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 of the pen； which had dropped from Woodstock's hand。 Ruthley replaced it on the rack。 The other was the drawer； that Ruthley had closed。 Carefully； the murderer opened it again。 From his pocket； he brought out a small box of cartridges； to match those in the death gun。 He buried the cartridge box deep in the drawer。
Ruthley left the drawer open； to create the impression that Woodstock had reached into it for the gun。 No other details were necessary。 The suicide picture was plete； an examination of Woodstock's strong…box would fully support it。 The signed statement； the letters from Beezer Dorsch would be as good as a written confession。
After a long； cold glance toward Woodstock's crumpled body； Ruthley turned and left the study。 In a darkened hallway； he chose a flight of stairs that led to the back of the ground floor。
Descending； Stephen Ruthley went out by a side door。
The master crook was deliberate； even in his departure。 In fact； he had almost decided to linger a while longer upon the scene of his crime； for he was confident that no intruders would arrive until he wished them。
Though Stephen Ruthley did not guess it； luck favored him immensely when he made his chance decision to depart。 Had he stayed two minutes longer； his false tale of death would have been rendered useless。
For Stephen Ruthley had unwittingly left a trail that led to this very house。 The Shadow； master of vengeance； was close upon it。
CHAPTER XIV
ON THE SCENE OF CRIME
ADAM Woodstock's large house fronted upon a broad； but little…traveled； avenue。 It stood well back from the street； and was almost surrounded by trees。
Access to the house was gained through a broad driveway that began at the front avenue。
A small roadster had halted across from the entrance to the driveway。 Keen eyes saw an empty lot； directly opposite Woodstock's house。 Relaxing the clutch pedal slowly； the driver of the roadster urged his car between two trees； parked it in the lot and alighted。
All this was done in darkness； with the roadster's lights extinguished。 As the arrival from the roadster crossed the avenue； he was silent and invisible。
His feet did not even crunch the gravel when he entered Woodstock's driveway。
The Shadow had staged a perfect arrival at this house where crime had struck。 Advancing on foot； he intended to make a stealthy entry； he was choosing the front door because it was nearest。 It was not until he was almost to his objective that The Shadow halted。
He had heard the sound of a motor； throbbing on the other side of the house。 It was followed by the muffled whine of a high…pitched second gear； a sound that faded almost instantly。 For a moment； The Shadow expected to see an automobile e around the corner of the house； then he detected that the car had driven in an opposite direction。
Swiftly； The Shadow skirted the house。 He glimmered a tiny flashlight upon the gravel of the driveway。 The light showed that the driveway formed a circle； it was one that afforded two exits。 In addition to the drive that came up from the avenue； there was another that led to a rear street。 It was in that direction that the car had gone。
Noting a side door； The Shadow entered the house。 There were no lights on the ground floor； but faint rays from a stairway indicated illumination on the second story。 The Shadow ascended； arrived at the half…closed door of Woodstock's study。 Peering inward； he saw the dead contractor slumped across the desk。
The Shadow entered； to examine the grim result of Ruthley's conference with Woodstock。 Even to The Shadow； this oute was something of a surprise； but its purpose dawned upon him the moment that he saw the scene of crime。 The Shadow had foreseen that Stephen Ruthley would take measures to cover his own misdeeds； but he had not expected the master crook to deal in actual murder。
In fact； The Shadow had supposed that Ruthley had e here to ask Woodstock's aid in the important matter of quelling public sentiment regarding the death of Prescott Dunson。 In a sense； Ruthley had done just that； but he had made Woodstock give aid