　revelations　concerning　graft　and　crime。　The　public　will　want　facts；　therefore；　the　public　shall　have　facts。　Those　facts；　however；　will　be　to　our　own　choice。〃
　Smiling；　Ruthley　opened　the　folder　and　brought　out　the　papers。　As　he　spread　them　on　the　table；　he　spoke　further。
　〃First；〃　he　declared；　〃some　killer　must　be　blamed　for　the　crime。　Very　well；　we　shall　name　the　man　who　is　actually　responsible。　There　he　is〃…Ruthley　pointed　to　Beezer…〃all　ready　to　take　the　blame。〃
　〃Sure；〃　snorted　Beezer；　〃I'll　be　the　fall　guy。　Great　stuff；　boss！　Me　and　Lance　is　supposed　to　be　on　the　outs。　That'll　cover　him。〃
　Lance　chuckled。
　〃I　already　have　an　alibi；〃　he　remarked。　〃The　best　in　the　city。　Just　at　the　time　when　Beezer　was　rubbing　out　Dunson；　who　do　you　think　dropped　in　to　see　me？
　I'll　tell　you。　It　was　Lieutenant　James　Maclare。　He　wanted　to　see　if　I　had　any　roulette　wheels　up　my　sleeve；　so　I　showed　him　all　around　the　joint。　He　drew　a　blank；　wouldn't　even　take　a　cigar　when　I　offered　it　to　him。　Maclare　knows　where　I　was　when　Dunson　was　chopped　down。　Being　honest；　he'll　admit　that　I　was　right　in　my　own　night　club。〃
　Smiles　of　approval　were　exchanged　throughout　the　group。　Chuckles　stilled　as　Ruthley　resumed。
　〃Beezer　will　disappear；〃　explained　the　boss。　〃The　city　will　be　scoured　for　him。　A　nation…wide　search　will　begin；　with　Beezer　called　a　public　enemy。〃
　Beezer　looked　uneasy；　until　Ruthley　added：
　〃All　the　while；　Beezer　will　be　fortably　located　in　the　one　place　where　no　one…not　even　Lieutenant　Maclare…will　look　for　him。　He　will　live　in　your　apartment；　Lance。〃
　
　
　LANCE　nodded　his　approval。　The　others　joined　with　nods。　They　knew　the　location　of　Lance's　apartment；　off　the　passage　that　led　from　his　private　office。　Since　Maclare　had　raided　the　Club　Adair　and　found　no　gambling　devices；　there　would　be　no　more　raids。
　Ruthley　made　a　sweeping　gesture　with　his　right　hand。
　〃The　matter　of　a　murderer　is　settled；〃　he　declared。　〃We　must；　however；　consider　the　subject　of　corruption。　Marclot〃…he　eyed　the　mayor　steadily…〃do　you　remember　those　contracts　you　signed　for　the　proposed　exposition　buildings？〃
　〃Certainly；〃　nodded　Marclot。　〃Adam　Woodstock　gained　the　contracts。　He　has　already　received　a　million　dollars　of　city　funds。　He　gave　us　our　half　of　the　money。〃
　〃That　was　a　swell　kickback；〃　put　in　Lance；　in　an　admiring　tone。　〃I'll　bet；　though；　that　it　doesn't　show　on　Woodstock's　books。〃
　〃Of　course　not；〃　declared　Marclot。　〃Woodstock　was　careful　to　cover　the　entire　transaction。〃
　〃These　papers；〃　stated　Ruthley；　picking　some　from　his　stack；　〃give　a　parison　of　the　actual　estimates　and　the　false　ones。　Suppose　that　they　were　found　in　Woodstock's　safe；　along　with　other　incriminating　documents；　such　as　letters　signed　by　Beezer　Dorsch…〃
　Elvin　Marclot　could　not　contain　himself。　Forgetting　his　pompous　pose；　the　mayor　exclaimed：
　〃People　would　think　that　Woodstock　was　the　man　higher　up！　The　one　who　ordered　Beezer　to　murder　Dunson！〃
　〃And　the　contracts？〃　queried　Ruthley；　smoothly。　〃What　would　happen　with　them？〃
　〃I　could　cancel　them；〃　returned　Marclot；　〃on　claim　of　fraud　perpetrated　by　Woodstock。　His　corporation　would　be　held　responsible　for　the　funds　that　Woodstock　received。〃
　〃Precisely；〃　smiled　Ruthley。　〃A　million　dollars　would　be　returned　to　the　city　treasury；　and　half　of　it　would　be　Woodstock's　own　money。　You　would　then　be　able；　Marclot；　to　let　new　contracts　to　another　bidder　quite　as　discreet　as　Woodstock。〃
　〃Meaning　a　new　kickback；〃　chuckled　Lance。　〃Another　easy　half　million！〃
　The　perfection　of　Ruthley's　scheme　suited　the　bevy　of　plotters。　They　saw　another　half　million　already　in　the　bag。　One　question　came；　it　was　from　Kirk　Borman。
　〃Woodstock　will　squawk；〃　phrased　the　police　director。　〃How　will　you　handle　that；　Steve？〃
　〃I　shall　attend　to　Woodstock；〃　purred　Ruthley。　〃He　will　never　find　an　opportunity　to　raise　objection。　There　is　only　one　detail　that　must　still　be　considered。　That　concerns　Beezer。　We　must　see　to　it　that　he　is　actually　accepted　as　Dunson's　murderer。〃
　〃I　can　fix　that；〃　returned　Borman。　〃I'll　have　some　of　the　boys　in　the　Flying　Squadron　swear　to　it　that　they　saw　him　knock　off　Dunson。〃
　〃That　will　help；〃　mused　Ruthley；　〃but　it　would　be　better　if　some　disinterested　witnesses　could　testify　to　Beezer's　ability　as　a　killer。　Charges　made　by　police　are　sometimes　disregarded。〃
　
　
　KIRK　BORMAN　stroked　his　chin。　He　was　thinking　har