〃Guess it is；〃 rejoined the conductor； peering through the door。 〃Looks like the pictures I've seen of him。〃
The cop whistled。
〃We got orders tonight to watch for him；〃 he informed。 〃On account of that battle last night； the police director's taking no chances。 Guess he figures there'll be crooks looking for Dunson。 Ring for a stop at the next corner。 I'd better put in a call to the precinct。〃
〃Want me to hold the car for you？〃
〃Naw！ I'll take the next one。 I wasn't told to go along with Dunson。
Orders were to report if I saw him。〃
The conductor signaled the motor…man。 The trolley stopped long enough for the policeman to drop off； then resumed its jerky course。 ing into the heart of the city； it was halted frequently by traffic lights； but took on few passengers。
After ten minutes； the trolley neared the corner where Dunson intended to get off。 The conductor； staring toward the street； noted that a touring car was loitering along beside the trolley； but he quickly forgot the fact。 The trolley swung into a one…way street； Dunson arose and pressed a button。 When the car stopped； the big man alighted at his corner。
DUNSON'S first move was to cross the street。 This brought him to the left side of a short block。 To his left was the looming bulk of an old…fashioned mansion； the residence of Judge Martin Benbrook； who was long retired from the bench。 There were two gates in the iron picket fence that ran in front of the old house。 One offered access to the front door； the other led to a side passage that ran to the rear of the house。
Just past Judge Benbrook's home； the remaining half of the block was posed of buildings with lighted fronts。 Across from them was the Majestic Hotel； on the right side of the street。 Nestled against the hotel were parked cars； scarcely discernible in the darkness of the parking lot。
Dunson strolled along at leisurely gait； he saw that he could easily cross the street unnoticed； after he had passed Judge Benbrook's。
It was when Dunson neared the second gate； that the first token of danger came。 A touring car had swung the corner which the trolley had left。 Its lights flashed suddenly from dim to bright。 Dunson's walking figure was outlined in their glare。 For an instant； the big man paused； hoping； the lights would swing away。 They did； but in their place came the vivid glow of a spotlight。
Prescott Dunson was caught in full view； turned half toward the side gate in the picket fence。 He was clutching his suitcase； blinking into the brilliance that had so plainly revealed him。 To his startled ears came the sound of a rasped mand； that delivered two words only：
〃Give it！〃
The suitcase dropped from Dunson's shaky hands。 In that tense instant； the doomed man realized that he was on the spot。
Prescott Dunson had walked into the snare of death。
CHAPTER V
DEATH DELIVERED
OTHER eyes than Dunson's had seen the sudden glare of the revealing spotlight。 They were eyes that were not blinded by the unexpected brilliance。
Across the street； but beyond the spot where Dunson stood； a lurking figure was watching from the shelter of cars stationed in the parking lot。
To that observer； the spotlight told its story。 He saw the helpless man caught in the path of light。 With a quick spring； this watcher came from his place of security。 Street lights showed him as a shrouded shape。 The Shadow was again on hand to offset crime。
Before thugs could obey the mand of their leader； The Shadow's fists came up。 With quick fingers； he pulled the triggers of automatics； dispatched whining bullets straight for the death car that lay almost between him and Prescott Dunson。 Cries came from the slowly moving touring car。 The Shadow had scored hits upon human targets。
Those shots saved Dunson for the moment。 They gave the doomed man a needed opportunity。 Close beside Dunson was the gate to the side passage that led beyond Judge Benbrook's house。 Had Dunson dropped his suitcase and pressed through the gate； he could have gained the shelter that would save him。
Instead； Dunson stood rooted。 He seemed hypnotized by the light that blinded him。 The death car veered； to escape The Shadow's bombardment。 While the automatics still tongued； a clatter began from within the touring car。 One crouching machine gunner had lain below The Shadow's fire； was pushing the muzzle of the death gun through the opening of a half…opened door； on Dunson's side of the street。 That killer profited by Dunson's lack of motion。 He let the doomed man have it。
The touring car sped forward； while bullets still streamed from its side。
The driver was low behind the wheel； the machine gunner was crouched on the rear floor。 Others were hanging from the side of the car while it ran the gantlet of The Shadow's fire。 One in the front seat； the other in the rear； two thugs had stopped the bullets that had entered the right side of the car。
The Shadow boomed last shots at the driver。 They failed to get him； for the rolling form of an intervening thug shielded the man at the wheel。 As the touring car wheeled leftward to the main street； The Shadow put a bullet through the gasoline tank； but the automobile kept onward and disappeared from view。
THE SHADOW started across the street； to the darkness where Dunson's body lay。 Before he arrived； he heard light； quick footsteps。 As he came up in the darkness； he found a girl bending over the bullet…riddled man。 The Shadow saw a white face in the darkness； as the girl listened to Dunson s last words。
〃Tell…tell Shaw！〃 gasped Dunson。 〃I should…should have done as he…he said…〃
The sentence ended with a sigh。 Prescott Dunson was dead。
Bravely； the girl raised the man's head； felt it drop back from her grasp。
At that instant； she sensed that someone was beside her。 Looking up； the girl viewed a blackened figure almost at her elbow。 She saw the burn of steady eyes。
Frightened； bewildered； she tried to scream an accusation。
〃You…you killed him！〃
An approaching car had swung the corner。 The Shadow saw it across the girl's shoulder。 He knew that it was bringing a second crew of gunmen。 Shoving one gun beneath his cloak； he seized the girl about the shoulders。 Hurling his full weight against the gate； he rammed it open； then launched the struggling girl along the passage beside the house。
The Shadow performed this action with a plete spin that brought him again facing the street； a ready gun in hand。 He had whirled the girl more than a dozen feet away； she was in a spot of safety。 New battle was due； the click of an automobile spotlight foretold it。 Standing at the gate； The Shadow was fully revealed by a stream of light。
Though spotted as Dunson had been； The Shadow was prepared。 His laugh sounded its fierce challenge。 Standing above the body of the murdered man； The Shadow loosed quick bullets from his single 。45； though few； those shots were perfect。 This time； The Shadow had the range he wanted。
His first bullet was straight for the rear door of the car。 That door； like the previous one； was partly opened。 The Shadow dropped the man who was behind it。 His second bullet stabbed the spotlight； finishing its glare。 As the driver gave the car the gas； The Shadow ripped a final bullet for the steering wheel。 A cry told that he had clipped the hoodlum at the wheel。
The car zigzagged wildly。 An unwounded thug managed to control it and yank it into the parking lot； where it sped through a path between parked cars。
The Shadow whipped forth the gun that he had stowed away； but he did not aim toward the car that had fled。 He had a new target； this was a sedan that swung in from the other direction。
ING from the main street； the sedan was plain against the lighted front of the Majestic Hotel。 The Shadow saw a gun muzzle thrust from a rear window； he blasted away before the driver was ready to turn on a spotlight。 Bullets that spat from darkness were too much for this crew。 The driver wheeled the sedan to the left； took the route that the second car had followed； through the parking space。
Before The Shadow could make another move； he heard the whine of sirens。
They came from both directions。 The Flying Squadr