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HAIJA lay motionless on the floor； stunned by a bump his head had taken when he sprawled。 The Shadow stepped to the telephone； again； he dialed Woodstock's number； to get another busy signal。 Hardly had he finished with the dialing when he heard sounds from elsewhere in the apartment。 Ruthley had servants beside Haija。 They had heard the crash of the Jap's fall； they were ing to learn its cause。
For a moment The Shadow paused； ready to begin new fray。 His gloved fingers； dipping beneath the cloak； crinkled the paper that he had placed there。
The Shadow changed his plan。 Stepping over toward Haija's prone body； he tried the edge of the picture frame。 He found the catch； shoved Haija aside with one foot as he drew the portrait toward himself。 Listening； The Shadow noted that there were no approaching steps。 Probably the servants were conferring among themselves； reluctant to advance until they knew more。
Leaving the big portrait ajar； The Shadow hurried from the den。 He reached the hallway； gained the outer door and opened it； making a clatter as he did so。
Giving the door a slam。 The Shadow wheeled back toward the den。 As he passed the unconscious form of Haija； he heard the pound of footsteps。
Servants knew at last that there was an intruder in the apartment。 They thought that the unknown visitor had fled by the front door。 With courage gained； they were making a pursuit。 Calmly； The Shadow stepped through the opening behind the portrait； closed the doorlike painting and heard the catch click automatically。
Stephen Ruthley； when he returned； would never guess that The Shadow had found the secret exit。 Haija would testify to a battle in the den； the other servants would swear that an invader had fled through the front door。 As for the crumpled paper that he had gained； The Shadow doubted that Ruthley would even remember it。 The master crook had considered it of no importance。
THE SHADOW however； regarded the paper as valuable。 He pocketed it securely； as he picked his way by flashlight through the interior of the vacant house。 That paper was evidence of a sort that could be used； when the proper time arrived。 There was a chance； though； that it might never prove necessary。
For The Shadow was taking a shortcut to reach Stephen Ruthley。 He was convinced that the master crook had gone to the residence of Adam Woodstock。
Knowing Ruthley's ways。 The Shadow was positive that he would find the rogue engaged in secret parley with the contractor。 If the two were hatching a new scheme of graft； it would be worth The Shadow's while to listen； then deal with Ruthley afterward。
Reaching the blind alley in back of the row of houses； The Shadow followed devious turns until he reached an obscure garage that was well away from brightly lighted streets。 An attendant was dozing in the office； he did not awaken when The Shadow entered a small roadster and coasted the car to the street。
This was a reserve automobile； that The Shadow had purchased from a 〃used…car〃 lot in Westford。 He was employing it to reach Adam Woodstock's home； on the other side of town。 The Shadow knew the location of the contractor's residence； it was one of the largest houses in Westford。
All that disturbed The Shadow was the fact that it had taken him a dozen minutes to reach the garage where he had placed the old car。 That interval had delayed his start to Woodstock's。 There was a chance that the conference might be ended before The Shadow arrived at the contractor's home。
Had The Shadow learned the real purpose of Stephen Ruthley's visit to Adam Woodstock； he would have realized that the odds were badly against him。 Though he was to profit by his present mission； The Shadow was faring into new and greater hazards than those that he had previously faced in Westford。
CHAPTER XIII
DEATH'S FALSE TALE
EVEN before The Shadow's bat with Haija； Stephen Ruthley had reached the home of Adam Woodstock。 Admitted by the contractor himself； Ruthley had gone to a room on the second floor； there to confer with the man he had e to see。
Adam Woodstock was a dreary…faced individual； his bloodless countenance was almost as gray as the thin fringe of hair that surrounded his bald head。
Seated at a desk in the room that he called his study； Woodstock assumed a listening attitude while Stephen Ruthley spoke。 Woodstock had an odd habit of tilting his head to the right； Ruthley noticed it particularly tonight。
Across the desk from Woodstock； Ruthley was purring a persuasive story。 It concerned the contract on which Woodstock had already paid back the half million dollars that had been required of him。
〃There are several of us in this deal；〃 confided Ruthley。 〃Marclot and I are not alone。 That is why I have e to see you； Woodstock。 These papers explain the situation。〃
Spreading the documents that he had brought from his own files； Ruthley chose one and passed it across the desk to Woodstock。
〃This is the most important one；〃 declared Ruthley。 〃It contains an itemized statement that you gave to Marclot。 The bottom line lists five hundred thousand dollars under the head of excess profit。〃
〃Quite right；〃 returned Woodstock； in a drawly tone。 〃I listed my own profit as one hundred thousand； ten per cent of a million。 The five hundred thousand represents the amount that I turned over to Marclot。〃
〃We know that；〃 nodded Ruthley； 〃but some of my associates have doubted the authenticity of the figures。〃
〃But Marclot received the half million…〃
〃True。 Nevertheless； we have only his word for it that your figures are correct。〃
Adam Woodstock blinked。 In unbelieving tone； he questioned：
〃Do you mean to say that someone has suggested that Marclot and I might have worked a side deal of our own？〃
〃Just that；〃 replied Ruthley。 〃Of course； it sounds ridiculous。 I said so myself。 But the others did not think so。 They had a reason for their doubts。〃
〃What could that be？〃
〃The fact that you did not sign the statement。〃
