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The master crook was deliberate； even in his departure。 In fact； he had almost decided to linger a while longer upon the scene of his crime； for he was confident that no intruders would arrive until he wished them。
Though Stephen Ruthley did not guess it； luck favored him immensely when he made his chance decision to depart。 Had he stayed two minutes longer； his false tale of death would have been rendered useless。
For Stephen Ruthley had unwittingly left a trail that led to this very house。 The Shadow； master of vengeance； was close upon it。
CHAPTER XIV
ON THE SCENE OF CRIME
ADAM Woodstock's large house fronted upon a broad； but little…traveled； avenue。 It stood well back from the street； and was almost surrounded by trees。
Access to the house was gained through a broad driveway that began at the front avenue。
A small roadster had halted across from the entrance to the driveway。 Keen eyes saw an empty lot； directly opposite Woodstock's house。 Relaxing the clutch pedal slowly； the driver of the roadster urged his car between two trees； parked it in the lot and alighted。
All this was done in darkness； with the roadster's lights extinguished。 As the arrival from the roadster crossed the avenue； he was silent and invisible。
His feet did not even crunch the gravel when he entered Woodstock's driveway。
The Shadow had staged a perfect arrival at this house where crime had struck。 Advancing on foot； he intended to make a stealthy entry； he was choosing the front door because it was nearest。 It was not until he was almost to his objective that The Shadow halted。
He had heard the sound of a motor； throbbing on the other side of the house。 It was followed by the muffled whine of a high…pitched second gear； a sound that faded almost instantly。 For a moment； The Shadow expected to see an automobile e around the corner of the house； then he detected that the car had driven in an opposite direction。
Swiftly； The Shadow skirted the house。 He glimmered a tiny flashlight upon the gravel of the driveway。 The light showed that the driveway formed a circle； it was one that afforded two exits。 In addition to the drive that came up from the avenue； there was another that led to a rear street。 It was in that direction that the car had gone。
Noting a side door； The Shadow entered the house。 There were no lights on the ground floor； but faint rays from a stairway indicated illumination on the second story。 The Shadow ascended； arrived at the half…closed door of Woodstock's study。 Peering inward； he saw the dead contractor slumped across the desk。
The Shadow entered； to examine the grim result of Ruthley's conference with Woodstock。 Even to The Shadow； this oute was something of a surprise； but its purpose dawned upon him the moment that he saw the scene of crime。 The Shadow had foreseen that Stephen Ruthley would take measures to cover his own misdeeds； but he had not expected the master crook to deal in actual murder。
In fact； The Shadow had supposed that Ruthley had e here to ask Woodstock's aid in the important matter of quelling public sentiment regarding the death of Prescott Dunson。 In a sense； Ruthley had done just that； but he had made Woodstock give aid without request。 It did not take The Shadow long to recognize that Woodstock had bee the scapegoat； upon whom would be placed the blame for Dunson's death。
CLOSE beside the desk； The Shadow studied the set…up of Ruthley's perfect crime。 It looked like suicide； it would pass as such。 The opened desk drawer was an excellent touch。 Any ordinary investigator would have decided that Adam Woodstock had reached into it to bring out his own revolver。
Keys shone from within the drawer。 The Shadow plucked them up； examined them。 He saw the strong…box； went to it and unlocked it。 Stooped before the metal container； he began a search for planted evidence。 He found it。 The very items upon which Ruthley banked so heavily were the ones that won The Shadow's immediate suspicion。
The letters from Beezer Dorsch were pointed。 They referred； in crudely veiled words； to a 〃job〃 that would be done as ordered。 That meant the death of Dunson。 One note spoke of 〃D；〃 declaring that he would be no trouble。 The Shadow left these letters where he found them。
Woodstock's signed statement explained still more。 It gave The Shadow immediate knowledge of Ruthley's double…edged plan。 The public would fall for the idea that the half million 〃excess profit〃 represented Woodstock's own harvest； but The Shadow knew its exact significance。 That money was graft； paid back to Stephen Ruthley and the fake reformers who ran the present city administration。
Woodstock's corporation would have to disgorge the sum from its own funds。
There would be a new contract； new graft； managed by Mayor Elvin Marclot who would raise his hands in amazed horror when he learned how Woodstock had tried to 〃swindle〃 the city of Westford。
One detail of the statement caught The Shadow's eye。 The paper was slightly shorter than a usual typewriter page。 Holding the paper to the light； The Shadow examined its texture； he saw its odd； wavy…lined watermark： the letter 〃W。〃 It was a special bond paper； that Woodstock had evidently ordered direct from the manufacturers。
Approaching the desk； The Shadow found other paper in the drawer。 It was of the same bond； but the sheets were of normal length。 Placing one blank sheet in Woodstock's typewriter； The Shadow tapped a few keys to observe the peculiarities of type and ribbon color。 He saw at once that Woodstock's statement had been typed upon this machine。
paring the big shears with the statement； The Shadow saw how its lower edge had been clipped。 He noted that the space was very slight below the line that bore Woodstock's signature。 The Shadow laughed softly； he had gained an inkling of how Ruthley had induced Woodstock to sign the statement。
THE SHADOW replaced the statement in the strong…box； he locked the heavy door。 He kept the sheet of paper that he had typed； placed it beneath his cloak。 He dropped the paper shears into the desk drawer； along with the keys。
Looking over the flattened shoulders of Woodstock's huddled body； The Shadow saw the much…used blotter that projected from beneath the dead man's arm。
Inch by inch； The Shadow worked the blotter free。 He saw at once why Ruthley had left it on the desk。 The blobby surface of the blotter could afford no clue。 When The Shadow turned the blotter over； however； he made a simple discovery that had totally escaped Ruthley's notice。
The blotter was double surfaced。 Woodstock； until tonight； had used the upper side。 Tonight； he had begun with the blank side of the blotter。 Its fresh surface showed only two marks。 One was Woodstock's own signature； reversed； quite plain； for the contractor had pressed heavily with his pen。 The other was lighter； but The Shadow recognized it。 The second mark bore a distinct resemblance to Stephen Ruthley's signature。
The master crook had overlooked one small item in his arrangement of the suicide scene。 Just as he had left evidence at his own apartment； indicating that he had gone to visit Woodstock； so had he left a clue whic