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ugh 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 the passage past Judge Benbrook's house； the route along which he had sent the girl。
Turning； The Shadow swiftly entered the passage； swinging the gate shut behind him。 Hardly had he started through the darkened space before he heard a siren stopping on the rear street。 One of the Flying Squadron's cars had arrived there； Borman's men were ing through from the back。
Quickly； The Shadow swung into the shelter of an alcove at the side of the house。 He stumbled a short flight of steps； as he caught himself against the wall； he heard a whispered voice just above his head。 The voice gave question：
〃You…you're safe？〃
It was the girl who spoke。 She had taken this shelter ahead of The Shadow。
She had guessed that the person stumbling in darkness was the one who had saved her from death。 The Shadow gave quiet response。
〃I am safe；〃 he whispered。 〃Remain silent until everyone has gone。〃
〃I have my key；〃 began the girl。 〃If I could only unlock this door…〃
Almost instantly； The Shadow blinked a tiny flashlight。 By the glow； he saw the key that the girl was holding； her hand was shaking as she tried to fit it into a door。 Quickly； The Shadow plucked the key with gloved fingers。 He found the lock； opened the door and thrust the girl inward。
Following； The Shadow closed the door behind him； inserted the key from the inside and turned the lock。
LOOKING about； The Shadow found himself in an entry that led to a dimly lighted hall。 The girl had gone through； she was staring back； trying to discern the man who had so promptly aided her with the door。
The Shadow stepped forward into the light。 The girl gasped； as she saw his weird； cloaked figure。 She silenced； as The Shadow gave a whisper。 Fascinated； the girl met the gleam of The Shadow's burning eyes。 She heard him speak； not a question； but a statement。
〃You are Judge Benbrook's daughter？〃
The girl nodded。
〃Estelle Benbrook；〃 stated The Shadow。 〃I have heard of you。〃
Though more amazed than ever； Estelle Benbrook found her voice。 She thanked her rescuer。
〃You saved my life；〃 declared the girl。 〃You have my gratitude！ But…but…〃
The Shadow waited for the girl to continue。 Estelle finally expressed her thoughts。
〃But the police are now outside！〃 blurted the girl。 〃Why did we need to avoid them？〃
〃They are as dangerous as the others；〃 replied The Shadow； calmly。
〃Criminals were ready to eliminate all who saw Prescott Dunson die。 These police would willingly do the same。〃
Estelle Benbrook continued to watch The Shadow's eyes。 When the girl spoke； her tone was； one of conviction。
〃I believe you；〃 she declared； firmly。 〃I recognized Prescott Dunson； when I saw his body。 My father has said that matters were wrong in Westford； but I have never repeated his statements。 He is an old man； his mind seems tired。 Yet I have known that he speaks the truth。〃
The girl paused； then added：
〃I have never spoken this before； not even to Louis Wilderton。 He would not believe me。 He thinks that all is well in Westford。 If Louis could only understand…〃
〃He will learn；〃 interposed The Shadow； quietly； 〃when the right time arrives。 Until then； you must remain silent。〃
〃I promise；〃 declared Estelle。 〃I shall say nothing of what I saw tonight。
Terrible though it was； it has given me courage。〃
The Shadow stepped back into the passage。 He listened at the side door； he heard the shuffle of departing feet。 The members of the Flying Squadron had pleted their search in the passage beside the house。 They had gone forward to join the ones at the front。
The Shadow turned the key in the lock： Estelle saw the motion of his hand as she joined him in the passage。 Anxiously； the girl queried：
〃Are you sure that the way is safe？〃
The Shadow's response was a whispered laugh； mirthless； it was scarcely audible in the darkness。 It betokened ill for any who might block his path。
Estelle； as witness of The Shadow's mighty battle； understood the grim significance。 As The Shadow drew the door inward； Estelle reached forward； she found the key and plucked it from the lock。
〃Take this key；〃 pleaded the girl 〃I have another。 Sometime； you may wish to return。 Perhaps…perhaps there may be new danger； greater than that which you faced tonight。〃
Gloved fingers grasped the key。 Estelle released it。 She sensed that The Shadow had moved outward； but she expected him to speak again。 It was not until half a minute later that she realized that The Shadow had departed。 Silently； he had closed the door behind him。 Estelle Benbrook stood alone。
SLOWLY； the girl went through the lighted hall。 She reached a front room and turned on a desk lamp。 The glow showed her well…formed face； attractive despite the paleness which dominated it。 The darkness of her hair made her pallor seem more evident； for Estelle Benbrook was a pronounced brunette。
The girl had steadied since her ordeal。 Her hand had no tremble； as it found another key in the desk。 Steadily； Estelle returned to the side door and inserted the key。 She found the door locked。 The Sh