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肩書を与える: Legion of the Living Dead
Author: Brant House
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Date first 地位，任命するd: July 2006
Date most recently updated: Aug 2017

This eBook was produced by: Richard Scott

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LEGION OF THE LIVING DEAD

by

Brant House

From nowhere hurtled that 黒人／ボイコット death car. And from nowhere （機の）カム its grisly occupants. They were not of the earth, for their human flesh was 免疫の to 弾丸s. They were not of the 墓／厳粛／彫る／重大な, for they 乗組員を乗せた the wheel and a 爆破ing machine gun...Secret スパイ／執行官 "X" made a desperate 作戦行動 to 封鎖する their 侵略 of the land of the living. And in that weird terror 罠（にかける）, he （機の）カム 直面する to 直面する with a man he knew—a man he knew had died five years ago.

CHAPTER I — HELL ON WHEELS

IT was an afternoon in late spring and from a cloudless sky, the sun （警官の）巡回区域，受持ち区域 shimmering rays on the stream of モーター cars that flowed sluggishly along the 狭くする canyon between the 列／漕ぐ／騒動s of tall buildings. Along the sidewalks, men and women, many of the richly attired, hurried about their 商売／仕事 and 楽しみ. It was a street of wealth, a main 茎・取り除く of American 財政／金融.

But the men and women in the street seemed oblivious to the 犯罪の monster who preyed like a vampire upon this veritable artery of wealth. Had they noticed the 直面するs of the men in the 広大な／多数の／重要な 黒人／ボイコット 小旅行するing car that 巡航するd along slowly with the traffic, they might have lost some of their sense of 安全. For these men were grim-直面するd police—one of many 特に 選ぶd 騎兵大隊s that had been patrolling the streets day and night, waiting for the 無線で通信する call to 義務—and probably to their own 破壊.

The man at the wheel of the squad car was young for a position that 伴う／関わるd so much 責任／義務. His 直面する told of many anxious moments, of the torment of trying to fathom the unfathomable. He steered the car without 明らかな 成果／努力, yet his every 神経 was 重要なd to a high pitch. His brilliant 注目する，もくろむs 緊張するd ahead; yet いつかs sought the 後部 見通し mirror, watching for that with which human 軍隊s seemed 権力のない to 対処する.

Suddenly, from the 無線で通信する （衆議院の）議長 （機の）カム the 発言する／表明する of the police announcer. At the first word, the driver of the squad car （悪事，秘密などを）発見するd a different 公式文書，認める in the man's 発言する／表明する. The 淡褐色 monotone was gone; rather the announcer's 発言する／表明する was colored with a （軽い）地震 of excitement and dread. He was 演習ing his 義務 in transmitting the message that had come to him, but he seemed to know that in doing so he was sending some of his companions to their doom.

"Special 巡洋艦 twenty-four...Calling special 巡洋艦 twenty-four," （機の）カム from the loudspeaker. "Proceed at once to the Krausman 蓄える／店. 強盗 going on. 強盗 going on at Krausman 蓄える／店...Number one-three...Number one-three."

The last group of 人物／姿／数字s was 簡単に a code which the department used to identify the activities of a mysterious 犯罪の ギャング（団） which had terrorized the city with daring 窃盗s …を伴ってd by what 量d to nothing short of 卸売 butchery.

As the driver of the squad car 始める，決める his サイレン／魅惑的な going, another very human 控訴，上告 （機の）カム from the 無線で通信する loud-（衆議院の）議長. For a moment, the 広大な police organization was forgotten. It was 簡単に one anxious father speaking to his son: "For the love of God, watch your step, Jimmy!"

The jaw of the young man at the wheel of the squad car was thrust far 今後, as his foot （機の）カム 負かす／撃墜する ひどく upon the accelerator. The police announcer was an 年輩の man who had been pronounced unfit for active service. It was his son who 乗組員を乗せた the wheel of Special 巡洋艦 Twenty-four. 義務 had made 激しい 需要・要求するs upon father and son. The 苦悩 of the father could 井戸／弁護士席 be imagined. He might just 同様に have pronounced his own son's death 宣告，判決.

A wide 小道／航路 in the traffic appeared miraculously before the スピード違反, 叫び声をあげるing squad car. The police sat on the 辛勝する／優位 of the cushions. Their knuckles whitened as they clenched the butts of 激しい revolvers. Now and again one of the men would send a 緊張するd ちらりと見ること 支援する through the 後部 window.

Suddenly, the man beside the young driver pinched his companion s arm.

"It's coming!" His 発言する／表明する was hard and brittle, 緊張するd to the breaking point. The driver's lower jaw protruded a bit more. He uttered a heartening 誓い through clenched teeth. His 注目する，もくろむs flashed 上向き toward the 後部 見通し mirror. The stretch of （疑いを）晴らすd street behind them was broken by a 悪意のある blot of スピード違反 破壊. A long-nosed 簡素化するd roadster, 黒人／ボイコット as midnight was 速く 精密検査するing them.

THE police car was still three 封鎖するs from the scene of the 強盗 and the car behind them seemed to have no 速度(を上げる） 限界. Nor did the driver of the 黒人／ボイコット roadster have any compassion for human life. The police 巡洋艦 swerved はっきりと to 避ける hitting a careless 歩行者. A 分裂（する） second later, the 黒人／ボイコット roadster bore 負かす／撃墜する upon the 脅すd man. The 歩行者 became panic stricken, put out both 武器 in a ridiculously futile 成果／努力 to 停止（させる） the スピード違反 car, and in the next moment was knocked flat—a piteous blot that lay deathly still on the pavement.

The roadster was within a few feet of the squad car. Through the 後部 window, the police could see the two men crouched low and motionless in the 操縦室. With a dexterous yank on the wheel, the driver of the police car sent the 巡洋艦 far to the left, trying to 封鎖する off the 黒人／ボイコット 速度(を上げる） demon. But the driver of the roadster was a match for any man. As the police car swerved to the left, the roadster swung to the 権利. With a sudden almost unbelievable burst of 速度(を上げる）, the roadster pulled と一緒に. The ugly 黒人／ボイコット snout of a machine gun protruded over the door of the racer.

"Let 'em have it!" shouted a policeman. He leaned out so far that he almost touched the 黒人／ボイコット 破壊者. His revolver 爆破d at the noxious 直面する of the man at the wheel. At such short 範囲 he couldn't have 行方不明になるd.

The staccato 発言する／表明する of the machine gun 粉々にするd the roar of the two 重税をかけるd モーターs. Leaden hell raked the police 巡洋艦 from 茎・取り除く to 厳しい. One policeman, who had been daringly balanced far out over the door of the car, pitched over the 味方する and beneath the grinding wheels of the 黒人／ボイコット juggernaut. The young driver jerked suddenly upright. A slug had 演習d his chest. His teeth ground together with a 神経-粉々にするing sound that he never heard.

The steering wheel spun in his 手渡すs, 完全に out of 支配（する）／統制する. His 苦痛-taut 権利 脚 crammed every ounce of gas into the powerful モーター. The police car broke into a rubber-燃やすing skid, careened across the street, caromed against a car, hurtled over the 抑制（する）, to 鎮圧する innocent bystanders beneath its bounding wheels. 叫び声をあげるs from a hundred throats filled the street with terrific clamor. The police 巡洋艦 slammed broadside through the glass window of a department 蓄える／店 and crumpled against a solid 塀で囲む, a 集まり of 難破.

But the roar of the 黒人／ボイコット roadster dimmed in the distance. Though the driver had received at least two 発射s that would have ordinarily 証明するd 致命的な, the car sped unerringly onward in its mad flight of 破壊, to disappear up an alley some 封鎖するs away.

Hysterical 叫び声をあげるs, frantic cries for help, 溺死するd out the groans of the maimed that the 殺し屋s' car had left in its wake. The sidewalk was strewn with 死体s. Hoarse-発言する／表明するd 交通警察（官） 戦う／戦いd their way through the panicky throng toward the 難破 in 前線 of the department 蓄える／店. A policeman, who had been thrown from the 難破させるd car, struggled to his feet. Both of his 手渡すs clutched at his 味方する, in an 直感的に but hopeless 成果／努力 to stanch the 血 that flowed from a jagged 負傷させる. He tottered 今後 to 落ちる at the feet of a traffic policeman.

The traffic 警官，（賞などを）獲得する knelt. His 武器 went about the shoulders of the fallen man. His fingers clenched tightly as if he hoped by some 最高の-human 成果／努力 to check the ebbing life. The 負傷させるd man opened his 注目する，もくろむs and 認めるd the man who held him.

"Fergeson," （機の）カム his husky whisper, "that—that man in that roadster! The man with the machine gun. I 発射 him—発射 権利 through him. He was Mack O'Brien's big 銃器携帯者／殺しや. He was 削除する Carmody in the flesh!"

The traffic policeman 星／主役にするd incredulously at the 負傷させるd man. For 削除する Carmody, 殺し屋 正式に 雇うd by one of the 暗黒街 barons, had died in the 電気椅子 in Sing Sing not more than forty-eight hours ago.

TWO 封鎖するs さらに先に up the street from the point of the police car 災害 was the famous Krausman 宝石類 蓄える／店. A few minutes before the police 巡洋艦 had received its 指示／教授／教育s to proceed to the jeweler's, Mr. Peter Krausman was sitting in his office, placidly smoking a 厚い, mahogany-colored cigar. He was a large, swarthy-skinned man with an unpleasantly crooked nose. 取って代わるing his somber Oxford-gray 衣料品s with something brighter, and 追加するing the flash of gold （犯罪の）一味s bobbing at the 高く弓形に打ち返すs of his ears, an artist would have had a perfect model for a Gypsy king.

Yet while Krausman seemed to be basking in the 安全 of his own wealth, his impassiveness was a mere 提起する／ポーズをとる. Every 神経 繊維 within his 団体／死体 tingled in 予期 of 活動／戦闘. His heart throbbed with slow, 安定した 一打／打撃s; his mighty brain dwelt upon but one problem—a problem only remotely 関係のある to the 宝石類 商売／仕事.

Through the glass window of his office door, he watched a pleasant-直面するd, redheaded man who was trying, clumsily enough, to sell a 罰金 jade bracelet to a strange, dark-complexioned man with a pin-point moustache and a long, stringy goatee. The dark man was famous throughout the city. He was Dr. Jules Planchard, a 技術d plastic 外科医. Other clerks, more experienced, looked askance at the redheaded man. 明白に, the snap judgment of Krausman had failed for once. The redhead was certainly no salesman. Would he 許す so 価値のある a 顧客 as Jules Planchard to go out empty 手渡すd?

Planchard, however, seemed to have made up his mind as to what he 手配中の，お尋ね者. He ちらりと見ることd at his wristwatch, waved toward the jade bracelet and ordered the redhead to 包む it up. He paid for the bracelet, thrust it into his pocket and left the 蓄える／店.

The redheaded clerk turned his attention to a pretty young girl who had just asked to look at wrist-watches. In the office, Peter Krausman chuckled grimly. The redhead was much いっそう少なく 利益／興味d in his attractive 顧客 than he was in keeping half an 注目する，もくろむ on the 前線 door.

Suddenly, the humor 消えるd from the swarthy 直面する of Peter Krausman. He was watching the 権利 手渡す of the redheaded clerk. It had been 残り／休憩（する）ing on the glass 最高の，を越す of the 反対する. Suddenly, it snapped 上向き, and drummed twice on the 反対する. Krausman sprang to his feet, started toward the door of the office. Beyond, he could see the flashing 団体／死体 of a beautifully 任命するd sedan that had come to a stop in 前線 of the 蓄える／店. The redheaded clerk 発射 a ちらりと見ること at the office, 掴むd the young woman who had been 熟視する／熟考するing the 購入（する） of a wrist-watch. In spite of her vehement protestations, he 押し進めるd her 支援する behind the 反対する, and through a small door in the 塀で囲む.

A fellow clerk, inclined toward gallantry, stepped in 前線 of the redhead. The redheaded man gave the 侵入者 a vigorous 押し進める.

"Watch your step, everybody!" his 発言する／表明する rang out imperatively. "It's a stick-up!"

At the same moment that Peter Krausman catapulted through the door of his office, four men 船d through the 前線 door. They were men whose 権利 手渡すs were thrust 深く，強烈に into coat pockets that failed 完全に to disguise the 形態／調整 of the (a)自動的な／(n)自動拳銃s that they held. They were men whose unmasked 直面するs were sharp with ratlike cunning. Deathly pallid 直面するs they were, 直面するs out of the past, 直面するs of men who had 人物／姿／数字d prominently in old police 記録，記録的な／記録するs until death had chalked them from the 名簿（に載せる）／表（にあげる） of public enemies.

Even the 警報 mind of Krausman who had been 用意が出来ている for something of the sort, was for a moment stunned by the 外見 of these gunmen. He 認めるd them to a man. Every one a 常習的な 犯罪の, but every 直面する the 直面する of a 死体.

"Everybody 支援する against the 塀で囲む," the raucous 発言する／表明する of the 真っ先の member of the ギャング（団） 命令（する）d. By the livid welt on his left cheek, Krausman 認めるd him as "Scar" Fassler, a 犯罪の who five years ago had been pronounced dead by the 刑務所，拘置所 公式の／役人s who had 除去するd his 団体／死体 from the 電気椅子.

OUTSIDE the 蓄える／店, a police whistle sounded. A stalwart, blue-coated 人物／姿／数字 sprang through the door. Scar Fassler wheeled about. His (a)自動的な／(n)自動拳銃 nosed from his pocket. The policeman dared not 解雇する／砲火／射撃, for the scar-直面するd 銃器携帯者／殺しや had taken a 戦略の position 直接／まっすぐに in 前線 of the group of clerks which the 銃器携帯者／殺しや had herded 支援する against the 塀で囲む. He had the policeman 完全に at his mercy, and for a moment he paused, enjoying his advantage.

Suddenly, Krausman, who had been covered by 犯罪の guns as soon as he entered the room, 陳列する，発揮するd remarkable courage and agility. He sprang straight toward the 銃器携帯者／殺しや who 脅すd him. The gun in the 犯罪の's pocket coughed, but Krausman was unchecked. His gnarled 権利 握りこぶし drove straight into the 直面する of the surprised 犯罪の. The blow 公正に／かなり 解除するd the man from his feet, but even before he had struck the 床に打ち倒す, Krausman had 投げつけるd himself upon Scar Fassler. Fassler sent one hurried 発射 at the policeman in the doorway, turned, and 解雇する／砲火／射撃d point-blank at Krausman.

The 発射 struck Krausman, and for an instant he tottered. But it was only a ruse. In seeming to 落ちる 今後, Krausman's 脚s 発射 out like two springs of steel, 開始する，打ち上げるing him in a 飛行機で行くing 取り組む. His 幅の広い shoulder struck Fassler's 膝s. The 死体-直面するd 銃器携帯者／殺しや tried to spring backward out of the way of Krausman's clawing fingers. But the jeweler 掴むd Fassler by the ankle.

The 銃器携帯者／殺しや 衝突，墜落d to the 床に打ち倒す, 新たな展開d over, and kicked Krausman in the 長，率いる with his hard left shoe. For a moment the 持つ／拘留する on the 銃器携帯者／殺しや's ankle relaxed. Fassler sprang to his feet with an 誓い. His gun swung around, this time 目的（とする）d at the jeweler's 長，率いる.

Though on the 床に打ち倒す, groggy from Fassler's cruel kick, Krausman must have realized the 危険，危なくする of his position. The two 発射s that had already stuck him had been （判決などを）下すd ineffectual by the 弾丸-proof vest he wore. Fassler knew this. This time, he would shoot for the jeweler's 長，率いる.

A 発射 rang out. But it was not from Fassler's gun. Krausman's redheaded clerk, who had been engaged in a 手渡す to 手渡す 衝突 with one of the mobsters, had discovered his 雇用者's 危険，危なくする. The redhead had suddenly drawn a gun from his pocket, and tried a snap 発射 that struck the バーレル／樽 of Fassler's (a)自動的な／(n)自動拳銃. The gun was knocked from the mobster's 手渡す. 奪うd of his 武器, Scar Fassler's small piggish 注目する，もくろむs filled with terror.

"It's a 罠（にかける）, boys!" he shouted. He sprang toward the redhead whose 井戸／弁護士席-placed 発射 had saved Krausman's life. Fassler's was the courage of a cornered ネズミ. He ignored the sudden 脅すing 今後 thrust of the redhead's gun.

"No, Jim! Don't shoot!"

It was Mr. Krausman who had shouted this 警告 to the redheaded man. Krausman knew that panic 所有するd Fassler, that the mere sight of a gun would not 停止（させる） him. But he must be taken alive, if a man who had died in the 電気椅子 could ever again be called alive.

The redhead heard his 雇用者's 警告, and held his 解雇する／砲火／射撃. Fassler swung with his left, a long 急速な／放蕩な blow that the redhead failed to duck. The man called Jim staggered 支援する against a 反対する. Krausman had pulled himself to his feet, and was coming toward Fassler with a gun in his 手渡す. Fassler 発射 a ちらりと見ること toward the door. His companions had （警官の）巡回区域，受持ち区域 a 迅速な 退却／保養地 as soon as he had uttered his 警告. Instead of making toward the 前線 door as Krausman evidently 推定する／予想するd him to, the scar-直面するd 銃器携帯者／殺しや sprang 支援する toward the office.

Krausman had 回復するd his agility. He ran in the same direction that Fassler had taken. The 犯罪の sprang through the door of the office, slammed it, and 新たな展開d the 重要な in the lock. Krausman 支援する-stepped, hunched his shoulder, and drove like a 乱打するing-押し通す at the door. Tenons of the door squawled apart under the 力／強力にする behind Krausman's 激しい shoulder, but the door held. Krausman's 権利 shoe （機の）カム up in a kick that 粉々にするd the door glass. 無視（する）ing the cutting fragments of glass that still 固執するd to the でっちあげる，人を罪に陥れる, Krausman またがるd the でっちあげる，人を罪に陥れる and in another moment was in the office.

But a second door had opened and の近くにd behind Fassler—the door into Mr. Krausman's にわか雨 and lavatory. Krausman believed that Fassler was 罠にかける. A heave from his powerful shoulder burst open the bolt of the door. The door sprang open, and Krausman, gun in 手渡す, stood in the room, looking bewilderedly about him.

FASSLER, the scar-直面するd 銃器携帯者／殺しや, who for five years had been 公式に dead, had 明らかに 消えるd like a ghost.

His swarthy brow 深く，強烈に furrowed, Krausman 星／主役にするd about the room. He walked over and opened the 霜d glass door of the にわか雨. Empty. He turned to a small linen-closet and opened it. Again he had drawn blank. But no—What was that square of blackness at one end of the closet? Krausman took a small fountain-pen flashlight from his pocket and switched on its needle-like ray. The light showed a large square 穴を開ける that had been 削減（する） in the 塀で囲む. It 明らかにする／漏らすd the water 麻薬を吸うs that led to the にわか雨 bath. Had this 穴を開ける been left open ーするために make the にわか雨 麻薬を吸うs accessible for 修理s?

The 警報 mind behind the swarthy 直面する of Peter Krausman had 示唆するd a 二塁打 目的 in this 開始. He reached out his 手渡す and touched the 麻薬を吸うs with the tips of his fingers. His keen sense of touch had （悪事，秘密などを）発見するd a slight vibration in those 麻薬を吸うs. Then he knew how Fassler had engineered his surprising escape. The 開始 evidently 延長するd 負かす／撃墜する into the 地階 of the building. The 麻薬を吸うs, had they been placed there expressly for the 目的, could not have 申し込む／申し出d a better means of 降下／家系.

But how had Fassler known of this 開始? Surely he had not つまずくd upon it by chance. For a moment, Krausman 審議d whether to follow. He decided that he wouldn't. Fassler had gone unerringly to the one ネズミ-穴を開ける that had 申し込む／申し出d him a means of escape. He had evidently the advantage of knowing much more about the building than the swarthy-直面するd man who, to all 外見s, owned it.

It was an 半端物 状況／情勢. And for a moment amusement glinted the 注目する，もくろむs of the man who until an hour ago had never entered the Krausman Building. But it was a 状況／情勢 that to some extent explained the 勇敢な 活動／戦闘s of the man who appeared to be a 豊富な merchant, 未使用の to 暴力／激しさ and 手渡す to 手渡す 遭遇（する）s with 犯罪のs.

For the swarthy 直面する of the man, who at that moment had discovered a secret 出口 from the building, was 単に the result of clever disguise. Beneath dark-colored pigment, beneath plastic 構成要素 and 直面する plates which had 偽造のd Peter Krausman's features in every 詳細（に述べる）, was a 直面する that no living person had seen—the 直面する of Secret スパイ／執行官 "X."

事実上の／代理 upon a tip that had traveled the length of the 暗黒街's grapevine telegraph, スパイ／執行官 "X" had taken advantage of the real Peter Krausman's absence from New York. He had deliberately impersonated the 豊富な jeweler, knowing to a certainty that the most ruthless ギャング（団） of robbers that he had ever 遭遇（する）d had planned to 略奪する the Krausman 蓄える／店.

He had 火刑／賭けるd much to 失望させる the thieves' 計画／陰謀. But his 長，指導者 願望（する） was to 逮捕（する） one of the members of the ギャング（団） and thus 追い散らす the mystery that had baffled the police. For though the idea seemed too ridiculous to 令状 its 出版（物） in newspapers, the entire ギャング（団） of murderous thieves seemed to be made up of 犯罪のs who had long since died. Scar Fassler was only one of a legion of 死体 犯罪のs.

Had some master scientist 現実に discovered the long-sought secret for 生き返らせるing the dead? Had some mad doctor taken 犯罪のs, fresh from the 死刑執行 room, and brought them 支援する to life, to 新採用する a 広大な 暗黒街 army of men who, knowing death once, would not 恐れる it a second time?

This was the riddle that Secret スパイ／執行官 "X" sought to solve. Wise in the way of the perverted geniuses who directed major 罪，犯罪 groups, "X" knew that the knowledge of life eternal could be a greater 天罰（を下す） than all the 死に至らしめる武器s that man could produce. 恐れる of death, he knew, was the only thing that 妨げるd thousands of men from forsaking the 法律 for the lawless.

CHAPTER II — GREEN EYES

TURNING from the にわか雨 room, Secret スパイ／執行官 "X" disguised as Krausman the jeweler, 遭遇（する）d the redheaded clerk who had 行為／行うd himself so courageously throughout the 遭遇（する） with the 犯罪のs. His hair was a 絡まるd mop, and his jaw was swollen.

"What happened to that scar-直面する?" he 需要・要求するd excitedly. "I've seen that man before. He looked like a hood by the 指名する of Fassler. But Fassler is supposed to be dead. You should have let me shoot him, Mr. Krausman."

"No, Hobart. I 手配中の，お尋ね者 him alive," 宣言するd スパイ／執行官 "X." He 行為／行うd Jim Hobart to the closet in the にわか雨 room, and showed him the 穴を開ける in the 床に打ち倒す. "That will 耐える 調査, Jim. I hadn't the slightest idea there was anything of that nature in here. It seems to be an avenue of escape 井戸／弁護士席 known to that 犯罪の."

Frowning, Jim Hobart looked from the 開始 in the 床に打ち倒す to the swarthy 直面する of the man who had 雇うd him. Perhaps he was thinking that it was 極端に 半端物 that Peter Krausman did not know every 詳細（に述べる） of his own office.

"Did they get much 略奪する?" Secret スパイ／執行官 "X" asked of his 補佐官.

Hobart shook his 長，率いる. "But that policeman was 不正に 負傷させるd. One of your 顧客s, a Mr. Stinehope, was knocked out. That's about all at this end of the line."

"What do you mean by that?" 問い合わせd "X."

"Why, Commissioner Foster is outside there now with a group of police and he told me that the officer who was 発射 got in an alarm before he entered the 蓄える／店. One of those special squad cars was on its way here when they 遭遇（する）d that mysterious 黒人／ボイコット roadster with the 機動力のある machine gun—the car that's been made so much of in the papers."

"X" 掴むd Hobart by the arm. "Did it—"

* AUTHOR'S NOTE: 信奉者s of the "X" chronicles have probably 認めるd the redheaded clerk as Jim Hobart, the young man who directs the Hobart 探偵，刑事 機関, one of the 部隊s in the Secret スパイ／執行官's 広大な 罪，犯罪 fighting organization. Though the Hobart group 似ているs any other 私立探偵 bureau in that it is at the service of the public, Jim Hobart's first 義務 is toward スパイ／執行官 "X", who befriended him in a time of need. In as much as Hobart knew "X" only in the character of A. J. ツバメ, a newspaper 特派員, it is little wonder that he failed to 認める his friend when "X" 可決する・採択するd the 身元 of Peter Krausman.

Hobart's nod interrupted him. "The police car was 完全に 難破させるd. Only one of the men is 推定する／予想するd to 回復する. No 手がかり（を与える）s at all as to the mystery car. In fact, the mystery has 深くするd. It seems that the 単独の 生存者 of the police car 難破させる 主張するs that he got in several 発射s at the driver of the death car. Two of the 発射s went home, he is 確かな . Yet the car steered unerringly on its course, the machine gun spitting death."

"Maybe the driver of the 黒人／ボイコット roadster wore a bulletproof vest," the スパイ／執行官 示唆するd, "just as you and I did."

Hobart nodded. "Possible, of course. But this 警官，（賞などを）獲得する, who's 推定する／予想するd to pull through, 断言するs that he sent a 弾丸 straight through the forehead of the driver of the mystery car. The driver didn't so much as budge, he says. What is more, the 警官，（賞などを）獲得する 認めるd the man as 削除する Carmody—who was 遂行する／発効させるd in Sing Sing only a day or so ago."

Frowning, スパイ／執行官 "X" turned toward the door of the office. On the other 味方する of the broken glass, he saw a 墓／厳粛／彫る／重大な-直面するd man of medium 高さ whom he 認めるd すぐに as Police Commissioner Foster. Foster's thin lips curved into a smile. He nodded at the man he supposed to be Krausman, opened the door and walked in.

"One of your 顧客s 知らせるs me that you managed to 失望させる this 試みる／企てる to 略奪する your 蓄える／店, Mr. Krausman. You are to be congratulated."

スパイ／執行官 "X" shrugged. "I am afraid that your 賞賛する has fallen in the wrong place, commissioner. If it hadn't been for Mr. Hobart, here, I wouldn't be talking to you at this moment."

THE police commissioner nodded at Hobart just a bit reservedly. Though the Hobart 探偵，刑事 機関 was 速く making a 指名する for itself, Foster habitually regarded all 私立探偵s with 疑惑.

Another man appeared in the office door. He was small, gray-注目する，もくろむd, and thoughtful looking. "X" 認めるd the man as one who had entered the 蓄える／店 only a few moments before the 強盗. The little man 一打／打撃d thin, blond hair nervously, and ちらりと見ることd from Foster to "X."

"Commissioner," he said hesitantly, "what is to be done? I 宣言する, the police make no 前進 against this 暴徒 of 殺し屋s! Mr. Krausman has done more to check them than the police." The man opened the door of the office, and approached "X" with his thin 権利 手渡す 延長するd. "I would like to shake your 手渡す, sir. Stinehope is my 指名する."

スパイ／執行官 "X" took Stinehope's limp 手渡す. Stinehope was a 指名する that had been famous in the banking world. For the past year, however, the bank which Stinehope had directed had been の近くにd. にもかかわらず, little Mr. Stinehope seemed to 保持する an envied position in the realm of 財政／金融.

Commissioner Foster winced わずかに. "I am sure we all commend Mr. Krausman most 高度に, Mr. Stinehope. However, we can all feel somewhat relieved. The police 軍隊 is about to be 堅固に 増強するd by one of the greatest criminologists this city has known. I had a long talk with my old friend and former superior, Major Derrick. Derrick, you will remember, was the police commissioner who retired in my 好意 some time ago. He has 約束d to give us every 援助. He should be here by now."

