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To avoid that inevitable result； The Shadow hurried down the fire tower。
He reached the bottom just in time to see Beezer Dorsch dash from a side door of the hotel。 The Shadow had no time to aim for the murderer； Beezer was ducking behind an automobile； pointing to the fire tower as he dived for cover。
Two squadron men saw him； they let Beezer go and headed for the tower。
The Shadow swung out upon them。 As their guns came up； his came down in two long swings。 One man took a blow upon the head； the other dodged； but received a glancing stroke that made him stumble。 Hearing shouts from men who had rounded the front corner of the hotel； The Shadow sprang off between parked cars。 Dodging back and forth； he reached a coupe and boarded it。
Another car had pulled away from the other side of the parking lot。 The Shadow heard the whine of its gear and knew that Beezer had made his getaway。
That flight was by arrangement with the law。 The Shadow had no such pleasant prospect。 Trouble began anew； as he sped his car toward the street。
A SQUADRON car shot in to block The Shadow's coupe。 The Shadow tongued a quick blast from his automatic； to avoid the fire； the driver of the squadron car veered。 The Shadow wheeled away from bright lights； as his coupe roared past Judge Benbrook's house； three khaki…clad men on motorcycles took up the chase。
The Shadow veered left at the trolley tracks； rounded the block； sped his car through an alleyway。 A patrol car sighted him； it followed。 Another block； two policemen in blue uniform saw the chase and mandeered a sedan to join the pursuit。
Again； The Shadow turned his course； headed back toward the city's center。
Finding a side street； he took it； to avoid another squadron car that was ing straight toward him。
As The Shadow whizzed past a corner； he went by an automobile that had pulled up to the curb。 The man behind the wheel of that car sat watching； as police cars and motorcycles sped by。 When the wild parade had faded in the distance； that watcher slid from his car and shuffled toward an alleyway that offered direct access to the rear door of Lance Gillick's Club Adair。
A street lamp gave a momentary glimpse of the shuffler's ugly face。 The man was Beezer Dorsch； grinning from ear to ear。 He had expected a pursuit before he could head back to Lance's perfect hide…out。 With so many dumb cops in Westford； there was always a chance of trouble； as Beezer viewed it。
Circumstances had turned out well for Beezer Dorsch。 He could forget the fact that he had failed to murder Shaw。 After all； Shaw was The Shadow； and others could take the job of bagging him。 As Beezer recalled it； Mayor Marclot and Police Director Borman had agreed to handle that particular task。
They had made a good beginning。 The pursuit that Beezer had witnessed was a real one。 The Shadow had put himself in wrong with the law。 He had made Beezer's fake flight an easy one； and had given the Flying Squadron a real trail； for a change。
Beezer Dorsch was hopeful that the Flying Squadron would show its real ability tonight。
CHAPTER X
THE LOST TRAIL
THE chase that Beezer had witnessed was actually a hot one。 The Shadow realized it as he sped toward the city limits； picking a course through the winding streets of one of Westford's suburbs。 Pursuers had spread out； picking parallel streets。 At every corner； The Shadow heard sirens that told of foemen on both sides。
Horns were honking from a hundred yards behind。 They represented mandeered cars。 More of the regular police had joined in the hunt。 Like the members of the Flying Squadron； they would give The Shadow plenty； if they gained the opportunity。 Questions and explanations would e afterward。
The Shadow's coupe was no speedier than the cars of the pursuers； but he knew this section of Westford。 He had chosen it on that account。 At intervals； The Shadow chose short…cuts； where angled streets afforded quick routes to other thoroughfares。 These shifts put him farther ahead of the cars upon his trail。
Making a quick turn at a corner； The Shadow threaded through a maze of streets and gained a highway that led from the town。 Speeding toward the open road； he saw the glare of two sets of headlights； ing straight toward him； side by side。 Instantly； The Shadow knew that a radio call had been given。
Patrol cars on the city's outskirts were heading in to block him。
Quickly； The Shadow chose the first side road that offered itself。 The coupe jolted over bumpy paving； then came a muddy lane where a pair of ruts offered the only progress。 Taking it at rapid speed； The Shadow saw the end of the road。 He stopped the coupe on the very fringe of a small pond。 Dropping to the ground； he looked back along the lane。 He saw headlights bouncing as cars took the ruts。 Half a dozen automobiles had neared this finish of the chase。
One minute more would bring them to the spot where The Shadow stood。
High above； off to the right； The Shadow saw a glow of light。 It came from the top of a huge water tower； its rounded bottom forming a bowl upon long； spindly struts。 With long strides across scraggly ground； The Shadow covered the distance。 He reached the bottom of the tower just as the police cars pulled up beside his abandoned coupe。
The glow from the tower came from lights beneath a projecting flange around the top。 There； lights were concentrated to display a sign painted on the tower； stating that it belonged to the Westford Electric Co。 A platform at the base of the tank itself cut off the light； so that all beneath was darkened。
Stopping by the first steel leg； The Shadow found that the support was equipped with a ladder。 Without a moment's hesitation； he began an upward climb。
FORTY feet up； the ladder ended。 In its place； The Shadow discovered a catwalk that led to the center of the tank； ending directly underneath it。
Probing farther in the darkness； he discovered a side ladder that went to the top of the tank； but he chose the catwalk instead。 His choice was a good one。
Some of the pursuers had e over toward the tower and were flashing electric torches from the ground。
Reaching the end of the catwalk； The Shadow felt the bottom of the tank。
He discovered supporting girders； shaped to the tank itself。 Gripping the edges of a girder with his hands； The Shadow swung his feet upward and gained a toe…hold。 Crawling face upward； he followed the outside of the huge bowl； until he was halfway to the platform that girded it。 There； The Shadow paused； bracing his arms； he clung motionless。
Pursuers were ing up the ladder。 Some reached the catwalk； followed its downward curve to the center of the tank。 Others went around the platform。 A few ascended the second ladder and flashed lights on the smooth surface of the conical top。 The search took several minutes； it covered everywhere； except the under curve of the water tank； on The Shadow's side。 No one suspected that a person could hide on that precarious portion of the tank。
Clangs from the ladder told that the police were making their descent。
Slowly； The Shadow reversed his course along the girder。 His arms and legs were tired； but the course was d