mg.dictatorofcrime-第4章

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　　No　one　had　been　worrying　about　the　truck　while　it　was　empty；　hence　crooks　had　taken　it　over　easily。　The　driver　had　to　do　what　they　told　him；　and　the　coffers　were　all　on　board；　but　one　detail　was　forgotten：　the　garage　door　wasn't　open。
　　Purposely；　Murk　had　left　that　to　the　final　moment；　so　the　police　wouldn't　expect　the　ing　flight。　But　The　Shadow　wasn't　allowing　the　final　moment。　He　was　aiming　for　the　rear　door　of　the　truck　as　Murk　dived　inside。
　　Hurdling　the　coffers；　Murk　flattened　beyond　them；　they　stopped　The　Shadow's　shots。　The　driver；　responding　to　the　menace　of　guns；　spurted　the　truck　right　through　the　garage　door；　which　smashed　apart　like　pasteboard。
　　An　ordinary　car　wouldn't　have　had　the　weight　to　acplish　that　little　feat；　but　the　truck　was　as　heavy　as　a　fair…sized　army　tank。　All　that　The　Shadow　gained　was　a　nice　wide　exit　through　which　he　could　dash　on　foot。
　　As　he　came　out；　he　saw　the　taxicab　that　had　brought　him　from　the　airport。
　　The　driver；　stiffened　at　the　wheel；　didn't　know　what　to　do。　The　Shadow　sprang　into　the　cab　and　told　him。
　　
　　
　　THINGS　were　happening　elsewhere。　Up　in　the　room　where　the　battle　began；　one　man　was　fighting　off　a　pair。　The　one　man　was　Colin　Nayre；　and　he　was　struggling　with　the　two　policemen　who　had　been　in　the　fray　from　the　start。
　　They　had　quite　the　wrong　idea　regarding　Nayre。　They　thought　that　his　chance　opening　of　the　connecting　door　had　been　intentional；　and　they　wanted　to　hold　him　to　account　for　it。　After　all；　Nayre　didn't　quite　belong　to　the　Durez　faction…a　point　which　the　bankers　were　shouting　aloud。　He'd　been　ruled　out　of　the　business　conference　by　Durez。　Maybe　he'd　sold　out；　the　way　the　two　private　detectives　had。
　　Only　The　Shadow　could　have　testified　in　Nayre's　behalf；　and　The　Shadow　was　gone。　So　Nayre；　thinking　that　The　Shadow　perhaps　had　fled　from　a　misunderstood　situation；　decided　that　a　quick　out　was　his　course；　too。　Flinging　the　two　officers　aside；　he　dived　for　the　balcony　just　as　other　members　of　the　Beach　force　came　plunging　into　the　room。
　　All　during　the　cannonading　on　the　third　floor；　Margo　Lane　had　undergone　a　flood　of　reactions。　First；　she　had　stood　petrified　on　the　diving　board；　then；　knowing　that　The　Shadow　must　be　in　the　thick　of　things；　Margo　had　wondered　what　she　could　do。
　　She　had　hesitated；　worrying　about　the　police　outside；　particularly　the　guardian　of　the　hedge；　until　she　realized　that　the　battle　must　have　attracted　them。
　　Dashing　from　the　shore　end　of　the　spring　board；　Margo　reached　the　hedge　and　pushed　through　it；　to　her　car。　The　keys　were　in　the　lock；　where　she　had　left　them　just　to　show　the　too…suspicious　cop　that　she　trusted　him。
　　All　the　while；　Margo　was　darting　looks　up　to　the　balcony；　expecting　to　see　The　Shadow　e　out　by　the　route　which　he　had　used　for　entry。　She　only　hoped　that　his　exit　wouldn't　be　a　tumble。
　　A　terrific　crash　distracted　her。　It　was　the　armored　truck；　smashing　out　through　the　garage　door。　Margo　didn't　see　The　Shadow　follow；　for　she　was　looking　upward　again。　Not　sighting　The　Shadow　made　her　magnify　his　plight；　and　she　started　the　roadster；　feeling　positive　that　he　would　arrive　in　crippled　condition　and　need　someone　to　drive　him　away。
　　She　realized；　then；　that　she　should　have　stopped　to　pick　up　her　robe　and　slippers；　but　it　was　too　late　to　get　them。　So　Margo　promised　by　getting　rid　of　the　bathing　cap；　so　she　could　shake　her　hair　loose。
　　The　roadster's　seat　was　deep；　and　anyone　noticing　her　head　and　shoulders　would　think　that　she　was　wearing　an　evening　gown　and　driving　home　from　a　party；　instead　of　being　a　fugitive　direct　from　the　Equator　swimming　pool。
