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〃And then？〃
〃He dropped his masquerade。 He came here as another person； a man named Callister。 He persuaded father to leave with him for Washington。 He wanted to keep father away from here tonight。〃
Wilderton raised his hand to halt Estelle's excited utterances。
〃You have told me enough；〃 he said。 〃The man has two aliases。 He calls himself Shaw； also Callister。 He has abducted your father。 This is a matter for the law； Estelle。〃
〃You will notify Washington？〃
〃After I have talked with Director Borman。 The local police should act first。 Borman will send out the Flying Squadron； to see if your father is still somewhere in Westford。〃
Estelle started an objection。 Again； Wilderton halted her。 The girl tried to blurt out a fact that she had just remembered： the envelope that The Shadow had given her father。 Her words were confused。
〃This man left an envelope with father；〃 exclaimed Estelle。 〃One that contained some sort of evidence…〃
〃Evidence of what？〃 demanded Wilderton； hoarsely。 〃No crook would leave a trail behind him。 We can e to that later； Estelle。 The pressing matter is to see Director Borman。〃
〃You can call him from here。〃
〃No。 I shall see him personally； and e back here later。 I know where he is at present； both Director Borman and Mayor Marclot are at Stephen Ruthley's apartment。〃
DASHING down the steps； Wilderton jumped aboard his car and drove away。
Estelle stood wearily at the door； then went back into the house。 She decided to find the envelope herself。 To obtain it； she needed a key to the music cabinet。
There were keys in a table drawer near the music cabinet。 As she rummaged among them； finding none that she wanted； Estelle discovered a 。32 revolver。 It was a loaded weapon that her father had long ago put away and forgotten。
Nervously； Estelle gripped the gun； she glanced toward the hallway。
The tension had given her unusual alertness。 A sound reached Estelle's ears； it was a key； turning in the lock of the side door。 Acting upon sudden inspiration； the girl hurried upstairs； there； she stepped into a side room and waited。 Soon； her ears again caught a slight sound。 It was the opening of the door to the upstairs front room…the chamber The Shadow had occupied…where Estelle had forgotten to turn out the lights。
The girl sprang from her hiding…place； she saw the door wide open and reached the threshold。 She saw a black…clad figure in the room。 The Shadow had returned。
He was turned away from Estelle； he was removing his slouch hat and dropping the folds of his cloak。 He spun about as Estelle delivered a sharp cry。 Face revealed； The Shadow stared into the muzzle of the revolver that the judge's daughter held。
Estelle's cry ended； her grip on the 。32 became firm。 She was ready to pull the trigger if The Shadow made a move。 Estelle Benbrook had gained proof of the treachery that she believed had been The Shadow's。
The face of The Shadow was that of Trig Callister。
CHAPTER XXIII
AMENDED STRATEGY
THE instant that he saw the leveled revolver； The Shadow recognized a situation as crucial as any that he had met in Westford。 He had encountered dangers that seemed far greater； but this one carried the worst possible hazards。
Estelle showed by action that she knew how to manage a revolver； she had aimed the weapon straight for The Shadow's heart。 The girl's frenzied expression showed that she had lost control of her wits。 She was prepared to fire a steady series of bullets on any provocation； real or imaginary。
The Shadow realized the futility of explanations。 With her acceptance of fallacies； instead of facts； Estelle might interpret any statement incorrectly。
Mere mention of her father's name might drive her to the wild belief that The Shadow had killed the judge。 One chance thought would be enough。 Estelle would fire to kill。
For one full second； The Shadow met the girl's vengeful gaze。 He realized that each succeeding second would increase the risk； that any moment might be his last。 It was a time for astounding action； some deed as outlandish as Estelle's imaginary beliefs。 Knowing it； The Shadow acted in accord。
His cloak was half from his shoulders； retained by his left hand。 He was holding the slouch hat with his right。 For a moment； The Shadow seemed to cower； as he shrank away； his body huddled lower。
The move lessened Estelle's vigilance for an instant； then； suspecting trickery； the girl became more frenzied。 She stepped forward； thrusting the revolver ahead。 Her finger tightened on the trigger。
Huddled； The Shadow spun about； he started a sidelong lunge for a corner of the room。 Estelle sped the gun muzzle in the same direction； as the cloaked form faded floorward； she pressed the trigger and stabbed quick shots。
The cloak crumpled； the slouch hat bounced on the floor。 As Estelle fired again； a lithe shape seemed to weave up toward her； as if conjured from space itself。
The Shadow had caught cloak collar and hat brim with both hands； he had shoved them away toward the corner； releasing them as Estelle fired。 Reversing his spin； he was swinging back； free from the cloak before the fatal moment。
It was the skillful move of the matador； who whisks free from his cloak at the moment of the bull's onrush。 The Shadow's twist was far more speedy and better timed than that of any bullfighter。 He had to be away before bullets zimmed in his direction。 He was away； and his long； returning lunge was below the line of Estelle's aim。
The girl did not have time to fire again。 Sighting The Shadow； she tried to aim； his quick clutch caught her wrist and held it numbed。 Estelle struggled； still managing to clutch the revolver。 As she went backward toward the door； she heard a cry behind her。 Arms other than The Shadow's clutched the girl's。
The Shadow plucked away the revolver as Estelle subsided。 Looking up； the girl saw the person who had seized her。 A happy gasp told her relief； as she viewed the whitened face of her father。
BENBROOK'S whole countenance was tinged with alarm。
Estelle began to sob。 Judge Benbrook gazed anxiously toward The Shadow； he saw a smile upon the false lips of Trig Callister。 The uncloaked fighter was unhurt。 Satisfied on that point； the judge spoke to his daughter。
〃You were mistaken； Estelle〃 he told the girl。 〃The Shadow is our friend。
How you guessed that he came here as Trig Callister； I do not know…〃
〃I found the make…up box；〃 sobbed Estelle。 〃I thought…I guessed…〃
〃Your guess was wrong； my dear。〃 Estelle turned about； to see The Shadow regaining his cloak and hat。 He donned the garments； his quiet whisper silenced Estelle as she tried to express her regrets for her mistaken action。 Judge Benbrook delivered an interjection。
〃You were going to see Stephen Ruthley as Trig Callister！〃 he exclaimed。
〃Have you changed the plan？〃
〃Yes；〃 replied The Shadow。 〃I believe that Estelle has already disclosed my double identity。〃
〃I have；〃 admitted the girl。 〃Louis Wilderton was here。 I told him my suspicions。 He has gone to Ruthley's…to see Director Borman。〃
〃Our hopes are ruined；〃 groaned Judge Benbrook。 〃Estelle； this was arranged when The Shadow gave me