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he left a clue which proved that he had actually e to the contractor's home。 This blotter could nullify the evidence that Ruthley had planted in Woodstock's safe。
Ordinarily； The Shadow would have left the blotter on the desk。
Circumstances caused him to do otherwise tonight。 The Shadow had gauged Stephen Ruthley too well； to believe that the murderer would leave anything to chance。
Though Ruthley thought his crime was perfect； he would certainly count upon the opinion of a man well qualified to judge。
This crime would be discovered。 Police would arrive； with them； Police Director Borman。 Knowing Ruthley to be the perpetrator of crime。 Kirk Borman would be on the lookout for every minor detail。 If Borman found the blotter； he would promptly dispose of it。 As evidence； the blotter would never serve； if left upon the scene of crime。 Therefore； The Shadow kept the blotter； he placed it beneath his cloak； along with other items that he had acquired upon this night of investigation。
The Shadow was ready for a return visit to Stephen Ruthley's apartment。 He knew that he could enter there； through the secret passage； to surprise Ruthley in the latter's own den。 Almost ready for departure； The Shadow paused on the far side of the desk； to lean across and make a last inspection of Woodstock's body。 It was while The Shadow stood in this position that he heard a sound from somewhere in the house。
BOARDS were creaking； as though invaders were creeping up the front stairs。 Wheeling from the desk； The Shadow crossed the room。 He gained the hall and reached the top of the back stairs； to listen for sounds from the front。
Audible whispers reached The Shadow。
〃Maybe it was a crank call；〃 came one ment。 〃The guy that phoned headquarters may have just thought he heard a shot。〃
〃We can't take any chances； though；〃 was the response。 〃Director Borman said to move in； softlike； and investigate。〃
〃Yeah。 He's outside； too； waiting for us to report。〃
〃That's why we'd better take a gander into that lighted room。〃
The approaching men were detectives from headquarters。 A call had been made there； reporting a gun…shot heard within Woodstock's house。 Probably； Ruthley had made that call； soon after his departure。 Kirk Borman had been at his office； expecting it。 Since Borman was outside； it was likely that members of the Flying Squadron were with him。
The Shadow decided upon stealthy departure； in order to head for Ruthley's without trouble on the way。
The two detectives went past。 As they neared the door of Woodstock's study； The Shadow began his descent of the back stairs。 He was only half…way down when a shout came from above。 The dicks had discovered Woodstock's body。
They were pounding out into the hall； to raise a loud alarm。
Instantly； there was a response from below。 Footsteps clattered near the bottom of the back stairs。 There was a click； a flashlight gleamed upward； the light was furnished by another detective； who happened to be near the back stairs when he heard the shout。 He； too； raised a cry。
The dick below had made a discovery of his own。 Straight in the path of his upward glare； he saw The Shadow。 The detective's shout was spontaneous。 He told all； as he cried：
〃There's a guy on the back stairs！ Get him！〃
More footsteps below； as new arrivals hurried to join the detective who held the light。 Shouts from above； as the two who had found Woodstock's body reached the back stairs to see The Shadow against the brilliant glare。
The Shadow's chance of stealthy departure was ended。 Trapped between two forces； he was faced by a situation more pressing than the one he had encountered the night before。
CHAPTER XV
FOILED HOUNDS
ONE factor favored The Shadow。 Though trapped； he had been found by men who were not of a criminal sort。 Director Borman； knowing that Adam Woodstock's body was to be discovered； had used smart policy。 He had sent ordinary detectives into the contractor's house； men who had long been on the Westford force。 He had decided that their preliminary reports would be better than those of the outsiders who formed the Flying Squadron。
As yet； The Shadow had not clashed directly with any of the city's loyal police。 Bluecoats had joined the khaki…clad squadron men in last night's chase； but The Shadow had been speeding away when the regular police took up the chase。
Hence； he was an unknown factor to the real supporters of the law in Westford。
These headquarters men were like the police of Lieutenant Maclare's precinct。 They were capable； but slow…witted。 Director Borman preferred such officers。 The Shadow knew that fact； he took advantage of it。 Despite his trapped position； he saw chance for a quick getaway。
As usual； The Shadow did the unexpected。 His natural course lay downward； but he spurned that route。 His prompt decision was based on the fact that men were better prepared below； moreover； there was no way to guess instantly their number。 Above were but two men； they were in the throes of a second surprise； for they had just found Woodstock's body。 They did not expect The Shadow to e in their direction。
That direction； however； was the one that The Shadow chose； and he took his course with amazing speed。 Wheeling on the stairway； he came upward with long bounds； swinging his arms high； each hand held an automatic。 The detectives were drawing guns； but they ducked as The Shadow came upon them。
Sweeping his arms sidewise； The Shadow carried the pair half across the hall。
He was clear of the light from below。 The startled dicks were sprawled； despite the fact that The Shadow avoided damage with his sweeping blows。 One headquarters man took the back of a gloved fist upon the chin。 That swing； weighted with an automatic； was a knock…out punch。
The other detective swung at The Shadow； missed him in the darkness and fired two wild shots at nothingness。 A swinging forearm staggered him to the top of the back stairs； where he did a downward dive； into the arms of men who were dashing upward。
The Shadow sped down the front stairway； turning the landing just as the flashlight stabbed in his direction。 A detective fired two useless rounds。 The Shadow was gone before the fellow tugged the trigger。
THE SHADOW had made a perfect start； but he knew that it was but preliminary to the struggle that was to e。 Revolver shots had been heard outside； shock troops were prepared to answer the alarm。
As The Shadow hurled the front door open； a spotlight glared full upon him。 The shouts that went up were delivered by hoarse…voiced members of the Flying Squadron。
Nearly a third of that outfit was on hand。 Those sharp…shooting thugs were dangerous with their guns。 Knowing it； The Shadow did not pause to fire at the focused light； instead； he sprang off toward a front corner of the house； getting away from the glare in an instant。
The light swung about； it did not show The Shadow。 He had cut in back of thick； intervening shrubbery。
Guns began to bark； bullets whistled through foliage； thudded the house walls。 A challenging laugh sounded from off beside the house。 Raucous…voiced crooks shouted harsh epithets； as they heard The Sha