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eeing The Shadow； Haija was leaping to prompt attack。 The fact that The Shadow swung to meet him did not perturb the speedy Jap。 Haija was grinning as he came。
With nimble hands； Haija caught The Shadow's right arm； as it swung toward the front of the black cloak。 Haija thought that The Shadow was reaching for a gun。 His guess was wrong。 The Shadow had recognized a jujitsu thrust； his move was a bluff to counteract it。
As Haija performed a back…spin； expecting to speed The Shadow over his shoulders； a gloved left hand hooked cross…arm； to clutch the Jap's neck。 Haija jolted short。 The Shadow whipped backward； his long arms were like tremendous levers； as they hoisted Haija from the floor。 Releasing his grip； The Shadow let Haija hurtle over an armchair； shoulder foremost； the Japanese bashed against the side of the heavy framed painting that adorned the wall。 The canvas quivered from the thud； instantly； The Shadow recognized that it served as a door。
HAIJA lay motionless on the floor； stunned by a bump his head had taken when he sprawled。 The Shadow stepped to the telephone； again； he dialed Woodstock's number； to get another busy signal。 Hardly had he finished with the dialing when he heard sounds from elsewhere in the apartment。 Ruthley had servants beside Haija。 They had heard the crash of the Jap's fall； they were ing to learn its cause。
For a moment The Shadow paused； ready to begin new fray。 His gloved fingers； dipping beneath the cloak； crinkled the paper that he had placed there。
The Shadow changed his plan。 Stepping over toward Haija's prone body； he tried the edge of the picture frame。 He found the catch； shoved Haija aside with one foot as he drew the portrait toward himself。 Listening； The Shadow noted that there were no approaching steps。 Probably the servants were conferring among themselves； reluctant to advance until they knew more。
Leaving the big portrait ajar； The Shadow hurried from the den。 He reached the hallway； gained the outer door and opened it； making a clatter as he did so。
Giving the door a slam。 The Shadow wheeled back toward the den。 As he passed the unconscious form of Haija； he heard the pound of footsteps。
Servants knew at last that there was an intruder in the apartment。 They thought that the unknown visitor had fled by the front door。 With courage gained； they were making a pursuit。 Calmly； The Shadow stepped through the opening behind the portrait； closed the doorlike painting and heard the catch click automatically。
Stephen Ruthley； when he returned； would never guess that The Shadow had found the secret exit。 Haija would testify to a battle in the den； the other servants would swear that an invader had fled through the front door。 As for the crumpled paper that he had gained； The Shadow doubted that Ruthley would even remember it。 The master crook had considered it of no importance。
THE SHADOW however； regarded the paper as valuable。 He pocketed it securely； as he picked his way by flashlight through the interior of the vacant house。 That paper was evidence of a sort that could be used； when the proper time arrived。 There was a chance； though； that it might never prove necessary。
For The Shadow was taking a shortcut to reach Stephen Ruthley。 He was convinced that the master crook had gone to the residence of Adam Woodstock。
Knowing Ruthley's ways。 The Shadow was positive that he would find the rogue engaged in secret parley with the contractor。 If the two were hatching a new scheme of graft； it would be worth The Shadow's while to listen； then deal with Ruthley afterward。
Reaching the blind alley in back of the row of houses； The Shadow followed devious turns until he reached an obscure garage that was well away from brightly lighted streets。 An attendant was dozing in the office； he did not awaken when The Shadow entered a small roadster and coasted the car to the street。
This was a reserve automobile； that The Shadow had purchased from a 〃used…car〃 lot in Westford。 He was employing it to reach Adam Woodstock's home； on the other side of town。 The Shadow knew the location of the contractor's residence； it was one of the largest houses in Westford。
All that disturbed The Shadow was the fact that it had taken him a dozen minutes to reach the garage where he had placed the old car。 That interval had delayed his start to Woodstock's。 There was a chance that the conference might be ended before The Shadow arrived at the contractor's home。
Had The Shadow learned the real purpose of Stephen Ruthley's visit to Adam Woodstock； he would have realized that the odds were badly against him。 Though he was to profit by his present mission； The Shadow was faring into new and greater hazards than those that he had previously faced in Westford。
CHAPTER XIII
DEATH'S FALSE TALE
EVEN before The Shadow's bat with Haija； Stephen Ruthley had reached the home of Adam Woodstock。 Admitted by the contractor himself； Ruthley had gone to a room on the second floor； there to confer with the man he had e to see。
Adam Woodstock was a dreary…faced individual； his bloodless countenance was almost as gray as the thin fringe of hair that surrounded his bald head。
Seated at a desk in the room that he called his study； Woodstock assumed a listening attitude while Stephen Ruthley spoke。 Woodstock had an odd habit of tilting his head to the right； Ruthley noticed it particularly tonight。
Across the desk from Woodstock； Ruthley was purring a persuasive story。 It concerned the contract on which Woodstock had already paid back the half million dollars that had been required of him。
〃There are several of us in this deal；〃 confided Ruthley。 〃Marclot and I are not alone。 That is why I have e to see you； Woodstock。 These papers explain the situation。〃
Spreading the documents that he had brought from his own files； Ruthley chose one and passed it across the desk to Woodstock。
〃This is the most important one；〃 declared Ruthley。 〃It contains an itemized statement that you gave to Marclot。 The bottom line lists five hundred thousand dollars under the head of excess profit。〃
〃Quite right；〃 returned Woodstock； in a drawly tone。 〃I listed my own profit as one hundred thousand； ten per cent of a million。 The five hundred thousand represents the amount that I turned over to Marclot。〃
〃We know that；〃 nodded Ruthley； 〃but some of my associates have doubted the authenticity of the figures。〃
〃But Marclot received the half million…〃
〃True。 Nevertheless； we have only his word for it that your figures are correct。〃
Adam Woodstock blinked。 In unbelieving tone； he questioned：
〃Do you mean to say that someone has suggested that Marclot and I might have worked a side deal of our own？〃
〃Just that；〃 replied Ruthley。 〃Of course； it sounds ridiculous。 I said so myself。 But the others did not think so。 They had a reason for their doubts。〃
〃What could that be？〃
〃The fact that you did not sign the statement。〃
Woodstock delivered a short laugh。 Head still tilted； he reached for a pen that lay beside his desk telephone。 Ruthley noted that the telephone was off its stand。 He had suggested that Woodstock leave it so； in order not to be tro