The fact did not annoy Borman； he was too anxious to divulge the contents of the letter。
〃This was from a man named Shaw；〃 he began。 〃Evidently the fellow had written to Dunson before…〃
〃Wait！〃
STEPHEN Ruthley had heard a slight sound that came from behind the panting on the wall。 He arose； went to the picture and pressed a hidden catch in the side of the frame。 He swung the picture inward； in doorlike fashion。
Two men stepped over the sill； to join the conference in Ruthley's den。
The foremost was Lance Gillick； sleek in his evening attire。 The big…shot gambler indulged in one of his suave smiles。 He stepped aside to let his panion enter。 The other man was short and squatty； his leering face showed crossed scars on its left cheek。 The man looked like a murderer； and he was。
Lance's panion was 〃Beezer〃 Dorsch； the mobleader who was supposed to be at odds with the sleek gambler。 As Lance had mentioned to Borman the night before； the two were actually in league。 Because of that； Lance had brought Beezer to this conference。
The ring of crime…makers was plete。 Stephen Ruthley； king of villainy； sat smiling as he viewed the faces of his four lieutenants。 With Elvin Marclot to play the part of a pompous mayor； with Kirk Borman to pose as an efficient police director； Ruthley held two aces for a start。
This other pair were quite as essential to his schemes。 Lance Gillick served as hidden lieutenant who manded henchmen from the underworld； while Beezer Dorsch took charge of action in the field。 In a sense； Lance and Beezer corresponded to Marclot and Borman。 One pair represented the law； the other pair； crime。
The second duo of aces gave Stephen Ruthley the full hand that he wanted。
All were his； to take his mands。 Tonight's action had been the murder of Prescott Dunson。 The kill had been made。 Ruthley was prepared to order further measures to cover up the crime。
CHAPTER VII
THE FINGER POINTS
ELVIN MARCLOT and Kirk Borman were not at all annoyed by the arrival of Lance Gillick and Beezer Dorsch。 The mayor and the police director had long since e to recognize those two as panions in arms。 There was； in fact； a reason why both Marclot and Borman felt pleased when they learned that Ruthley had summoned his representatives in the underworld。 Until tonight； neither Marclot nor Borman had made the actual acquaintance of Beezer Dorsch。
Nearly all contact between these pairs of lieutenants had been when Kirk Borman had visited Lance Gillick； on pretense that he was looking into the gambler's affairs。 Marclot and Borman paid their own visits to Stephen Ruthley； but they always entered by the front door。 When Ruthley needed to see Lance or Beezer； he had those outlaws e in through the secret entry。
The picture that served as a door covered a passage through the deserted house at the end of the row。 Lance and Beezer reached it by entering the old house from a narrow； blind alley； well hidden from the lights of the front boulevard。
Tonight； it was apparent that Lance and Beezer had brought news。
Therefore； Kirk Borman postponed his own report。 He pocketed the letter that he had found on Dunson's body and settled back in his chair to listen。 Lance Gillick picked out one of Ruthley's cigars； while Beezer Dorsch produced a cigarette and lighted it。 Lance gave a nod。
〃Spill it； Beezer；〃 he ordered。 〃The boss will want to hear what went sour。〃
Beezer turned directly to Ruthley。
〃I was going to tell you about last night；〃 he began。 〃Only I got more dope to spring； the way things has happened。 We muffed that Maclare job； on account of a guy who queered our set…up。 I was wise to who he was。 He was The Shadow！ And it was him again tonight！〃
For an instant； Stephen Ruthley's eyes showed a hard glint。 The boss had heard of The Shadow； for he had delved deeply into the lore of crime。
Ruthley turned to Borman。
〃Too bad your Flying Squadron was slow；〃 purred the boss。 〃They could handle this trouble…maker； if they went after him。〃
〃They'll have orders to bag The Shadow；〃 returned Borman； grimly。 〃When I tell them to look for The Shadow； they'll find him！〃
LANCE and Beezer smiled hopefully。 Ruthley settled back in his chair to ponder over the facts that he had heard。 During the lull； Mayor Marclot suddenly reverted to his former subject。
〃We can't forget Dunson；〃 pleaded Marclot。 〃Something has to be brought to light； to cover the stir he has made。〃
Ruthley smiled blandly。 He arose and went to the filing cabinet in the corner。 Opening a drawer； he produced a folder filled with papers。 He brought them back to his chair； laid them upon a table。 Motioning for silence； he spoke in calm； authoritative tone。