Stinehope nodded thoughtfully. "Ah, yes. I remember Derrick. Splendid man, he was. A hard 労働者; a straight thinker. No 罪／違反 ーするつもりであるd, Foster."

"X" said nothing, thoughtfully 熟考する／考慮するd Stinehope.

"And now, Mr. Krausman," said Foster, "can you give us a description of some of the men who took part in this 試みる／企てるd 略奪するing of your 蓄える／店?"

スパイ／執行官 "X" frowned. "Perhaps I can. I think there were four of them. That 権利, Hobart?"

"The leader," スパイ／執行官 "X" continued, "had a long scar 負かす／撃墜する his left cheek—or perhaps it was his 権利."

He knew that it would not do for him to give too 正確な a description. In the character he was playing, he would not be 推定する／予想するd to show as much 正確 in 事柄s of 詳細（に述べる） as a trained criminologist would.

Commissioner Foster fumbled in his pocket and brought out a picture. "This the man?" he asked. He 手渡すd the picture to "X."

The Secret スパイ／執行官 took the picture. It was indeed the photograph of the 恐らく dead Scar Fassler. He nodded slowly. "Undoubtedly, that is the man."

At that moment, the door of the office snapped open. A wiry, blond little man who seemed a bundle of 神経s stepped into the room. He jerked a bird-like ちらりと見ること from first one to another of the men in the room. The nostrils of his little nose spread, and he 吸い込むd quickly and noisily as if he were taking 消す.

"Foster!" he rapped.

The commissioner turned, a smile lighting his usually 墓／厳粛／彫る／重大な 直面する. He 掴むd the newcomer's 手渡す, began pumping it up and 負かす／撃墜する. "Major Derrick! You're just in time to help us out!"

"Glad to, glad to," Derrick sputtered. He nodded at Stinehope. "Hello, hello." He turned on "X," looked him up and 負かす／撃墜する. "Mr. Krausman, I suppose. Hello. Most unfortunate circumstances." He 匂いをかぐd はっきりと.

"Derrick," said Foster, "Mr. Krausman has 前向きに／確かに identified the man who led this 暴徒 as Scar Fassler!"

Turning 突然の to "X," Derrick rapped out: "And what would Mr. Krausman say if I told him I saw Fassler 遂行する／発効させるd in the electric 議長，司会を務める five years ago?"

AGENT "X" regarded the blond Lt. Major Derrick for a moment. "I would be inclined to say that one of us had made a mistake."

"Possible, possible," Derrick whipped out. "But I don't make mistakes of that sort, Mr. Krausman. And, I might 追加する, you do not appear to me as a man who makes mistakes."

"How does it happen that you were 用意が出来ている for this ピストル強盗, Mr. Krausman?" asked Stinehope curiously.

スパイ／執行官 "X" laughed. "When you have half a million dollars tied up in rare gems, you don't take chances, Mr. Stinehope. I always have some one in the 蓄える／店 to watch things. Today, it just happened to be Jim Hobart."

Foster turned to his former superior. "What would be our best first move, major?" he 需要・要求するd.

Derrick 匂いをかぐd. "Reward, first off. 地位，任命する a reward for a starter. We need a responsible 国民, some one the people 尊敬（する）・点 to 長，率いる a 委員会 to 地位，任命する a reward." His birdlike 注目する，もくろむs jumped at Stinehope. "The very man!" his 発言する／表明する 攻撃するd like a whip. "Stinehope, will you 長，率いる the reward 委員会? Advise you to make the 任命, Foster, if Stinehope will 受託する. And you will, eh?"

Stinehope considered a moment. Then: "Certainly. I will be glad to do anything."

"Good!" 宣言するd Foster. "Will talk with you in a moment, Stinehope. And now, Krausman, can you give us any その上の （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） 関心ing the men in the 犯罪の group?"

"X" shook his 長，率いる. "I'm afraid I'm not very observant. I 示唆する that you interrogate Mr. Hobart. He is trained in such 事柄s. I'm rather tired now. If you don't mind, I'll look around the 蓄える／店, and see if there has been much 損失 or anything stolen."

WITHOUT waiting for 許可, "X" strode through the door of the office. He had sighted a group of news-hungry reporters, and の中で them a young girl. She was undeniably beautiful. From beneath her jaunty hat, he 観察するd wisps of golden hair. Her starry 注目する，もくろむs were 深い blue. Her smart attire became her perfect 人物／姿／数字.

As the man who looked like Peter Krausman entered the 蓄える／店 proper, the reporters （機の）カム at him in a 団体／死体, waving notebooks and clamoring for 許可 to take pictures. "X" 耐えるd the searching rays of photoflash lamps, and then tried to get past them toward the door.

"声明 for the 圧力（をかける）, Mr. Krausman?"

"Sure, give us a story, Mr. Krausman."

"Yeah, tell us how it feels to sock a 銃器携帯者／殺しや."

スパイ／執行官 "X" smiled: "Try it yourself and get first 手渡す （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状）," he 示唆するd.

"Ah, give us a break!" a young reporter 控訴，上告d.

"Very 井戸／弁護士席. But I dislike talking before a （人が）群がる. One of you, that young lady, perhaps—I'll see in 私的な. She can give you all the story when I'm through."

Smiling, the golden-haired girl （機の）カム 今後. This was Betty Dale of the 先触れ（する）. Little did she know that this swarthy-skinned man with the broken nose was her old friend, Secret スパイ／執行官 "X."

*AUTHOR'S NOTE: Daughter of a former member of the police 軍隊, it seemed a natural course of events that Betty Dale should turn to police 報告（する）／憶測ing when she became old enough to select a career. Though left alone in the world, she was not without friends—many of them 探偵，刑事s who knew her father. But her staunchest friend, and the man she admires most, is Secret スパイ／執行官 "X". Together, they have 遭遇（する）d many perilous adventures, 以前 記録，記録的な／記録するd. Her 賞賛 for the スパイ／執行官 has grown to a beautiful, unselfish love.

"Where can we go, Mr. Krausman?" she asked.

"X" 示すd a little room apart from the 蓄える／店 proper. There were a number of 類似の rooms in the building. Some were used as showrooms to 陳列する，発揮する gems of rarest 質 to 見込みのある 買い手s. Others were small offices 始める，決める apart for 確かな members of Krausman's staff.

"Don't 持つ／拘留する out on us, Betty," 警告を与えるd one of the reporters good naturedly as "X," steering Betty by the 肘, entered the tiny room. The Secret スパイ／執行官 の近くにd the door, and 静かに 新たな展開d the 重要な in the lock. He turned toward Betty, a smile on his 厚い lips. If the girl wondered at his locking the door so carefully, there was no 調印する of alarm on her lovely 直面する.

"Please sit 負かす／撃墜する." The スパイ／執行官 示すd a 議長，司会を務める behind a small walnut telephone desk. She 従うd with his request, spread her notebook before her, and regarded the man she believed to be Peter Krausman inquiringly.

"If you don't mind, I should like to hear the story of the 強盗 as you 観察するd it, Mr. Krausman. Just when did you first realize that the 蓄える／店 was 存在 held up?"

"X" seated himself on the 辛勝する／優位 of the telephone desk. "I knew that it would be held up nearly ten hours ago. I really don't know just how I would have managed to be here at the exact moment, if it hadn't been that Krausman left town this morning."

Betty's white forehead crimped into a tight frown. "You knew it ahead of time? I—I don't やめる understand."

"Then don't bother your pretty 長，率いる about it any longer. Perhaps this will 明らかにする 事柄s for you, Betty." Secret スパイ／執行官 "X's" forefinger traced the letter "X" on 最高の，を越す of the desk.

"No!" she exclaimed excitedly. She smiled happily. "I should have known! But—but I never do. I had no idea that these strange 強盗s were so serious as to attract your attention."

*AUTHOR'S NOTE: It should be explained for the 利益 of those who 会合，会う the スパイ／執行官 for the first time herein, that though Betty Dale has met him often enough to know him probably more than any other person, she has never seen his true 直面する. Her love for him is not based upon romantic dreams 回転するing about this man of mystery; it is the underlying, 完全に human 質s of the man that attract her. For always, スパイ／執行官 "X" is kindly to those who 長所 親切; never has he willingly 害（を与える）d the defenseless. Even his enemies attest the 質 of his mercy.

"Not serious, Betty? Do you realize that in the last two weeks nearly a 得点する／非難する／２０ of police have met death in 衝突 with that 黒人／ボイコット car?"

"Then there is a 限定された 関係 between the mystery car and these 強盗s?"

"Assuredly. As soon as a 強盗 call goes out over the 無線で通信する, that 黒人／ボイコット, torpedo-形態／調整d car puts in its 外見. With total 無視（する） for the lives of innocent bystanders, the machine gun on the 殺し屋s' car opens up. Slugs rake the squad cars hurrying to the scene of the 強盗. Not once have the police reached the scene of the 強盗 in time to 妨げる the 罪，犯罪 from 存在 committed." The 直面する of the man who looked like Krausman became suddenly grim. "It is the most ruthless butchery I've ever 遭遇（する）d! The man behind it all must be bent on wiping out the entire police 軍隊. And through it all, he remains hidden, as invisible as a 黒人／ボイコット panther at midnight and far more dangerous."

"Have you any idea who the hidden 犯罪の may be?" Betty asked.

"Not the slightest," replied "X" without hesitation.

A WORRIED frown crossed Betty's 直面する. "Commissioner Foster thinks he knows," she said. "I was in his office this morning when he received a mysterious 公式文書，認める. He permitted me to make a copy. But I just can't turn it into the 先触れ（する）. It's too absurd!"

"May I see it?" "X" asked.

The girl reached into the pocket of her jacket, and took out a piece of paper. "It—it 脅すs me," she said 簡単に as she 手渡すd the 公式文書，認める over to "X."

The Secret スパイ／執行官 opened the paper and read through the letter quickly.

Dear Foster:

This is an open challenge. Dare you 選ぶ up the glove? For every man who has met death at the 手渡すs of the 法律, I shall take the lives of ten members of the police 軍隊. A vaster army than you can 召集（する） is behind me. It is the Legion of 死体s. The secret of life eternal is 地雷; yet to my enemies, I mete out 確かな death. Dare you （問題を）取り上げる the glove?

The paper jerked almost imperceptibly in the スパイ／執行官's 手渡すs. For this open challenge from the lawless to the 法律 was 調印するd, "Secret スパイ／執行官 'X'."

"X" looked at Betty. A 恐れる that his smile could not 追い散らす was in her 深い blue 注目する，もくろむs. "You know what that means?" she asked. "Foster will 需要・要求する your 逮捕（する）, alive or—or—"

The スパイ／執行官 laughed 静かに. "There's been a price on my 長，率いる before. Go ahead and publish that 公式文書，認める in your paper. If you don't, some other paper will. It doesn't 事柄, anyway." He 手渡すd the piece of paper across the desk.

As Betty 延長するd her 手渡す for the 公式文書，認める, her 肘 knocked over the telephone. The girl uttered a startled: "Oh!" and started to 回復する the 器具.

スパイ／執行官 "X's" 手渡す 発射 out and の近くにd over her wrist. A strange change had come over his 直面する. His 注目する，もくろむs were like 有望な points of gleaming steel. Gently, he 解放する／撤去させるd Betty's fingers from the phone, 選ぶd up the 器具, and 星／主役にするd at it a moment before setting it 負かす／撃墜する. Then he slid from the desk, crossed the room on tiptoe, one finger on his lips. He beckoned to Betty. Wonderingly, the girl got up, and followed him. The Secret スパイ／執行官 put both 手渡すs on her shoulders, bent his 長，率いる, and whispered into her ear:

"Go 支援する to the desk, sit as you were sitting, and keep talking for about a minute. Then, newspaper or no newspaper, leave this office すぐに. I don't want to hide from you the fact that you are in deadly danger. 避ける all strangers. Take care of yourself, but don't be afraid. Go 支援する now." He gave her a gentle 押し進める, and turned toward the door.

AGENT "X" 打ち明けるd the door, opened it, and stepped outside. Reporters were waiting for him, eager with questions. With his 支援する to the door, "X" 挿入するd the 重要な in the lock, and turned it. Then he dropped the 重要な to the 床に打ち倒す, 設立する it with his heel, and kicked it under the door.

"Where's 行方不明になる Dale?" 需要・要求するd one of the reporters.

"Inside," the スパイ／執行官 explained. "She's putting her 公式文書，認めるs in some order. Don't worry; she'll not 持つ／拘留する out on you." Then he 押し進めるd past the reporters, turned 突然の to the left, and entered another office. It was empty. He hurried over to the desk and bent over the telephone. A moment's scrutiny told him what he 手配中の，お尋ね者 to know. Beneath the receiver hook of the 器具, was a small 木造の wedge driven far enough in to open the telephone 回路・連盟. A 類似の wedge he had seen on the phone in the room in which he had talked to Betty.

It was 安全な to wager that every phone in the building had been 類似して opened so that anyone listening at any of the 拡張 phones on the 回路・連盟 might have heard his conversation with Betty Dale.

As "X" hurried from the little office he was wondering if the 強盗 試みる／企てる that afternoon had been the 失敗 he had thought it to be. Perhaps there was another 動機—one that （一定の）期間d danger for himself—and for Betty Dale. He wondered, too, if Krausman's absence from the city that afternoon was as innocent as it appeared to be.

避けるing Commissioner Foster and Major Derrick, who were busy with the police 調査, "X" hurried along the 塀で囲む of the 蓄える／店, stopping at every door to look in the rooms beyond. All were empty. The police had herded all the 蓄える／店's 従業員s into one group, and were busy 解雇する／砲火／射撃ing questions at them.

スパイ／執行官 "X" turned to the 支援する of the 蓄える／店, ちらりと見ることd into Krausman' s office, and hurried on to another room where were the 丸天井s in which Krausman kept 確かな 価値のある jewels. The door was locked.

Taking from his pocket a bunch of master 重要なs, without which he never 投機・賭けるd 前へ／外へ, he selected one that would fit the lock. In another moment, he was inside the room. It, too, was empty. But "X" すぐに noticed the absence of the telephone which usually sat upon the desk. The phone wire itself passed beneath the わずかに raised window and out into the alley.

"X" 選ぶd up a straight office 議長，司会を務める and 静かに tiptoed to the window. Raising the 議長，司会を務める level with his chest, his 武器 発射 out like two pistons. The 議長，司会を務める 衝突，墜落d through the glass. "X" followed the 議長，司会を務める, leaping over the sill to 減少（する） ten feet into the alley outside. 回復するing his balance すぐに, he glimpsed the phone swinging against the outer 塀で囲む. A small window-washer's ladder leaned against the 塀で囲む. But these were minor 詳細（に述べる）s and the 事柄 of only a moment's 観察. 近づく the window was a sleek, cream-colored roadster. The door was open and a woman was just stepping in. She sent one ちらりと見ること over her shoulder before dropping into the 深い cushions.

For a moment, "X" saw her 直面する, though 部分的に／不公平に 隠すd by the soft fur that trimmed the collar of her extravagantly beautiful dress. Her 直面する was small, nearly 一連の会議、交渉／完成する, and dark complexioned. Her lips わずかに voluptuous, were 紅d a striking shade of red that was almost like Chinese lacquer. Her nose was わずかに up-攻撃するd and her 注目する，もくろむs were 現実に 逮捕（する）ing; true emerald green, they were beneath long, penciled brows that curved 上向きs at the outer extremities.

But what struck スパイ／執行官 "X" as 存在 極端に important was the flash of green in the bracelet about her left wrist. He was 確かな that the woman wore the jade bracelet that he had watched Dr. Jules Planchard 購入（する）.

The woman's lips parted, emitting a husky, purring sort of laugh.

"X" saw that the モーター of the car was running. He sprang toward it in an 成果／努力 to catch 持つ／拘留する of the spare-tire 運送／保菌者, but even as he leaped, the clutch grabbed and the car scudded off 負かす／撃墜する the alley.

"X" PIVOTED. A 削減する 黒人／ボイコット sedan, one of the スパイ／執行官's own cars, was parked 直接／まっすぐに behind the 宝石類 蓄える／店. He made for it, sprang into the 前線 compartment, and plugged at the starter. The モーター kicked over, thrummed 滑らかに. He 転換d gears soundlessly and gave the 広大な／多数の／重要な 最高の-告発（する），告訴（する）／料金d モーター all the gas it would take. Like a 黒人／ボイコット 発射物, his car 発射 負かす／撃墜する the alley.

Ahead of him, the woman's roadster nosed through a traffic 小道／航路, and turned to the 権利. "X" 一連の会議、交渉／完成するd the corner, his car whining in second gear. He （疑いを）晴らすd the 幅の広い bumper of a moving トラックで運ぶ by a hair's breadth, purposely threw the car into a skid that shied it across the 跡をつける of a スピード違反 sedan. Ahead, the cream-colored roadster wove through traffic, putting two more cars between its tail-lamp and the nose of the スパイ／執行官's car.

He 加速するd, sounded his horn, and （人が）群がるd the car in 前線 of him to the 抑制（する）. A comparatively （疑いを）晴らす 小道／航路 ahead, the cream-colored car, with its exotic driver, pulled away. The tweet of a traffic officer's whistle was wasted on unheeding ears. The green-注目する，もくろむd woman could 運動, and her car was 有能な of taking all she gave it.

"X" had seen the green-注目する，もくろむd woman before. Felice Vincart was her real 指名する, but it had given place to the 偽名，通称 she had made famous. Snatched from the variety 行う／開催する／段階 by an ardent young millionaire who had fallen in love with her, Felice Vincart had 設立する herself a 未亡人 after a few months. In spite of her wealth, she had not 伸び（る）d a position in the social 登録（する）. She remained known not by her husband's 指名する but by the 偽名，通称 she had made famous. When the tabloids 偉業／利用するd her voluptuous beauty she was invariably called "The ヒョウ Lady."

It was an appropriate 呼称; for Felice Vincart had a grace and manner that was 現実に feline. Her 行為／法令／行動する in the theater had consisted of a wild, 野蛮な dance, 回転するing about two 広大な／多数の／重要な ヒョウs which she herself had trained.

How had the ヒョウ Lady, with all the 楽しみs that money could buy at her 処分, become associated with the 犯罪の who directed the activities of the 悪意のある 死体 legion? Perhaps a life of indolence had held no thrills for the woman who had tamed ジャングル beasts.

スパイ／執行官 "X" had little time to dwell on how the ヒョウ Lady had 連合した herself with the terrible group. He was fully 占領するd in keeping on her weaving 追跡する that 反抗するd every traffic 法令／条例. Suddenly, やめる as if by 事故, the cream-colored car swerved to 避ける a car coming from the opposite direction. Its 前線 wheel clipped the corner of the 抑制（する） and the car bounded into an alley.

"X" followed, wheeling his car across the street and into the alley. Ahead of him, the cream-colored car had slowed 負かす／撃墜する. "X" spurted, and in another moment was 軍隊d to cram on his ブレーキs with all the strength of his 権利 脚. From a covered driveway, a 抱擁する トラックで運ぶ had 支援するd across the alley. The スパイ／執行官 was as effectually separated from his quarry as if a 石／投石する 塀で囲む had suddenly been conjured up in 前線 of him. In spite of his quick 活動／戦闘 and the superior 力／強力にする of his ブレーキs he did not stop until the nose of his car had mashed against the パネル盤 of the トラックで運ぶ.

Was this opportune 介入 a coincidence? The Secret スパイ／執行官 thought not. Everything had fallen in too perfectly with the ヒョウ Lady's 計画（する） of escape. He could almost hear her husky, purring laugh of 勝利.

"X" knocked open the door of his car and leaped to the pavement. In a moment his question was definitely answered. It was no coincidence; it was a perfectly laid 罠（にかける） 始める，決める to catch one man—Secret スパイ／執行官 "X."

From the doorway of 側面に位置するing buildings 注ぐd a small army of men—死体-直面するd 犯罪のs from out of the past. With the 信用／信任 their numbers gave them, they 急ぐd upon "X," blunt-nose (a)自動的な／(n)自動拳銃s 堅固に gripped in their 握りこぶしs. The スパイ／執行官 drew his gun with his 権利 手渡す, at the same time sending a short, 揺さぶるing left to the 味方する of the 真っ先の 犯罪の's 長，率いる. The man dropped without a groan. "X's" gas gun, that marvelous 武器 of his own 開発, hissed like a snake. A cloud of the powerful anesthetizing vapor 爆破d a second 犯罪の into oblivion.

完全に surrounded, "X" fought like one 所有するd of the devil. He 切り開く／タクシー／不正アクセスd at 長，率いるs with the バーレル／樽 of his gun, 用心深い of using the gas with which it was 負担d lest in the mad, 戦う／戦いing maelstrom of humanity some of the anesthetizing ガス／煙s reach his own 肺s. The ギャング（団）, he knew, would 避ける using their (a)自動的な／(n)自動拳銃s lest the sound of 発射s draw in police 干渉，妨害.

"X" got a 支配する around the waist of one of his 対抗者s, 解除するd the man bodily, and would have 投げつけるd him to the pavement had he not at that moment been struck a powerful blow from behind. Off balance, he sprawled to the pavement. Like 餓死するd wolves, the 暴徒 was upon him, 持つ／拘留するing him 負かす／撃墜する by sheer 負わせる of numbers. A gun バーレル／樽 衝突，墜落d into his 長，率いる—once—twice. スパイ／執行官 "X" dipped into oblivion.

CHAPTER III — TORTURE

SECRET AGENT "X's" first sensation was that of 動議. The 冷淡な 空気／公表する of 速度(を上げる） was biting into his cheeks. He opened his 注目する，もくろむs, and 星／主役にするd straight ahead of him where automobile headlamps were beaming 負かす／撃墜する a dark and 狭くする street. He tried to move. He could only turn his 長，率いる; his feet were 攻撃するd to the ブレーキ and clutch pedals of the スピード違反 car, and his 手渡すs were 堅固に fastened to the steering wheel.

He could not speak. A hard, conical-形態／調整d gag, 類似の to the old French poire d'angoisse had 軍隊d his jaws apart. He looked about him. Dirty brick dwellings 急ぐd by on either 味方する of the street. The speedometer hovered around fifty, but aside from the helpless Secret スパイ／執行官, the roadster was empty.

"X" tried to depress the ブレーキ pedal. It was 直す／買収する，八百長をするd in place. It was impossible for him to turn the steering wheel or 削減（する） the gas. The モーター rolled 滑らかに, guided by some gigantic, invisible 軍隊. Secret スパイ／執行官 "X," 支持する／優勝者 of 司法（官）, was riding, 明らかに 運動ing, the mystery car which the 死体-犯罪のs had made the terror of the city.

That the car was robot-driven seemed to be the only explanation. Looking 支援する over his shoulder, "X" could see another car a 封鎖する or more behind. It was possible, he knew, to steer a car by robot 無線で通信する 支配（する）／統制する from another car. Still, with a 封鎖する or more distance between the two cars, it seemed impossible that the car in which "X" was riding could be so unerringly managed.

His first thought was that the mystery car in which he 棒 would be driven into some 事故 that would be 致命的な for "X." But surely a ギャング（団） which killed as the 死体-犯罪の 暴徒 did, would not go to the trouble of trying to make one 殺人 out of 得点する／非難する／２０s appear as an 事故.

The mystery car suddenly slowed 負かす／撃墜する as though unseen 巨大（な）s were 運ぶ／漁獲高ing on the wheels. It turned the corner, rolled on to a choppy pavement, turned into a 運動, and slid through dark garage doors. 即時に, the doors の近くにd, and "X" was in a 不明瞭 like 黒人／ボイコット velvet.

A moment of silence was followed by a strange, clanking sound. "X" was conscious of some one の近くに at 手渡す moving through the 不明瞭. Something 動揺させるd on the door of the car. A 冷淡な claw of アイロンをかける clutched about his left wrist and locked there. "X" struggled with all his Herculean strength to break his 社債s. But they resisted his every 成果／努力. The clanging sound continued. Some one was 一連の会議、交渉／完成するing the nose of the car. Again a claw of steel met his flesh. A second bracelet of metal encircled his 権利 wrist.

Then the beam of a flashlight struck 負かす／撃墜する through the 不明瞭, illuminating the under-cowl of the car. He heard the sound of 激しい breathing. And in the 反映するd rays of light, スパイ／執行官 "X" saw the distorted features of Scar Fassler. A long knife was in the big mobster's 手渡す. Its keen blade sliced through the cords that bound "X" to the pedals and steering wheel.

The スパイ／執行官 saw that his wrists were linked by a 激しい スピードを出す／記録につける chain. A leader of steel cable ran from the chain to a 宙返り飛行 始める，決める in the garage 塀で囲む. Fassler grinned up into the スパイ／執行官's 直面する.

"Whyn't you try a sock at me now, Mr. 'X'," he goaded. "Which freshest up my memory to the fact that I 借りがある you a poke, don't I?" Fassler's 広大な／多数の／重要な 握りこぶし fanned the 空気／公表する in a haymaker which "X" 試みる／企てるd to duck. But the blow landed on his jaw, sending 炎上s of 苦痛 through his 長，率いる, and setting his ears to （犯罪の）一味ing. The スパイ／執行官 gritted his teeth. 広大な／多数の／重要な muscles in his 武器 rippled and drew taut beneath his flesh. His steely 注目する，もくろむs 燃やすd with 冷淡な 解雇する／砲火／射撃.

Fassler grinned. "You goin' to get out, or do I knock you out?" He raised his 権利 手渡す, balled around an (a)自動的な／(n)自動拳銃.

"X" shrugged, kicked open the door of the car, and stepped out. In spite of the 負わせる of the chains, he carried himself perfectly 築く. He moved easily across the garage toward the 宙返り飛行 which 限定するd him. Fassler followed.

WHEN within a yard of the 塀で囲む, スパイ／執行官 "X" turned around. With a 速度(を上げる） that took Fassler 完全に unawares, "X" swung the 激しい chain above his 長，率いる, and brought it 負かす／撃墜する in a blow that landed on Fassler's 権利 forearm. A 厳しい cry of 苦痛 ripped from Fassler's throat. The (a)自動的な／(n)自動拳銃 in his 手渡す fell to the 床に打ち倒す. "X" dropped to his 膝s and, manacled though he was, 回復するd the 武器.

The blow which he had given Fassler might easily have broken his arm. The 銃器携帯者／殺しや had dropped to the 床に打ち倒す.

Suddenly, "X" heard a faint rustle behind him. He pivoted. A shadowy thing of uncertain 形態／調整 渦巻くd 負かす／撃墜する upon him. His 長，率いる was 一面に覆う／毛布d in a soft 黒人／ボイコット rope that reeked with the sweetish odor of chloroform. To 戦う／戦い in such intoxicating 不明瞭 was hopeless. "X" felt himself 掴むd in powerful 武器. Then he became a floating thing without 実体.

When スパイ／執行官 "X" （機の）カム out of his drugged sleep, he 設立する himself alone in a small room. A 選び出す／独身 door with a small 閉めだした window was the only break in the monotony of the four 塀で囲むs. He was dizzy and nauseated from the 影響s of the chloroform. For a few moments, he lay perfectly still upon the 床に打ち倒す, 注目する，もくろむs wandering about the room. Not far from him was a コンビナート／複合体 apparatus 部分的に／不公平に hidden by a 黒人／ボイコット 審査する 中心d with an opaque window of some white 構成要素. This he 認めるd as the most up-to-date television receiver on the market.

For a while, he watched it dully, wondering what its 目的 could be. Then he sat up. The manacles had been 除去するd. He ran his fingers over his 直面する to make sure that his make-up was 損なわれていない.