　　As　Margo　wheeled　the　roadster　about；　she　saw　a　figure　vault　the　balcony；　run　and　drop　to　the　roof　of　the　garage；　but　it　wasn't　The　Shadow。　She　recognized　Nayre；　and　he　didn't　stop　with　the　garage　roof。　Instead；　he　leaped　across　it　and　jumped　to　the　ground；　just　ahead　of　shots　that　police　began　to　fire　from　the　balcony。　
　　Taking　it　for　granted　that　revolution　had　broken　out　amid　the　Durez　faction　itself；　Margo　thought　that　the　police　pursuit　of　Nayre　was　quite　legitimate。　Though　she　had　liked　his　looks　when　she　first　saw　him；　that　wasn't　going　to　help　him；　at　present。
　　Nayre；　it　happened；　had　a　way　of　helping　himself。　He　saw　Margo　at　the　moment　she　forgot　him。
　　A　cab　was　starting　away。　It　was　the　cab　in　which　The　Shadow　had　arrived。
　　Remembering　her　former　impression；　Margo　had　an　idea　that　The　Shadow　was　in　it　and　decided　she　ought　to　overtake　the　cab；　to　give　him　a　chance　to　change　vehicles。
　　On　that　inspiration；　she　pressed　the　accelerator；　just　too　late　to　avoid　taking　on　a　passenger。
　　The　passenger　was　Nayre。
　　He　opened　the　door　just　as　the　roadster　spurted；　and　before　Margo　could　shift　to　the　brake　pedal；　Nayre　decided　matters　for　her。　He　still　had　his　revolver；　and　he　nudged　Margo　with　it；　telling　her　firmly：
　　〃Keep　right　ahead；　as　fast　as　you　can　go！〃
　　
　　
　　MARGO　kept　ahead。　She　wanted　to　overtake　the　cab；　but　couldn't　quite　manage　it。
　　Guns　were　popping　off　like　firecrackers；　somewhere　back；　and　police　cars　were　whining　to　the　chase。　Up　ahead；　an　armored　truck　was　roaring　off　into　the　maze…like　depths　of　Miami　Beach；　and　the　taxicab　was　heading　after　it；　which　Margo　wanted　to　do；　too；　but　Nayre　decided　otherwise。
　　In　a　tone　as　frigid　as　his　gun　muzzle；　he　ordered：
　　〃Turn　right。　We're　going　north。〃
　　They　turned　right　and　went　north　at　full　speed；　with　Margo　giving　a　last　frantic　glance　toward　the　departing　taxicab；　hoping　that　The　Shadow　would　see　her。　He　couldn't　have；　thought　Margo；　or　the　cab　would　have　stopped　and　returned　to　follow　her　roadster。　Instead；　the　cab　kept　right　ahead。
　　One　reason　that　it　kept　ahead　was　because　The　Shadow　did　see　Margo　and　the　passenger　in　her　car。　If　there　was　any　man　who　deserved　a　break　for　freedom；　that　man　was　Nayre。　Not　only　did　The　Shadow　know；　he　was　sure　that　Margo　would　understand；　in　due　time。　But　there　were　other　men；　who　deserved　no　chance　at　all：　Murk　Wessel　and　his　crew　in　the　armored　truck。
　　Since　he　was　on　their　trail；　The　Shadow　stayed　with　it。　His　last　word　to　Margo　was　a　parting　laugh　that　she　was　too　far　away　to　hear！
　　
　　
　　　CHAPTER　V　
　　　VANISHED　CRIMINALS　
　　THE　chase　through　the　streets　of　Miami　Beach　was　unique　in　the　annals　of　that　city。　In　a　sense；　it　wasn't　a　pursuit。　It　was　a　case　of　worriment。　Any　attempt　to　overtake　and　crack　an　armored　truck　was　out　of　the　question。　The　thing　to　do　was　keep　the　crooks　on　the　go；　until　they　gave　up　through　weariness　and　exhaustion　of　their　ammunition。
　　The　Shadow　set　the　style；　and　the　police　promptly　copied　it。　Attracted　by　the　sounds　of　shots；　one　police　car　cut　into　the　scene；　to　see　a　taxicab　spurt　toward　the　truck　and　swing　into　a　zigzag。
　　A　few　shots　from　the　cab　window　enticed　a　whole　deluge　from　the　truck；　but　the　responding　bullets　didn't　count；　because　the　cab；　by　then；　had　veered　into　another　street。
　　So　the　police　car　took　a　stab　at　it　and　found　that　it　worked。　A　few　blocks　more　and　the　cab　reappeared；　giving　an　example　to　another　police　car　that　had　rallied　to　the　chase。　Soon；　the　truck　was　veering；　too；　its　occupants　fearing　that　the　annoying　cars　would　form　a　blockade　against　it。
　　There　were　times　when　the　truck　managed　to　disappear；　but　always　it　was　flushed　again；　whereupon　it　opened　fire　wildly；　and　fled。