〃Prescott Dunson is dead；〃 announced Ruthley。 〃He was murdered because he threatened to make important revelations concerning graft and crime。 The public will want facts； therefore； the public shall have facts。 Those facts； however； will be to our own choice。〃
Smiling； Ruthley opened the folder and brought out the papers。 As he spread them on the table； he spoke further。
〃First；〃 he declared； 〃some killer must be blamed for the crime。 Very well； we shall name the man who is actually responsible。 There he is〃…Ruthley pointed to Beezer…〃all ready to take the blame。〃
〃Sure；〃 snorted Beezer； 〃I'll be the fall guy。 Great stuff； boss！ Me and Lance is supposed to be on the outs。 That'll cover him。〃
Lance chuckled。
〃I already have an alibi；〃 he remarked。 〃The best in the city。 Just at the time when Beezer was rubbing out Dunson； who do you think dropped in to see me？
I'll tell you。 It was Lieutenant James Maclare。 He wanted to see if I had any roulette wheels up my sleeve； so I showed him all around the joint。 He drew a blank； wouldn't even take a cigar when I offered it to him。 Maclare knows where I was when Dunson was chopped down。 Being honest； he'll admit that I was right in my own night club。〃
Smiles of approval were exchanged throughout the group。 Chuckles stilled as Ruthley resumed。
〃Beezer will disappear；〃 explained the boss。 〃The city will be scoured for him。 A nation…wide search will begin； with Beezer called a public enemy。〃
Beezer looked uneasy； until Ruthley added：
〃All the while； Beezer will be fortably located in the one place where no one…not even Lieutenant Maclare…will look for him。 He will live in your apartment； Lance。〃
LANCE nodded his approval。 The others joined with nods。 They knew the location of Lance's apartment； off the passage that led from his private office。 Since Maclare had raided the Club Adair and found no gambling devices； there would be no more raids。
Ruthley made a sweeping gesture with his right hand。
〃The matter of a murderer is settled；〃 he declared。 〃We must； however； consider the subject of corruption。 Marclot〃…he eyed the mayor steadily…〃do you remember those contracts you signed for the proposed exposition buildings？〃
〃Certainly；〃 nodded Marclot。 〃Adam Woodstock gained the contracts。 He has already received a million dollars of city funds。 He gave us our half of the money。〃
〃That was a swell kickback；〃 put in Lance； in an admiring tone。 〃I'll bet； though； that it doesn't show on Woodstock's books。〃
〃Of course not；〃 declared Marclot。 〃Woodstock was careful to cover the entire transaction。〃
〃These papers；〃 stated Ruthley； picking some from his stack； 〃give a parison of the actual estimates and the false ones。 Suppose that they were found in Woodstock's safe； along with other incriminating documents； such as letters signed by Beezer Dorsch…〃
Elvin Marclot could not contain himself。 Forgetting his pompous pose； the mayor exclaimed：
〃People would think that Woodstock was the man higher up！ The one who ordered Beezer to murder Dunson！〃
〃And the contracts？〃 queried Ruthley； smoothly。 〃What would happen with them？〃
〃I could cancel them；〃 returned Marclot； 〃on claim of fraud perpetrated by Woodstock。 His corporation would be held responsible for the funds that Woodstock received。〃
〃Precisely；〃 smiled Ruthley。 〃A million dollars would be returned to the city treasury； and half of it would be Woodstock's own money。 You would then be able； Marclot； to let new contracts to another bidder quite as discreet as Woodstock。〃
〃Meaning a new kickback；〃 chuckled Lance。 〃Another easy half million！〃
The perfection of Ruthley's scheme suited the bevy of plotters。 They saw another half million already in the bag。 One question came； it was from Kirk Borman。
〃Woodstock will squawk；〃 phrased the police director。 〃How will you handle that； Steve？〃
〃I shall attend to Woodstock；〃 purred Ruthley。 〃He will never find an opportunity to raise objection。 There is only one detail that must still be considered。 That concerns Beezer。 We must see to it that he is actually accepted as Dunson's murderer。〃
〃I can fix that；〃 returned Borman。 〃I'll have some of the boys in the Flying Squadron swear to it that they saw him knock off Dunson。〃
〃That will help；〃 mused Ruthley； 〃but it would be better if some disinterested witnesses could testify to Beezer's ability as a killer。 Charges made by police are sometimes disregarded。〃
KIRK BORMAN stroked his chin。 He was thinking har