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〃No father！〃 she exclaimed。 〃We cannot trust Doctor Lunden to preserve silence。 I have often asked you to choose another physician。 Your own condition has not improved under Doctor Lunden's treatments。〃
Judge Benbrook motioned for silence。 The Shadow's lips had moved。 In low； but steady tone the wounded fighter spoke：
〃Telegraph to New York。 Summon Doctor Rupert Sayre…〃
The Shadow paused； closing his eyes； but both Estelle and her father nodded。 They understood that Sayre must be The Shadow's own physician。
The Shadow's eyes opened； they met Judge Benbrook's gaze。 At close range； The Shadow noted a largeness of the judge's pupils； a certain fixation in his stare。
Estelle was tipping three capsules from the medicine bottle。 The Shadow reached forward with his right hand。
〃Give me two；〃 he requested。 〃One only for Judge Benbrook。〃
Estelle looked puzzled； but she followed the request。 The Shadow swallowed each pill in turn； following with gulps of water from the glass which Estelle handed him。 His head performed a slight nod； to indicate that he had made a correct supposition。
〃These pills contain an opiate；〃 declared The Shadow； looking toward Judge Benbrook。 〃As such； they will relieve my pain。 They explain why your strength has failed you。〃
〃You mean that I have been doped？〃 claimed Judge Benbrook。 〃That the increased dosages； given to me by Doctor Lunden have been keeping me an invalid？〃
The Shadow nodded。
〃Take only one；〃 he repeated。 〃Ask Sayre about them when he es tomorrow。 He will reduce the dosage。 Say nothing to your own physician。〃
JUDGE BENBROOK took a single pill and swallowed it。 Watching The Shadow； he saw proof of the latter's statement。 The Shadow's eyes had dulled； his eyelids closed。 A relieved smile showed upon the thin lips。 Judge Benbrook arose from his chair； faced his daughter with a triumphant gaze。
〃He will sleep！〃 exclaimed the judge。 〃Soon； he will be well。 Meanwhile； my malady will end； for this true friend has discovered its real cause。 We shall handle Lunden wisely； Estelle。 We shall keep him ignorant of the fact that we have learned his treachery。〃
Proudly； the old judge walked to the door of the room； turned to survey The Shadow； who was deep in a drowse。 In imposing tone； Judge Benbrook spoke for himself and The Shadow。
〃Together；〃 he predicted； 〃we shall win this struggle！ Truth shall prevail in Westford！ When it does； crime will end！〃
Those prophetic words must have reached The Shadow； just as he was sinking into a fortable lethargy。 Estelle Benbrook； watching beside the couch； saw thin lips form another smile。
CHAPTER XVII
THE BOMBSHELL
FIVE days had passed since the tempestuous night when The Shadow had found refuge in Judge Martin Benbrook's home。 All had been quiet during those days。
Doctor Rupert Sayre had e from New York。 During a brief visit； he had put two patients on the road to recovery。 He had attended The Shadow's wound。
He had reduced the opiate dosage that Judge Benbrook had unwittingly been taking。 This； Sayre acplished through a prescription of his own。
Outside of the judge's house； other matters had reached a settlement。 The coroner had declared the death of Adam Woodstock to be suicide。 His verdict had been based on definite evidence； the papers found in Woodstock's strong…box stood as clear proof that Woodstock had been the man 〃higher up〃 who hired Beezer Dorsch to slay Prescott Dunson。
The coroner was an honest official； though an unimportant one。 He did not belong to Stephen Ruthley's ring； but he had been bluffed by the master crook's game。
Prescott Dunson had promised to reveal truth concerning corruption linked with crime。 Apparently； all could be laid upon Woodstock。 The dead contractor's own statement proved that he had swindled the city of Westford。 All this evidence had been placed in the hands of Louis Wilderton。
The young district attorney had stated that he would force Woodstock's pany to disgorge its half million of excess profit。 The corporation was wealthy； it had promptly paid up without argument。 Thus Mayor Elvin Marclot had received the fund in question； it was back in the city treasury。 Money that did not belong there； but which would not stay long。 Marclot was already looking for another fat corporation； headed by another of Woodstock's ilk； a man who would 〃play ball〃 and kick back the required graft in return for the contract。
One thing had caused trouble。 The Shadow's presence at Woodstock's had made the coroner hesitate in his verdict of suicide。 Director Borman had handled that； he had talked headquarters detectives into swearing that The Shadow had been entering the house when they trapped him。 Hence； he could not be blamed for Woodstock's death。 The crooks would have relished a decision that classed The Shadow as a murderer； but they preferred to have Woodstock's death pass as suicide。
None of the headquarters men had gained a good look at The Shadow； nor had Lieutenant Maclare or his bluecoats。 Only the fake cops who formed the Flying Squadron knew who it was that they had fought。 They testified that the intruder had been the mysterious man called Shaw。 Thus it was decided that Shaw had served as go…between for Adam Woodstock and Beezer Dorsch。
Like Beezer； Shaw was wanted； and neither had reappeared。 Ruthley and his fellow crooks decided that The Shadow had gained his fill of Westford。
Nevertheless； Lance Gillick expressed the view that The Shadow might some day return。 Ruthley decided to take no chances。 Through Borman； the master crook had arranged for members of the Flying Squadron to keep guard about his apartment house。
Ruthley did not know that The Shadow had found the secret entrance through the adjacent house； nevertheless； he wanted absolute security。 The Shadow's path to Ruthley's was blocked； even if he should choose to use it。
Beezer Dorsch was hiding out in fortable fashion at Lance Gillick's apartment。 Popular belief had it that Beezer had fled Westford； the night of Dunson's death。
