They headed for Ruthley's apartment。 They were there when the boss arrived； to announce that he had left Judge Benbrook still surrounded by enthusiastic admirers。 Ruthley stopped their questions with impatient gestures。
〃I called Lance on the way back；〃 he told them。 〃I asked him where the slip…up was。 Doc Lunden was supposed to keep the old judge on the shelf。〃
Marclot and Borman nodded； worried。 〃Something went sour；〃 purred Ruthley； maintaining the pose that he could keep best when angered。 〃We'll have to find a way to amend the new situation。〃
〃Before the old judge talks too much；〃 put in Borman。 〃He nearly spilled the beans today； Steve。〃
〃He knows more than he told；〃 asserted Marclot； fearfully。 〃He is holding back real information； though how he gained it； I cannot guess。〃
〃We can handle this；〃 announced Ruthley； 〃through Lance Gillick。 He provided the way by which we reached Doctor Lunden。 That kept Judge Benbrook on the shelf for a long while。 Lunden has failed us； but that was his fault； not Lance's。
〃Remember； we have kept Lance in the clear。 He had a clean bill of health； we have strengthened him by our policy of pinning crime on Beezer Dorsch。 Lance will be here within an hour。 I shall confer with him； alone。 Meanwhile； keep up the front that you have used so well in the past。〃
Stephen Ruthley waved his hand in dismissal。 Marclot and Borman steadied themselves； made their departure with new confidence。 Ruthley had reassured them； they were positive that the big…shot had picked the right way to stave off threatening disaster。
Ruthley watched his lieutenants depart。 His smile was one of actual confidence。
Possibly； the master crook's smile would have vanished had he known that The Shadow was the motivating force behind Judge Benbrook's appearance from retirement。 Ruthley would have been troubled further had he guessed that The Shadow had also foreseen that Lance Gillick was the one man upon whom the big…shot could at present depend。
CHAPTER XVIII
LANCE FINDS THE ANSWER
SOON after Stephen Ruthley had broken the bad news to Mayor Marclot and Director Borman； a package was delivered at the home of Judge Martin Benbrook。
Estelle received it； she knew that it was intended for The Shadow。 The girl carried the package upstairs； she knocked at the door of a front room。 A quiet voice told her to enter。
Dusk had fallen； the room was almost dark； but against the window； Estelle saw a cloaked figure。 As the girl entered； The Shadow turned； he stepped toward Estelle and took the package。 He laid it upon a chair and beckoned the girl to the window。
The Shadow drew two envelopes from his cloak。 He gave them to Estelle； then told the girl； in whispered tone：
〃These are for your father。 He is to open the smaller envelope and read its contents。 It will explain the nature of the evidence which I have placed in the large envelope。〃
Estelle nodded； took the envelopes and hurried downstairs to meet her father。 The judge was shaking hands on the front steps； he waved good…by to the reformers and entered the house with Estelle。 The girl gave him the envelopes； entering the parlor； the judge opened the smaller one and read its contents。
His eyes lighted。 He crumpled The Shadow's note and tossed it into a fire that was burning in the fireplace。 Looking about； he chose a music cabinet as a place to keep the larger envelope。 He unlocked the cabinet； put the envelope in the lower drawer。
〃It will be safe there；〃 the judge told his daughter。 〃Later； I shall turn it over to Louis Wilderton and explain its contents。 Perhaps〃…the judge looked toward the stairway…〃yes； I believe that I should confer with our friend upstairs； even though he explained matters quite pletely in his message。〃
Before the judge could follow his plan to visit The Shadow； there was a ring at the front door。 Thinking that members of the reform club had returned； the judge waited while Estelle answered the door。 A moon…faced man entered； removing his hat to display a baldish head。 He saw the judge and bobbed forward with an exclamation。
〃Ah； Judge Benbrook！〃 ejaculated the arrival。 〃You have again gone contrary to my advice。 I must insist that； as my patient； you refrain from new exertion…〃
〃e； e；〃 snorted Judge Benbrook。 〃You forget yourself； Doctor Lunden。
I have paid you to make me a well man。 You have succeeded。 I need no more advice。〃
〃But the medicine that you have taken…〃
〃Has proven beneficial。 Let me see； doctor； I recall that you once told me that my improvement would be remarkable。 You stated that when my weary spells ended； I would be free to exert myself again。〃