　　It　was　much　like　a　fox　hunt；　except　that　no　one　shouted　〃Tallyho〃　and　the　fox　was　being　very　weary。　This　fox；　by　name；　Murk　Wessel；　had　a　big　chunk　of　the　Centralban　treasure　in　his　possession　and　didn't　want　to　be　treed。　But　the　more　he　drove　in　and　about　Miami　Beach；　the　worse　his　plight　became。
　　Two　long　bridges　offered　outlet　from　Miami　Beach：　one；　the　Venetian　Way；　the　other；　the　County　Causeway。　Each　had　a　drawbridge；　that　could　be　raised　by　sending　word　ahead；　and　Murk's　futile　efforts　to　shake　off　pursuers　had　wasted　enough　time　for　the　draws　to　be　set　against　him。
　　There　was　another　route；　to　the　north；　which　Nayre　had　been　smart　enough　to　take　at　once；　but　Murk　hadn't。　That　route　narrowed　as　it　proceeded；　and　Murk　had　seen　police　cars　speed　off　to　block　it。
　　A　well…laid　barricade　would　turn　Murk's　armored　truck　from　a　mobile　menace　into　a　stationary　fortress；　which　could　be　starved　out；　if　nothing　else。　Eating　ten　million　dollars　wouldn't　be　very　healthy；　particularly　with　so　much　in　gold。
　　So　the　truck　began　new　tactics。　It　cut　in　and　out　of　streets　around　Dade　Boulevard；　a　diagonal　thoroughfare　that　made　a　patchwork　out　of　ordinary　squares。　It　looked　like　a　game　of　hide…and…seek；　and　nothing　more；　for　invariably　the　truck　was　spotted　and　forced　to　roar　away　again。
　　At　last；　it　popped　into　sight　over　a　bridge　crossing　Collins　Canal；　and　suddenly　cut　southwest　along　the　boulevard；　which　led　to　the　Venetian　Way。
　　It　was　then　that　the　taxicab　came　back　into　the　picture。　ing　over　a　humped　bridge　that　crossed　the　canal；　it　overtook　a　flock　of　police　cars　that　were　trailing　the　truck　at　a　respectful　distance。　Daringly；　the　cab　sped　up　behind　the　armored　vehicle。
　　The　police　didn't　recognize　what　was　going　on　in　the　cab。　Its　driver；　of　course；　was　obeying　The　Shadow's　order；　as　he　had　all　along；　for　the　ominous　presence　of　a　black…cloaked　passenger　from　nowhere　was　enough　to　mand　obedience。　That；　however；　did　not　explain　why　The　Shadow　ordered　such　a　daring　course。
　　The　Shadow　had　noticed　that　the　police　cars　were　appreciably　closer　to　the　armored　truck　than　Murk　and　his　crew　had　previously　allowed。　The　Shadow　wanted　to　know　why　the　fugitives　weren't　shooting　back。　His　quick　foray　toward　the　truck　was　acpanied　by　vigilance。
　　He　was　telling　the　taut…nerved　driver　to　veer　away　the　instant　he　received　the　mand。　So　far；　The　Shadow　had　managed　to　pick　〃outs〃　the　very　instant　that　mobster　guns　talked。
　　This　time　it　wasn't　necessary。
　　Though　the　cab　wheeled　almost　to　the　rear　of　the　fugitive　truck；　no　shots　came　from　the　armored　vehicle。
　　Inspired　by　The　Shadow's　example；　the　police　cars　made　a　spurt。　They　saw　the　cab　make　a　sudden　swing；　as　though　to　dodge　a　ing　gunfire；　but　no　shots　occurred。　The　swerve　sent　the　cab　jouncing　on　to　the　tree…lined　sidewalk　across　the　boulevard　from　the　canal；　but　the　police　cars　continued　the　chase。
　　Apparently；　the　crooks　were　out　of　ammunition；　and　had　simply　bluffed　by　poking　guns　from　the　rear　of　the　truck。　Such　wasn't　the　actual　case　however。
　　The　reason　The　Shadow　ordered　the　cab's　veer　was　because　he　saw　no　guns　at　all！
　　
　　
　　AS　soon　as　the　police　cars　had　whizzed　past；　the　forgotten　cab　backed　from　the　sidewalk；　bounced　over　the　curb　and　turned　around；　to　speed　back　toward　Miami　Beach。
　　As　the　sounds　of　police　sirens　dwindled；　The　Shadow　laughed。　He　could　anticipate　the　surprise　that　the　Miami　Beach　police　would　find。
　　It　came　when　the　armored　truck　jerked　to　a　necessary　stop　at　the　raised　drawbridge　on　the　Venetian　Way。　The　police　piled　from　their　cars　and　reached　the　truck；　dodging　its　dangerous　rear　door。
　　They　saw　a　scared　driver　at　the　wheel；　both　hands　raised。　He　lowered　one　when　the　officers　beckoned；　and　opened　the　front　door。　Springing　into　the　truck；　the　police　found　it　empty。
　　Murk　We