in 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 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 exerti