At the instant that his fingers touched his 直面する, his heart 続けざまに猛撃するd in his throat. His groping fingers had not 遭遇（する）d plastic make-up 構成要素 and 直面する-plates, but his own 直面する! He 星／主役にするd 負かす／撃墜する at his fingers. Finger tips were stained with 黒人／ボイコット 署名／調印する. His disguise had been 侵入するd, and, for the first time in his 二重の career of 罪，犯罪 fighting and 法律 回避, his 指紋s had been 記録，記録的な／記録するd. For the first time, the hideous phantom of 失敗 danced mocking before his 注目する，もくろむs. He had at last met his equal—the hidden leader of the 死体-legion whose butchery terrorized the city.

The one light in the room faded out, and was 取って代わるd by the glow of the television 審査する. A powerful 無線で通信する sound 回路・連盟 moved into 操作／手術. Across the television 審査する, a 黒人／ボイコット 影をつくる／尾行する moved. It was a shapeless 影をつくる／尾行する that might 井戸／弁護士席 have 隠すd a man. "X" watched it closely.

"We 会合，会う, Secret スパイ／執行官 'X'," a 発言する／表明する にわか景気d from the 無線で通信する. "残り／休憩（する） 保証するd that though my curiosity has led me to look upon your true 直面する, no other 注目する，もくろむs than 地雷 have seen you as you really are. You would have been a worthy 対抗者 hadn't the green 注目する，もくろむs of the ヒョウ Lady enticed you into my 罠（にかける）. I have no particular 願望（する） to 明らかにする／漏らす your 身元 to the world unless it becomes necessary to do so.

"My 計画（する）, I think, will 利益／興味 you. You may have guessed of the hate I 耐える all who support the 法律. And inasmuch as you are the paragon of 法律 施行, my 憎悪 has 中心d upon you. I have conceived a delightful means of tormenting you before you die—a means which is 関係のある to some extent to what those 古代の 修道士s of the Spanish Inquisition called '拷問 by Hope.' 観察する the 審査する of the television 部隊 carefully, スパイ／執行官 'X', and you will understand perfectly."

The 影をつくる／尾行する was gone. Again a switch popped. 影をつくる／尾行する 反対するs on the television 審査する were brought into 焦点（を合わせる）. スパイ／執行官 "X" saw an 内部の 見解（をとる） of a house that was 井戸／弁護士席 known to him. It was the exotically furnished home of Felice Vincart, the ヒョウ Lady. Between two 新たな展開d 中心存在s that might have been brought from Granada's Alhambra was an アイロンをかける-閉めだした cage 含む／封じ込めるing two tawny ヒョウs of unusual size.

The door of the cage was in the form of a circle of metal. It appeared that the door was made of many pieces of metal 機動力のある and movable like the iris of a camera. A long pendulumed clock was 機動力のある above it.

AGENT "X" remembered that some strange whim of Felice Vincart had led her to 任命する／導入する an amateur television transmitter in her home. Now he understood that it was to be put to a terrible 目的. On a gilt divan, 直接／まっすぐに in 前線 of the ヒョウ cage, was the form of a woman. In spite of the small 割合s 再生するd on the 審査する, "X" knew that woman. There was no mistaking the wealth of golden hair that rippled across the cushions of the divan. The woman was Betty Dale.

The スパイ／執行官's heart throbbed in hopeless 反乱 against what he 恐れるd he would be 軍隊d to 証言，証人／目撃する. The helpless girl writhed against her 社債s. Shudders convulsed her entire 団体／死体 as one of the ヒョウs flung its tawny strength against the circular door. Then "X" knew the meaning of 拷問!

The 広大な／多数の／重要な clock above the cage had been 始める，決める in 動議. Its long pendulum ticked out an eternity of minutes; and as each minute ticked by, the steel, iris-like door opened the merest fraction of an インチ. 結局, that door would 広げる to such an extent that the big cats would break through. Their lean 側面に位置するs, their gaping, hungry jaws gave mute 約束 of what might be 推定する／予想するd.

スパイ／執行官 "X" sprang to his feet. The house was silent. There was no 調印する of any living thing within the room save the torturous, silent pantomime of the television 審査する. "X" leaped to the door. It was 激しい oak three インチs 厚い. "X" looked through the 開始, looked anywhere save at the baleful picture on the 審査する.

In the hall outside, a powerfully built man lolled in a 議長，司会を務める. A Winchester ライフル銃／探して盗む was slung across his 膝s. The スパイ／執行官's fingers trembled over the lock of the door. He might easily 選ぶ it if his 道具s had been left him.

He made a 迅速な 在庫 of the 器具／備品 he carried. His gas ピストル had been 除去するd from his coat 同様に as the (a)自動的な／(n)自動拳銃 he had taken from Fassler. But his pocket make-up 道具 and compact 道具 and 医療の 道具s had been left him. "Why?" his brain 大打撃を与えるd. Surely the shadowy ギャング（団） leader was more clever than that. Did the Unknown imagine that スパイ／執行官 "X" could be 限定するd in such a 独房 by even a dozen guards when the person whom he regarded above everyone else was in danger? Some sixth sense told him that here was a trick of some sort.

"X" snapped open his make-up 道具 and 除去するd a small, cylindrical 瓶／封じ込める. Inside of it were two 水晶 glass 要約する／（宇宙ロケットの）カプセルs filled with a colorless fluid. From the pocket of his vest, he pulled out what appeared to be an ordinary fountain pen. 除去するing the cap 明らかにする／漏らすd that it was a hollow バーレル／樽. "X" took one of the 要約する／（宇宙ロケットの）カプセルs from the cylindrical 瓶／封じ込める and dropped it into the fountain pen. He 挿入するd one end of the pen between his lips. The pen had 解決するd itself into a conveniently small blow gun. He drew 深い 肺s 十分な of 空気／公表する, sighted the tube on the lolling 人物／姿／数字 of the guard, and blew with all his strength.

The tiny glass 要約する／（宇宙ロケットの）カプセル pinged against the 塀で囲む a few インチs above the guard's 長，率いる, 解放（する）ing a tiny cloud of 霧. The guard sprang upright. The startled 表現 on his 直面する was 取って代わるd by one of inane peacefulness. He 崩壊（する）d on the 床に打ち倒す.

*AUTHOR'S NOTE: In the constant war スパイ／執行官 "X" 給料 against 罪，犯罪, he is 軍隊d to 雇う new tricks as often as possible so that his movements are seldom 心配するd by his enemies. He is 絶えず on the 警戒／見張り for new 装置s to 強化する his 弁護. This simple pocket blow gun, with its special ミサイルs 含む／封じ込めるing a form of his anesthetizing vapor, is one of the 製品s of his own inventive genius.

The スパイ／執行官 thrust the blowgun 支援する into his pocket, and すぐに went to work on the lock. Tiny, finely tempered 道具s, the 製品 of a professional lock-選ぶ, dropped from the スパイ／執行官's 道具 道具. In spite of the panic which 所有するd him, "X's" 手渡すs were perfectly 安定した as he guided a gleaming 道具 into the tumblers of the lock. There had not been 十分な 量 of his anesthetizing gas in the tiny 要約する／（宇宙ロケットの）カプセル to keep the guard unconscious for long. 切望, 勝利, and 疑問 were 表現s that alternately crossed the スパイ／執行官's almost boyish features.

In another moment, the lock was 解放（する）d. A backward ちらりと見ること at the television 審査する showed him that the circular door in the ヒョウ cage had opened far enough to 許す one of the savage beasts to thrust its drooling muzzle through the 開始.

スパイ／執行官 "X" sprang into the hall. Without looking to 権利 or left, he made for the door beside which the guard had lolled. A simple 骸骨／概要 lock 産する／生じるd to the 重要な which "X" 抽出するd from the guard's pocket. Then he 急落（する），激減（する）d 負かす／撃墜する the stairs, and into the dismal street.

He was several miles from the house of the exotic ヒョウ Lady, and in such a 地区, at such a late hour, there wasn't a taxi in sight. However, parked a short distance from the house from which he had escaped, was a car. He ran to it, opened the door, and turned his flashlight on the 器具 パネル盤. The 重要な was in the ignition lock.

Again that strange premonition that this was not a coincidence passed over スパイ／執行官 "X." It was all too 平易な—his escape and the finding of a car that must enable him to reach the ヒョウ Lady's house in time. But this was not a time for hesitation. He was 確かな of trickery somewhere, but the scene he had 証言，証人／目撃するd on the 審査する of the television 始める，決める could not have been 偽のd.

IN a moment, he was スピード違反 負かす／撃墜する the street, steering with one 手渡す and fumbling with the make-up 道具 which he had opened on the seat beside him. He needed no light for the disguise he was about to assume.

*AUTHOR'S NOTE: The genius of スパイ／執行官 "X" in the 事柄 of disguise and 発言する／表明する impersonation is 井戸／弁護士席 known to the 正規の／正選手 reader of these 記録，記録的な／記録するs. Because he never knows when he will be called upon to 影響 a 完全にする change of features in a few moments time, he has practiced 確かな 在庫／株 disguises until he knows them 井戸／弁護士席 enough to 許す him to assume them without the 援助（する） of a mirror and in the dark if need be.

厚い 層s of plastic volatile 構成要素 lent a heaviness to his 直面する. Dark pigments rubbed into his jowls ふりをするd blue-黒人／ボイコット 耐えるd stubble. Plastic 構成要素 広げるd his nose. The dark toupee which he had used in the character of Peter Krausman had not been 除去するd by the ギャング（団） 長，指導者. By the time the car nosed into a 郊外の 居住の 地区, he appeared to be an 完全に different person than the man who had left the dismal 支援する street fifteen minutes before.

The house that Felice Vincart had 相続するd from her 豊富な husband was one of somber gray 石／投石する approached by a winding 運動 of white gravel. スパイ／執行官 "X" parked the car in 前線 of the gate, got out and crossed the 運動 to the velvety lawn. There he broke into a run, 注目する，もくろむs 緊張するd ahead to catch some 調印する of life in the 広大な／多数の／重要な house. If there were lights inside every curtain had been securely drawn.

"X" sprang up the steps of the portico. The door was locked, but it 要求するd him only a moment to 打ち明ける it with the 援助（する） of his special master 重要なs. He entered the hall, needling the 不明瞭 with his flashlight. Everywhere were furnishings that 反映するd the exotic personality of the woman who owned the house. "X" 押し進めるd 支援する a door of carved 支持を得ようと努めるd and crossed a sumptuous living room. He stopped 在庫／株-still, listening for the moment to the sound of bestial claws rasping over some metal surface. He sprang to a 広大な／多数の／重要な oak-パネル盤d door and flung it wide.

The pale light from a pierced 厚かましさ／高級将校連 lamp 反映するd upon a high, carved 天井, and the 狭くする 新たな展開d 中心存在s of the ヒョウ Lady's 製図／抽選 room. In a 暗い／優うつな corner of the room, he saw two pairs of baleful yellow 注目する，もくろむs. "X" 一連の会議、交渉／完成するd the bulky apparatus of the television transmitting 器具／備品. He 吸い込むd はっきりと. Crouching 近づく the golden divan to which Betty Dale was bound, was the lithe form of a 抱擁する ヒョウ. Aside from the switching tip of its tail, it was 完全に motionless.

"X" sprang toward the big cat. He swept up a 議長，司会を務める. The beast turned, and 開始する，打ち上げるd itself straight for him. The 議長，司会を務める in the スパイ／執行官's 手渡すs swung up above his 長，率いる, 会合 the hurtling yellow 影をつくる／尾行する in the midsection. But the 負わせる of the animal sent "X" 衝突，墜落ing to the 床に打ち倒す. With a snarl, the beast's forepaws 攻撃するd out. Powerful claws ripped 後援s of 支持を得ようと努めるd from the 議長，司会を務める.

Every muscle in the スパイ／執行官's powerful 団体／死体 was brought into play in a mighty heave that 投げつけるd the ヒョウ to one 味方する. "X" sprang to his feet. His 注目する，もくろむs darted toward the cage. The second ヒョウ crouched in the circular door of the enclosure. "X's" lips puckered. He uttered a piercing whistle. The 影響 of that whistle on the beasts was remarkable. The muscles of the ヒョウ in the cage relaxed. The other beast slunk into a corner, and sat 負かす／撃墜する upon its haunches.

*AUTHORS NOTE: One of the mysteries 回転するing about Secret スパイ／執行官 "X" is his peculiar 影響（力） over animals. This weird whistle which he utters upon occasion seems to have a fascination for all beasts who hear it. The magnetism of his ちらりと見ること probably also plays a part in this strange 力／強力にする he has over animals.

スパイ／執行官 "X" sprang to the couch to which Betty Dale was tied. 明らかに, she was 無事の, though unconscious. The agony of waiting for that circular door to open and 解放する／自由な the hungry beasts had been too much for her. She had fainted. "X" took out his pocket knife and 削減（する） the cords that bound her. He was in the 行為／法令／行動する of taking his 医療の 道具 from his pocket ーするために give Betty suitable 興奮剤, when a soft, husky laugh sounded behind him. "X" pivoted.

Felice Vincart stood not ten feet away. A dark traveling 控訴 hugged her slender form. Her peculiar greenish 注目する，もくろむs were smoky behind the wisp of 隠す on her smart hat. Her slender, gloved 手渡す held a small (a)自動的な／(n)自動拳銃.

"I advise you," she said softly, "to put up your 手渡すs. I am rather a good 発射. I would not hesitate to shoot an ordinary house breaker."

スパイ／執行官 "X" regarded the woman calmly. He の近くにd his 医療の 道具, and returned it to his pocket, but not until he had craftily palmed a small glass 要約する／（宇宙ロケットの）カプセル in his 権利 手渡す.

"Put up your 手渡すs." The woman's purring 発言する／表明する was unaltered. Slowly, "X" raised his 手渡すs above his 長，率いる.

"I suppose you know who I am?" he asked.

THE ヒョウ Lady shrugged. "I am sure I have no way of knowing. I've been a little out of touch with the East, having just returned from California half an hour ago."

"X" was 確かな that she was laughing at him. He leaned わずかに 今後, throwing his 負わせる on the balls of his feet. The woman turned her 長，率いる わずかに and uttered a sharp 命令（する） in French. "X" saw the ヒョウ get up from its corner and slink toward the cage. In another moment it was inside the cage beside its mate.

The ヒョウ Lady moved toward the couch where Betty Dale lay. "One of your 犠牲者s, or a partner in 罪，犯罪?" she asked softly. She brought her left wrist up ever so わずかに. For a moment, her 注目する，もくろむs 残り／休憩（する）d upon her watch. It was a movement that another man might have 行方不明になるd or misinterpreted. But スパイ／執行官 "X" knew that the ヒョウ Lady was 推定する／予想するing some one to come to her 援助. It was, as he had 推定する／予想するd, some sort of a 罠（にかける） into which he had been 軍隊d to walk.

But 活動／戦闘 was imperative. His 脚s 発射 out like two springs, 投げつけるing him toward the woman. She 解雇する／砲火／射撃d 即時に, the 弾丸 jerking at the スパイ／執行官's coat sleeve. "X's" left 手渡す chopped 負かす／撃墜する to lock over the woman's gun wrist. With a quick, 新たな展開ing 動議 that brought a wince of 苦痛 from Felice Vincart, "X" 武装解除するd her. But hardly had he 得るd the gun before the doors at the opposite ends of the room opened.

"Reach for the 天井!" a 発言する／表明する 井戸／弁護士席 known to "X" bellowed. He dropped the gun, raised his 手渡すs, and turned, slowly. Through the door at the 後部 of the room, （機の）カム 視察官 John Burks followed by six policemen. "X" looked over his shoulder at the other door, 重さを計るing his chance of escape. But at the other door stood Commissioner Foster, and his jumpy little friend, Major Derrick. Behind them was a second group of policemen.

CHAPTER IV — FRAMED

THE red lips of the ヒョウ Lady curved into a brilliant smile. "Thank you very much, Commissioner Foster. I was afraid, 権利 after I called you, that this man would leave before you could 逮捕（する） him. I decided to 危険 持つ／拘留するing him until you （機の）カム."

"A nice piece of work, 行方不明になる Vincart," commended Foster. "Burks, search that man. If that tip was on the straight, he's a member of that ギャング（団） the papers call the 死体 Legion."

"Why, what do you mean?" 需要・要求するd the ヒョウ Lady.

It was Major Derrick's whipping 発言する／表明する that answered her question. "Just before you called, Commissioner Foster had a tip that your house was 存在 used as a （警察，軍隊などの）本部 for the 死体 Legion while you were in California. It isn't the first time that 犯罪のs have made use of empty houses."

The ヒョウ Lady bit her lip. A worried frown crossed her 直面する. "You don't think that I will be 伴う／関わるd in any way in this 商売／仕事, do you?" she asked appealingly.

"Don't worry, lady, you've done your part in 逮捕（する）ing this bird. We won't bother you any longer than is 絶対 necessary," said 視察官 Burks. He stepped through the （犯罪の）一味 of 探偵，刑事s around Secret スパイ／執行官 "X." He regarded the スパイ／執行官 a moment through half-の近くにd 注目する，もくろむs. "井戸／弁護士席, sir, either you're Secret スパイ／執行官 'X' or some member of his ギャング（団）!"

He ちらりと見ることd up at "X's" raised 権利 手渡す; it was tightly の近くにd over the glass 要約する／（宇宙ロケットの）カプセル he had taken from the 医療の 道具 when the ヒョウ Lady had put in her 外見. "Open up that 手渡す, you," ordered Burks.

A slow smile crossed "X's" features. "How do you know, if I am Secret スパイ／執行官 'X' as you suppose, that my 手渡す does not 含む／封じ込める sure death for you?"

"I'll take that chance," said Burks gruffly. "You're pretty fond of your own 肌."

"X" opened his 権利 手渡す. It was empty. It had 要求するd but the tiniest gesture for him to 減少（する） the little glass 要約する／（宇宙ロケットの）カプセル into the sleeve of his upraised arm. It would be 即時に 利用できる whenever he 手配中の，お尋ね者 it.

視察官 Burks grunted his 失望, and proceeded to search each one of the スパイ／執行官's pockets. In the 合間 Foster, Major Derrick, and the ヒョウ Lady were busy over Betty Dale.

"She's just fainted, poor girl," 宣言するd Foster. "Look at her wrists. She's been tied. Looks as though the ギャング（団） had gone in for kidnapping 同様に as 強盗. I am afraid, 行方不明になる Vincart, that your ヒョウs are not as good watch dogs as you imagined them to be."

"Ah, no, my ヒョウs are as pet kittens. They would 傷つける no one. But are you sure this girl is not associated with your strange 犯罪の ギャング（団）?" asked the ヒョウ Lady.

"Why, this is Betty Dale, a reporter on one of the 地元の papers," explained Foster. "Her father was on the police 軍隊 支援する in Major Derrick's day—eh, Derrick?"

"Of course, of course," jerked Derrick. "行方不明になる Vincart, if you have a little brandy in the house, I think we can 生き返らせる this young lady in a moment. She will probably be able to tell us enough about our 囚人 to put him behind 妨げる／法廷，弁護士業s for the 残り／休憩（する） of his life."

"Certainly. A cellarette over there—"

Major Derrick started for the cellarette the ヒョウ Lady had 示すd. In doing so, he tripped over something which 延長するd out from beneath the 辛勝する／優位 of the couch on which Betty lay.

視察官 Burks quickly went over, 需要・要求するd:

"What the devil have we here?" He saw that Derrick had tripped over the end of a small 黒人／ボイコット traveling 捕らえる、獲得する that had seen かなりの wear.

"This anything of yours?" asked Derrick of the ヒョウ Lady.

Felice Vincart's lips curved into a slight sneer. "Dear me, no. All of my traveling gear is upstairs waiting for the maid to unpack."

Burks, Derrick, and Foster knelt beside the 黒人／ボイコット 捕らえる、獲得する and opened the clasps. The 開始 of the 捕らえる、獲得する was too much of a surprise for even Commissioner Foster to 保持する his usual composure. "Good Lord!" he gasped. "It's filled with jewels!"

"And—" Derrick said excitedly. "I 認める some of the pieces. There's the necklace stolen by the 死体-ギャング（団） from Mr. Nelson's 蓄える／店. There's not another like it in the world!"

視察官 Burks looked over at スパイ／執行官 "X." He nodded his 広大な／多数の／重要な 長，率いる up and 負かす／撃墜する slowly. "We've made a catch this time!"

A commotion arose at the opposite end of the room. A 制服を着た messenger was 許すd to pass the police guarding the door. "Message for Commissioner Foster," the 青年 発表するd, 延長するing a plain white envelope to the commissioner.

"Where from?" 需要・要求するd Foster as he tore at the envelope.

The messenger shrugged. "Don't know. A man gave it to me at the telegraph office. He said it was for you. I've 追跡（する）d for you for some time; then some one told me at （警察，軍隊などの）本部 that I might find you here."

THOUGH Foster had asked the question, it is doubtful if he listened to the explanation, so 意図 was he upon the contents of the envelope. "Listen to this, Derrick," he said, his 発言する／表明する trembling わずかに with excitement: "'You have a friend in the enemy （軍の）野営地，陣営, Commissioner. I am enclosing the 指紋s of Secret スパイ／執行官 'X'. Advise you checking them with any members of the ギャング（団） you may 逮捕（する）.'"

Foster held up the slip of paper which had been enclosed with the message. Even from where he stood, スパイ／執行官 "X" could make out a 完全にする 始める，決める of 指紋s 記録，記録的な／記録するd on the paper. His heart gave a leap into his throat. The secret he had sworn would die with him—the secret of his 身元—was about to be 明らかにする／漏らすd. Even if he should 後継する in escaping, the police now had a 永久の 記録，記録的な／記録する which could send him to the 電気椅子 any time they laid their 手渡すs on him.

*AUTHOR'S NOTE: The スパイ／執行官's unorthodox methods have been grossly misinterpreted by the members of the police 軍隊. They believe him to be a dangerous 犯罪の. On several occasions, 罪，犯罪s with which "X" has had no 関係 have been laid at his door. The 事例／患者-調書をとる／予約する of 視察官 Burks is filled with 記録，記録的な／記録するs of 罪，犯罪s せいにするd to スパイ／執行官 "X". It is Burks' belief that スパイ／執行官 "X" will stop at nothing—even 殺人—to 伸び（る） his own ends.

But when another man might have spent precious moments brooding upon his own doom, Secret スパイ／執行官 "X" went into 活動／戦闘. The 手渡す of his upraised left arm balled and drove 負かす／撃墜する like a mallet in a brain-激しく揺するing blow to the 長，率いる of the plainclothes man in 前線 of him. It was a blow that might have felled an ox. The Secret スパイ／執行官 障害物d the sprawled form, and ran straight at Foster. He knew that no one would dare 解雇する／砲火／射撃 a 発射 for 恐れる of hitting the commissioner.

So sudden were his movements that surprise 麻ひさせるd everyone for a moment. "X," with 長，率いる lowered, drove straight between Foster and Major Derrick. His 手渡す 発射 out. His fingers ripped the 指紋 記録，記録的な／記録する from Foster's 手渡す. It was a 選び出す／独身 動議 in his mad dash toward the door at the 後部 of the room.

Ahead of him, police guards 集まりd before the door.

"Stop him!" shouted Burks. "Stop スパイ／執行官 'X'!"

But even as Burks shouted, "X's" 権利 arm dropped and rose again. That 動議 had sent the little glass 要約する／（宇宙ロケットの）カプセル he had secreted 負かす／撃墜する into the palm of his 手渡す. As he ran, he threw it with all his strength at the group of police 集まりd against the door. At the same instant, he drew a 深い breath and dived into the 中心 of the police in the doorway. They fell like cardboard 兵士s before his furious 猛攻撃. The glass 要約する／（宇宙ロケットの）カプセル he had broken in their 中央 含む／封じ込めるd 十分な anesthetizing gas to send them all into 一時的な oblivion.

"X" TORE away from enfeebled 手渡すs, 障害物d recumbent 団体／死体s that cluttered the 床に打ち倒す, broke through the door, の近くにd and locked it behind him. As 激しい shoulders 乱打するd at the locked door, 脅すing to burst its hinges, スパイ／執行官 "X" sprang up the flight of 幅の広い stairs that 延長するd before him. At the 最高の，を越す of the stairs, he turned into the first room he （機の）カム to. It was a large bathroom. He leaped to the window. But a ちらりと見ること out the window showed him that it 申し込む／申し出d no avenue of escape. It would have been a twenty foot 減少（する）, and already the shadowy forms of the police were moving across the lawn, surrounding the house.

"X" could hear the sound of feet hurrying up the stairs. Without any 武器 other than his wits and his 握りこぶしs, he would probably be 完全に at their mercy. He turned around, opened a small door which he supposed to be a closet of some sort. His heart gave a bound; for the door opened on the dark, 狭くする 軸 of a laundry chute.

Without a moment's hesitation, he threw a 脚 over the でっちあげる，人を罪に陥れる of the small door, arched his 支援する so as to wedge himself in place, and pulled the door shut behind him. Thrusting his 肘s against the 塀で囲むs of the chute ーするために break the 速度(を上げる） of his 降下／家系, he began 事情に応じて変わる 負かす／撃墜する the chute.

A second later, he had dropped into a laundry room in the 地階. Only a little gray light passed through the 地階 windows, but after the tomblike 不明瞭 of the 着せる／賦与するs chute, this light was 十分な for him to see his way about. He went from the laundry into the furnace room in search of a way out.

In the heels of his shoes were secret compartments where he carried 構成要素s which had often 補佐官d him in getting out of tight 位置／汚点／見つけ出すs. He would probably have to 雇う the tube of make-up 構成要素 which one of his heels 含む／封じ込めるd, ーするために 影響する／感情 a disguise that would enable him to get out of the house.

But his first 仕事 was to destroy the 記録，記録的な／記録する of his 指紋s which he had snatched from Foster. Light from a 地階 window pointed out a monstrous furnace which heated the house. It was far too late in the spring for him to hope that there would be a 解雇する／砲火／射撃 inside the furnace. But 近づく at 手渡す, he 設立する a small glass 含む／封じ込めるing matches. He opened the glass jar, took out a match, and scuffed it against the 床に打ち倒す.

It was only after he had 鎮圧するd the charred 捨てる of paper beneath his heel that his old self-信用／信任 returned to him. Now, with a little good fortune, the 広大な／多数の／重要な work which he had undertaken could go on.

As he turned from the little pile of 黒人／ボイコット paper ash which had once 示すd him for 確かな doom, he bumped 直接／まっすぐに against the muzzle of an (a)自動的な／(n)自動拳銃 ピストル. The brilliant beam of a flashlight 燃やすd into his 注目する，もくろむs, blinding him.

"Got you this time, Secret スパイ／執行官 'X'."

即時に, "X" 認めるd that 発言する／表明する. It was the 発言する／表明する of one of Burks best men, 探偵，刑事 Keegan.

*AUTHOR'S NOTE: It will be remembered that スパイ／執行官 "X" met Keegan in his long 戦う／戦い against a master extortionist who 脅すd his 犠牲者s with an insidious 化学製品 武器 known as "The Amber Death." The instance of this 会合 was 記録，記録的な／記録するd in the novel する権利を与えるd "The Golden Ghoul."

"And I'm not taking any chances, either!" The 探偵，刑事's flashlight 述べるd a brilliant arc above the スパイ／執行官's 長，率いる and descended in a blow to "X's" 寺. スパイ／執行官 "X" dropped to the 地階 床に打ち倒す, and lay still.

A few minutes later, 探偵，刑事 Keegan, hat mashed 負かす／撃墜する over his 長，率いる, triumphantly entered the presence of 視察官 John Burks who was bellowing orders to his men. Betty Dale, in the 合間, had 回復するd under the 明らかに kindly ministrations of Felice Vincart.

"Find anything in the 地階, Keegan?" 需要・要求するd Burks.

Keegan coolly nodded as he shook a cigarette from a 乱打するd pack. "Secret スパイ／執行官 'X'," he replied between puffs of smoke.