WHAT most concerned the quieted city on this particular day was a meeting of the Civic Club； the chief reform organization in Westford。 That meeting was scheduled for late afternoon； in the club's own headquarters。 When the hour arrived； the place was thronged。 The chairman was Stephen Ruthley himself。
Standing on the rostrum； Ruthley beamed at the audience。 In dulcet tones； he mended the city officials for their successful war against crime and graft。 There were plaudits from the crowd； bows from Mayor Marclot and Director Borman； who were seated on the platform behind Ruthley。 Finally； Ruthley's tone became sorrowful； he began an eulogy for Prescott Dunson。
〃We must not forget one man who stood for a cause；〃 droned Ruthley。 〃That man was Prescott Dunson！ Though he had not fully gained our support； we were prepared to give it； in return for his promise to end corruption。 I believe that our present district attorney〃…Ruthley turned to Wilderton； who was seated near by…〃would have stepped aside for Prescott Dunson。 As it is； Dunson's work has been pleted。 He was a martyr to the cause of reform！
〃Fearing Dunson； the man who was behind corruption overstepped his bounds。
I refer to Adam Woodstock； who hired murderers to do his evil bidding。 Woodstock himself weakened under the strain。 His suicide was the result。 It has cleared the atmosphere。 All is well in Westford。
〃We can carry on as we have in the past； our courage strengthened by the noble example that Prescott Dunson set for us。 Someone must hold the office that Dunson sought。 I can think of no one better than Louis Wilderton； the present incumbent。 I call upon you for unanimous support…〃
Stephen Ruthley halted； disturbed by a motion at the rear of the auditorium。 His words were drowned。 Men were rising to cheer an unexpected arrival； a man whose entry came as a bombshell to Stephen Ruthley。
Striding down the center aisle； step firm and carriage erect； came a man with keen face and flowing hair。 Like a crusader from the past； his very appearance awoke thunderous applause。 Wildly； the reformers were cheering Judge Martin Benbrook。
As the judge reached the platform； Ruthley stepped aside； bowing and smiling； for he knew that he must side with enthusiasm。 As the judge stepped forward； a hush fell upon the audience。 In brief words； the elderly jurist announced his purpose。
〃I have e；〃 he declared firmly； 〃to announce my return to public life。
I intend to be a candidate for the office of district attorney！〃
The crowd went wild again。 Judge Benbrook waited for the enthusiasm to end。 Stephen Ruthley retained his forced smile。 Mayor Marclot and Director Borman restrained their nervousness。 As the hubbub ended； the judge added：
〃I hold high regard for the present district attorney。〃 He turned toward Wilderton as he spoke。 〃Yet I feel that he has been handicapped through adverse conditions。 My experience on the bench will enable me to carry through thoroughly the functions of the office。 As my foremost assistant； I shall need Louis Wilderton。〃
Roars of approval。 Wilderton was on his feet； shaking away from Ruthley； the young county prosecutor sprang forward and clutched Judge Benbrook's hand。
The pact was sealed； Ruthley's hopes were spiked。 As champion of reform； his part was to uphold such accord。
When new silence came； Judge Benbrook began a speech。 His statements were mild at first； gradually； they carried veiled accusation。
〃The death of Prescott Dunson was the cause of my decision；〃 the judge told the reformers。 〃He promised to reveal the truth of crime and corruption。
He promised to drive them forever from Westford。 Have we proof that Dunson's hopes have been fully acplished？ No！ You would like to hear the reason； therefore； I shall give it。
〃There is laxity in our city government。〃 The judge paused to let his words carry home。 〃If it had functioned to its full； crime and corruption would never have gained a foothold。 Where were our police； when they allowed murderers to infest this city？ What happened with our higher officials； when they permitted such contracts as Adam Woodstock's to be signed？〃
The words were indictments of Mayor Marclot and Director Borman。 The two officials winced； looked uneasy as they shifted in their chairs。 Judge Benbrook drove home a final statement。
〃As district attorney；〃 he announced； 〃I shall make a full inquiry into every department of our administration！ I know that our honest officials will wele such investigation。 They were elected on a reform ticket。 I trust that they have stood by their pledges and done their utmost to further good government。〃
Cleverly； the old judge had softened his impeachment。 His words gave Marclot and Borman a chance to regain their tottering favor。 Both were too jittery to see the opportunity； but Ruthley was quick to grasp it。
Smiling in his best fashion； the master crook started a new round of applause； lifting his hands to bring the audience to its feet。 He managed a nod to Borman； who nudged Mayor Marclot。 The two came up； joined enthusiastically in the tribute to Judge Benbrook。
OFF in the judge's own home； The Shadow was seated in the parlor； listening to a radio hook…up that brought Judge Benbrook's voice to his ears。
The meeting of the Civic Club was being broadcast throughout Westford。 The tumults of applause told their own story of the reception that the judge had gained。
The Shadow turned off the radio； ascended the stairs to the second floor。
Judge Benbrook had followed a course as outlined by The Shadow。 It had brought results。 Through the judge's cooperation； The Shadow had thrown confusion into the ranks of crime。
THE meeting had ended at the Civic Club。 Mayor Marclot and Director Borman were the first to shake Judge Benbrook's hand； hoping thereby to prove that they were foremost of the honest officials whom he had mentioned。 Stephen Ruthley pressed forward； mended the speech in flowery tones。 As members of the audience thronged the platform； Marclot and Borman made an inconspicuous departure。
They headed for Ruthley's apartment。 They were there when the boss arrived； to announce that he had left Judge Benbrook still surrounded by e