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er which the trolley had left。 Its lights flashed suddenly from dim to bright。 Dunson's walking figure was outlined in their glare。 For an instant； the big man paused； hoping； the lights would swing away。 They did； but in their place came the vivid glow of a spotlight。
Prescott Dunson was caught in full view； turned half toward the side gate in the picket fence。 He was clutching his suitcase； blinking into the brilliance that had so plainly revealed him。 To his startled ears came the sound of a rasped mand； that delivered two words only：
〃Give it！〃
The suitcase dropped from Dunson's shaky hands。 In that tense instant； the doomed man realized that he was on the spot。
Prescott Dunson had walked into the snare of death。
CHAPTER V
DEATH DELIVERED
OTHER eyes than Dunson's had seen the sudden glare of the revealing spotlight。 They were eyes that were not blinded by the unexpected brilliance。
Across the street； but beyond the spot where Dunson stood； a lurking figure was watching from the shelter of cars stationed in the parking lot。
To that observer； the spotlight told its story。 He saw the helpless man caught in the path of light。 With a quick spring； this watcher came from his place of security。 Street lights showed him as a shrouded shape。 The Shadow was again on hand to offset crime。
Before thugs could obey the mand of their leader； The Shadow's fists came up。 With quick fingers； he pulled the triggers of automatics； dispatched whining bullets straight for the death car that lay almost between him and Prescott Dunson。 Cries came from the slowly moving touring car。 The Shadow had scored hits upon human targets。
Those shots saved Dunson for the moment。 They gave the doomed man a needed opportunity。 Close beside Dunson was the gate to the side passage that led beyond Judge Benbrook's house。 Had Dunson dropped his suitcase and pressed through the gate； he could have gained the shelter that would save him。
Instead； Dunson stood rooted。 He seemed hypnotized by the light that blinded him。 The death car veered； to escape The Shadow's bombardment。 While the automatics still tongued； a clatter began from within the touring car。 One crouching machine gunner had lain below The Shadow's fire； was pushing the muzzle of the death gun through the opening of a half…opened door； on Dunson's side of the street。 That killer profited by Dunson's lack of motion。 He let the doomed man have it。
The touring car sped forward； while bullets still streamed from its side。
The driver was low behind the wheel； the machine gunner was crouched on the rear floor。 Others were hanging from the side of the car while it ran the gantlet of The Shadow's fire。 One in the front seat； the other in the rear； two thugs had stopped the bullets that had entered the right side of the car。
The Shadow boomed last shots at the driver。 They failed to get him； for the rolling form of an intervening thug shielded the man at the wheel。 As the touring car wheeled leftward to the main street； The Shadow put a bullet through the gasoline tank； but the automobile kept onward and disappeared from view。
THE SHADOW started across the street； to the darkness where Dunson's body lay。 Before he arrived； he heard light； quick footsteps。 As he came up in the darkness； he found a girl bending over the bullet…riddled man。 The Shadow saw a white face in the darkness； as the girl listened to Dunson s last words。
〃Tell…tell Shaw！〃 gasped Dunson。 〃I should…should have done as he…he said…〃
The sentence ended with a sigh。 Prescott Dunson was dead。
Bravely； the girl raised the man's head； felt it drop back from her grasp。
At that instant； she sensed that someone was beside her。 Looking up； the girl viewed a blackened figure almost at her elbow。 She saw the burn of steady eyes。
Frightened； bewildered； she tried to scream an accusation。
〃You…you killed him！〃
An approaching car had swung the corner。 The Shadow saw it across the girl's shoulder。 He knew that it was bringing a second crew of gunmen。 Shoving one gun beneath his cloak； he seized the girl about the shoulders。 Hurling his full weight against the gate； he rammed it open； then launched the struggling girl along the passage beside the house。
The Shadow performed this action with a plete spin that brought him again facing the street； a ready gun in hand。 He had whirled the girl more than a dozen feet away； she was in a spot of safety。 New battle was due； the click of an automobile spotlight foretold it。 Standing at the gate； The Shadow was fully revealed by a stream of light。
Though spotted as Dunson had been； The Shadow was prepared。 His laugh sounded its fierce challenge。 Standing above the body of the murdered man； The Shadow loosed quick bullets from his single 。45； though few； those shots were perfect。 This time； The Shadow had the range he wanted。
His first bullet was straight for the rear door of the car。 That door； like the previous one； was partly opened。 The Shadow dropped the man who was behind it。 His second bullet stabbed the spotlight； finishing its glare。 As the driver gave the car the gas； The Shadow ripped a final bullet for the steering wheel。 A cry told that he had clipped the hoodlum at the wheel。
The car zigzagged wildly。 An unwounded thug managed to control it and yank it into the parking lot； where it sped through a path between parked cars。
The Shadow whipped forth the gun that he had stowed away； but he did not aim toward the car that had fled。 He had a new target； this was a sedan that swung in from the other direction。
ING from the main street； the sedan was plain against the lighted front of the Majestic Hotel。 The Shadow saw a gun muzzle thrust from a rear window； he blasted away before the driver was ready to turn on a spotlight。 Bullets that spat from darkness were too much for this crew。 The driver wheeled the sedan to the left； took the route that the second car had followed； through the parking space。
Before The Shadow could make another move； he heard the whine of sirens。
They came from both directions。 The Flying Squadron was ing to the scene of battle。 To others； that arrival signified the law。 To The Shadow； it meant something else。
The Shadow knew the extent of crime in Westford； he knew that the Flying Squadron was a bluff。 Crooks would make their get…away amid wild pursuit； the squadron would gain credit for prompt action。 That was exactly what had happened last night； after Lieutenant Maclare's raid。
The Shadow knew more。 He had guessed the personnel of the picked men who formed the Flying Squadron。 He knew that they were as dangerous as crooks； otherwise； they would not be party to the fake pursuit that they so often staged。
Because of that； The Shadow saw danger in his own position。 His guns were empty； he would have no chance to battle uniformed men who merely pretended to uphold the law。 They； however； would be pleased at the opportunity to drill The Shadow。
Already； cars and motorcycles were swinging into view； converging toward the very spot where The Shadow stood； a fact that signified that they knew where to find Dunson's body。 The Shadow had one lone path to safety。 That was