"スパイ／執行官 'X'!" Burks sprang across the room, and clamped both 手渡すs 負かす／撃墜する on Keegan's shoulders. "You 設立する him, and let him slip through your fingers without giving us a signal? By heaven, you'll lose your badge for this!"

Keegan spread his 権利 手渡す, palm 負かす／撃墜する. "平易な, sir. I've got your スパイ／執行官 'X' all tied up with sash cord. I brained him with my flash. He'll keep for weeks."

Had Burks been watching Betty Dale, he would have seen her cheeks grow deathly pale.

Burks' 注目する，もくろむs seemed to pop from their sockets. "Foster!" he cried. "We—we've—he's got Secret スパイ／執行官 'X'!" Burks 雷鳴d through the room and out into the kitchen. He 急落（する），激減（する）d 負かす／撃墜する the 地階 steps, closely followed by Foster, Major Derrick, and several men of the 軍隊.

In the furnace room, Burks knelt before a recumbent 人物／姿／数字. The man was securely tied with a すす-国／地域d rope. Burks turned him over. It was indeed the 激しい-直面するd man whom Burks had 宣言するd to be Secret スパイ／執行官 "X."

"So that's the devil!" exclaimed Derrick. "Got him at last. No more police 大虐殺s, Foster. This man せねばならない be lynched!"

Burks was 星／主役にするing 負かす／撃墜する into the 直面する of the unconscious man. "You got to 手渡す it to him," he muttered. "You wouldn't know that 直面する he's wearing from real flesh and 血! But there's a way of finding out what's underneath."

The 視察官 dug his fingernails 深い into the plastic 構成要素 that enabled "X" to 可決する・採択する any feature he chose. His 手渡すs trembled with 抑えるd excitement. Time after time, this mystery man had 敗北・負かすd Burks. He could scarcely believe that at last he was about to look upon the true features of his old enemy.

"Keegan shall have a 昇進／宣伝 for this!" 宣言するd Foster.

Burks said enthusiastically: "Keegan's good, but I don't see—" His 宣告，判決 wandered off into a whisper. His 手渡すs dropped limply to his 味方するs. Foster and Derrick looked at each other and then 負かす／撃墜する at Burks. Words failed the 視察官. Unconsciously, he molded bits of plastic make-up 構成要素 between his fingers, and 星／主役にするd 負かす／撃墜する at the 直面する of the man on the 床に打ち倒す. For the man who had been so 完全に knocked out, the man who had been so securely tied, was 非，不，無 other than 探偵，刑事 Keegan himself.

CHAPTER V — THE DUMMY

THE 活動／戦闘s of Secret スパイ／執行官 "X" from the moment that Keegan had swung his flashlight in an 成果／努力 to knock him out, were as simple as they were surprising. Keegan was a powerful man, and perfectly fit. But he had 行為／法令／行動するd あわてて. In almost 完全にする 不明瞭, it is difficult to strike a man in a 攻撃を受けやすい 位置／汚点／見つけ出す at the first blow. The 探偵，刑事's flashlight, 目的（とする）d at the スパイ／執行官's 寺, had grazed "X's" ear and landed squarely on his 権利 shoulder.

"X" had 崩壊（する）d on the 床に打ち倒す to 嘘（をつく） perfectly still. The moment that Keegan had pocketed his gun and started to ひさまづく at his 捕虜's 味方する, "X" had thrown up both 脚s to lock in a powerful scissors 支配する around Keegan's 膝s. The 探偵，刑事 had fallen 十分な length upon "X" and had taken a short, chopping left on the 長，率いる.

The struggle had not lasted a minute. Keegan was no match for the fighting 技術 of スパイ／執行官 "X." Having tied the 探偵，刑事 and appropriated his flashlight, "X" proceeded to 除去する make-up 構成要素 from his own 直面する. Then, using make-up 構成要素 which he 得るd from one of the secret compartments in his heel, "X" worked over his own 直面する to 似ている the contours of Keegan's 直面する. Master of his art that he was, "X" was able to duplicate Keegan's features from memory. A change of 着せる／賦与するing, and he was ready to 直面する 視察官 Burks.

No sooner had Burks and his 信奉者s 軍隊／機動隊d into the 地階, than スパイ／執行官 "X" sauntered out of the house, and 回復するd the car he had borrowed.

The sky was graying in the east by the time "X" arrived at one of his （犯人の）隠れ家s miles away from the ヒョウ Lady's house. He knew that Betty Dale was in good 手渡すs. Burks, who had known the girl since childhood, would not have permitted any 害（を与える） to come to her. But "X" knew that more than ever before, the police would 妨害する his 成果／努力s in the 原因（となる） of 司法（官）.

The スパイ／執行官's first 行為／法令／行動する on reaching his （犯人の）隠れ家—a brownstone dwelling in the west end of town—was to enter a closet and open what appeared to be a large wardrobe trunk. Inside, was 隠すd a small short-wave 無線で通信する transmitter and receiver. By means of a telegraph 重要な, he tapped out a code message which was transmitted on a （疑いを）晴らす wave channel. He was anxious to get in touch with Harvey Bates, director of the スパイ／執行官's 広大な secret organization.

*AUTHOR'S NOTE: かなり larger than the Hobart 機関 is the group of men and women selected by "X" to 構成する his staff of 知能 労働者s, and directed by Harvey Bates. Unlike the Hobart group, the world does not know of the 存在 of the Bates organization. Bates 認めるs his 長，指導者 only by a 確かな 発言する／表明する the スパイ／執行官 uses when communicating by telephone or radiophone, or by one of the codes which he 雇うs in telegraphic 伝達／伝染. Both of the organizations are paid for their services from an almost inexhaustible 基金 与える／捧げるd for the スパイ／執行官's use by 確かな public-spirited men.

Almost すぐに, the reply （機の）カム through—a 一連の Morse dots and dashes. Again, the スパイ／執行官's 重要な clicked, this time to 知らせる Bates to use a 確かな code, known only to Bates and himself. Then he tapped out a question which when decoded read: "Are camera 計画（する）s ready for 即座の use?"

Bates replied that two of the スパイ／執行官's 空中の 注目する，もくろむs were ready to take off at a moment's notice.

"Then," the スパイ／執行官 tapped out, "put them in the 空気／公表する at once. Patrol city. Watch for 死体-Legion's mystery car. In 事例／患者 of another police 大虐殺, trace car, and 配達する 記録，記録的な／記録する of 大勝する taken."

*AUTHOR'S NOTE: It will be remembered the スパイ／執行官 "X" used this 空中の 装置 first in that adventure which was 記録，記録的な／記録するd in the novel する権利を与えるd, "The 殺人 Monster." It consists of an (a)自動的な／(n)自動拳銃 moving picture camera 機動力のある beneath the 操縦室 of an airplane. This camera is controlled by the 操縦する of the ship. What he sees through a glassed-in 開始 in the 床に打ち倒す of the 計画（する）, is 記録，記録的な／記録するd on the film of the camera. This 装置 is one of the スパイ／執行官's most 価値のある 従犯者s inasmuch as once sighted by the 操縦する of the 計画（する）, the camera produces a 永久の 記録，記録的な／記録する of the 活動／戦闘 of the 罪，犯罪, and the 大勝する taken by the escaping 犯罪のs.

Having 完全にするd these 指示／教授／教育s, "X" leisurely 除去するd his make-up which had 補佐官d him in the impersonation of 探偵，刑事 Keegan. Seated before a ３倍になる mirror, his skillful fingers worked 奇蹟s. Transparent adhesive 新たな展開d his lips into an ugly snarl. Plastic 構成要素 helped him 達成する a hideous, flattened nose that was almost apelike. A clever toupee of coarse, 黒人／ボイコット hair, a 控訴 of 極悪の checks, and a tie that 炎上d 完全にするd his disguise.

星／主役にするing for a moment at his reflection in the mirror, he believed that his new 直面する was the result of 本物の inspiration. He looked the sort of a man a policeman would 逮捕（する） on sight. He could think of no 直面する which appeared to need the 援助（する） of a plastic 外科医 any more than the one 反映するd in the mirror.

It was his 意向 to visit the home and office of Jules Planchard. Previous 調査 had led "X" to believe that the greedy doctor was not above using his 技術 to change the features of 逃亡者／はかないものs from 司法（官）. So far, Planchard had slipped beneath the fingers of the 法律; but "X's" 広大な／多数の／重要な group of secret 捜査官／調査官s had ferreted out Planchard's true character. Then the 出来事/事件 of the jade bracelet—first 購入（する）d by Planchard and next seen on the wrist of Felice Vincart—made "X" doubly 怪しげな.

"X" BELIEVED that there were but two possible explanations for the 存在 of the 死体-Legion. Either some scientist had discovered a means of 生き返らせるing the dead, or there was trickery somewhere—trickery of a sort that "X" knew better than any other man. Such trickery—the alteration of the real features of a man's 直面する—could be 大いに 簡単にするd if the 技術d Jules Planchard served the unknown leader of the ギャング（団）.

It was nine o'clock in the morning when "X," beneath his 熟達した disguise, 圧力（をかける）d the doorbell of Jules Planchard's 広大な／多数の／重要な square, brick house. His （犯罪の）一味 was answered by a servant whose 注目する，もくろむs were still puffy with sleep. Dr. Planchard, the servant 知らせるd "X," was still at breakfast.

"Don't let that bother you, buddy," the スパイ／執行官 growled. He wedged the toe of his left shoe in between door and sill. "The doc's expectin' me. I'm a 顧客, get it?" He winked knowingly.

The servant would have hesitated to 収容する／認める "X" had not the latter suddenly thrown his 十分な 負わせる against the door. The servant fell backwards. "X" strode into the hall, slamming and locking the door behind him.

The servant cowered against the 塀で囲む, 星／主役にするing at the leather-covered blackjack that "X" swung suggestively.

"You lead me to the doc, old 木造の 直面する, 'fore I bash your brains out!" スパイ／執行官 "X" snarled.

"He—he didn't want to see anybody. He's—"

"Ah, Parkins, what seems to be the trouble?" a nasal 発言する／表明する 問い合わせd.

"X" turned. Dr. Jules Planchard, 列d in a quilted silk dressing gown, stood in the door at the end of the hall. His long goatee dangled beneath his pendulous lower lip. He 診察するd "X" with keen, 黒人／ボイコット-bean 注目する，もくろむs. His breakfast napkin was in his 権利 手渡す.

"This bird thought he was keeping' me out, doc," replied "X" familiarly. He thrust thumbs into the arm 穴を開けるs of his checkered vest, 攻撃するd his hat on the 支援する of his 長，率いる, and glowered at the doctor. "My 指名する's Vance, '模造の' Vance. Maybe me 指名する hasn't got this far east, but out in Frisco I'm called '模造の'—原因（となる） that's the one thing I'm not. You look like a smart man yourself, doc."

Planchard 屈服するd わずかに in acknowledgment of what was ーするつもりであるd to be a compliment.

"Smart enough," the スパイ／執行官 continued, "not to kick up too much fuss when a guy wants his 地図／計画する dredged a bit. This beezer, now—" the スパイ／執行官 fingered his flattened nose—"without that, the bulls wouldn't know me from a 木造の Indian. You getting' the idea?"

Planchard 動議d to the door through which he had just passed. "Come in here, Mr. Vance. We can talk in privacy."

"X" followed Planchard through the door into a small 熟考する／考慮する. Planchard 動議d to a 議長，司会を務める across from a small coffee （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する laden with the doctor's breakfast. "X" dropped into a 議長，司会を務める, 選ぶd up a couple of slices of toast, and munched thoughtfully for a moment. His 注目する，もくろむs 狭くするd.

"That gun you're hidin' under your napkin, doc—I spotted it first time I lamped you. 肉親，親類d of spoils my digestion to have to eat starin' at a gun."

Planchard coughed nervously, dropped his napkin, and put a small (a)自動的な／(n)自動拳銃 into his pocket. "One never knows," he mumbled.

"Sure. And that's why you got to 直す／買収する，八百長をする me up so I look like a Sunday-school teacher. I worked myself over from the west coast, if you get what I mean. Maybe I left a 記録，記録的な／記録する here and there, and maybe I didn't. How'd you like to earn a grand fixin' my pan?"

Planchard smiled わずかに. "Really, Mr. Vance, you and I don't speak the same language!"

"X" scowled. "You mean you come higher than that?"

PLANCHARD nodded. "For a man of your 評判, I don't think five thousand would be too much to ask."

"X" 投げ上げる／ボディチェックするd a crumb of toast into his mouth and chewed it. "Okeh, make it five grand. But it's got to be a swell 職業."

"Just step into my operating room," Planchard 示唆するd, "and we'll see what can be done. Of course," he 追加するd, as he led toward the door, "I'll have to have part of my 料金 in 前進する."

"Fair enough," the スパイ／執行官 said, 手渡すing him a thousand dollars. He followed the doctor through a door, 負かす／撃墜する a short hall, and into a small operating room that was 完全にする in every 詳細（に述べる）. The doctor went over to a white-enameled locker where he 貿易（する）d dressing gown for a short white coat.

"X" 除去するd his hat, and slung one 脚 over the white operating （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する. The doctor went over to the 塀で囲む and switched on a powerful 構内／化合物 lamp 一時停止するd above the スパイ／執行官's 長，率いる. He walked to a 閣僚, 選ぶd up a gleaming scalpel, and approached "X."

"Let's see—" Planchard 攻撃するd the スパイ／執行官's 長，率いる, and 星／主役にするd long and searchingly into his 直面する. For a moment, "X" wondered if even his clever disguise could withstand such a scrutiny. He 注目する，もくろむd the scalpel uneasily.

"Don't you give an anesthetic or nothin'?" he asked.

Planchard laughed. "Oh, I can't operate today. I'm 単に 熟考する／考慮するing the lines of your 直面する. Your nose is really horrible, if you don't mind my 説 so. I can make an incision here—" the scalpel tapped the 橋（渡しをする） of the スパイ／執行官's nose. "かもしれない one here." Suddenly, Planchard brought his scalpel 負かす／撃墜する beneath "X's" chin. Its gleaming point 圧力（をかける）d against "X's" throat. "Now, 失敗ing 秘かに調査する, tell me why you have come here!" Planchard whipped out. "One of your ギャング（団） has tricked me already. What did you do with my 決まり文句／製法?" His left arm swung around behind "X," and gripped his shoulders tightly. "Tell me, I say, or I operate 権利 now—on your jugular!"

"Wh—what formuler?" the スパイ／執行官 stuttered. "Don't getcha."

"You know 井戸／弁護士席 enough! No man of your sort comes here without a letter of introduction from some one whom I can 信用. You must be a 秘かに調査する. Tell me what you have done with my 決まり文句／製法! Doubtless you have come to get その上の （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） about it. If that 決まり文句／製法 becomes public 所有物／資産／財産, I shall be 廃虚d. Tell me, or by heaven, I will kill you!"

スパイ／執行官 "X's" 権利 脚 kicked around behind Planchard, and stuck him behind the 膝s. At the same time, he sent a 続けざまに猛撃するing blow to the doctor's midsection, and snatched at the 手渡す that held the scalpel against his throat.

Planchard 二塁打d beneath the 軍隊 of the blow, staggered 支援する, and tripped over the スパイ／執行官's 権利 脚. "X" sprang toward the doctor. He yanked his gas-gun from his pocket. 激怒（する） blinded the 外科医. He sprang up from the 床に打ち倒す, and flung himself upon "X." His fingers wilted on the スパイ／執行官's throat as he received a 十分な 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 from the gas gun straight in the 直面する. "X" 選ぶd the man up, and stretched him out on his own operating （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する.

A soft, purring laugh sounded behind "X." He swung around. A revolver 発射 割れ目d out. The ヒョウ Lady stood in the door of the operating room, a smoking revolver in her 手渡す. Both of the スパイ／執行官's 手渡すs were clasped tightly over his heart. 厚い, red fluid はうd from between his fingers. He staggered toward the ヒョウ Lady. His 膝s melted under him. He fell 十分な length on the 床に打ち倒す.

A cruel smile spread slowly across the 直面する of the ヒョウ Lady. Then her green 注目する，もくろむs darted at the operating （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する where Dr. Planchard lay. With quick, graceful steps, she crossed the room, and bent over the doctor. She held his wrist a moment, feeling his pulse. Then her red lips puckered and she uttered a sharp whistle.

From beneath 隠すd eyelids, スパイ／執行官 "X" watched what went on in the room. He had 支えるd no more painful 傷害 than if he had been struck a hard blow over the heart with a man's 握りこぶし. His 弾丸 proof vest had stopped the ヒョウ Lady's 発射. However, Secret スパイ／執行官 "X" often had occasion to "play 'possum." Beneath his 着せる／賦与するing, he frequently wore a small bladder 含む／封じ込めるing a 量 of red dye which closely 似ているd human 血.

*AUTHOR'S NOTE: This dye which ふりをするd 血, it will be remembered, was used by the スパイ／執行官 when he was engaged in 衝突 with the strange 犯罪の society known as The Seven Silent Men. On that occasion, the dye was used when he was 軍隊d to pretend to 殺人 Betty Dale. The 出来事/事件 was 記録，記録的な／記録するd in the story する権利を与えるd, "The 死体 Cavalcade."

By pinching this bladder between his 手渡すs, he had opened a 弁 that 許すd some of the 実体 to flow out between his fingers. Coupled with his natural 劇の talents, this trick enabled him to feign death without difficulty.

NO sooner had the ヒョウ Lady uttered her whistle than two men stepped into the room. Again, "X" met 直面するs out of the past. One of the men had the 直面する of Willy Hymes; and "X" had last seen Willy Hymes on a 厚板 in the morgue. He had been killed in a gun brawl. Yet here, to all 外見s, was Hymes in the flesh. More than ever, "X" was 納得させるd that Planchard had played some part in this hideous hoax. Planchard had lost a 決まり文句／製法. "X" had a notion as to the use that 決まり文句／製法 had been put, and also a vague idea as to the 身元 of the 犯罪の genius behind the ギャング（団）.

"We will take Dr. Planchard to the 長，指導者," 宣言するd the ヒョウ Lady. "He is becoming annoying, and I believe he has begun to 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑う me. Carry him to the car at once."

Without reply, ネズミ-直面するd Willy Hymes and his 平等に despicable-looking companion 解除するd the doctor, and carried him from the room. The ヒョウ Lady saw them out, then crossed to where "X" lay. She gave him a sharp kick between the shoulders with her tiny, high-heeled slipper. Though that kick had struck a 特に 極度の慎重さを要する 神経 中心, "X" did not move. The ヒョウ Lady laughed softly, and left the room.

"X" lay still, scarcely breathing until he heard the tap of her shoes far 負かす／撃墜する the hall. Then he got up, crossed to the door. The ヒョウ Lady and her companions had left the house by means of the 支援する door. "X" entered Planchard's office. On the 床に打ち倒す was the 外科医's servant. There was a red lump at the 支援する of the man's ear. Evidently, this was the work of the ヒョウ Lady's two 護衛s.

Having made sure that the servant would be unconscious for some time, "X" 選ぶd up the doctor's telephone and called a number which had never appeared in any telephone directory. Speaking into the transmitter, the 厳しい 発言する／表明する which had identified him as "模造の" Vance slipped 負かす／撃墜する into a smooth, 深い pitch. It was the one 発言する／表明する by which Harvey Bates 認めるd his 長，指導者.

"Bates," ordered the スパイ／執行官, "have the house of Felice Vincart watched. Try to 影をつくる／尾行する anyone who enters or leaves."

"権利, 長，指導者," replied Bates. "Have two men in that 地区 now. They can reach the Vincart house in a few minutes. Just a moment, please. Have その上の （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状）."

The スパイ／執行官 waited until he again heard Bates 発言する／表明する. He could hear the rustle of his henchman's 報告（する）／憶測 sheets.

"Sleepy Meguire," Bates 発表するd, "former public enemy who was incarcerated in the 明言する／公表する 刑務所, has been 認めるd special 仮釈放（する）. This （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） has not been made public. Our スパイ／執行官s 知らせる us that Meguire has been out of 刑務所，拘置所 nearly a week. He 納得させるd 当局 that, given a month of freedom, he could lay 手渡すs on the man 責任がある the police 大虐殺s. Meguire's brother is 存在 held in 刑務所，拘置所 as 人質.

"Half an hour ago, another 強盗 and police 殺人，大当り took place—the former at the Graystone 国家の Bank and the latter three 封鎖するs west. Our own スパイ／執行官s 前向きに／確かに identified a man seen loitering 近づく the bank a few minutes before the 強盗 as Meguire. He is living in the Armedale Apartments under the 指名する of Randolph Schnell."

"Good!" the スパイ／執行官 rapped. "Anything more? Any （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） regarding Peter Krausman, the jeweler?"

"Krausman was seen to enter his own apartment 早期に this morning," replied Bates. "All of our 成果／努力s to 位置を示す the ギャング（団）'s mystery car from the 空気／公表する were 失敗s. 操縦するs 報告（する）／憶測 visibility poor."

"Keep trying," 勧めるd "X" cheerfully. He hung up the receiver.

CHAPTER VI — KRAUSMAN'S SECRET

HAD Mr. Randolph Schnell's neighbors in the Armedale Apartments known anything about Mr. Schnell beside the fact that he drove a Lincoln and paid four hundred dollars a month rent, they would have probably packed their 所持品 and vacated すぐに. "Sleepy" Meguire, さもなければ known as Randolph Schnell, did not look like an 前科者. With his 控訴s, shoes, 関係, and socks all of the softest shades of brown, Mr. Schnell looked the gentleman—or at least a gentleman's gentleman.

He was in the 行為／法令／行動する of distractedly 受託するing an 招待 to 橋（渡しをする） when the door of his apartment opened, and he was 直面するd with a surly-直面するd, 牽引する-長，率いるd 青年 whose 着せる／賦与するs were shiny and who 明白に didn't care. Half an hour before, another make-up 奇蹟 had gone on before the ３倍になる mirror of Secret スパイ／執行官 "X." And when "X" had left his （犯人の）隠れ家 he had stepped 直接／まっすぐに into the character of "Butch" Bently, former torpedo in Meguire's group of 犯罪のs.

Mr. Meguire 登録（する）d alarm. The sudden 外見 of this man placed Meguire in a 不安定な 位置／汚点／見つけ出す; for it was 井戸／弁護士席 known that Bently was scheduled to walk through Sing Sing's little green door, and be carried 支援する.

Meguire dropped his French type telephone, sprang to his feet, and got behind his 議長，司会を務める. "Get out of here!" he snarled.

The 牽引する-長，率いるd young man with the mauler's 直面する の近くにd the door behind him, and walked over to 取って代わる the phone that Meguire had carelessly dropped.

"A dame pulled that on me once," explained Bently in a 発言する／表明する that was hardly more than a squeak. "All she and me had to say got out over the telephone wire. Wasn't long before I had to leave town and 残り／休憩（する） up."

"How—how'd you get out of 動かす?" asked Meguire huskily.

"Walked out," explained スパイ／執行官 "X" in the 発言する／表明する of "Butch" Bently. "Them screws is all dumb. And 'memberin' how you and me used to be pals, I thought I'd come here."

"What do you want? Money?"

熱望して, the magnificent Meguire reached for his check 調書をとる／予約する.

"Nope," the スパイ／執行官 拒絶する／低下するd. "Just some info. I know you didn't get 仮釈放（する）d just to go to 橋（渡しをする） parties. And havin' 手段d your streak of yellow, I know you're not out to get this guy called 'X' who's supposed to be runnin' this ギャング（団） that's tearin' the town apart. You'd light out if you thought you might accidentally bump into him."

Meguire's 激しい eyelids drooped. He licked fat lips that had suddenly gone 乾燥した，日照りの. "井戸／弁護士席, to tell you the truth, I had a little 商売／仕事 I had to take care of. It was a little ぎこちない in 動かす trying to transact 商売／仕事."

"X" nodded. "Now, let's have all the truth. What 肉親，親類d of hot stuff are you tryin' to 扱う now?"

"Just a few jewels, and a carload of silk we 選ぶd up before Christmas," explained Meguire. "I'm willing to give you your 分裂（する）. Remember—" as "X" （機の）カム a step nearer—"I 申し込む／申し出d to 分裂（する） before you asked me."

"X" shook his 長，率いる in mute negation. His 注目する，もくろむs never left Meguire's perpetually tired 直面する. Suddenly, Meguire's 手渡す struck at his coat pocket. He drew an (a)自動的な／(n)自動拳銃. "You get out of here!" he growled.

"X" smiled. "Still packin' them—eh? 井戸／弁護士席, I'd as soon be plugged by you as be fried in the 議長，司会を務める. I'd know you'd follow me straight to hell when they 設立する out you did it. Besides, even with a slug in me, I could choke you just like this!"

"X" sprang like a cat. His long fingers were wide spread. Panic gripped Meguire. The gun fell from his nerveless fingers. "X" kicked it to one 味方する. His 武器 dropped. The ugly mouth that he had 可決する・採択するd, sneered. "Still yellow. Now you speak up before I 涙／ほころび you apart!"

MEGUIRE raked his perspiring 直面する with a trembling 手渡す. "You ask me anything. I'll tell you anything I know. But you gotta get out."

"Okeh." The スパイ／執行官 scuffed a match on his thumb nail, and lighted a cigarette. "Who 盗品故買者s that stuff for you?"

"Peter Krausman," whispered Meguire; "but if you let on I told you, I'm done for!"

"I'd feel 堅い about that! So Krausman, the big-発射 jeweler, is also a number one 盗品故買者? And you wouldn't mind 確認するing the fact that Krausman is also working with this ギャング（団） of 警官，（賞などを）獲得する butchers?"

Meguire turned the color of dough. "I—I didn't say that!" He 掴むd "X's" coat lapels and hung there, his 注目する，もくろむs pleading for the スパイ／執行官's silence.

"When are you goin' to see Krausman?" the スパイ／執行官 固執するd.

"In about fifteen minutes. He's coming here. I tried to 会合，会う him by 任命 in 前線 of a bank a while ago, but he didn't show up. But he's coming here now, and you've got to get out!"

"X" pulled on his cigarette and held it almost beneath Meguire's nose. In another moment, there was a faint pop. The cigarette in the スパイ／執行官's fingers 崩壊するd. A cloud of gray vapor 渦巻くd about Meguire's 長，率いる. "X," 持つ／拘留するing his breath, received 非，不，無 of the small 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 of anesthetizing gas which the cigarette 含む／封じ込めるd. Meguire sagged 今後. His 注目する，もくろむs were no longer sleepy. They were wide with fright.

"Who—who are you?" he stuttered.

"X" chuckled. "If you knew, you'd die of fright."

But it was doubtful if Meguire heard "X's" scoffing 発言／述べる. The anesthetizing gas was already dragging him 負かす／撃墜する. "X" supported the man, carried him across the room, and 捨てるd him into a closet. He の近くにd the door, and entered Meguire's bed room.

One of Secret スパイ／執行官 "X's" most remarkable traits is his memory. Once he has mastered a disguise, he 要求するs no photographs to recreate it. Seated before a mirror, "X" 広げるd his compact make-up 道具. He spread pigment and plastic make-up 構成要素 before him. Then he took out a 黒人／ボイコット toupee. A few minutes of careful work, and he was once again Peter Krausman, 豊富な jeweler and receiver of 盗品.

He was in the 行為／法令／行動する of putting the finishing touches on his 構成, when the 前線 door buzzer sounded. Going out into the hall, "X" spoke into the speaking-tube, imitating the 発言する／表明する of "Sleepy" Meguire to perfection. The real Krausman 発表するd himself, and "X" told him to come up at once.

When Krausman knocked at the door of the apartment, "X" opened quickly, swinging with the パネル盤 so that Krausman was inside the room before he had time to see the スパイ／執行官.

The dusky 肌 of Peter Krausman paled. For a moment, he could do nothing but 星／主役にする at this exact 相当するもの of himself. With a movement that seemed no more than a gesture, "X" drew his gas ピストル.

