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〃Our hopes are ruined；〃 groaned Judge Benbrook。 〃Estelle； this was arranged when The Shadow gave me that written message。 I knew who he was when he came here as Trig Callister。〃
〃You should have told me； father。〃
〃No。 It was better not。 Had we returned in time tonight； all would have been well。 Tell me； Estelle〃…the judge's tone was more anxious than ever …
〃did Wilderton take the envelope with him？〃
Estelle shook her head。 The Shadow delivered a whispered laugh that brought immediate encouragement to Judge Benbrook。
〃We need new strategy；〃 declared The Shadow。 〃e downstairs。 We must first obtain the envelope； then be on our way。〃
The judge and Estelle followed The Shadow downstairs。 He had the key to the music cabinet； he unlocked it and tendered the sealed envelope to Judge Benbrook。 Noting the clock on the mantel； The Shadow made quick calculation。〃
〃We are leaving here at once；〃 he stated。 〃You will both remain in a place of safety until you hear from me。〃
Judge Benbrook was puzzled。 He could think of no safe spot in Westford。
Nevertheless； he beckoned to Estelle； they followed The Shadow through the side door； thence to the rear street； where they entered The Shadow's sedan。
〃Borman will e to the house；〃 declared The Shadow； as he started the car。 〃To your house； judge。 Not finding you there； he will hurry to the country。 My work lies there； since my part has bee known。〃
〃But you spoke of a place where Estelle would be safe；〃 reminded Judge Benbrook。 〃One where you wanted me to wait until I heard from you。〃
〃Here is the place。〃
The Shadow stopped the car in front of the first precinct station。 A light was showing from Lieutenant Maclare's office。 Judge Benbrook gained sudden understanding of The Shadow's plan。 He stepped from the car with Estelle； then asked：
〃How much shall I tell Maclare？〃
〃As much as is necessary；〃 replied The Shadow。 〃He has already gained an inkling of matters in Westford。 You will find him ready to follow any suggestion that you give him。〃
With that； The Shadow sped away； leaving Judge Benbrook and Estelle to treat with the one man in Westford who could mand loyal forces that would fight for the law。
AT the time of The Shadow's departure； events were shaping elsewhere exactly as he predicted。 Louis Wilderton had reached Stephen Ruthley's。 There； the district attorney had just finished pouring out his news。 Stephen Ruthley； his countenance imposing； was quick to deliver a denunciation。
〃We owe you much； Wilderton；〃 affirmed the pretended reformer。 〃I speak for Mayor Marclot and Director Borman； as well as for myself。 e； Borman！〃 he turned to the police director； who was sitting rigid； in a corner of the den。
〃You must act at once to find Judge Benbrook！〃
〃So I must！〃 exclaimed Borman； ing suddenly to life。 〃We'll scour the countryside with the Flying Squadron！〃
Rising； Borman strode from the den。 Mayor Marclot； also a stunned listener； came to his feet and followed。 Ruthley purred a smooth ment to Wilderton； who had sunk into a chair； too strained to notice the alarm that had gripped Marclot and Borman。
〃No need for Marclot to go also；〃 declared Ruthley。 〃He should stay with us； to discuss matters。 I shall call him back。〃
Leaving Wilderton； Ruthley overtook Marclot and Borman at the door of the apartment。 The three went into a quick huddle。 Ruthley； as usual； was the brains。
〃Get over to the garage；〃 he told Borman； tersely。 〃If that pill…box is empty； we'll know that Wilderton is right。 If he is； head for Judge Benbrook's； to make sure they haven't rolled in there。 The Shadow will be bringing the judge with him。〃
〃Where next？〃 queried Borman。 〃Out to the house where we're keeping the judge？〃
〃Yes。 Lance has already ducked out to call the cottage。 He heard Wilderton's blab from behind the picture。 Leave some of the squadron at the judge's house。 Take the rest with you。〃
Borman hurried from the apartment。 Ruthley purred calming words to Marclot。 The mayor steadied。
〃Keep Wilderton bluffed；〃 reminded Ruthley。 〃He will prove useful to us。
Remember； we have Lance and Beezer covering up。 Borman will be back before it's time to go to the meeting at the Civic Club。〃
Marclot nodded； as they walked back through the hall。 He made whispered ment：
〃You've got the swag； Steve？ In case…〃
〃It's all in the file cabinet； with the papers。 Forget it； Elvin。 We've had the best break in the world！ The Shadow slipped us； he thinks he got away with it。 That puts him right into our hands…this time to stay！〃
Mayor Marclot managed to smile in pompous style； as he came back into Ruthley's den to resume the talk with Louis Wilderton。 That smile was forced； but the one that wreathed Stephen Ruthley's lips was not。 The master crook smiled with real relish。
Often before； Stephen Ruthley had seen his hunches e through。 He was confident that another such result was due tonight。 To Stephen Ruthley； The Shadow's finish was a settled matter。
CHAPTER XXIV
DOUBLE BATTLE
CREEPING men were closing inward through the darkness。 They were the thugs whom Lance Gillick had sent from Westford； to keep a circled watch about the old mansion that had been Judge Benbrook's lodging overnight。 Audible ments passed among these armed hoodlums。
Word passed along concerning Lance's call to the cottage。 The cordon was to tighten； then drive in hard upon the smaller crew within the house。 Crooks knew the identity of the men whom they were to attack。 They were ready with a vengeance； these thugs； to deal with agents of The Shadow。
Some were keeping lookout for The Shadow himself。 He had e and gone as Trig Callister； they had let the sedan ride through。 None knew if Judge Benbrook had gone out on that last trip； there was a chance that he was still within the house。 If so； The Shadow would be back。 He would fare badly when he came。
First the agents； then The Shadow。 As for Judge Benbrook； the finger had pointed toward him also。 This was to be a massacre； beginning with a surprise attack upon the mansion that stood so silent within the very center of the creeping horde。 The house； itself； was open to attack。 Every window would offer entry for invading thugs。
The tightening process ceased。 Evil fighters were ready for mand。 They were under the leadership of two whom Lance had deputed to such duty。 Those two manded more than a score of gorillas； the dregs of the scum who had so long been rampant in Westford。 Some of the crew； in fact； had been members of the horde that had gunned for Lieutenant James Maclare。 Brave through power of numbers； they had boasted their wish for another contact with The Shadow。
It was the moment when a mand seemed imminent。 Thugs waited for rasped orders。 Suddenly； the stillness broke； but not with the expected mands。 From somewhere； like a ghostly taunt； came a strident； mocking laugh through the darkness。
The laugh of The Shadow！
THE cloaked fighter had arrived。 He had left his car a safe distance away； he had slipped through a net of enemies set to watch for him。 He was in the circle itself； and hard upon his mockery came the proofs of his actual position。
Automatics tongued f