〃Provided that you kept on with the medicine；〃 added Estelle； nodding toward her father。 〃That was what Doctor Lunden told you。〃
Lunden winced。 He remembered that he had made such optimistic statements。
〃Very well；〃 he decided。 〃But I warn you； judge； if you experience another turn of illness； I cannot be held responsible。〃
UPSTAIRS； The Shadow was busy before a mirror。 He had donned a new suit from the package that Estelle had brought him； the attire was garish； but it did not conflict with The Shadow's countenance。 He had taken another object from the package： a small； flat make…up box。 With deft hands； he had already altered his face。
The Shadow's new visage was long； blunt…nosed and coarse。 He had filled his eyebrows so that they hung heavy； and gave him a permanent glower。 The window was open； The Shadow heard a slam of the front door。 He peered out into the dusk； to see Doctor Lunden making his departure。 The Shadow's thick lips moved； as he whispered a significant laugh。
Placing a brace of automatics in holsters under his arms； The Shadow donned hat and cloak。 He picked up a small hand bag； carried it with him and went downstairs。
Judge Benbrook and his daughter had returned into the parlor。 The Shadow heard Estelle laugh； as she congratulated her father on the way he had managed Lunden。 The Shadow passed the doorway and made a silent exit。 His course led out into the darkness； through the side door to which he had a key。
Doctor Lunden had walked away from the house。 Had he glanced behind him； the physician might have suspected that someone was on his trail。 That is； if Lunden had been keen enough to note a strangely flitting streak of blackness that occasionally glided beneath a lamp light。 Few persons； however； had the keenness to detect such a silent token of a follower； and Lunden； at present； was too intent with his own thoughts even to suspect that his trail had been taken。
The physician reached the Club Adair。 He entered； went to a table near the far door。 He signaled to the head waiter； who nodded。
Lunden was ushered through to the gaming room； which was doing business。
The baldish physician eyed the roulette wheel eagerly； then curbed himself and went to the door of Lance Gillick's office。 He knocked briskly。 The door opened。
LANCE smiled sourly when he saw his visitor。 The sallow…faced gambler beckoned Lunden into the office； closed the door and snarled unpleasantly。
〃Well； croaker；〃 he questioned； 〃how did you make out？〃
〃No luck； Lance；〃 whined Lunden。 〃The judge won't listen to advice。〃
〃No？ All right； sawbones。 That means you're through。 No chance of any dough for you。〃
〃But I owe you twenty thousand…〃
〃That's written off。 I got orders tonight from…well； never mind who gave them。 Anyway； your gambling debt is cancelled。 You don't get a bonus； that's all。〃
〃Then I can leave town？〃
〃You'd better。 You've bluffed the medico fake too long。 If it hadn't been for me fixing things； they'd have questioned your phony license long ago。〃
Lunden seemed relieved to know that he was getting out of his unfortable situation。 He stepped toward the door； Lance stopped him。
〃Just a minute；〃 said Lance。 〃You've given me the real lowdown on that dope gag； haven't you？〃
〃I swear it； Lance！〃 returned Lunden。 〃Three tablets were the absolute maximum。 More would be fatal； if Judge Benbrook died； the coroner would surely learn the cause of his death。〃
〃Then the old boy simply got used to the big dose and shook it off？〃
〃That seems the only answer。 He is still taking his prescription。 With a man of his age； the drug habit is not easily formed。 The effects of a drug that is regularly administered may be lost。 Nevertheless； I could not risk a greater dosage。〃
〃O。K。 You've got your walking papers。 Take them。〃
〃But if anything happens to Judge Benbrook…〃
〃You won't be blamed for it。 Anyway； you'll be on the lam。 Better start tonight。〃
AS soon as Lunden had gone； Lance returned to a task on which he had been working。 That was the wording of a telegram； addressed to a man named Roger Callister； otherwise 〃Trig〃 Callister。 Lance had mentioned that individual to Police Director Borman。 Tonight； in conference with Stephen Ruthley； Lance had again spoken of Trig。
In fact； Lance had just returned from Ruthley's； with instructions to bring Trig Callister back to Westford。 Trig had been around a lot； just before crime's heaviest outbreak。 He had left Westford prior to the night of Lieutenant Maclare's raid on the Mississippi Hotel。 Lance had i