Slowly, the color returned to Krausman's 直面する. "So," he said, "it is true what they say of you—that you can assume any features you choose and impersonate anybody. You are Secret スパイ／執行官 'X'."

"X" 屈服するd. "I am the 推論する／理由 for your suddenly leaving town yesterday morning."

Krausman frowned. "I do not understand. I was 軍隊d to 飛行機で行く to Chicago—"

"To make room for me in your 宝石類 蓄える／店," the スパイ／執行官 interrupted. "The game's up, Krausman. When the man who looked like Scar Fassler chose such a convenient means of getting out of your 蓄える／店 when he was cornered, I knew that Fassler had been there frequently. Why? Because you associate with Fassler and the 残り／休憩（する） of the 殺人ing ギャング（団） that has terrorized the city. You were 軍隊d to 飛行機で行く to Chicago, because your 長，指導者 ordered it. He knew that, since I had been tipped off to the 強盗, I would be there. He was hoping that I would choose to appear as Peter Krausman. Your leaving town when you did, made the 採択 of your character very 平易な for me. In that manner, I was 示すd by your 長，指導者."

"My 長，指導者! A most fantastic story!" 宣言するd Krausman. "You can't 証明する a word of it."

"That won't be necessary," replied 'X.' "I ーするつもりである to search you carefully—"

KRAUSMAN'S 権利 手渡す 発射 toward his coat pocket. "X's" gas gun hissed. For a moment, Krausman's gypsy-like 直面する was clouded with vapor. His dark 注目する，もくろむs flickered. He would have fallen to the 床に打ち倒す had not the スパイ／執行官 caught him and let him 負かす／撃墜する easily. The 脅し to search Krausman had brought terror to the jeweler. Evidently, he had something of 決定的な importance 隠すd on his person. "X's" heart （警官の）巡回区域，受持ち区域 high with hope as he knelt beside Krausman. At last he could hope for some 重要な to the 身元 of the hidden creature who directed the 死体 ギャング（団）.

In another moment, "X" had emptied the jeweler's pockets. 重要なs, handkerchief, change wallet, and watch—all of these "X" transferred to his own pockets. It was only after searching Krausman's vest that he （機の）カム upon something that he thought might be important. It was a neatly 倍のd piece of ivory-finished 公式文書，認める paper. A delicate feminine 手渡す had penned this little 覚え書き:

"Be at my tailor's at 10 P.M."

The words, "my tailor's" 暗示するd that the writer of the 公式文書，認める was a man—恐らく Krausman. Yet there could be no 疑問 that a woman had written it. That, coupled with the fact that the 任命 was at such a strange hour, made "X" 怪しげな. Then too, the paper was not the sort a man would 選ぶ up ーするために make some 簡潔な／要約する notation. And it had been 正確に／まさに 倍のd to fit a small envelope. "X" was 確かな that here was a message that, when 正確に 解釈する／通訳するd, would 明らかにする／漏らす the （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） which Krausman would have 危険d his life to guard. Perhaps the 公式文書，認める had been a 召喚するs to a ギャング（団） 会合. Perhaps it had been written by the green-注目する，もくろむd ヒョウ Lady.

Because he had long since learned that the 訂正する answer to the most 完全にする riddle was often the simplest one, "X" turned 支援する Krausman's coat. The 控訴 had been tailor made, but there was no identifying 示す on the lining.

スパイ／執行官 "X" sighed. There was nothing to do but make a trip to Krausman's office. There, he hoped to find the （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） he was 捜し出すing.

He 除去するd his leather covered 医療の 道具, took out a hypodermic needle, and deftly filled it with a 麻薬 of his own concoction. He 注入するd 十分な 量s in both Krausman and Meguire to keep them both unconscious for several hours. After putting the men in separate rooms, he left the apartment. He nodded at the doorman.

*AUTHOR'S NOTE: This 麻薬 雇うd by "X" has two remarkable 所有物／資産／財産s. It is 特に 迅速な in its 活動／戦闘; and, unlike other 麻薬s, it leaves no bad after-影響s. It is one of his most valued 従犯者s.

"My car," he muttered. "I'm becoming dreadfully absent-minded. I can't remember whether I took a taxi or—"

The doorman smiled. "Your car is at the 抑制（する）, sir. When you went upstairs a moment ago, you said you would only be a moment."

"To be sure," the スパイ／執行官 圧力（をかける）d a dollar 法案 into the doorman's 手渡す, and walked slowly toward a green sedan which the doorman had 示すd. A moment of experimentation 明らかにする／漏らすd the 重要な which 打ち明けるd Krausman's car. Then "X" was 長，率いるing downtown in the direction of Krausman's 蓄える／店.

PARKING the green sedan in a nearby garage, "X" walked the remaining 封鎖する to the 蓄える／店. On the way, he was accosted by a ragged little newshawk. "Here's your paper, Mr. Krausman." The boy thrust the sheet beneath the スパイ／執行官's nose. Evidently, it was Krausman's custom to patronize the boy. "X" gave the lad a ４半期/4分の1, tucked the paper under his arm, and continued on his way.

Entering the 蓄える／店 by the 前線 door, "X" spoke to the clerks and hurried to Krausman's office at the 後部. Workmen had already 取って代わるd the glass in the office door, and "X" could be 確かな of his privacy. Then he began a diligent search through all of Krausman's 記録，記録的な／記録するs. Krausman, the 盗品故買者, evidently kept his 記録，記録的な／記録するs separate from those of Krausman, the jeweler. At any 率, スパイ／執行官 "X" could find nothing that would 罪を負わせる the man whose 身元 he had 可決する・採択するd. Going through a sheaf of 取り消すd checks, "X" （機の）カム upon several which had been made out to Otho Berg, Tailor. "X" looked up Berg's 演説（する）／住所 in the telephone directory, and made a 公式文書，認める of it.

He then opened the newspaper he had 購入（する）d, and looked at the 前線 page. The first item his 注目する，もくろむs met was:

CORPSE GANG STRIKES AGAIN

A 得点する／非難する／２０ of people 会合，会う death or serious 傷害 as police squad car 衝突，墜落s into office building.

The article went on, telling how once again the death-取引，協定ing mystery car with its 死体 drivers had 妨げるd the police from getting to the scene of a 銀行強盗. Fifty thousand dollars had 設立する their way into the しっかり掴むing fingers of the hidden monster in this 最新の 投機・賭ける.

によれば the paper, an 発明 of the energetic Major Derrick had given an impartial and perfect 記録，記録的な／記録する of the police butchering. On the major's suggestion, an (a)自動的な／(n)自動拳銃 camera had been 任命する／導入するd in the police car and could be 始める，決める into 操作／手術 by anyone in the car. This camera had taken a picture of the mystery car and its two occupants at 正確に／まさに the moment when the driver of the police car had been killed by machine-gun slugs. The picture had been 大きくするd so that the 直面するs of the men in the mystery car could be plainly seen. Beneath the picture was printed this question:

ARE EITHER OF THESE MEN THE

NOTORIOUS SECRET AGENT "X"?

This was followed by the 告示 made by Commissioner Foster. Fifty thousand dollars would be paid to anyone who would 配達する Secret スパイ／執行官 "X" dead or alive to the police. The commissioner went on to say that スパイ／執行官 "X" alone could be 責任がある these 罪，犯罪s. "The man," Foster was 引用するd as 説, "is a genius gone berserk. He must be checked at all costs."

Another boxed-in article dealt with the 調査 of the 墓／厳粛／彫る／重大な of "削除する" Carmody. It had been discovered that the 墓／厳粛／彫る／重大な had been opened すぐに after interment. The casket was 設立する empty. Many were the theories 前進するd by scientists as to how Carmody might have been brought 支援する to life—for one of the men in the 黒人／ボイコット mystery car was certainly "削除する" Carmody.

In the office of Peter Krausman, スパイ／執行官 "X" smiled grimly. He had considered each of the theories 前進するd by men of science, 関心ing the 回復するing of life after death. 非，不，無 had guessed the truth. Perhaps スパイ／執行官 "X" was the only living person who understood the method by which the 死体 Legion had been created.

CHAPTER VII — ALIAS, THE CORPSE

THE Berg Tailor Shop was hardly more than a 穴を開ける in the 塀で囲む, in a little, run-負かす／撃墜する 味方する street. It was 挟むd in between an old 住居 that had been transformed into a tea-room, and the smoky-直面するd 石灰岩 前線 of a bank.

"X" in the disguise of Krausman and 運動ing Krausman's car, circled the 封鎖する twice, 観察するing every 詳細（に述べる）. The little show window of the tailor shop was brilliantly lighted and 陳列する，発揮するd the 最新の fabrics. The tearoom next door looked innocent enough with its soft rosy lights passing through cheerful, clean windows. The bank was as lifeless as the 墓／厳粛／彫る／重大な; not a light showed. Its windows were securely 閉めだした. For the past year, this bank had been の近くにd. It was the bank of Mr. Stinehope whom "X" had met the day before.

"X" decided that if he was to enter the tailor shop, he must do so from the 後部. The 前線 was too brilliantly lighted. He would attract the attention of the 警官，（賞などを）獲得する on the （警官の）巡回区域，受持ち区域 in no time if he 試みる／企てるd to 選ぶ the lock on the 前線 door.

"X" steered the car around the corner and into the alley. Then he got out, having made 確かな that no one was watching, and approached the shop. A light was 燃やすing in the 後部.

Upon a tailor's （法廷の）裁判 and beneath a 薄暗い light, a man sat with his 脚s crossed under him. His 支援する was toward "X" and his 長，率いる was bent far over, 注目する，もくろむs の近くに to his work. There was nothing whatever to 示す that the shop was to be the scene of a 会合 of a ruthless 犯罪の organization. And perhaps it was not. It was possible that "X" had misinterpreted the 公式文書，認める he had 設立する in Krausman's pocket. At any 率, there was no turning 支援する now. "X" approached the door, and knocked.

From where he stood, "X" watched the 影をつくる／尾行する of the man on the tailor's （法廷の）裁判 広げる and cross the room. In another moment, the door had opened and a soft, husky 発言する／表明する said, "Come in, Mr. Krausman, the coat is ready for fitting."

"X" 星／主役にするd into the 直面する of the man he had seen on the （法廷の）裁判. Scarlet lips smiled at him; 狭くする, acutely slanting brows winked; 注目する，もくろむs of emerald green scintillated in the light of the shop.

"Surprised, Peter?" （機の）カム the query in the unmistakable 発言する／表明する of the ヒョウ Lady. For the person in male attire who had been seated on the tailor's （法廷の）裁判 was 非，不，無 other than Felice Vincart. She の近くにd the door, and bolted it behind "X."

"Now, if you'll just slip off your coat, Peter," she whispered, "we'll get on with our work."

"X" ちらりと見ることd about the room. There were three other 人物／姿／数字s in the shop. In the 薄暗い light, they appeared as tailor's 模造のs so still did they stand. But their 直面するs were the 直面するs of 死体s-犯罪のs who had met their just 砂漠s years ago. Aware that the ヒョウ Lady was watching him closely, "X" crossed the room, took off his 控訴 coat and 投げ上げる／ボディチェックするd it の上に a 議長，司会を務める. The ヒョウ Lady helped him into a half-finished coat of rough tweed.

"There's work for you to do tonight," said the ヒョウ Lady softly. She busied herself with chalk and tapeline. "About fifty thousand dollars 価値（がある） of jewels to 配置する／処分する／したい気持ちにさせる of. The 長，指導者 is getting a little anxious to see them turned into cash. But you'll have to 支払う／賃金 a fair price."

"港／避難所't I always been fair with the 長，指導者?" asked "X" in Krausman's 発言する／表明する.

THE ヒョウ Lady nodded. "I was 単に 警告 you. Stand still, can't you? You don't look like a man who's trying on a new 控訴."

"X" laughed uneasily. "You don't 推定する／予想する me to, do you?"

"She does," one of the 犯罪のs who 提起する／ポーズをとるd as a 着せる／賦与するing 蓄える／店 模造の said. "She's got ice water in her veins. What's more, she doesn't give a damn. Just does this for a thrill."

The ヒョウ Lady uttered her purring laugh. "Don't you get a kick out of it, too?" she asked of the "模造の."

"X" saw the man tremble わずかに. "Not always," he replied. "X" noticed that the man did not have the peculiar intonation and pronunciation of a creature of the 暗黒街. His 発言する／表明する definitely belied his hard-looking 直面する. Perhaps beneath those coarse features was the 直面する of a man who was considered a 際立った 資産 to society. Or he might be some white-collar 労働者 whose luck had not lasted, and who had taken up 罪，犯罪 as a means of getting rich quick.

"The 重要な to the 長，指導者's success," explained the ヒョウ Lady, "lies in his daring. He planned this 会合 here tonight. What could be more simple? No drawn blinds; no 黒人／ボイコット masks. If the 警官，（賞などを）獲得する on the （警官の）巡回区域，受持ち区域 should pass this alley window at this moment, he would notice nothing out of the way. Why, I might even ask him in for a smoke."

"Don't try any tricks like that!" said one of the 模造のs with a shudder.

"And now," said the ヒョウ Lady, as she helped "X" from the coat, "we'll go into the bank. One of you men stay here. The others follow Krausman and me."

"X" was given no 適切な時期 to 回復する his own coat. The ヒョウ Lady led them through a door and into a little room that was without lights or windows. Flashlights, in the 手渡すs of the two 犯罪のs who followed them, 削減（する） through the gloom and 中心d upon a section of the brick 塀で囲む. One of the men approached the 塀で囲む, and tapped out a loose brick. Thrusting his arm into a 深い 穴を開ける in the 塀で囲む, the man seemed to しっかり掴む some sort of a 扱う.

On 井戸／弁護士席-oiled hinges, a section of the 塀で囲む, big enough to 収容する／認める a man, swung outward. Through the 開始, "X" saw a 塀で囲む of metal. An oblong piece had been rimmed by the cutting 炎上 of an acetylene たいまつ. At a touch from one of the ギャング（団） members, the steel section swung open. スパイ／執行官 "X" was led into the 丸天井s of Mr. Stinehope's own bank.

What better place could the ギャング（団） have had for a （武器などの）隠匿場所 for their 略奪する? The bank was の近くにd; its 丸天井s were 恐らく empty.

The ヒョウ Lady knelt before a large safety deposit box, 打ち明けるd it, and pulled it open. Inside was a canvas 捕らえる、獲得する. She took the 捕らえる、獲得する out, 緩和するd the drawstrings, and emptied its glittering contents on the 床に打ち倒す. "X" knelt beside her, 選ぶd up a 広大な／多数の／重要な handful of （犯罪の）一味s, bracelets, and necklaces. He let the jewels 精査する through his fingers, and tinkle against the 床に打ち倒す.

"井戸／弁護士席, how much?" 需要・要求するd the ヒョウ Lady.

"X" hesitated. Though he knew good gems when he saw them, he had no idea of the 量 of money a 盗品故買者 would be 推定する／予想するd to 前進する on the lot. "Really," he said, "you can't 推定する／予想する me to make an 申し込む／申し出 without a day or so to think it over. I will take these with me, and let you know later."

The green 注目する，もくろむs of the ヒョウ Lady were 直す／買収する，八百長をするd on his 直面する. The 狭くする brows drew together in a tight frown. "I don't understand, Peter. You have always 始める，決める the price, and paid cash すぐに. Why the hesitation this time? You know that the 長，指導者 never 選ぶs up anything but the very best stuff. Cash is all that he's 利益／興味d in. He's always 扱う／治療するd you 公正に／かなり."

"X" tugged at the 高く弓形に打ち返す of his left ear. "What did I 支払う／賃金 you for the last 運ぶ／漁獲高? I am afraid I can't do so 井戸／弁護士席. The 危険 is tremendous."

One of the 犯罪のs laughed. "It must be! And all you've got to do is dig out the 石／投石するs, melt the gold, and turn the stuff into new 宝石類 for which your 顧客s 支払う／賃金 ３倍になる the price the 長，指導者 asks."

Felice Vincart placed a slender 手渡す on "X's" coat sleeve. "What did you 支払う／賃金 for the last catch, Peter?"

"Twenty thousand, wasn't it?" It was a blind 発射. "X" hadn't the slightest idea what the last 運ぶ／漁獲高 of gems had been 価値（がある）.

Suddenly, two (a)自動的な／(n)自動拳銃s flashed into prominence. "X" sprang to his feet, but his 長，率いる was wedged between the muzzles of two guns in the 手渡すs of the 死体-直面するd 犯罪のs.

The ヒョウ Lady's lips 新たな展開d into a sneer. "いつかs you 現実に disappoint me, Secret スパイ／執行官 'X!' Keep the guns on his 長，率いる, men. He probably wears a 弾丸-proof vest. March him 支援する the same way. The 長，指導者 will be delighted."

Slowly, the group moved to the 支援する of the 丸天井. "X" knew that his slightest move would be stark 自殺. One of the 犯罪のs stepped through the 開始 in the 塀で囲む, 圧力（をかける）d a gun to the 支援する of "X's" 長，率いる, and ordered him to step backward through the 開始.

"X" had no choice in the 事柄. In another moment, he was hurried up the alley, his 長，率いる still held between two guns. A car を待つd them, and with infinite care "X" was 軍隊d into the 支援する seat. With a 銃器携帯者／殺しや on either 味方する, ready and willing to shoot, he was made to sit stiffly upright. The ヒョウ Lady slid in under the wheel.

Suddenly, one of the guns was 除去するd from his 寺. "X" half turned his 長，率いる, met blinding white light, felt sickening 苦痛, and lapsed into unconsciousness.

"X" 回復するd his senses in a room that 炎d with light. He was sitting in a large oak 議長，司会を務める, 手渡すs and 武器 unfettered. Across the room from him, a door was 部分的に／不公平に hidden by a 列／漕ぐ／騒動 of six men, all with the 死体-直面するs that characterized those associated with the 暴徒 of 殺し屋s. Each man stood stiffly 築く, a ライフル銃／探して盗む in his 手渡すs.

Standing a little to the left of スパイ／執行官 "X", was a shapeless 人物／姿／数字 in 黒人／ボイコット. A shroud-like 衣料品 covered the creature from 長，率いる to foot. Only tiny 穴を開けるs for 注目する，もくろむs were 明白な.

"I've grown tired of this nonsense, スパイ／執行官 'X'," spoke the somber 人物／姿／数字. "I had hoped to でっちあげる，人を罪に陥れる you and put you into police 保護／拘留. No form of 死刑執行 can compare with the 電気椅子. Unfortunately, inasmuch as I am compelled to change （警察，軍隊などの）本部 frequently, I cannot carry an 電気椅子 with me. I have decided that you shall be 発射 as a 秘かに調査する as the clock strikes the hour of nine.

"Nine? Is it morning, then?" asked "X" 静かに.

"Yes," replied the ギャング（団） leader. "You have been unconscious for a number of hours 予定 to the blow you received on the 長，率いる."

"X" GLANCED at his watch. The 手渡すs （一定の）期間d a ４半期/4分の1 of nine. "Just how do you 提案する to carry your 計画／陰謀s out without me?" he asked. "If you kill me, you won't have anyone to 非難する your 罪，犯罪s on. After challenging the police in my 指名する, you can't very 井戸／弁護士席 kill me. 明白に, I can't be the man behind the ギャング（団） if I am dead."

A dull laugh sounded from the shroud. "Fassler, Carmody, and many of the others were dead to police 記録，記録的な／記録するs; yet when I 手配中の，お尋ね者 them, they appeared to serve me. With you, the same thing can be 遂行するd. You have no idea what I did to you with my own 手渡すs when you were first brought into my presence."

"On the contrary, I have a very good idea," replied "X". "It was all rather simple for a man of your 技術."

"Then you will understand that I no longer need you. I am sorry that our last visit must 終結させる so 突然の. Breathe 深く，強烈に, スパイ／執行官 'X'. You have now just ten minutes on this earth. A pleasant thought for you to 検討する，考慮する over in that time, is that within a month, I shall have probably wiped out the entire police 軍隊 and become the wealthiest man in the world."

The shrouded 人物／姿／数字 turned, passed through the line of 武装した guards. At the door, it paused, turned, and said:

"It would do you no good to cry for help, スパイ／執行官 'X'. You are in a room that is perfectly soundproof."

Again "X" chuckled grimly. "You rather underestimate my courage."

"Good bye, then." The shrouded 人物／姿／数字 moved through the door. The パネル盤 の近くにing behind him sounded hollowly throughout the room. It was like the の近くにing of a 棺.

To all outward 外見s, Secret スパイ／執行官 "X" was perfectly 冷静な／正味の. 現実に, a righteous 憎悪 消費するd him; 憎悪 for the 黒人／ボイコット-覆う？ butcher. For "X" knew that the 注目する，もくろむs 明白な through the arch-犯罪の's 黒人／ボイコット shroud were the 注目する，もくろむs of the one man who had seen "X's" true 直面する. And from what the shrouded one had said, "X" believed that the 殺し屋 had 得るd a 永久の 記録，記録的な／記録する of the スパイ／執行官's features.

"X" 星／主役にするd straight ahead of him. The 騎兵大隊 of 殺し屋s opposite him stood like statues, their 注目する，もくろむs on the clock above the スパイ／執行官's 長，率いる. These strange 直面するs—死体-直面するs out of the past—were to haunt him for the 残り／休憩（する） of his days. They were so 冷淡な, so 無効の of every human trait, so filled with an 切望 to destroy life.

"X" looked at his watch. In five minutes—いっそう少なく than that—six guns would 爆破 him into eternity. If he chose to make a break for liberty, the 狙撃 would be いっそう少なく 正確な, certainly more painful, with death approaching more slowly but just as 必然的に.

But the スパイ／執行官's brain 続けざまに猛撃するd out: "I dare not die!" So much depended upon his living; and the chances of his living depended upon only one thing—the gold timepiece in his 手渡す. Three minutes until the balance of life and death swung one way or another.

スパイ／執行官 "X" 圧力（をかける）d his watch between his palms and unscrewed the 支援する of the 事例／患者. Beneath, was a second 水晶 which one might have imagined was placed there to keep dirt and water out of the movement. "X" looked up at the guards. A deceptive smile stole across his lips. "My watch seems to have stopped. Can any of you gentlemen tell me the 訂正する time?"

EACH of the 死体-like 直面するs grinned. "You aren't going to care," said one of the men.

"Oh, yes," the スパイ／執行官 否定するd. "I'm going to care a lot. You see, I'm 義務 bound to …に出席する a funeral within the next day or so."

One of the guards guffawed. "You're a 冷静な／正味の one! Sure, you have got a date with the undertaker, 港／避難所't you? 井戸／弁護士席, I don't imagine there'll be enough of you to bury."

"You misunderstand me," said "X" 静かに. "I referred to the first of a 一連の funerals—the funeral of your leader. I rather imagine he'll go 負かす／撃墜する to 動かす the 解雇する／砲火／射撃s of hell—a sort of 準備 for your 降下／家系 to the self-same 位置／汚点／見つけ出す."

The スパイ／執行官 leaned far 今後 in the 議長，司会を務める. The 激しい lips he had 影響する／感情d in his disguise as Peter Krausman remained 直す／買収する，八百長をするd in a smile of contempt. "You see," he whispered, "I'm going to walk out of here in a few minutes. That's something that I am afraid you will be unable to do as—"

The first 一打／打撃 of nine にわか景気d throughout the 独房. スパイ／執行官 "X" stood up, still smiling. 同時に, six ライフル銃／探して盗むs were raised to six shoulders. The スパイ／執行官's 権利 arm swung high up over his 長，率いる and then （機の）カム thrashing 負かす／撃墜する. Across the room, a little gold ミサイル flashed. A faint pop and broken glass tinkled on the 覆うd 床に打ち倒す. With the agility of an adagio ダンサー, "X" sprang to the 味方する of the room.

A sharp cry burst from the lips of one of the guards. ライフル銃／探して盗むs wheeled. One of them 割れ目d. スパイ／執行官 "X" dropped 直面する 負かす／撃墜する on the 床に打ち倒す, and began rolling toward the door. His breath was locked in his throat. He dared not breathe; for the 支援する of his watch had 含む／封じ込めるd enough anesthetizing vapor under high 圧力 to knock out every one in the room in a few moments time.

Another wild 発射. The guard who had 解雇する／砲火／射撃d つまずくd 今後 on his 膝s, then relaxed to the 床に打ち倒す. Another sprang to the door and groped ineffectually at the 扱う. Springing to his feet, "X" wiped the man's feeble 手渡す from the knob, gave him a 押し進める that sent him spinning across the room. "X" 掴むd the 扱う, and yanked open the door. He の近くにd it behind him, 設立する the 重要な in the lock, and 新たな展開d it.

For only a moment, he leaned against the door, and sobbed a 広大な／多数の／重要な lungful of 空気／公表する. He was in the upper hall of a house, the 場所 of which was unknown to him. Through a smeary window, he could look 負かす／撃墜する into an unkempt 支援する yard. The sky was like gray flannel, and the rain fell in a 安定した 霧雨.

At the other end of the hall, "X" saw a 狭くする stairway 主要な 負かす／撃墜する into 不明瞭. He moved toward it on tiptoe; for though he might have escaped from the window, he was placing other 事柄s before his own safety. The 黒人／ボイコット-式服d butcher was still at large.

Descending the stairs, "X" （機の）カム upon a の近くにd door. Peering through the keyhole, he discovered that the next room was empty as far as he could see. He 慎重に opened the door, and stepped into a small hall. The sound of a muffled 発言する／表明する coming from behind the door at his 権利, 逮捕（する）d him. With infinite 警告を与える, he worked his way over to the door. Leaning against the でっちあげる，人を罪に陥れる, he 圧力（をかける）d his ear to the パネル盤. He could hear the 発言する／表明する of the shrouded one やめる 明確に:

"The first thing to …に出席する to," the shrouded one was 説, "is to check the cars. 燃料再補給する the roadster. I believe the guns are fully 負担d. Felice Vincart has 得るd a 計画（する） of the bank building. As you know, the steps 主要な up to the bank will 効果的に 隠す your approach. It is an ideal 始める，決める-up for us. Have no 恐れる that the police will reach you. They will be unable to answer their 無線で通信する call just as on previous occasions.

"From the bank you will go to that place we have decided upon. It does not 支払う／賃金 for us to use the same （警察，軍隊などの）本部 for more than two days at a stretch. Even though スパイ／執行官 'X' is out of the way, there is no 推論する／理由 to be careless. Remember, tomorrow, we pull the trick that will make us rich beyond our wildest dream. And we will have the police on their 膝s praying for mercy!"

"I hate the 巡査s," growled a man.

The 長，指導者 laughed. "You 港／避難所't the conception of the word 'hate'!"

AGENT "X" waited for no more. That another 強盗 and police 虐殺（する） was 存在 planned was enough to goad him into 活動／戦闘. To 警告する the police would be useless. Every man on the 軍隊 had a 義務 to 成し遂げる, even though it meant 確かな death. They would answer that 無線で通信する call, 発表するing another 死体-Legion 強盗. And they would be butchered by the guns on the mystery car. Upon the shoulders of Secret スパイ／執行官 "X" a 激しい 責任／義務 残り／休憩（する）d.

He hurried 支援する into the kitchen of the old house where the 殺し屋 had taken up 一時的な （警察，軍隊などの）本部.

From a window, he 決定するd the 場所 of the garage. It was 大（公）使館員d to the 味方する of the house itself. 開始 a door off the kitchen, he descended a short flight of steps, and entered the garage. Inside, was a 選び出す／独身 car—the 広大な／多数の／重要な, 黒人／ボイコット, 簡素化するd roadster with its 機動力のある machine guns. This was the 速度(を上げる）-demon which had （一定の）期間d 破壊 for so many 勇敢に立ち向かう men.

