按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
The Shadow whispered a prophetic laugh as he boarded his sedan。 His plans had worked tonight。 He had slipped the trap without losing too much time； and with that exploit； he had left crooks confident that they had bagged their greatest foeman。
That； in particular； was to The Shadow's liking。 The greater the confidence among men of crime； the greater would be their consternation when The Shadow delivered the final stroke of his campaign。
CHAPTER XXII
ESTELLE'S DISCOVERY
DESPITE his quick departure from the toils of crooks； The Shadow had lost many valuable minutes。 He had purposely clipped the time element to a minimum； that he might plete his campaign while his enemies were retarded。 The episode at the garage trap had therefore been damaging to The Shadow's schedule。
One vital phase of The Shadow's game was a trip to the country mansion …
there to meet Judge Benbrook and bring him back to town。 That would be easy； as Trig Callister； The Shadow could pass the outer cordon of thugs without question。 But it was necessary to have Judge Benbrook in Westford well before the time at which the meeting of the Civic Club was scheduled。
If all went well； The Shadow would have another bombshell waiting for Stephen Ruthley when the pretended reformer arrived at the meeting。 All could still go well； but time was short。 A speedy ride to the country and a rapid return trip had bee essential。
Delay； however； had already caused one difficulty。 Just when The Shadow was embarking on a free； swift course； trouble began without his knowledge。 The place where it occurred was the one spot where it was least to be expected： in Judge Benbrook's own home。 The person who provided the chance element was Estelle Benbrook。
The Shadow had foreseen that Estelle would be worried over her father's absence。 The night before； he had mailed her a letter； written by the judge himself。 Estelle had received the letter this morning； it had partly ended her worriment。
Later； though； Estelle had read the true item in the Daily Banner； stating that the Civic Club would meet tonight。 She had prepared dinner for herself and her father； thinking surely that the judge would return。
Judge Benbrook had not returned。 Ending a lone repast。 Estelle experienced a great increase of alarm。 There was only one person in whom she could confide her fears。 That person was The Shadow。 On the faint hope that The Shadow had entered the house while she was eating dinner； Estelle went upstairs to rap at the door on the second floor。
There was no response。 Estelle's spirits sank。 She felt hopeless and confused； for once； her usual self…confidence was gone。 The girl pounded wildly upon The Shadow's door。 At last； in desperation； she opened the door。 She entered the room and turned on the light。
Hopeful that she might find some message from The Shadow； Estelle looked about the room。 She saw a bureau drawer that was slightly open。 Peering into the drawer； Estelle glimpsed a flat box that she mistook for a writing case。
Thinking that it might contain a notebook or some written memoranda； Estelle nervously drew the box from the drawer。 She opened the box； stared with wide…opened eyes。
THE box was a make…up kit…one that showed signs of recent use。 It explained to Estelle why The Shadow's face had seemed so masklike。 The girl remembered that The Shadow could not have carried this make…up kit when he first came to the house。 She realized that it must have e in the package that had been delivered long after his arrival。
Hastily； Estelle looked in the closet； there she saw a dark suit； with torn coat sleeve。
It struck Estelle that The Shadow must have received new clothes； certainly the package had been large enough and sufficiently heavy to contain a suit。 But why had The Shadow needed the make…up outfit？
Estelle was intuitive； moreover； her mind was concerned with her father's disappearance。 For the first time； she felt a sudden doubt of The Shadow； for she remembered that； last night； he had expressed but little concern over her father's disappearance。 Her mind was strained to the point where she could connect only a few definite thoughts； in that state； Estelle pictured two persons： The Shadow and the man named Callister； who had induced her father to leave the house last night。
A horrified gasp came from Estelle's lips。 Through a chance thought； inspired by her discovery of the make…up kit； the girl guessed the truth。 The Shadow and Trig Callister were one！
Reasoning from a false assumption； Estelle concocted a theory that she promptly accepted as fact。 She thought of The Shadow as a man of crime； one with a lone game； who had run into trouble the night that Prescott Dunson was slain。 True； The Shadow had saved the girl's own life； but there were many crooks who might have been as gallant； under similar circumstances。
Perhaps The Shadow had foreseen how useful that rescue would prove。 It had enabled him to avoid the law； by entering the house with Estelle。 It had won Estelle's confidence； later； The Shadow had found sanctuary in this house。 As Estelle saw it； he had pretended friendliness in order to gain her father's confidence； as well as his own。
Ready for some crooked game； The Shadow had e here as Callister。 He had taken her father as a hostage。 He had some reason to keep Judge Benbrook from Westford。 It all seemed a scheme of double dealing； even though Estelle could not fathom its full purpose。
Firmly； Estelle resolved upon some move。 While she tried to find some possible way of counteracting purposes which she thought were evil； the girl heard the doorbell ring。 For a moment； her worries vanished； she almost dropped the theory that she had built up against The Shadow。 Estelle was hopeful that her father was back； hurriedly； she dashed downstairs and opened the front door。
On the threshold stood Louis Wilderton。
THE district attorney was anxious…faced。
〃Where is Judge Benbrook？〃 he inquired。 〃I must see him at once； Estelle。〃
〃I don't know；〃 gasped the girl。 〃What has happened； Louis？〃
〃Lieutenant Maclare has raided the Club Adair。 This time； he found a gambling room in operation。 He has pinned crime on Lance Gillick…〃
〃But father？ Where is my father？〃
Estelle fairly shrieked the questions。 Wilderton's eves popped。 He stammered： 〃Your…your father isn't here？〃
〃No；〃 replied Estelle。 〃Something has happened to him； Louis！〃
〃Just before this important meeting？〃
〃No！ It was last night！ But it began before that。 I have to tell you the whole story； Louis。 There was a man who came here…a man cloaked in black…he was wounded…〃
〃When was this？〃
〃The night that Adam Woodstock mitted suicide。 That was the second time I saw him。 That was the night that he was wounded…〃
〃You mean Shaw！〃
Estelle nodded。
〃You took him in here？〃 demanded Wilderton。 〃The man who was wanted as an acplice of the murderer； Dorsch？〃
〃This man talked to father；〃 explained。 〃He convinced father that he was not engaged in crime。 He persuaded father to e from retirement。 He acted as a friend…until last night。〃
〃And then？〃
〃He dropped his masquerade。 He came here as another person； a man na