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Someone was pounding at the front door of the garage。 For beyond that heavy barrier came the shouted order：
〃Open！ In the name of the law！〃
THE SHADOW abandoned his plan to surprise the clustered； crooks who stood flat…footed by the wall。 He had recognized the shouting voice。 The tone was that of Lieutenant James Maclare。 Half to his feet； The Shadow dropped low again； he edged beneath the roadster as crooks scurried from the wall。
He saw one man reach the door and yank a switch that controlled the far pill…box。 It descended； the thug at the switchboard pulled a lever to open the rear door of the garage。 Two crooks picked up the unconscious thug； the lights went out to cover their departure by the opened rear door。 Only two remained； to pass as garage attendants when they admitted Maclare and his bluecoats to the innocent…looking garage。
The Shadow had new opportunity in the darkness。 He took it。 Rolling from beneath the roadster； he moved swiftly to the rear door。 Crooks were away before he reached it； The Shadow slid through just as the door was closing。
The rear alley was darkened； groping； The Shadow found a passage that led through to the front street； between the garage and an empty store。 He took this route； stopped just before he reached the front。 Peering from the corner； The Shadow was witness to the next scene。
Lights were on again in the garage； the front door had been opened to admit Maclare。 The lieutenant had made a brief inspection； he had called the thuggish attendants out front； to give them a brief quiz。
〃Nobody came in here tonight？〃 demanded the police officer。 〃You're sure of it？〃
〃Nobody； lieutenant；〃 replied one of the thugs。 〃This garage is closed for repairs。 We're storin' no cars； here； right now。〃
〃Humph！ Who does that roadster belong to； then？〃
〃It's my own car； lieutenant。〃
〃All right；〃 decided Maclare。 〃The men we're after were reported riding in a coupe。 Last place we spotted them was near here。 We thought maybe they'd made into your garage。
A siren sounded as Maclare finished。 Two motorcycles chugged up； then a police car。 Members of the Flying Squadron stepped to the street。 An official car arrived。 Director Kirk Borman alighted。 He talked with Lieutenant Maclare。
〃I'll take charge here；〃 decided Borman。 〃Good work； lieutenant！ I heard about your surprise raid。〃
〃I meant to notify you； director；〃 stated Maclare； 〃only we weren't sure of the tip…off…〃
〃I understand；〃 put in Borman； brusquely。 〃Results are what count； lieutenant。 You gained them。 That's all that matters。 Better get back to your precinct。 The Flying Squadron will find Lance Gillick。〃
MACLARE saluted； he departed with his bluecoats。 The honest lieutenant was grim。 For once； he had kept back facts that he might have given to the police director。 The tip…off that Maclare had received had specified that no one； not even Director Borman； be informed beforehand。 Rather than miss his opportunity to catch Lance Gillick red…handed； Maclare had agreed to the terms。 He had trusted the mysterious voice that had e over the wire to his precinct office。
Director Borman went into the garage； while members of the Flying Squadron spread out to fake a search of the area。 The Shadow saw chance of new encounter； which he wanted to avoid。 In darkness； he whipped off his cloak and hat and folded them under his arm。 Choosing a moment when no khaki…uniformed men were near； he walked out from his hiding…place and approached Director Borman's car。
He opened the door； tossed his garments into a corner of the rear seat。
The chauffeur turned about； saw only the features of Trig Callister。 The Shadow whispered gruffly； stating that he wanted to see Director Borman。 The chauffeur was one of Borman's trusted aids。 He knew that the director had dealings with characters of Trig's sort。 He motioned The Shadow into the car。
Kirk Borman returned soon afterward； a pleased smirk on his sharp…featured face。 As he entered the car； The Shadow spoke again。
〃I'm Trig Callister；〃 he gruffed。 〃Say…did they get The Shadow？〃
〃He's where we want him；〃 chuckled Borman。 〃Buried alive！ We'll leave him there until he croaks！ That won't be long； he's in an air…tight spot。〃
The Shadow's disguised face was visible by the glow of a street lamp。 To Borman； those features answered Lance Gillick's description of Trig。
Nevertheless； Borman questioned suddenly：
〃How did you get here？〃
〃I hopped on the back of Lance's coupe；〃 returned The Shadow with a sight guffaw。 〃I was in a bad spot when that raid hit。 A worse one； when The Shadow tagged Lance。 I had to drop off to keep from getting hit when he busted loose with those gats of his。 I was too busy to yank a rod of my own。 It's tough holding on to the back of a coupe； going the speed Lance was driving that one。〃
The story clicked。 Borman told the chauffeur to drive along。 He was not suspicious when The Shadow questioned：
〃How about Lance and Beezer？ Did they make it to Ruthley's O。K。？〃
〃They did；〃 acknowledged the police director。 〃That's where we are going at present。〃
〃You'll have to drop me on the way；〃 objected The Shadow。 〃When we get to the place where I parked my sedan。 I've got to get out in the country and keep the old judge bluffed。 Tell Lance I made my get…away。 Everything is jake。〃
BORMAN nodded。 Events had worked out better than he hoped。 With Lance and Beezer in a safe hide…out and Trig at large； all was well with men of crime。
Maclare's surprise raid had made trouble。 Borman was sure that it had been instigated by The Shadow。 The Shadow's return had brought repense； however； it had spelled the finish of the black…cloaked warrior； according to Borman's positive belief。
The Shadow spoke as they neared his parked sedan。 Borman ordered the chauffeur to stop； he chuckled good…by to Trig Callister。 He saw his panion alight； but he did not notice the small bundle beneath Trig's arm。 The Shadow was careful to keep his wadded cloak and hat away from the police director's view。
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 wi