As he 星／主役にするd over its gleaming length, the スパイ／執行官's breath caught. For a moment, he stood perfectly rigid. There were two men in the car. And "X" was 全く without 武器s. In another moment, a slow, understanding smile spread over the スパイ／執行官's 直面する. The man behind the wheel 星／主役にするd straight ahead. The other crouched low behind a machine gun. The man behind the gun was "削除する" Carmody who had been 遂行する／発効させるd a few days before in the 電気椅子. And no 奇蹟 of modern science had altered that fact. Carmody, though 提起する／ポーズをとるd behind the deadly gun, was still a 死体. So was the man behind the wheel.

"X" had not a moment to lose if he was to carry out the daring 計画（する） he had conceived. To 手足を不自由にする／（物事を）損なう the car, jam its machine gun, were both impractical ideas. The mystery car, upon which so much depended, would be given a careful 査察 before it started on its juggernaut 旅行.

"X" 一連の会議、交渉／完成するd the car until he was 直面する to 直面する with the embalmed 死体 of Carmody. He had already guessed that Carmody's 墓／厳粛／彫る／重大な had been robbed by some member of the ギャング（団）. The fact that the car's occupants were 死体s explained why the police 弾丸s had had no 影響 upon them. There were no いっそう少なく than three neat, 無血の 穴を開けるs 演習d in Carmody's forehead.

IN a moment, "X" had opened the car door. The 手渡すs of the 死体 were taped to the 在庫／株 of the machine gun. It took "X" only a moment to 緩和する these 社債s, and drag the gruesome, 強化するd 団体／死体 from the car.

Looking around for a place to hide the 団体／死体, he discovered a small washroom, just off the garage. With his grisly 重荷（を負わせる）, he entered the washroom. Then he began the most trying disguise of his career.

From the heels of his shoes, "X" took a small tube of plastic make-up 構成要素. The plastic volatile 実体 which he used to change his features was nearly colorless. He would 要求する no pigment for this impersonation. With a 速度(を上げる） that did not sacrifice care, he 除去するd the make-up that identified him as Peter Krausman and quickly altered his features to 似ている those of the dead man.

The 影響 達成するd by the pale make-up 構成要素 was nothing short of horrible. In five minutes time, "X" transformed his 直面する from that of a normal, healthy man, into the immobile, death-sharpened features of a 死体.

Then he had to （土地などの）細長い一片 the 団体／死体, and put on the dead man's 控訴 and hat. He had only time to lock the washroom, pocket the 重要な, and take his place in the 黒人／ボイコット roadster before the garage door opened, and two men entered.

"You got to 手渡す it to the 長，指導者," one of the men was 説. "He sure gets the ideas!"

"I'm breathing again now that スパイ／執行官 'X' is out of the way," said the other. "The 長，指導者 says he always knew he'd get him." The man was unscrewing the gas 戦車／タンク 最高の，を越す ーするために 検査／視察する the 燃料 供給（する）. His companion 一連の会議、交渉／完成するd the car and approached the 味方する where "X" sat.

"井戸／弁護士席 damn me if 削除する Carmody hasn't come loose!" he exclaimed. "Somebody 除去するd the tape that held his 手渡すs to the gun."

The スパイ／執行官's heart gave a bound. He had, 事実上の／代理 単独で from memory assumed the same position as that of the 死体. His 手渡すs were on the machine gun, but there had been no way to tape them there.

"Probably," said the other man callously, "the 長，指導者 had Carmody out for an 公表／放送. Here, Smokey—" he 投げ上げる／ボディチェックするd a roll of 摩擦 tape to the man 近づく "X".

Smokey 注目する，もくろむd "X" a little fearfully. "X" 星／主役にするd 支援する, dull-注目する，もくろむd, and unblinking. He knew that if the mobster should touch his flesh and discover that it was warm and living, his daring 計画／陰謀 would come to an abrupt termination.

But Smokey was not a man to fondle a 死体. Gingerly, he 圧力（をかける）d the 摩擦 tape to the gun and wrapped it securely around "X's" wrists without touching his flesh. When he had 完全にするd the 職業, "X" was securely tied to a machine gun that was fully 負担d for its murderous work.

Suddenly, the door from the kitchen opened. On the 最高の，を越す of the little flight of steps stood the 広大な／多数の／重要な shapeless 影をつくる／尾行する of the ギャング（団） leader himself.

"スパイ／執行官 'X' has escaped!" he shouted.

"Escaped? You said he was dead!"

"One of his damned tricks!" the shrouded 人物／姿／数字 growled. "The duel must begin all over again. But—" he 追加するd after a moment's consideration—"that need not stop us. Nothing can stop us. You two join the others in the alley. 運動 around in 前線, and be 用意が出来ている to leave at once."

The man called Smokey shook his 長，率いる. "It's a lot of 危険 to take. スパイ／執行官 'X' may have 警告するd the police."

The 黒人／ボイコット-覆う？ butcher laughed 厳しく. "What good would that do? The police believe that 'X' is 責任がある the police 殺人，大当りs."

"権利, 長，指導者! We'll start as soon as I put a little 空気／公表する in this 後部 tire."

The 黒人／ボイコット-式服d one left the garage to his 中尉／大尉／警部補s. "X" heard the 急ぐ of 空気／公表する as the roadster's tires were filled. He dared not move a muscle; for the man called Smokey watched him closely. Was there a 微光 of 疑惑 in the 冷淡な 注目する，もくろむs of the 殺し屋?

Had "X" been given a moment alone, he could have managed to break away from the 社債s that held him to the death car. But no sooner had Smokey and his companion left the garage than "X" felt the car in which he was seated tremble わずかに. He darted a look at the 死体 at the wheel. Had he been mistaken? Was this stiff, 木造の-直面するd thing alive after all? But the 死体 beside him remained motionless.

By an unseen 手渡す, the 黒人／ボイコット roadster started. Garage doors 倍のd 支援する by some 隠すd 機械装置. The destroying 黒人／ボイコット car rolled 滑らかに from the garage, 負かす／撃墜する a 法外な 運動, and into the street 直接／まっすぐに in 前線 of a blue sedan. Out of the corner of his 注目する，もくろむ, "X" saw that the blue sedan was filled with men—men whose 直面するs were the 直面するs of the dead. Once again, the 死体-Legion had been 動員するd for another attack against all that stood for 法律 and order.

"X" FULLY realized the 危険，危なくする of his position. The roadster was closely followed by the sedan, and the occupants of the latter never moved their 注目する，もくろむs from the car in 前線 of them. "X" hadn't a chance in the world of 解放する／自由なing himself from the machine gun as long as those 犯罪のs were watching him. They would have 発射 him 負かす／撃墜する at the first movement. No, he had impersonated a 死体. He knew that unless the 半端物s should suddenly 転換 in his 好意 he would be a 死体 inside of a few minutes. He was caught between two 解雇する／砲火／射撃s. The police would unhesitatingly shoot him on sight; the gangmen に引き続いて the roadster would shoot him if he made a move.

The mystery car moved 滑らかに ahead. The steering wheel in the 手渡すs of the 死体 remained motionless, though the car 交渉するd turns easily enough.

The roadster 伸び（る）d 速度(を上げる）. It was 長，率いるing toward a part of the city where many factory 労働者s dwelt. No 疑問 the 客観的な was some bank where hard working men and women 蓄える／店d the 貯金 of a lifetime.

星／主役にするing straight ahead over the long hood of the car, "X" saw the 後部 end of a special police 巡洋艦. Suddenly, the サイレン／魅惑的な of the police car began to whine. It wheeled to the 中心 of the street, and 公正に／かなり leaped ahead. "X" 投機・賭けるd a look behind. The blue sedan no longer followed. Evidently, it had 速度(を上げる）d ahead to the bank that was to be robbed. The ever-警報 police had heard the alarm and were 急ぐing to the scene of the 罪，犯罪.

But if the police car seemed to leap, the 黒人／ボイコット roadster seemed to have suddenly begot wings. Its powerful モーター 突然の opened up. The acceleration was so 広大な／多数の／重要な that "X" felt as though his 長，率いる would be snapped from his shoulders. The distance between the 黒人／ボイコット 破壊者 and its prey 縮めるd alarmingly.

But スパイ／執行官 "X" was not idle. He knew the hidden 手渡す that guided the car would open up the machine gun as soon as the roadster 精密検査するd the police car. He knew, also, that police guns would send a あられ／賞賛する of lead that "X", in his position in the roadster could not かもしれない 避ける. The powerful muscles of the スパイ／執行官's 武器 swelled until it seemed that his 肌 must burst. There was a sound of ripping fabric as he broke through the 摩擦 tape which held him to the gun.

As his 手渡す pulled 解放する／自由な, a 広大な／多数の／重要な shout arose from the police car. They had sighted the roadster that was over-taking them. One of the police leaned far out and sent a 発射 whining above the スパイ／執行官's 長，率いる. There were few people on the street, and the police would have no 推論する／理由 to 持つ／拘留する their 解雇する／砲火／射撃; they would shoot to kill.

The スパイ／執行官's 手渡すs worked like lighting, tugging at the clasp that held the 弾薬／武器 派手に宣伝する of the machine gun in place. The clasp 産する／生じるd. He fastened both 手渡すs on the 派手に宣伝する, and yanked it 解放する／自由な. He 投げつけるd it into the street. At the same time, police (a)自動的な／(n)自動拳銃s barked. A slug thudded against "X's" 弾丸-proof vest. He could not hope to be that fortunate always; one of those hungry pellets must find his 長，率いる.

星／主役にするing 負かす／撃墜する, he saw the pavement, a スピード違反 略章 beneath him. To leap meant—But where was the choice? Without a moment's hesitation, "X" swung one 脚 over the door of the roadster. A 弾丸 sliced across the calf of his 脚 and spanged against the armor plate 団体／死体 of the roadster. The スパイ／執行官's 団体／死体 激しく揺するd. He was thrown 完全に off balance. His 武器 発射 out in a mighty heave that threw him off into space. He had a sickening sensation, as though he were 存在 投げつけるd off of a spinning 惑星. He was running before he touched the pavement, but it would have been impossible for him to time his pace with that of the roaring, スピード違反 roadster.

His 脚s 二塁打d under him. He rolled like a ball. A slug imbedded itself in the asphalt not more than an インチ from his 長，率いる. His left shoulder 遭遇（する）d the 抑制（する） with such 軍隊 that his entire left arm went suddenly dead.

But he was on his feet, dizzy with the 速度(を上げる） of his 落ちる, and momentarily sick with 苦痛. He ran as he had never run before. It was something more than the thought of what might happen to him if he were caught that gave him strength. He was 勧めるd on by that exhilaration that comes to a man after he has 試みる／企てるd the impossible and 後継するd. For the first time, the terror car was 手足を不自由にする／（物事を）損なうd. This time, the 殺し屋 could not kill.

Swinging in an alley toward a 港／避難所 of 避難 that he knew of, the depressing thought returned to "X"—while he had saved a carload of police and かもしれない thousands of dollars, the master 犯罪の remained 捕まらないで. The thought that this monster knew the スパイ／執行官's true 直面する hung like a Sword of Damocles above his 長，率いる.

What would be the shrouded monster's next move?

He asked the question, dreading the answer.

CHAPTER VIII — NIGHT ATTACK

THE に引き続いて afternoon, the newspapers made gratifying reading for the thousands who lived in 恐れる of the 死体 ギャング（団）. 手足を不自由にする／（物事を）損なうd by the loss of its machine-gun 弾薬／武器, the mystery car had had to （警官の）巡回区域，受持ち区域 a 迅速な 退却／保養地. The 死体 ギャング（団）, in the 行為／法令／行動する of 略奪するing the bank, heard the whine of the police car サイレン／魅惑的な coming nearer and nearer. When it was not interrupted by the 動揺させる of machine-gun 解雇する／砲火／射撃, the entire （人が）群がる took to its heels, 辛うじて escaping with a few dollars 略奪する.

The police were at last making 限定された 進歩, the papers said. But Commissioner Foster silently shook his 長，率いる. As far as he knew, the 失敗 of the 黒人／ボイコット roadster to 難破させる the police car was 予定 to carelessness on the part of some one in the 犯罪の group. He felt 非，不，無 of the sense of 安全 returning to him. The 死体-Legion would strike again and again. He knew of the dogged 決意 of Secret スパイ／執行官 "X", whom he still believed 支援するd the 死体-Legion.

It was nine o'clock that evening when Commissioner Foster entered the apartment of Major Derrick, his friend and 助言者. Little did Foster know that one minute later, a 影をつくる／尾行する slipped across the 前線 of the apartment building to enter a telephone booth in a 隣接地の 麻薬 蓄える／店. Calling a number that was 名簿（に載せる）／表（にあげる）d in no telephone 調書をとる／予約する, the man who had 影をつくる／尾行するd the commissioner spoke 簡潔に:

"Foster entered Derrick apartment."

In a small, 貧しく furnished little room in an old brick-直面するd dwelling several miles away, a 墓／厳粛／彫る／重大な-直面するd man listened to that 告示 over the phone. "Good!" he whispered. "And where is Burks?"

"Last 報告（する）／憶測 明言する／公表するd 視察官 Burks in （警察，軍隊などの）本部 office looking over 報告（する）／憶測s."

The 墓／厳粛／彫る／重大な-直面するd man 静かに hung up. Here, in this poor tenement, Secret スパイ／執行官 "X" had 設立するd one of his many （犯人の）隠れ家s. It had been a busy day for him. Through him, a tip had reached police （警察，軍隊などの）本部 as to the 場所 of the building where "X" had been 軍隊d to 直面する a 解雇する／砲火／射撃ing squad. In the disguise of a policeman, "X" had taken part in a （警察の）手入れ，急襲 that had netted the police nothing. The wily creature whose 身元 was always hidden beneath a shroud had moved his （警察，軍隊などの）本部 すぐに after the 失望／欲求不満 of his bank-robbing 計画／陰謀 by スパイ／執行官 "X".

"X" had then 修理d to this tenement （犯人の）隠れ家 where he had been in の近くに touch with Bates and his スパイ／執行官s. さまざまな 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うs had been carefully watched, but aside from "Sleepy" Meguire's visit to a one-time speakeasy, there was nothing to 誘発する 疑惑.

As soon as he had hung up the phone, スパイ／執行官 "X" went about creating another of his masterful disguises. This time, under his 魔法 fingers, the 墓／厳粛／彫る／重大な, gray 直面する which he had 影響する／感情d all afternoon gave place to the plump, rosy 直面する of 視察官 John Burks. It was one of his most daring 模擬実験／偽ることs, yet one which had 伸び（る）d him 価値のある （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） many times before.

"X" left the tenement and went to a garage where a car was waiting for him. It was a roadster with the letters "P.D." lacquered on both doors.

A ４半期/4分の1 of an hour later, "X" pulled up in 前線 of the apartment where Major Derrick lived. In a moment, imitating the 発言する／表明する of John Burks to perfection, he 発表するd himself through the speaking-tube which led to Derrick's rooms. He was told to come up at once.

"What's on your mind, 視察官?" Foster 需要・要求するd, when "X" put in his 外見.

"Plenty!" retorted the スパイ／執行官. "I've got a straight tip, commissioner. 麻薬 on this 死体 ギャング（団）. If the tip's okeh, it'll knock you over!"

"If it's okeh," 発言／述べるd Foster skeptically.

Major Derrick spread his nostrils, and 匂いをかぐd はっきりと. "There's been so many 誤った leads lately, 視察官, I'm beginning to get discouraged."

"You know Stinehope, the 銀行業者?" asked "X".

Both men nodded.

"Then come along. We're going to 選ぶ up Stinehope, and go out to his bank."

"The bank's been の近くにd for a long time," 宣言するd Foster.

"You don't know that Stinehope's connected with this 乗組員, do you?" Derrick 需要・要求するd.

"X" shrugged. "Stinehope's bank has failed. But—井戸／弁護士席, do you see what I mean?"

Derrick nodded 厳粛に. "He doesn't seem to be 傷つける financially, does he? With you in a moment. The sky looks 脅すing." Derrick hurried into the next room to 再現する a little later carrying a raincoat. "権利, gentlemen. On our way."

TEN minutes later, the スパイ／執行官's 偽の police car, carrying the commissioner and his friend, pulled up in 前線 of the Stinehope mansion. Derrick climbed into the rumble seat with Foster. "X" went up to the Stinehope house to get the 銀行業者.

"I am afraid I don't やめる understand, 視察官," said the small, thoughtful-直面するd Mr. Stinehope when "X" 知らせるd him that he must come with him.

"I believe you will when we reach the bank," said "X" gruffly.

"The bank? Why, no banks are open at this time of the night!"

"This one's open twenty-four hours a day!"

The スパイ／執行官 waited for Stinehope to get his hat; then taking him by the arm, led him out to the car.

As the 銀行業者 began to realize the direction the car was taking, he was 掴むd with a violent fit of trembling. From his position at the wheel, "X" watched him surreptitiously. "事柄, Stinehope?" he asked.

"Where are we going?"

"To your bank," said the スパイ／執行官, "I want you to see something."

"X" drove the police car into the alley, and stopped behind Otho Berg's tailoring shop. The place was dark, but the door 産する／生じるd to one of "X's" master 重要なs.

"You've a 家宅捜査令状?" asked Foster, who was a stickler for police 決まりきった仕事.

"X" nodded. He had nothing of the sort, but he knew that he was not likely to run up against any 対立 from the owner of the shop. He had checked up on Berg. The man was above reproach and half blind from his years at the （法廷の）裁判. It was little wonder that the 死体 暴徒 had been able to 建設する the secret door 主要な from the tailor shop into the bank 丸天井. Probably, they had worked only at late hours of the night.

After a few minutes of perfectly unnecessary search, "X" 設立する the secret 開始 in the brick 塀で囲む. "Now," he said, "we enter the の近くにd and 恐らく empty 丸天井 of Mr. Stinehope's bank."

"I tell you, sir, this is the most surprising thing I have ever 証言，証人／目撃するd!" 宣言するd Stinehope.

"That may be," replied "X" dryly. He pointed out the place where the steel 塀で囲む of the 丸天井 had been 削減（する） by the acetylene たいまつ.

"Amazing!" cried Derrick as "X" 押し進めるd through the steel パネル盤 and entered the 丸天井.

Commissioner Foster was speechless.

"Got the master 重要な to these safety deposit boxes?" asked "X" of Stinehope.

"N—no," the 銀行業者 stuttered. "They are in my office in the next room. But what you 推定する／予想する to find, is beyond me. These boxes have all been emptied—"

"Get the 重要なs," the スパイ／執行官 削減（する） in. "This 丸天井 probably 含む／封じ込めるs the cash which was 解除するd by the 死体 ギャング（団）. Can't this 丸天井 be opened from the inside?"

Stinehope nodded. "After one of our clerks was nearly 窒息させるd inside this 丸天井, I 任命する／導入するd an electric lock operating from the inside as a safety 手段." He approached the 広大な／多数の／重要な circular door, touched a button on the lock 機械装置, and threw his 負わせる against the door.

As Stinehope was about to leave the 丸天井, Foster 掴むd Derrick's arm, whispered: "Don't let Stinehope out of your sight!"

Stinehope was crossing the room toward what had once been his office. Derrick nodded, and ran on ridiculously short 脚s to Stinehope's 味方する.

FOSTER turned to the スパイ／執行官. "Where did you get this （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状）, 視察官?"

"From Secret スパイ／執行官 'X'" replied the スパイ／執行官.

Foster frowned. "I don't understand—"

"自然に. Secret スパイ／執行官 'X' is a much misunderstood man, commissioner. He's done some queer things, but he doesn't happen to be the 長，率いる of the 死体-Legion. Some one is impersonating him."

Was there a look of 疑惑 in Foster's 注目する，もくろむs? "X" knew that he skated on thin ice. Foster knew of the スパイ／執行官's many disguises. At one time, "X" had 現実に impersonated the commissioner himself.

"You see," the スパイ／執行官 explained quickly, "anyone could impersonate スパイ／執行官 'X'. Had you thought of that? Since 'X' seems to have a limitless number of 直面するs, each of which he wears 平等に 井戸／弁護士席—"

A cry of stark terror echoed and re-echoed throughout the 議会. The 前線 door of the building had suddenly been thrown open. With deadly machine guns bristling, a small army of men 前進するd—men whose 直面するs were 直面するs of men long since dead. With silent, terrifying swiftness the 死体-Legion 前進するd into the room.

With the quickness of a cat, Major Derrick sprang toward a small elevator cage. He dragged the 麻ひさせるd 銀行業者 behind him. He flung 支援する the door, threw Stinehope inside, and followed. Two of the mobsters leaped toward the elevator. Derrick knocked over the starting lever and at the same time drew his (a)自動的な／(n)自動拳銃. His was the first 発射, 解雇する／砲火／射撃d from the 速く 上がるing cage.

Foster drew a gun and dropped behind a marble 反対する. "X" was beside him in a moment, flattening himself on the 床に打ち倒す just as a sub-machine gun began its hateful 動揺させる. Slugs 演習d jagged 穴を開けるs in the marble 直面するing of the 反対する. スパイ／執行官 "X's" powerful 手渡す was over the commissioner's 長，率いる, 圧力（をかける）ing him flat to the 床に打ち倒す. But a fraction of an インチ separated them from the searing line of lead from the machine gun. One of the pellets 燃やすd across the スパイ／執行官's 手渡す, 製図／抽選 血.

"Not a sound," the スパイ／執行官 警告するd. "We 港／避難所't a chance against that 暴徒."

（機の）カム the sound of feet pelting up the stair. "X" knew that an 成果／努力 was 存在 made to 削減（する） off Stinehope and Derrick. He raised his 長，率いる ever so わずかに, peering through one of the jagged 穴を開けるs 演習d by machine-gun 解雇する／砲火／射撃. One of the 死体-直面するd 犯罪のs guarded the 前線 door. Two more were tiptoeing toward their hiding place, guns ready for instant use.

"X" 軽く押す／注意を引くd Foster. "支援する! Work your way 支援する to the 丸天井. It's our only chance. I'll 持つ／拘留する them 支援する until you get （疑いを）晴らす."

"Like hell!" Foster muttered between clenched teeth. "I'll stick with you!"

"権利! We'll move toward the 丸天井 together." The スパイ／執行官's 手渡す went to his pocket, and の近くにd over a small metal cartridge. "Turn around, Foster," he directed. "Get the position of that 丸天井 in your mind. の近くに your 注目する，もくろむs, and go for it. I've got a 涙／ほころび gas 爆弾 here that will 直す／買収する，八百長をする 'em."

*AUTHOR'S NOTE: Probably, スパイ／執行官 "X" 雇うd 涙／ほころび gas here, rather than a 爆弾 含む／封じ込めるing his anesthetizing vapor, because 涙／ほころび gas is 認めるd by the police as an 正統派の 武器. It must be remembered that when "X" assumes a disguise, he すぐに identifies himself with the character of the man he 代表するs. Foster, who has met スパイ／執行官 "X" many times, would have certainly known that the man who …を伴ってd him was not 視察官 Burks if "X" had used some strange 武器, rather than 涙／ほころび gas.

"Got it!" whispered Foster. "Let go the gas!"

"X" had already snaked his way toward the end of the 反対する. Suddenly, his arm 発射 out around the corner of the 反対する. There was a faint pop, a hiss, and すぐに the acrid ガス／煙s of the gas started to spread. "X" 緊急発進するd to his feet. There （機の）カム the ネズミ-tat-tat of a machine gun—wild, aimless 発射s that jagged slivers from the 床に打ち倒す beneath his feet. Though his 注目する，もくろむs were streaming from the 影響s of the gas, "X" made out Foster's つまずくing form.

The commissioner was yards from the door of the 丸天井. "X" sprang to him, 掴むd him by the small of the 支援する, and 押すd him into the 丸天井.

It 要求するd all of his strength to yank the door shut behind them.

HE leaped to the end of the 丸天井, and pulled open the secret door. A 影をつくる／尾行する flitted across the 内部の of the tailor shop. There was the sound of 激しい breathing. A door opened for an instant and の近くにd. The sound of feet running up a metal stairway. "X" leaped through the 開始, 製図／抽選 his gas gun. For a moment, the light from a window flashed across a cruel, noxious 直面する. One of the 死体-犯罪のs had been sent to 削減（する） off their escape. Orange-red gun 炎上 削除するd through the gloom.

"X" dropped flat, rolled to one 味方する and 遭遇（する）d a 議長，司会を務める. His 脚s 二塁打d, 発射 out, sending the 議長，司会を務める spinning across the room toward the place from which the gun-発射 had come. The man 解雇する／砲火／射撃d at the moving 議長，司会を務める. On his feet, "X" leaped toward the shadowy 人物／姿／数字. He landed 十分な 負わせる upon the man's 支援する. His left arm crooked around the 殺し屋's neck. His 権利 clawed 不明瞭, searching for the man's gun.

Together, they 衝突，墜落d to the 床に打ち倒す. "X's" 手渡す slid along the 殺し屋's 権利 arm, and met an (a)自動的な／(n)自動拳銃. With a powerful wrench, he 武装解除するd the man, gripped the (a)自動的な／(n)自動拳銃, and drove it hard against the man's 長，率いる. The 殺し屋 suddenly relaxed. On his feet again, "X" called:

"Foster where are you?" He pulled out his flashlight, sending the spear of light through the gloom toward the secret door of the 丸天井. His 直面する pale, but his jaw 堅固に 始める，決める, Foster sprang through the 開始.

"Burks, are you 傷つける?"

"Not a scratch. This way!" The スパイ／執行官 掴むd Foster's arm and dragged him to the 支援する of the shop and through the open door into the alley. "Get to a call box, and sound an alarm. The 長，指導者 殺し屋 was here tonight! Get the boys here at once—"

Suddenly, 空気／公表する 近づく the スパイ／執行官's 直面する was violently fanned. An 誓い つまずくd from Foster's lips. There was a hideous flopping sound as something struck the pavement 近づく at 手渡す. The スパイ／執行官's flash 成し遂げるd an arc and （機の）カム to 残り／休憩（する） upon a horrible 黒人／ボイコット blot on the alley pavement. A human 存在 had been 投げつけるd from the sky to 確かな 破壊. Foster dropped to his 膝s beside the man—a smallish man wearing a dark 控訴.

"Derrick!" Foster cried. He 掴むd the shoulders of the 死体, turned it over. Blond hair was matted with 血; bone and cartilage had been 鎮圧するd. The 直面する was a pulpy 集まり of crimson. "Derrick!" Foster held the 乱打するd thing tenderly. His white 直面する was 始める，決める in a mask of 苦痛. He shook his 握りこぶし at the 黒人／ボイコット sky above.

"Thrown out of the window!" スパイ／執行官 "X" gritted. "I'm going up, sir." He ran to the 支援する of the building. The lower flight of the 解雇する／砲火／射撃-escape had been raised by means of 反対する-balance 負わせるs. "X" 開始する，打ち上げるd himself in a 上向き leap. His しっかり掴むing fingers caught the lower step of the 解雇する／砲火／射撃 escape, dragged it 負かす／撃墜する. Above him, yellow light filtered through one window. "X" took the steps three at a time until he （機の）カム to the office 床に打ち倒す. From the 解雇する／砲火／射撃-escape, he 星／主役にするd into the 砂漠d office.

A 議長，司会を務める had been tipped over; the パネル盤 of the door had been 後援d. "X" climbed over the sill and approached an untidy desk. There lay a piece of paper upon which a message had been scrawled. "X" 選ぶd up the 公式文書，認める and read:

Dear Foster:

Can't かもしれない imagine why I never thought of the lucrative practice of kidnapping. How much do you think Mrs. Stinehope will 支払う／賃金 for the return of her husband? Am leaving Derrick to you.

The 公式文書，認める was 調印するd, "Secret スパイ／執行官 'X'."

