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se of reform！
〃Fearing Dunson； the man who was behind corruption overstepped his bounds。
I refer to Adam Woodstock； who hired murderers to do his evil bidding。 Woodstock himself weakened under the strain。 His suicide was the result。 It has cleared the atmosphere。 All is well in Westford。
〃We can carry on as we have in the past； our courage strengthened by the noble example that Prescott Dunson set for us。 Someone must hold the office that Dunson sought。 I can think of no one better than Louis Wilderton； the present incumbent。 I call upon you for unanimous support…〃
Stephen Ruthley halted； disturbed by a motion at the rear of the auditorium。 His words were drowned。 Men were rising to cheer an unexpected arrival； a man whose entry came as a bombshell to Stephen Ruthley。
Striding down the center aisle； step firm and carriage erect； came a man with keen face and flowing hair。 Like a crusader from the past； his very appearance awoke thunderous applause。 Wildly； the reformers were cheering Judge Martin Benbrook。
As the judge reached the platform； Ruthley stepped aside； bowing and smiling； for he knew that he must side with enthusiasm。 As the judge stepped forward； a hush fell upon the audience。 In brief words； the elderly jurist announced his purpose。
〃I have e；〃 he declared firmly； 〃to announce my return to public life。
I intend to be a candidate for the office of district attorney！〃
The crowd went wild again。 Judge Benbrook waited for the enthusiasm to end。 Stephen Ruthley retained his forced smile。 Mayor Marclot and Director Borman restrained their nervousness。 As the hubbub ended； the judge added：
〃I hold high regard for the present district attorney。〃 He turned toward Wilderton as he spoke。 〃Yet I feel that he has been handicapped through adverse conditions。 My experience on the bench will enable me to carry through thoroughly the functions of the office。 As my foremost assistant； I shall need Louis Wilderton。〃
Roars of approval。 Wilderton was on his feet； shaking away from Ruthley； the young county prosecutor sprang forward and clutched Judge Benbrook's hand。
The pact was sealed； Ruthley's hopes were spiked。 As champion of reform； his part was to uphold such accord。
When new silence came； Judge Benbrook began a speech。 His statements were mild at first； gradually； they carried veiled accusation。
〃The death of Prescott Dunson was the cause of my decision；〃 the judge told the reformers。 〃He promised to reveal the truth of crime and corruption。
He promised to drive them forever from Westford。 Have we proof that Dunson's hopes have been fully acplished？ No！ You would like to hear the reason； therefore； I shall give it。
〃There is laxity in our city government。〃 The judge paused to let his words carry home。 〃If it had functioned to its full； crime and corruption would never have gained a foothold。 Where were our police； when they allowed murderers to infest this city？ What happened with our higher officials； when they permitted such contracts as Adam Woodstock's to be signed？〃
The words were indictments of Mayor Marclot and Director Borman。 The two officials winced； looked uneasy as they shifted in their chairs。 Judge Benbrook drove home a final statement。
〃As district attorney；〃 he announced； 〃I shall make a full inquiry into every department of our administration！ I know that our honest officials will wele such investigation。 They were elected on a reform ticket。 I trust that they have stood by their pledges and done their utmost to further good government。〃
Cleverly； the old judge had softened his impeachment。 His words gave Marclot and Borman a chance to regain their tottering favor。 Both were too jittery to see the opportunity； but Ruthley was quick to grasp it。
Smiling in his best fashion； the master crook started a new round of applause； lifting his hands to bring the audience to its feet。 He managed a nod to Borman； who nudged Mayor Marclot。 The two came up； joined enthusiastically in the tribute to Judge Benbrook。
OFF in the judge's own home； The Shadow was seated in the parlor； listening to a radio hook…up that brought Judge Benbrook's voice to his ears。
The meeting of the Civic Club was being broadcast throughout Westford。 The tumults of applause told their own story of the reception that the judge had gained。
The Shadow turned off the radio； ascended the stairs to the second floor。
Judge Benbrook had followed a course as outlined by The Shadow。 It had brought results。 Through the judge's cooperation； The Shadow had thrown confusion into the ranks of crime。
THE meeting had ended at the Civic Club。 Mayor Marclot and Director Borman were the first to shake Judge Benbrook's hand； hoping thereby to prove that they were foremost of the honest officials whom he had mentioned。 Stephen Ruthley pressed forward； mended the speech in flowery tones。 As members of the audience thronged the platform； Marclot and Borman made an inconspicuous departure。
They headed for Ruthley's apartment。 They were there when the boss arrived； to announce that he had left Judge Benbrook still surrounded by enthusiastic admirers。 Ruthley stopped their questions with impatient gestures。
〃I called Lance on the way back；〃 he told them。 〃I asked him where the slip…up was。 Doc Lunden was supposed to keep the old judge on the shelf。〃
Marclot and Borman nodded； worried。 〃Something went sour；〃 purred Ruthley； maintaining the pose that he could keep best when angered。 〃We'll have to find a way to amend the new situation。〃
〃Before the old judge talks too much；〃 put in Borman。 〃He nearly spilled the beans today； Steve。〃
〃He knows more than he told；〃 asserted Marclot； fearfully。 〃He is holding back real information； though how he gained it； I cannot guess。〃
〃We can handle this；〃 announced Ruthley； 〃through Lance Gillick。 He provided the way by which we reached Doctor Lunden。 That kept Judge Benbrook on the shelf for a long while。 Lunden has failed us； but that was his fault； not Lance's。
〃Remember； we have kept Lance in the clear。 He had a clean bill of health； we have strengthened him by our policy of pinning crime on Beezer Dorsch。 Lance will be here within an hour。 I shall confer with him； alone。 Meanwhile； keep up the front that you have used so well in the past。〃
Stephen Ruthley waved his hand in dismissal。 Marclot and Borman steadied themselves； made their departure with new confidence。 Ruthley had reassured them； they were positive that the big…shot had picked the right way to stave off threatening disaster。
Ruthley watched his lieutenants depart。 His smile was one of actual confidence。
Possibly； the master crook's smile would have vanished had he known that The Shadow was the motivating force behind Judge Benbrook's appearance from retirement。 Ruthley would have been troubled further had he guessed that The Shadow had also foreseen that Lance Gillick was the one man upon whom the big…shot could at present depend。
CHAPTER XVIII
LANCE FINDS THE ANSWER
SOON after Stephen Ruthley had broken the bad news to Mayor Marclot and Director Borman； a package was delivered at the home of Judge Martin Benbrook。
Estelle received it； she