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keep a circle around the house； to look out for your bunch。 You know how it is； Trig。 We can't tell when some G…men are likely to barge into town。〃
THE SHADOW knew what was behind Lance's suave explanation。 The gambler was acting under instructions from Stephen Ruthley。 Though the boss had liked the idea of using Trig Callister； he was taking no chances。 He wanted Lance； as his own ace； to control the situation。
The Shadow was not surprised by this turn of events； in fact； he had expected something of the sort。
〃They'll pass you through； Trig；〃 argued Lance。 〃What's more； they won't bother your inside crew。 It's for your own good； and it leaves us ready to grab the judge； if we have to get him later on。 Just give me the license number of your car； it won't even be stopped when it es along the road。〃
The Shadow nodded his approval。
He wrote the license number on a sheet of paper； and handed it to Lance。
The gambler picked up a copy of the Westford Daily Banner。
〃See this？〃 he queried； pointing to a headline。 〃It says that the Civic Club will hold another meeting…a special one。 The date hasn't been mentioned yet。 The fellow who is going to set it is Steve Ruthley； the biggest reformer in Westford。
〃I guess I told you before that Ruthley is playing a dodge with that reform racket。 He's the big…shot in this whole game。 You'll probably meet him later； Trig。 Anyway； as soon as you have stowed away Judge Benbrook； Ruthley is going to call the meeting for the next night。〃
〃So the judge won't be there；〃 remarked The Shadow； with a smile。 〃Good stuff； Lance！ Only one trouble； though。 Suppose the judge wants to see a copy of the day's newspaper； to know when the meeting is ing off？〃
〃That will be handled；〃 returned Lance。 〃Ruthley can fix it to get hold of a fake copy of the newspaper； just like the regular edition； except that it will carry a phony story about the Civic Club meeting。〃
〃Saying that the meeting won't be held for a while？〃
〃That's it。 We'll deliver a fake copy of the paper； out at the house where you're staying with the judge。〃
〃Better let me e in and get one。〃
〃All right。 Any way you want it； Trig。 Anyhow； that will satisfy the judge。 He'll stay out there with you； and he'll never get to the meeting。 With the judge out； Ruthley can swing that mob of reformers to suit himself。〃
The Shadow arose； he glanced at his watch and decided upon a visit to Judge Benbrook。 Before starting； he suggested that Lance go out to the mansion and meet the inside outfit。
〃Ask for Vincent；〃 explained The Shadow。 〃Tell him who you are。 He'll fix it so you can see me blow in with the old judge。 I'll hoax him tonight； Lance。
You can count on me。〃
TEN minutes later； The Shadow rang the doorbell of Judge Benbrook's house。
Estelle answered； she stared at the unfamiliar face of Trig Callister。 Adopting a smooth pose； The Shadow asked to see Judge Benbrook。 While Estelle hesitated； the judge himself appeared in the lower hall。
〃e right in； sir；〃 invited Benbrook。 〃My door is always open。 I am Judge Martin Benbrook。 Your name； sir？〃
〃Callister；〃 replied The Shadow。 〃Roger Callister。 I drove here from Washington； judge； especially to see you。〃
The judge ushered The Shadow into the parlor and closed the door。 Estelle remained in the hallway； troubled。 She was suspicious of this visitor； whose smooth manner so contrasted with his hardened features。 She wondered what The Shadow would think of Mr。 Roger Callister。
Unfortunately； The Shadow was not in his room。 Estelle had knocked at the door a short while before； only to find that he was absent。
Twenty minutes passed。 The door of the parlor opened。 Judge Benbrook came out； his face wore a beaming look。
〃I am leaving for Washington； Estelle！〃 he exclaimed。 〃Mr。 Callister wants me to address a congressional mittee； on the subject of civic reform。 My return to activity seems to have caused national ment。〃
The judge started for the stairs； adding that he would pack his bag at once。 Unable to stop him； Estelle turned to The Shadow。
〃My father cannot leave here； Mr。 Callister；〃 protested the girl。 〃He has to speak at an important meeting that may be held tomorrow night。〃
〃The judge told me that；〃 responded The Shadow； in Trig's tone。 〃I assured him that he will be back for the meeting； whenever it is held。 It is only a few hours drive here from Washington。〃
〃But if he leaves with you； tonight will…〃
〃He will have a good rest at a Washington hotel； and will be ready to meet the congressional mittee in the morning。〃
While Estelle was thinking of other possible objections； Judge Benbrook arrived from the second floor。 He had packed a suitcase in rapid time； he was carrying the bag with him。 The Shadow took the suitcase； bowed to Estelle； and conducted the judge out to the street。 Estelle watched the two enter a large sedan and drive away。
LESS than a half hour later； the same sedan reached a dirt road in the country。 After a few hundred yards； it turned between two gates and stopped in front of an old； but well…preserved； mansion。 A coupe was parked beyond the house； it was Lance Gillick's car。 The Shadow and the judge alighted； they entered the house and went up to the second floor。
There； a clean…cut young man met them。 The Shadow introduced him as Mr。
Vincent； added that the man was his private secretary。 Vincent ushered them into a fortable…looking study； where a portable typewriter stood unlimbered on a table。
〃This should suit you admirably； judge；〃 remarked The Shadow； in Trig's tone。 〃Tomorrow； you can dictate full statements to Vincent。 I shall call Washington； to tell them that you will meet the mittee on a later date。〃
〃A good plan。 Mr。 Callister；〃 agreed the judge。 〃I can work better here than at home。 I shall send a letter to my daughter； telling her not to be concerned about my absence。〃
〃I can mail it for you； judge。 Don't worry about the Civic Club。 We are close enough to Westford to get in there when the meeting is scheduled。〃
〃We must remember to look for a notice in tomorrow's newspaper。〃
〃I shall attend to that； judge。〃
Leaving Benbrook with Vincent； The Shadow went from the study and closed the door behind him。 Immediately； another door opened； Lance Gillick appeared and joined The Shadow with a grin。 The two went downstairs。 At the door； Lance whispered。
〃Vincent stowed me in the next room；〃 he told The Shadow。 〃I heard you hand the hokum to the judge。 He fell for it just the way we wanted。 Say…this fellow Vincent looks great！ If the rest of your crew is as good as he is； you've got a swell set…up！〃
〃They all know their business；〃 remarked The Shadow。 〃I've used them on plenty of smooth jobs before this； Lance。〃
The Shadow's statement was correct； though not in the sense that Lance took it。 The men whom The Shadow had brought to this house were his own agents； who had aided him often in his battles against crime。 Beside Vincent； The Shadow had brought into the house three whom Lance had not seen： Marsland； Burke and Burbank。
A huge African servant appeared to unlock the door for The Shadow and Lance。 The man's size brought a smile of approval