"X" 鎮圧するd the piece of paper and thrust it into his pocket. Then he returned to the window. Outside sounded the 叫び声をあげる of サイレン／魅惑的なs. "X" realized that there was nothing more for him to do there. He returned by the way he had come, anxious to 避ける the police lest the real 視察官 Burks should be の中で them.

At the 底（に届く） of the 解雇する／砲火／射撃 escape, he 設立する Foster waiting for him. Some of the newly arrived police were carrying the mangled 団体／死体 of Derrick into the bank building. There were no 調印するs of the 死体-犯罪のs.

"I have a 墓／厳粛／彫る／重大な 事柄 to discuss with you, Burks," said Foster, taking 持つ／拘留する of "X's" arm. "We must leave here at once. Come along to the car."

Wondering what was on the commissioner's mind, "X" returned with Foster to the 偽の police car.

"You remember Sergeant Dale?" Foster 問い合わせd as "X" started the モーター.

"X" nodded. "His kid, Betty, was left alone when he died. Betty 作品 on the 先触れ（する）. Nice girl."

"That's the trouble," said Foster slowly. "I can't fathom it. I have just received （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） that Betty Dale is to be placed under 逮捕（する）!"

For a moment, スパイ／執行官 "X" was too amazed to speak. Then he 軍隊d a laugh. "Good Lord, she couldn't have done anything!"

"There was another police 殺人，大当り this afternoon. A small 宝石類 蓄える／店 was held up. Another police squad car was riddled with machine-gun 弾丸s from that damnable 黒人／ボイコット mystery car. That ingenious camera 装置, which poor Derrick invented to take pictures of the occupants of the mystery car, had a different story to tell this time. A blonde woman was behind that 殺人ing machine gun. She has been 前向きに／確かに identified as Betty Dale. Knowing what I think of Betty Dale, the （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） was withheld for some time. What do you 示唆する?"

"X" HESITATED a moment. At the next corner, he turned 突然の to the 権利. "We'll 長，率いる for 行方不明になる Dale's apartment at once," he said. "If it has to come to an 逮捕（する）, I think it would be better if you and I, both her friends, 扱うd it on the 静かな. It's my opinion that there's a trick somewhere."

"A camera doesn't 嘘（をつく）," said Foster softly.

"No, but there's many a trick up the photographer's sleeve," the スパイ／執行官 固執するd.

And for the 残りの人，物 of the distance, both men were silent.

Having 機動力のある the steps to Betty's room, Foster and スパイ／執行官 "X" 設立する Betty at her typewriter. She was 率直に amazed at this late visit from the police commissioner and the man she thought to be 視察官 Burks. Cordially, she 招待するd them to enter her tidy living room.

"To what do I 借りがある this 楽しみ?" she asked as she passed a small coffer of cigarettes.

Foster fidgeted and looked at "X". Secret スパイ／執行官 "X" was 星／主役にするing at the toes of his shoes. Foster drew a long breath. "The truth is, 行方不明になる Dale, that is, I'm afraid you're in trouble."

A smile melted from the girl's 直面する. Her lovely blue 注目する，もくろむs 広げるd. "Just what sort of trouble, commissioner?" she asked.

"What were you doing this afternoon about four o'clock?"

"Why, I was in my car going out to cover an assignment."

"Anyone with you?" Secret スパイ／執行官 "X" asked hopefully.

Betty shook her 長，率いる without hesitation.

"行方不明になる Dale, you were seen 運動ing a 黒人／ボイコット, 簡素化するd roadster—the machine gun 機動力のある roadster of this 死体 ギャング（団）," Foster spoke out.

A puzzled frown crimped Betty's forehead. She laughed a little weakly. "Surely you are not serious!"

"So serious," said Foster, "that there's a 令状 out for your 逮捕（する） on the 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 of 殺人. Things look pretty 黒人／ボイコット for you. At （警察，軍隊などの）本部, they have a picture which 明確に shows you crouching behind the machine gun which sent four policemen and two 歩行者s to their deaths."

Betty dropped into a 議長，司会を務める. For a moment, she remained silent. Then:

"I hardly know what to say. There's been some terrible mistake somewhere. I would like very much to see that picture."

Foster stood up. "May I use your phone? I think it would be easier for all of us if we thrashed this 事柄 out 権利 here. I'll have one of the boys bring that picture 権利 over. If there's been a mistake, you'll find that we are just as anxious to get things straightened out as you are." Foster walked over to Betty's small desk, 選ぶd up the phone.

スパイ／執行官 "X" sought Betty's 直面する. Then he ちらりと見ることd over at the commissioner. Foster's 支援する was toward them. The Secret スパイ／執行官 raised his 手渡す, and drew the letter "X" in the 空気／公表する with his forefinger.

Betty took a 深い breath. It was like a sob of 救済. New color flooded her 直面する. "X" 圧力（をかける）d a finger to his lips.

"Hello. Police （警察，軍隊などの）本部?" Foster was speaking. "This is Commissioner Foster. Connect me with the 殺人 Bureau." Foster waited. He turned his 長，率いる to smile hopefully at Betty.

Though there was no outward 指示，表示する物, every 神経 in スパイ／執行官 "X's" 団体／死体 was taut as a drawn steel wire. After a seemingly endless moment, Foster turned 支援する to the phone.

"Foster speaking," said the commissioner brusquely. "Regarding that picture taken of the blonde woman behind the machine gun in the mystery car. Would you send that over to 行方不明になる Dale's apartment?...Hello. Who is this speaking, please?"

"X" 転換d his 負わせる 今後 in the 議長，司会を務める.

"Say that again!" Foster whipped out. "You are 視察官 Burks?" The commissioner forked the receiver, and pivoted. His 手渡す streaked toward his coat pocket.

CHAPTER IX — SHADOW OF THE SHROUD

BUT at the first inflection of 疑問 in the commissioner's 発言する／表明する, スパイ／執行官 "X" had sprung to his feet. Before he could touch his gun, Foster 設立する himself 星／主役にするing into the スパイ／執行官's gas gun.

"You—you are Secret スパイ／執行官 'X'!" Foster （刑事）被告.

"I am Secret スパイ／執行官 'X'. Though I hate to remind a man of any 好意 I have done him, you will always remember me as the man who saved your life tonight. 権利 now—sleep, and forget."

The gas gun in "X's" 手渡す hissed like a snake. A puff of vapor 花冠d the commissioner's 直面する. Foster choked, staggered 今後, and fell into the スパイ／執行官's 武器. スパイ／執行官 "X" 転換d his 支配する, 解除するd the commissioner bodily, and walked through the door into Betty's bedroom. He stretched Foster out on the bed, then returned to Betty.

The girl was 明白に ill at 緩和する. "I was so afraid for a moment that you were caught," she whispered. "It would have been terrible, terrible to watch them take you away!"

"X" smiled cheerfully. "Poor Foster! He looked a bit helpless, didn't he. But I admire the man. He's a human 存在 （疑いを）晴らす through. But put on your hat, Betty. You can't stay here. The real 視察官 Burks is probably on his way here now. He'll have the 令状 and that picture."

Betty paled わずかに. "You—you don't think I had anything to do with it?"

"X" laughed heartily. "Bless your heart! Of course, you didn't. But we can't have you spending the night in 刑務所，拘置所. 競争相手 papers would fry the 先触れ（する） plenty with their 星／主役にする reporter in 刑務所，拘置所."

"But what does it all mean?"

"X" grew suddenly serious. "It means that you and I are in the tightest place we ever have been in. The 犯罪の behind the 死体-ギャング（団） not only calls himself スパイ／執行官 'X', but he imitates my own methods. After the 強盗 at the Krausman 蓄える／店, what did you do, Betty?"

Standing in 前線 of a mirror, Betty was adjusting her hat. "X" thought that he had never seen anything so beautifully 控訴，上告ing as the reflection in that mirror. Then Betty spoke.

"I went out and got in a taxi. I was 事実上の／代理 によれば your 指示／教授／教育s—to leave as soon as possible. The taxi driver took me a little way in the direction of my apartment. Then he stopped, turned around, and 直面するd me with a gun. I think I cried out, but before I knew anything else, he had struck me on the 長，率いる."

THE スパイ／執行官's steely 注目する，もくろむs flashed. "And how long were you unconscious before you awoke in the house of ヒョウs?"

"I've no idea. When I （機の）カム to, I was too 脅すd to think."

"Did you notice if your 直面する felt stiff and 乾燥した，日照りの?" the スパイ／執行官 asked.

"Now that you について言及する it, I believe it did."

"X" nodded, took the girl's arm and steered her through the door. "You see," he whispered as he led her toward the stairway, "this 殺し屋 has been fighting me with my own 武器s. I noticed the same 乾燥した，日照りの feeling on my 直面する when I （機の）カム to in his 刑務所，拘置所 独房. It was 原因（となる）d by the 構成要素 he uses in making the masks."

"You mean that while I was unconscious, some one made a mask from my 直面する? Then—then you—"

"X" nodded grimly. "A mask of some sort to get all the features. That enables him to re-create, in a 柔軟な 構成要素, the exact 相当するもの of anyone's features."

"But your 直面する—your real 直面する. Has he seen it?"

"Undoubtedly. What is more, he has a 記録，記録的な／記録する of it in one of those masks. He's saving it for a クーデター. That is why this leader of the 死体-legion is the most dangerous man I have ever met."

Outside, "X" opened the door of the police car. "I'm 運動ing you to a friend's house. There's a woman there who can be 完全に 信用d. She is one of my スパイ／執行官s. You must stay with her until the skies （疑いを）晴らす. And don't worry, Betty."

The に引き続いて afternoon "X" received a communication from Bates that sent the 血 coursing a little swifter through his arteries. Another 強盗, another 残虐な police 殺人，大当り had been 制定するd. But this time, the 患者, searching 注目する，もくろむs of "X's" own 知能 軍隊 had been on the look out. One of the スパイ／執行官's own 計画（する）s, equipped with a moving-picture camera, had followed the course taken by the mystery car. It was little wonder that the mystery car always seemed to 消える into thin 空気／公表する.

The 空中の camera had traced the 黒人／ボイコット 破壊者 along its course, into the mouth of an alley where it had met a 抱擁する moving 先頭. A retractable incline had been lowered from the トラックで運ぶ, を待つing the mystery car. The 黒人／ボイコット roadster had bumped up the incline and into the 先頭. The incline had been 孤立した, the doors of the 先頭 の近くにd. Then the 先頭 板材d from the alley, 明らかに going about its 合法的 商売／仕事.

But the 空中の camera had not stopped there. It had 記録，記録的な／記録するd the movement of the 先頭, tracing it through crooked streets until it 支援するd up against a garage coupled with an 明らかに 砂漠d brick building in the west end of town. その上の checking had furnished the 演説（する）／住所 of that house. It was 賃貸し（する）d in the 指名する of Steven Pyke.

協議するing his 記録，記録的な／記録するs, "X" learned that Pyke had been a small-time crook who had been out of 刑務所，拘置所 for five years and had 明らかに gone straight.

Half an hour after he had received this important （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） from Bates, スパイ／執行官 "X" sauntered 負かす／撃墜する the street on which the Pyke house was 据えるd. He wore the shabby 衣料品s of a day 労働者. Grease and dirt stained his 直面する. A blue denim cap was 押し進めるd 支援する from アイロンをかける-gray hair.

"X" walked past the Pyke house, 明らかに without 支払う／賃金ing any attention to it. Then he 一連の会議、交渉／完成するd the corner of the 封鎖する, and continued walking until he （機の）カム to the alley.

He entered the alley and proceeded slowly along, 明らかに 関心d only with the contents of the ash バーレル／樽s along the 大勝する. When he reached the 支援する of the Pyke house, he stopped, and dug around a pile of tin cans with a stick he carried. He ぐずぐず残るd there until a woman, who was （警官の）巡回区域，受持ち区域ing rugs in the yard behind a 隣接地の house, went inside. Then he approached the door of the garage which was 大（公）使館員d to the big brick house.

It 要求するd but a moment for him to 打ち明ける the door with one of his master 重要なs. He stepped inside, and の近くにd the door behind him. The room which he had entered was a large one. There was room for three cars. However, at 現在の it was 占領するd only by the 黒人／ボイコット, 簡素化するd roadster which had terrorized the city. The two embalmed 死体s were artfully 提起する／ポーズをとるd in the seat of the car.

"X's" 注目する，もくろむs hurried around the garage, 支払う／賃金ing particular attention to the 床に打ち倒す. At length, he tiptoed to the roadster, dropped on 手渡すs and 膝s and looked beneath the car. On the 床に打ち倒す beneath was a flat steel plate that looked as though it covered a 炭坑，オーケストラ席 ーするつもりであるd for draining oil from the car. Flat on the 床に打ち倒す, "X" wormed himself beneath the mystery car until he could reach the steel plate in the 床に打ち倒す. He 麻薬中毒の his fingers on the 辛勝する／優位 of the plate and 押し進めるd it 今後. It moved easily on oiled guides. As "X" had 推定する／予想するd, an oil draining 炭坑，オーケストラ席 was 隠すd beneath the plate. "X" rolled over the 辛勝する／優位 of the 炭坑，オーケストラ席 and dropped to the sunken 床に打ち倒す below.

HE beamed his flashlight over the 塀で囲むs of the 狭くする 炭坑，オーケストラ席. Nothing escaped his keen 注目する，もくろむs. Everything seemed to 示す that here was an oil drain 炭坑，オーケストラ席 and nothing else. However, "X" 公式文書，認めるd that a green-painted 閣僚 大（公）使館員d to the 塀で囲む, was かなり larger than was necessary to 持つ／拘留する automobile wrenches. He opened the green door of the 閣僚. Four 棚上げにするs held as many 道具s. He tapped gently on the 支援する of the 閣僚. He felt sure that he would find an 開始 behind it. His 極度の慎重さを要する fingers hurried about the inside of the 閣僚, searching for some sort of a 隠すd spring.

It was only after 解除するing an extra 激しい 麻薬を吸う wrench that he understood the 機械装置; for in 解除するing the wrench, the shelf upon which it 残り／休憩（する）d raised わずかに, 解放（する）ing a hidden latch. "X" 押し進めるd on the 支援する of the 閣僚. 棚上げにするs and all swung inward on 井戸／弁護士席 oiled hinges. He stepped through the 開始 into a rough-塀で囲むd, 狭くする passage.

His flashlight lanced ahead. "X" saw that the earth-塀で囲むd 回廊（地帯） 広げるd only a few feet ahead into a tiny room. Here, uneven 木材／素質s formed rough 塀で囲むs that 延長するd in a chimney-like 軸 through the 地階, and into the upper part of the house. A rude bunk was fastened to one 塀で囲む. On the other 塀で囲む several 黒人／ボイコット, shroudlike 衣料品s hung on hooks.

Probably, "X" thought, this room was known only to the leader of the ギャング（団）. Here, he could 可決する・採択する the 黒人／ボイコット, shapeless 衣料品 which identified him. Then an audacious 計画／陰謀 occurred to スパイ／執行官 "X". He took 負かす／撃墜する one of the shroudlike 衣料品s, draped it over his 長，率いる and shoulders, and tied it in place with the 黒人／ボイコット cord 供給するd. 注目する，もくろむ-穴を開けるs 削減（する） in the cloth enabled him to see perfectly. No disguise could have been more difficult to 侵入する; 非，不，無 could be more simple.

"X" 位置を示すd a rude ladder nailed to the 塀で囲む and 延長するing up the 軸 into the house. He climbed it quickly to bump his 長，率いる against the 床に打ち倒す above. For a moment, he remained 静止している, listening. But he could hear no sound. Very slowly, he 押し進めるd up against a trapdoor until his 注目する，もくろむs were level with the 床に打ち倒す. He was looking into what appeared to be a large closet. He 押し進めるd open the trapdoor more fully, and はうd inside. He 打ち明けるd the door of the closet—it latched on the inside—and stepped into the room beyond.

スパイ／執行官 "X" froze. A man sat in a 議長，司会を務める 直接／まっすぐに in 前線 of him. The man's 長，率いる was hidden behind a newspaper. Evidently, he had not heard "X" enter. Beneath the 黒人／ボイコット 式服, "X's" 手渡すs 設立する his gas gun. He held it ready for 即座の use. He coughed わずかに.

The man in the 議長，司会を務める dropped the newspaper and leaped to his feet. He was a 狭くする-長，率いるd man with a thin, 新たな展開d nose, and a receding chin. "X" 認めるd him すぐに as Steve Pyke—a little older than when "X" had last seen him, and perhaps more worldly wise than when he had entered 刑務所，拘置所 some years ago.

"Cripes, 長，指導者, someday you're goin' to send me into a panic! I didn't hear you come in. You're about five minutes 早期に. When do we start for 記念の Hall?"

TO the best of his ability, "X" 解任するd the 発言する／表明する of the ギャング（団） 長，指導者. "There is no need to hurry," he replied,—避けるing Pyke's question the best he could...記念の Hall! "X" 解任するd an 告示 he had seen in the paper. The famous antique treasures from the monastic 神社s of the city of Kiev, Russia, were to be 展示（する）d in 記念の Hall. The Soviet 政府, as a good-will gesture, was sponsoring the 展示（する） in the city. Aside from the value of the treasures from an antique collector's viewpoint, nearly everything in the 展示（する） was fashioned from purest gold and 始める，決める with precious 石／投石するs. The 展示 was to open that night for the 利益 of a large number of 豊富な art collectors. With the price of gold 急に上がるing, it was just the sort of thing that would attract the 死体-ギャング（団）.

"Sure hope you know what you you're doin', 長，指導者," Pyke went on. "I don't get it. You say you 警告するd the police? Now if the hall's filled with police, how do you 推定する／予想する to 選ぶ up all that gold stuff?"

"Do you question my ability?"

Pyke paled わずかに. "No. But there was one time when things went haywire—that time スパイ／執行官 'X' turned up behind the machine gun in the robot car."

"Do not worry about スパイ／執行官 'X'," he said to Pyke. "Step a little closer and I will tell you 正確に／まさに what I ーするつもりである to do with him."

Pyke obeyed a little reluctantly. "X" 投げ上げる／ボディチェックするd aside the 倍のs of the 黒人／ボイコット 衣料品 he wore. The snout of the gas gun menaced Steve Pyke. Pyke opened his mouth, but the cry of terror choked in his throat as "X" directed a 十分な 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 of gas straight into the man's 直面する. Pyke's 膝s melted under him, and he sagged to the 床に打ち倒す.

Then "X" carried Pyke into the closet which served as an 出口 for the ギャング（団） leader's secret passage. There he 設立する a small mirror, and propping the unconscious man against the 塀で囲む, "X" took off the 黒人／ボイコット 衣料品, took his make-up 道具 from his pocket, and began another 変形.

NEVER had his skillful fingers moved so 速く. He did not know but that at any minute, the real leader of the ギャング（団） would put in an 外見. Plastic volatile 構成要素, pigments of his own concoction, worked together to make ふりをするd flesh and features in perfect imitation of Pyke's 直面する. He 取って代わるd the gray wig he wore with a 悪賢い brown toupee. Time was passing 速く. He dared not look at his watch. He must yet change 着せる／賦与するs with Pyke, and find some means of 隠すing the unconscious man.

It 要求するd 正確に／まさに three minutes to 影響 the change of 着せる／賦与するs. A 倍のing in-a-door bed in the next room 申し込む／申し出d a place in which to 隠す Pyke. "X" took a last look in the mirror to make 確かな that his make-up was beyond reproach.

There （機の）カム a knock at the door. "X" crossed to the パネル盤, turned the 重要な, not to 収容する／認める, the shrouded leader, but Felice Vincart. She was followed by a retinue of the 死体-直面するd 犯罪のs. The ヒョウ Lady crossed the room with a graceful, catlike tread. Her green 注目する，もくろむs flashed at "X". For a moment, he was afraid that those strange 注目する，もくろむs must pierce his disguise.

"I have a message from our leader," Felice Vincart purred. "He has been 拘留するd. He を待つs （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） 関心ing the activities of Secret スパイ／執行官 'X'. He does not want to move until he is 確かな that 'X' will be in 記念の Hall. It is his 意向 that 'X' shall die along with Foster, Burks, and others associated with the 法律.

"We are all to proceed 正確に／まさに as planned. You, Pyke, will go first, entering the building through the 地階 door before the guests of the evening are 認める into that part of the building where the 展示（する） is to be held. It will be your 義務 to 補助装置 with the 配当 of the monoxide. The 残り／休憩（する） of the group will enter the building after the gas has done its work. You, Pyke, shall kill the custodian of the building. You will find him in the 地階."

"Let me get this straight," said one of the men behind Felice Vincart. "We're to go into that treasure house after it's been filled with 毒（薬） gas?"

The ヒョウ Lady's glittering 注目する，もくろむs flashed upon the （衆議院の）議長. "You will all be 供給するd with gas masks. You will be the only living things in the hall. The 長，指導者 has selected 一酸化炭素 gas because of all gases it is the most 背信の. It has neither color nor odor. It will 簡単に put everyone in the building to sleep before they know it. It will be a sleep from which there is no awakening.

"Now, go at once. Pyke, you will probably 会合，会う our leader in the 地階 of the building. A car is waiting for you outside the 前線 door. Do not return to this house. It will be abandoned after tonight. You all know of our next 会合 place."

Rubbing shoulders with death-直面するd 殺し屋s, "X" moved through the door, and into a large 歓迎会 hall. There, the ギャング（団） idled, waiting, evidently for the gas masks they were to wear. But "X" was 解放する／自由な to leave the building.

He went out the 前線 door, and entered a small クーデター that had evidently been 供給するd for his use. He drove 負かす／撃墜する the street, turning the next corner on two wheels, 押し進めるing the little car to its best. He drove 明らかに without thought as to 目的地. 現実に, he was winding a 追跡する that he was 確かな could not be followed.

He ブレーキd the クーデター in 前線 of a 麻薬 蓄える／店, got out, and entered a telephone booth. There, he called the Hobart 探偵，刑事 機関.

"Hello, Jim," he said, using the 発言する／表明する of A. J. ツバメ, a newspaper man, for it was only in this character that Hobart knew his 長，指導者. "I want you to 会合，会う a man by the 指名する of Steve Pyke in the 地階 of 記念の Hall. Get there as soon as possible. Pyke is a man with a thin nose, receding chin, and dark brown hair licked 支援する. Obey him in everything. This is very important."

He waited only for Hobart's cheerful: "Okeh." Then he was out in the street, into the クーデター, and スピード違反 toward 記念の Hall.

CHAPTER X — BENEATH THE SHROUD

A SMALL 固く結び付ける 法廷，裁判所 支援するd the 広大な／多数の／重要な brick and 石灰岩 building that was 記念の Hall. The arched windows of the hall were 色合いd with soft lights. A string ensemble was tuning up in the ball room where, in glass 事例／患者s, reposed a king's 身代金 in the wealth of by-gone days.

Chalices, altar pieces, elaborately wrought icons, all worked in precious metals and incrusted with priceless jewels were 展示（する）d for the first time outside of the 古代の ロシアの churches.

スパイ／執行官 "X" drove the クーデター into the 法廷，裁判所. Before he could get out, a man sprang from a shadowy corner and challenged him. Light from the dash of the car 明らかにする／漏らすd the man's features. "X" 認めるd him as Malvern, one of 視察官 Burks' best 探偵，刑事s. Yet there was something about the 表現 in the man's 注目する，もくろむs that was 完全に unlike Malvern.

A nervous laugh （機の）カム from the man's lips. "Oh, it's you, Pyke!"

The 発言する／表明する was ばく然と familiar to "X." It was certainly not the 発言する／表明する of 探偵，刑事 Malvern.

"What's the idea?" スパイ／執行官 "X" asked as he swung out of the car.

"長，指導者's orders," whispered the other. "I'm taking the place of a 探偵，刑事 who is 苦しむing from lead 毒（薬）ing at the moment. You and two others are the only ones to be 認める through this 支援する door."

"X" nodded. "Show me the way."

The man who was disguised as Malvern led the way to a door 開始 in the 創立／基礎 of the building. He thrust a 重要な into the lock, and opened the door. Ahead was a darkened stairway. "X's" 手渡す went to his pocket, の近くにd over the butt of his gas ピストル.

"Look here, you," he said, when the man had opened the door.

The man turned around, startled by the change of トン in the スパイ／執行官's 発言する／表明する. "X's" gun nosed over the 辛勝する／優位 of his pocket. He pulled the 誘発する／引き起こす. Gas hissed into the man's 直面する. His evil 注目する，もくろむs flickered. He would have cried out, but at such short 範囲 he had received a かなりの 量 of the anesthetizing vapor.

He staggered backward against the 塀で囲む, then slid 負かす／撃墜する to the pavement. For a moment, the スパイ／執行官 crouched over him. His fingers felt the man's cheeks. They had the resilience of rubber. The man's 直面する was 完全に covered with a thin, 柔軟な mask duplicating the features of Malvern to perfection.

The 柔軟な 構成要素 peeled away easily enough, and for a moment "X" 星／主役にするd 負かす／撃墜する into a countenance fundamentally weak. It was not the 直面する of a habitual 犯罪の. "X" 認めるd the man as Terry Rankin, a young man-about-town who had recently 苦しむd 激しい 財政上の losses.

"X" 解除するd the unconscious man and returned him to the shadowy corner where he had been hiding. Then, the スパイ／執行官 entered the 地階 door, and proceeded 負かす／撃墜する the dark flight of steps. He had decided that it was 慎重な to get the guard out of the way in 事例／患者 it became necessary for him to （警官の）巡回区域，受持ち区域 a 迅速な 退却／保養地.

Flashlight beaming ahead, "X" saw that the first room of the 地階 was evidently used only to 蓄える／店 倍のing 議長，司会を務めるs which were いつかs 始める，決める up in the hall when it was used for 祝宴s and entertainments. Though his （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） was incomplete, "X" knew that if the 毒（薬） gas was to be 分配するd throughout the building from the 地階 this could only be 遂行するd through the heating and ventilating system. Accordingly, he hurried 負かす／撃墜する the 固める／コンクリート-lined 回廊（地帯） to a door at the end 示すd Furnace.

In a 議長，司会を務める that was 攻撃するd 支援する against the 塀で囲む, "X" saw an 全体にわたる-覆う？ form. A blue cap was 攻撃するd over the man's 注目する，もくろむs, and he was 明らかに napping. As "X" approached on tiptoe, the man slowly raised his 長，率いる.

"X" stopped. For beneath the 影をつくる／尾行する of the cap, was the 幅の広い, red 直面する of Jim Hobart.

THE 私立探偵 grinned, stood up, and touched the 法案 of his cap. "Mr. Pyke? I'm Jim Hobart. Mr. ツバメ was telling me I was to 会合，会う you here."

"How the devil did you get past the guard at the door?" スパイ／執行官 "X" asked, 保持するing the 発言する／表明する of Steve Pyke.

The 私立探偵 chuckled. "I walked in the 前線 door, using my 探偵，刑事 pass. Then I worked my way 負かす／撃墜する to the 地階 where the custodian gave me a little trouble. I had to 非難する him over the 長，率いる with one of his own 麻薬を吸う wrenches before he would listen to 推論する／理由. I thought it might be better if I switched 着せる／賦与するs with him."

"Good work!" the スパイ／執行官 "X" commended. "You've been in the furnace room? See anything that looks like it might have the making of 一酸化炭素?"

"Monoxide!" Hobart exclaimed. "I did see some 半端物 looking cylinders in there. They're all connected with tubing. I thought it was a part of the 正規の／正選手 空気／公表する 条件ing system."

"It'll 条件 the 空気／公表する, 権利 enough!" 宣言するd "X" grimly. "It'll fill that hall above with 死体s! This is a 死体-ギャング（団） stunt, Hobart. It's up to you and me to save those people upstairs. That hall will be crammed with a thousand or more guests and police. The leader of the ギャング（団） had the 神経 to 警告する the police. He's out to run up another big 記録，記録的な／記録する as the world's greatest butcher. Let's go, Jim!"