Woodstock delivered a short laugh。 Head still tilted； he reached for a pen that lay beside his desk telephone。 Ruthley noted that the telephone was off its stand。 He had suggested that Woodstock leave it so； in order not to be troubled by outside calls。
〃I typed this statement myself；〃 asserted Woodstock。 〃I have no objections to signing it。〃
Woodstock flourished the pen； he hesitated before applying his signature。
His drawly tone was troubled as he remarked：
〃This may be a mistake after all。 I can't sign this statement； Ruthley。 It would bee an incriminating document if I did。〃
〃Hardly；〃 smiled Ruthley。 〃Not while it remains in my hands； Woodstock。〃
〃I did not pay the money to you。〃
〃You paid it to Marclot。〃
〃The statement does not say so。 It indicates that I could have retained the funds myself。〃
Ruthley reached for the statement。 He studied it； nodded his agreement with Woodstock's opinion。 Observing the contractor's typewriter on a table； Ruthley inserted the statement in the machine。 At the bottom of the sheet； he typed two dotted lines； one an inch and a half below the other。
Here。〃 Ruthley spoke briskly； as he laid the paper on the table。 〃Let me have your pen； Woodstock。 I shall sign the statement also； to give it my approval。〃
He took the pen； it slipped slightly between his fingers。 Ruthley tightened his grip； signed his name on the lower line。 He handed the pen to Woodstock； who placed a much…used blotter upon the signature； then prepared to sign his own name； by taking the pen from Ruthley's grasp。
In order to sign the lower line； Ruthley had e over beside the contractor。 He stood there； one hand upon the table； while Woodstock signed the upper line。
Ruthley was on Woodstock's right。 He thrust his hand into his right coat pocket as Woodstock was reaching for the blotter。 His head still tilted to the right； Woodstock did not spy Ruthley's move。 The contractor simply planked the blotter upon the statement； pressed it firmly with his fingers。
There was a glimmer as Ruthley's hand moved upward。 ing from cover was a 。32 revolver。 Taking advantage of Woodstock's tilted head； Ruthley jabbed the gun muzzle squarely against the contractor's temple and pulled the trigger。 He stepped away as he felt the slight recoil of the weapon。
For a full second； Adam Woodstock's body remained rigid； blood seemed to hold back from the gaping wound that the bullet had blasted in his temple。 Then the tilt of Woodstock's head began to overbalance him； he sagged in Ruthley's direction。 Stone dead； Woodstock would have sprawled to the floor； had Ruthley not intervened。
WITH his left hand； Ruthley thrust Woodstock's right shoulder in a forward direction； so that the dead man slumped upon the desk。 As Ruthley expected； Woodstock's right hand shoved out ahead of him。 Ruthley waited until the motion had ended。 In deliberate fashion； he placed the revolver in Woodstock's hand； carefully clamped the dead man's fingers about the weapon。
Ruthley was not disturbed by the noise that the gun shot had made。
Woodstock's house was isolated； the windows of this room were closed。 Nor did Ruthley bother about wiping the handle of the revolver to remove fingerprints。
He knew that there were none of his own prints upon the gun。
This was explained when Ruthley held his hands palms upward in the light of the desk lamp； to give them brief examination。 The glow made the murderer's finger tips look glassy。
Ruthley chuckled。 Before beginning this expedition； he had taken the precaution to dip his fingers in collodion。 That liquid had dried； leaving a smooth； gelatine surface upon the fingers。 The presence of collodion explained why the pen had slipped slightly from Ruthley's grip。 With larger objects； especially the revolver； the collodion did not matter。
Stepping to the far side of the desk； Ruthley reached across and whisked away the statement that he and Woodstock had signed。 The paper slid easily from beneath Woodstock's left hand； but the blotter could not be so easily gained。 It was beneath Woodstock's elbow。
Ruthley observed the projecting blotter edge； decided not to disturb it。
The blotter was an old one； its upper surface showed enough ink smears to cover any recent marks。
ing around beside Woodstock's body； Ruthley opened a desk drawer on the dead contractor's right。 There he found objects that he wanted。 The first was a long pair of scissors； that served as paper shears。 Ruthley used these on the signed statement； he carefully clipped off the lower portion of the paper； just beneath the line that bore Woodstock's signature。 Ruthley's own signature was removed with the clipped…off portion。
Crumpling the strip of paper； the master crook tucked it in his vest pocket。
From the desk drawer； Ruthley took a ring of keys。 He walked across the room and stopped in front of a metal strong…box； where he knew that Woodstock kept important papers。 Unlocking the box with the proper key； Ruthley found a suitable pigeonhole into which he tucked the signed statement。
Returning to the desk； Ruthley gathered other papers that he had brought with him。 He pocketed some； carried others to the strong…box and placed them there。 From another pocket； Ruthley drew a small wad of letters。 Checking them over； he smiled as he noted Beezer Dorsch's signature。 Choosing another pigeonhole； Ruthley planted the fake letters。 He closed the door of the strong…box and locked it。
THE murderer's task was almost finished。 Ruthley went back to the desk； replaced the scissors and the keys。 He picked up the telephone and put it on its stand。
Ruthley looked around the room； smiled in pleased manner as he observed the drawn window shades。 He made a last survey of Woodstock's position at the desk； in precise fashion； Ruthley shifted the dead man slightly； so that his position would better suit the killer's design。
The set…up was perfect。 Adam Woodstock looked as if he had braced himself for an ordeal； then pressed a revolver against his right temple。 Assuming that Woodstock had been leaning forward； a bullet from his own hand would have produced the present result。 It looked like a positive case of suicide。
Two details more； Ruthley attended to them。 One was the matter o