"X" 押し進めるd open the door, and led the way into the furnace room. The room was dimly lighted. Three 広大な／多数の／重要な furnaces, hundreds of crossing 麻薬を吸うs, large 戦車／タンクs, and electrically driven stoker cast weird 影をつくる／尾行するs on the dull gray 塀で囲むs, and （判決などを）下すd a 広大な room seemingly small.

"Wait!" Secret スパイ／執行官 "X" held up a 警告を与えるing 手渡す. He felt Hobart's fingers の近くに upon his arm. "Footsteps, Hobart, scuffing on the other 味方する of that door. Get behind one of those 戦車／タンクs. Wait till I call you."

"権利!" The blue-全体にわたる-覆う？ 人物／姿／数字 moved like a 影をつくる／尾行する across the room. "X" stood perfectly still, his 手渡す on the butt of his gas ピストル. The door knob turned; the door swung slowly on its hinges. Outside, the hall was dark, but a darker 影をつくる／尾行する moved through the gloom. Only a pair of 注目する，もくろむs were 明白な, gleaming through a shroud of 黒人／ボイコット. The leader of the 死体-犯罪のs seemed to float into the room.

"Everything is ready," （機の）カム a husky whisper from behind the shroud. "The room above is （人が）群がるd with guests and police. Turn on the gas, Pyke. You will find the 弁 just ahead of the manifold of the 空気／公表する conditioner."

Without a word, スパイ／執行官 "X" sprang toward the somber 人物／姿／数字. His gas gun leaped from his pocket. "One move and you're dead! Here, Hobart!"

Jim Hobart sprang from his hiding place, an (a)自動的な／(n)自動拳銃 in his 手渡す.

"Cover this man, Jim," スパイ／執行官 "X" ordered.

Hobart needed no 勧めるing. The 注目する，もくろむ of his (a)自動的な／(n)自動拳銃 was fastened on the 黒人／ボイコット-式服d 人物／姿／数字. Still 持つ／拘留するing his gas gun, "X" strode to the shrouded one. With a quick, snatching 動議, he untied the cord that held the shroud, and yanked the 衣料品 aside.

FOR the first time in his career, surprise （判決などを）下すd the Secret スパイ／執行官 unable to move. For beneath the shroud, contrary to all 結論s that "X" had drawn, was the beautiful Felice Vincart. Her green 注目する，もくろむs were as 冷淡な as the sea. On her scarlet lips was a smile that was like 毒（薬）d honey.

Not for a 選び出す／独身 moment had "X" 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うd that the 豊富な, thrill-捜し出すing ヒョウ Lady 所有するd the necessary intellect to guide the ギャング（団） along its 死体-strewn road of 罪，犯罪. 秘かに調査する; lovely pawn in the 手渡すs of the master she might be; but that she directed the malign 軍隊s of the 死体-ギャング（団） was 考えられない.

"減少（する） that gun, Secret スパイ／執行官 'X'!"

Warm breath 強制的に exhaled fanned "X's" ear. He half turned his 長，率いる to 遭遇（する） the 冷淡な snout of an (a)自動的な／(n)自動拳銃 圧力（をかける）d to his 寺. He caught a glimpse of a red, grinning 直面する—the 直面する of Jim Hobart!

The ヒョウ Lady sprang toward "X." A blow from her small 握りこぶし knocked the gas ピストル from his fingers. For just a moment, スパイ／執行官 "X" had been dazed. He should have known! The master 犯罪の who fought "X" with his own 武器s had somehow managed to impersonate Jim Hobart.

"You're not Jim Hobart!" 'X' said through clenched teeth.

The man with the gun still grinned. "And you'll not be スパイ／執行官 'X' if you make the slightest move. You'll just be a thing."

"X" felt the ヒョウ Lady's slender 手渡す pass through each pocket, stripping him of his 器具／備品.

"You poor fool!" the man who looked like Hobart whispered. "At the 強盗 of the Krausman 蓄える／店, you were 選び出す／独身d out and so was Hobart. Evidently, he was an associate of yours. Since 早期に morning, I have been in Hobart's office, impersonating him just as you might have done. I was waiting for a call from you. In this manner, I could learn your 計画（する）s. See how simple it all is? Since that day when I 設立する my son on a 厚板 in the morgue, killed by police 弾丸, I have planned how I might have my 復讐.

"He was killed by what men call an error. In my organization, there is no chance for error. Years I have practiced 発言する／表明する 支配（する）／統制する until now I can imitate any male 発言する／表明する to perfection. Then I sought for a suitable disguise. I 設立する it. I created my own army—直面するs of the past worn by living men. Hidden behind the masks I have made, you would find not men of the 犯罪の class, but men who have become discontented with the lot 運命／宿命 gave them—thrill-探検者s, 財政上の 失敗s, men of brain and brawn. That is my army. And the police believed them 死体s! The city was terrified!"

"So you are the leader of the ギャング（団）," Secret スパイ／執行官 "X" whispered. "And the ヒョウ Lady was your 秘かに調査する. But what have you done with Jim Hobart?"

"Oh, yes, Hobart. Let me see. I believe I brought him over to this building when my men and I （機の）カム disguised as plumbers to 装備する up this gas 生成するing outfit. Hobart is upstairs somewhere, bound in a closet. But he will be able to breathe—breathe the odorless ガス／煙s of the 一酸化炭素 that at this very moment is 存在 pumped into buildings by means of the blower of the 空気／公表する conditioner. He will die along with the police and thousands of others.

"And with you and Burks and Foster and 得点する／非難する／２０s of others out of my way, I will carve from the 暗黒街 a greater empire than Napoleon dreamed of. That will be my 復讐 on the 法律!"

Realizing that many lives depended upon him, "X" went into 活動／戦闘 without for a moment considering the 危険 he ran. 雷 攻撃するing the 嵐／襲撃する cloud, a meteor streaking the sky, an arrow in its flight—such make suitable comparisons for the 速度(を上げる） with which "X's" 権利 arm moved. Before the 犯罪の 長，指導者 could squeeze the 誘発する／引き起こす of that gun, "X" had knocked up the バーレル／樽. The gun made no noise, for—it was 効果的に silenced; but "X" heard the 動揺させる of the 発射 の中で the 麻薬を吸うs 総計費. He ducked, drove his 権利 shoulder straight into the 犯罪の's midsection. The man was thrown off balance, but he still 保持するd his gun.

"X" sprang past him, zigzagged toward the 広大な／多数の／重要な 戦車／タンクs of monoxide. He leaped behind one, knowing 井戸／弁護士席 that neither the ヒョウ Lady nor the 偽の Jim Hobart would dare to shoot him; for if a 逸脱する 弾丸 were to pierce the base of one of those 戦車／タンクs, the invisible, odorless death would flow into the room. For a moment he looked 上向きs through the maze of 麻薬を吸うs.

He saw the 広大な／多数の／重要な 麻薬を吸う that led from the 空気／公表する conditioner blower; he saw the smaller 麻薬を吸う from the monoxide 戦車／タンクs feeding into it. Because the gas was heavier than 空気／公表する, he knew that the 弁 connecting the gas source with the blower would have to be lower than the 戦車／タンクs themselves. He ducked behind a furnace flue and saw just such a 弁 within an arm's length of where he stood. He reached for it, looking under the metal 戦車／タンク-を締める of the ギャング（団） 長，指導者.

"You fool!" shouted the man. "That is not the 弁!"

A GRIM smile crossed the スパイ／執行官's 直面する. "Isn't it? If it were not the 弁 controlling the gas, you would have 発射 me すぐに. You are much too clever to shoot now. A 行方不明になる and your 弾丸 would nick one of these death-laden 麻薬を吸うs!" And while he was talking with the man who would have killed him, "X" was screwing the 弁 tightly shut.

In a moment of frenzied 激怒（する）, the 殺し屋 loosed a 発射 that by some 奇蹟 燃やすd across the スパイ／執行官's arm, and （疑いを）晴らすd the gas-filled 麻薬を吸うs. "X" ducked behind a 戦車／タンク, turned, and almost bumped into the ヒョウ Lady.

The gun in the woman's 手渡す nosed 上向きs. Her cruel, catlike 注目する，もくろむs 狭くするd. "X" saw her finger constricting on the 誘発する／引き起こす. But in that moment that he looked 負かす／撃墜する at the gun, he learned something that the ヒョウ Lady did not know. What appeared to be a deadly (a)自動的な／(n)自動拳銃 was in reality the スパイ／執行官's gas ピストル. "X" drew a 深い breath and held it.

Felice Vincart would have killed without mercy. She was even smiling faintly at the moment that the gun in her 手渡すs hissed. The anesthetizing gas jetted into "X's" 直面する; but instead of gasping it in, he exhaled with all his strength. Most of the vapor was blown 支援する, 直接／まっすぐに into the ヒョウ Lady's 直面する. For a fraction of a second, her 直面する 登録（する）d surprise. Then, she suddenly went limp; her cat-green 注目する，もくろむs の近くにd, and she keeled over backwards.

"X" 障害物d the woman's form and saw, behind one of the furnaces, a possible 出口 from the maze of 麻薬を吸うs and 戦車／タンクs. His work was not half 完全にするd. He might have checked the monoxide gas—if it had not already done its 悪意のある work—but he had not stopped the 犯罪の 侵略 of 記念の Hall. He knew that if life remained in anyone on the 床に打ち倒す above, the 死体-ギャング（団） would riddle men and women with 弾丸s.

But as he 一連の会議、交渉／完成するd the furnace, he （機の）カム 直面する to 直面する with the arch 犯罪の. Both were surprised. The 犯罪の's gun popped. A slug drove into the スパイ／執行官's 味方する with the kick of a mule. His 弾丸-proof vest stopped the 発射, but the fearful 衝撃 made him wince with 苦痛. He led a terrific 権利 that 続けざまに猛撃するd into the 殺し屋's middle. The man 二塁打d, 長，率いる coming 今後 to 会合，会う the スパイ／執行官's left hook to the 寺. The man jackknifed to the 床に打ち倒す, and lay still.

"X" 障害物d the unconscious 殺し屋, raced behind the next furnace, and sprang into the open. He ran across the room, and yanked open a door that led to a stairway.

He bounded up the stair, thankful that above he could still hear the rumble of the （人が）群がる. He might yet be in time.

CHAPTER XI — THE BARGAIN

AT the 最高の，を越す of the steps, "X" 遭遇（する）d a locked door. He 続けざまに猛撃するd furiously upon it. It opened. The スパイ／執行官 dove headlong into the 武器 of 視察官 Burks. Burks grappled with him, and, as "X" showed かなりの more strength than Burks had 心配するd, the 視察官 bellowed for 援助.

In another moment, "X" was surrounded by police. His 武器 were pinned to his 味方するs. He was as 近づく helpless as he had ever been.

"井戸／弁護士席, 井戸／弁護士席, 井戸／弁護士席!" Burks rumbled. "It's Steve Pyke. Thought you were the man who was going straight. You 選ぶd a 広大な／多数の／重要な place for a 復帰, Pyke. You'd better think twice before you lay a 手渡す on this stuff."

Over Burks' shoulder, "X" looked across the room. 近づく the ventilators in the 塀で囲む, several men and women were lying on the 床に打ち倒す. Others were bending anxiously over them. The 一酸化炭素 had been 十分な in 量 to attack those nearest its source. In glass 事例／患者s arranged in 列／漕ぐ／騒動s across the 広大な／多数の／重要な hall, "X" saw the priceless treasures of Kiev gleaming in the brilliant light.

"視察官 Burks! Listen to me!" Secret スパイ／執行官 "X" shouted. His 発言する／表明する had the swaying 力／強力にする of a master orator. "It is imperative that you get those people who have already succumbed, to the fresh 空気／公表する. 一酸化炭素 has been 麻薬を吸うd into the ventilating system. It's a trick of the 死体—ギャング（団）. They will be here to a man any moment. Everything depends on how quickly you 行為／法令／行動する."

"Listen to him!" Burks scoffed. "You'll not talk your way out of this, Steve Pyke. Better slip on these cuffs before we 軍隊 'em on."

Across the room, "X" saw Commissioner Foster approaching the group of police. The commissioner had a worried look on his 罰金, strong 直面する.

"Foster!" the スパイ／執行官 shouted. "May I speak with you alone?"

"It's Steve Pyke," Burks explained. "He's trying to pull something, commissioner."

Suddenly, "X's" 権利 arm broke 解放する／自由な from the man who held it. He swung a wide haymaker that sent the man sprawling 支援する against his companions. With a mighty 成果／努力, he pulled away, dragging with him three surprised police who clung to his 脚s and one arm.

He reached the commissioner. His 手渡す dropped on Foster's shoulder. His hypnotic, steely 注目する，もくろむs 演習d Foster's brain. "Unless you 行為／法令／行動する すぐに, commissioner, the lives of every person in this room may 残り／休憩（する） upon your 良心! I must speak with you alone!"

Foster's brow furrowed. He made his 決定／判定勝ち（する） quickly. "Very 井戸／弁護士席. Follow me. 視察官 Burks, follow this man. Keep him covered with your gun."

Foster led across the hall to a small room at the 味方する. "X" 支援するd to the door and raised his 手渡すs above his 長，率いる. "You may search me, 視察官."

Burks passed his 手渡すs hurriedly over 'X.' "選ぶd clean," he 不平（をいう）d. "Guess he's 安全な, commissioner, I'll be 権利 out here."

Foster nodded, opened the door, and 動議d "X" to enter. 直面する pale, lips 厳しい, the commissioner followed.

"Foster," said "X" as soon as the door was の近くにd, "the 死体—ギャング（団） will be here any moment."

The commissioner nodded. "We have been 警告するd."

"Believe me, Foster, this is no hoax!" said "X" 真面目に. "Those people out there by this time should have fallen under the 影響（力） of poisonous gas 解放するd through the 空気／公表する conditioners. But when the ギャング（団） arrives to find their leader has failed them, do you think they will turn and run? Certainly. But they will shoot their way out. Many innocent men and women may 落ちる under their 解雇する／砲火／射撃. If you will 軍隊 everyone from this building or into other rooms, you and your men may 嘘（をつく） in wait for the 犯罪のs, using the Kiev treasure for bait. The ギャング（団） will enter unsuspectingly, and you will probably manage to 逮捕（する） the entire 乗組員 without the loss of a man."

Foster showed little enthusiasm for the スパイ／執行官's 計画（する）. "It all sounds rather fantastic to me," he said.

"Do you honestly think I am lying?" 'X' pleaded.

"Steve Pyke never told the truth," said Foster coldly.

"X" 強化するd. His 手渡す passed over his 直面する. It seemed but a mere gesture; yet in that gesture, "X's" skillful fingers had altered the entire 表現 of his 直面する. His nose was 幅の広い and crooked instead of thin. His chin jutted さらに先に out. "Now, do you know who I am? I am the man who once saved your life. If you 借りがある nothing to those people out there, surely you 借りがある me something. Commissioner Foster, I am Secret スパイ／執行官 'X'!"

FOSTER drew a 深い breath. His 直面する held a worried 表現. Before him stood the man who was thought to be the 法律's deadliest 敵. Yet Foster could not 否定する that "X" had saved his life.

"If I agree to 許す you to 手錠 me, will you 行為／法令／行動する upon the 指示／教授／教育s I have given you? And will you, in 新規加入, search the closets of this building and 解放する a deserving young 探偵，刑事 by the 指名する of Jim Hobart who was 逮捕（する）d by the ギャング（団）? Think; you will have nothing on your 良心. You will have saved thousands of lives; you will have 逮捕（する）d Secret スパイ／執行官 'X'."

Foster moved quickly. 手錠s （機の）カム jingling from his pocket. He took "X's" arm, and led him across the room to where a grand piano stood. He slipped one of the steel bracelets around one of the turned 脚s and locked it in place. It could be moved neither up nor 負かす／撃墜する. He turned to the スパイ／執行官. "I agree," he said. "Your 手渡す, please."

Mutely, スパイ／執行官 "X" 延長するd his 権利 手渡す. He had driven a 取引 that might 井戸／弁護士席 mean the loss of his life; for the police were 納得させるd that he was the most dangerous man alive. But to save the lives of those men and women in the hall, he was willing to make such a sacrifice-if it was necessary.

But as Foster clipped the cuff over the スパイ／執行官's wrist, "X" 拡大するd that wrist by muscular 緊張. He had agreed only to be 手錠d. By a clever feat, he would be able to compress the 共同のs of 手渡す and wrist; he would be able to slip from that cuff as soon as Foster was out of the room.

But no sooner was the cuff in place, than the door burst open. 視察官 Burks strode into the room. "Sorry to listen to your 会議, commissioner," he said. "You go out and herd the people into the upstairs. Maybe this guy's tip was okeh, but the 手錠 商売／仕事 was a phony. If he's the man he says he is, 手錠s don't mean anything-not unless you 直す／買収する，八百長をする them the way I'm going to now!"

*AUTHOR'S NOTE: 正規の／正選手 信奉者s of the chronicles of スパイ／執行官 "X" will remember that he has used this 手錠 escape, taught him by a Hindu fakir, a number of times. 視察官 Burks had 証言，証人／目撃するd just such a trick when "X" escaped from him before.

"Very 井戸／弁護士席, Burks. I don't know 正確に／まさに what you mean, but I leave you in 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 of the 囚人." Foster hurried across the room, through the open door, and の近くにd it behind him.

"Now, スパイ／執行官 'X'!" Burks was 完全に 勝利を得た. He dropped on his 膝s. Both of his 手渡すs の近くにd on the bracelet about "X's" 権利 wrist. The 視察官's beefy strength 軍隊d the ratchet jaws of the cuff tighter and tighter until they bit 深く，強烈に into "X's" flesh. Suddenly, "X's" left arm whipped up behind Burks' 長，率いる and crooked around the 視察官's neck. His powerful muscles constricted, 製図／抽選 Burks' 長，率いる closer to his own. 広大な／多数の／重要な veins swelled on Burks' 直面する. For the first time in his life, he knew what it would be like to have his neck broken.

The スパイ／執行官's chin 圧力（をかける）d against the 橋（渡しをする） of Burks' nose. The 圧力 of that powerful left arm 増加するd 刻々と, concentrating upon a particular 神経 中心 at the base of Burks' brain. For "X," master of jiujitsu, knew every 麻ひさせるing 持つ／拘留する in the 部類 of the 広大な／多数の／重要な Oriental system of 弁護. Burks' eyelids ぱたぱたするd. His 注目する，もくろむs protruded. He became limp and unconscious so suddenly that for a moment, "X" was afraid that he had killed him. But no, Burks was やめる alive, though unconscious and gasping.

"X" 解放（する）d his 支配する. With his left 手渡す, he frisked Burks' 衣料品s and produced a small 重要な. This he 挿入するd in the lock of the 手錠s. The jaws sprang apart. "X" took but a moment to 手錠 the unconscious 視察官 to the 脚 of the piano. Then he was on his feet, running toward the door at the end of the room. He was not 確かな where it led, but he knew he must 避ける the police at all costs.

THE door opened on a 回廊（地帯） that circumscribed the building. Ahead of him were stairs 主要な 負かす／撃墜する into the 地階. As he descended these steps, he heard the bark of an (a)自動的な／(n)自動拳銃 inside the 広大な／多数の／重要な hall. For a moment, he 恐れるd that the 死体—ギャング（団） had entered before Foster had 組織するd his 待ち伏せ／迎撃する. He paused on the steps only long enough to hear the commissioner shouting:

"Put up your 手渡すs! 減少（する） those guns! You are surrounded!"

確かな that the police had 後継するd in cornering the 犯罪の 暴徒, "X" leaped on 負かす／撃墜する the steps. The 団体／死体 of the ギャング（団） might be in the clutch of the 法律, but while the master 犯罪の remained at large not a person in the city was 安全な. "X" hoped that his blow to the ギャング（団） leader's 長，率いる had kept the man unconscious. He was loath to have the 犯罪の 落ちる into the 手渡すs of the police; for to スパイ／執行官 "X," the shrouded one was the most dangerous man in the world. He alone was in 所有／入手 of "X's" secret.

"X" crossed a large recreation room in the 地階 of the building, entered a 回廊（地帯）, and hurried toward the furnace room. Inside the room, the 薄暗い light was still 燃やすing. Except for the hollow thud of many feet on the 床に打ち倒す above, the room was 悪意のある in its deathly silence.

"X" hurried behind the 列／漕ぐ／騒動 of furnaces. The ヒョウ Lady lay where he had left her. But the master 犯罪の was gone.

Had the man made good his escape or had he 可決する・採択するd another disguise ーするために mingle with the （人が）群がる? "X" was inclined to believe that the man would try to get （疑いを）晴らす of the hall as soon as he discovered that his 計画（する） had failed. He would not have changed his disguise; for though the ギャング（団） 長，指導者 seemed to have limitless 可能性s for 声の impersonation, his facial disguise depended upon masks. Such masks would be somewhat difficult to carry 内密に.

"X" left the ヒョウ Lady there to be 逮捕（する）d by the police. Then he ran across the furnace room and into the hall beyond. He hurried toward the 後部 地階 入り口. As he bounded up the steps, he heard the grind of a モーター car starter. A powerful モーター kicked over. Flinging through the door and into the 法廷，裁判所, "X" saw a long, 黒人／ボイコット car rolling toward the alley. Even in the gloom, he 認めるd it as the same 黒人／ボイコット roadster that had terrified the city and 虐殺（する）d members of the police 軍隊 with its machine gun.

"X" spurted, 税金ing his muscles to the 限界. The long car swept past him. He could see two 人物／姿／数字s crouched low in the seat. 死体s or living men? A 肺, 支援するd by every ounce of his strength, sent him 飛行機で行くing toward the passing car. His fingers clutched at the slippery 後部 deck, 遭遇（する）d the spare tire 運送／保菌者. "X" was jerked off his feet and dragged along the pavement. But somehow, he 回復するd his balance, and, as the car turned into the alley, he sprang の上に the 後部 deck.

He dropped 十分な length on the smooth, 一連の会議、交渉／完成するing surface. His 権利 手渡す 延長するd until his fingers の近くにd over the 支援する of the seat. He drew himself 今後. The two occupants of the seat did not move. "X" 宙返り／暴落するd 今後 into the （競技場の）トラック一周 of the 乗客. Even through the cloth of the man's 控訴, he could feel the 冷気／寒がらせる of hard, dead flesh.

CHAPTER XII — BATTLE OF THE TITANS

THE 黒人／ボイコット mystery car slowed up in 前線 of a high brick 塀で囲む. Beyond the 塀で囲む, "X" could see the old Georgian roof of the house it enclosed. Rusty アイロンをかける gates creaked open at a touch from the mystery car's bumper. Gears 転換d soundlessly by an unseen 手渡す, and the car glided up an unkempt gravel 運動, tall grass rustling against its running gear. Headlights flashing on the garage doors opened them. The garage was large enough for four cars, but the mystery car （機の）カム to a stop just inside the doors. The garage doors の近くにd magically.

"X" was out of the car before the モーター stopped. He stood perfectly still, waited. A slight sound of a 井戸／弁護士席-oiled 機械装置 in 動議, then 完全にする silence.

A smile played across the スパイ／執行官's lips. He dropped flat on the 床に打ち倒す and rolled beneath the car. Fortunately, his pen-flashlight had not been taken from him. He turned on the light and sent its beam up at the underside of the car. A small V-type engine was 機動力のある over the 前線 axle of the car; it could not have 占領するd more than a third of the length of the nose of the car.

直接／まっすぐに above "X's" 長，率いる was a 事情に応じて変わる steel plate. He moved it aside, 明らかにする／漏らすing an 開始—a means of entering a compartment hidden in the cowl of the car. As "X" had guessed, the car was 現実に driven by a man 隠すd beneath the cowl. The 死体s had been placed in the seat 簡単に to attract police 弾丸s.

The 機動力のある machine guns in the 手渡すs of the dead men were operated by remote 支配（する）／統制する by the hidden driver beneath the cowl. An ingenious system of mirrors enabled the hidden driver to see 明確に the road ahead and to the 味方するs through the three cowl ventilators.

It was little wonder that the police had failed to stop the car. They had directed their 発射s toward the 害のない 死体s in the seat, when 現実に the 殺し屋 was 安全に 隠すd in the armor-plate compartment beneath the cowl. The 殺し屋 had ghoulishly robbed the 墓／厳粛／彫る／重大な of 削除する Carmody and others to 得る the 死体s which he used as おとりs in the car.

Where he lay upon the 床に打ち倒す, "X" was 直接／まっすぐに above a 事情に応じて変わる steel plate in the 床に打ち倒す of the garage. By means of this door, the 殺し屋 had managed secret 入り口s into the mystery car. Probably his own men were under the impression that the mystery car was robot driven.

"X" rolled away from the 事情に応じて変わる door, and 押し進めるd it open. A 黒人／ボイコット 穴を開ける yawned up at him, and he could smell the damp odor of earth. Without hesitation, "X" dropped into the 炭坑，オーケストラ席 below. This was evidently a passage 類似の to the one "X" had 調査するd when he had visited the Pyke house.

Suddenly, "X's" keen ears heard a sound of 激しい breathing. His 手渡すs struck out, 遭遇（する）d a tightly drawn piece of wire. 即時に, the tunnel was lighted. Forty feet ahead of him, stood a man—a man whose 直面する was the replica of Jim Hobart's. He seemed to have no sort of 武器. He was 簡単に leaning on a 天然のまま 木造の lever that stuck out of the 木造の 床に打ち倒す. His shoulders shook with silent laughter.

"People who don't know this passage 一般に get 絡まるd up in my 夜盗，押し込み強盗 alarm system," he said. "This place, スパイ／執行官 'X,' is my last stand against the police—and against you. It has been carefully 用意が出来ている to insure my 安全. For instance, I shall be 軍隊d to kill you in a few seconds. It shall be done やめる 簡単に, and in a manner that you will find やめる 避けられない. You will be 設立する by the police at a later date. I rather imagine they will be able to identify you—from your real 直面する.

"As you may have imagined, I took an impression of your real 直面する when you were unconscious and in my 力／強力にする. I made a perfect mask from your 直面する in that plastic 実体 known as 'synthetic flesh.' That mask I have carefully hidden. As soon as you are dead, it will be turned over to the police. They will identify you from it. スパイ／執行官 'X' will be pronounced dead. They will look no さらに先に for the man behind the 死体 Legion."

"X" インチd nearer the master 犯罪の.

The man broke into a sardonic laugh. "No, no, スパイ／執行官 'X'. You cannot trick me. Were you to shoot me from where you stand, you would die the same way. Don't bother with trickery. It will avail you nothing."

Every muscle in the スパイ／執行官's 団体／死体 was drawn 緊張した. While the 殺し屋 had been talking, he had 前進するd five feet. The man was still far away. Probably, he was 武装した, while the スパイ／執行官 had only his 明らかにする 握りこぶしs. He must ゆだねる everything to his own agility and strength.

But even as the スパイ／執行官 sprang 今後, the 殺し屋 leaned 十分な 負わせる upon the lever in his 手渡すs. There was a 深い, rumbling sound like a distant 地震. 木材／素質s in the 塀で囲むs and 天井 of the passage creaked, buckled. A beam fell across "X's" shoulders, knocking him to the 床に打ち倒す. He struggled to rise, but at that moment, the sky seemed to 落ちる upon him. An 雪崩／（抗議などの）殺到 of earth and 支持を得ようと努めるd descended. Then all was smothered in blackness.

STUNNED, but only for a moment, "X" 回復するd consciousness to find himself entombed alive. He was in a 状況／情勢 that would have driven another man stark mad; but "X" considered his position sanely, knowing that with only a 限られた／立憲的な 供給（する） of 空気／公表する, a few minutes of panic might be 致命的な. Though earth and 木材／素質 covered him, it was not impossible to move. The beam that had fallen 未熟に had struck him to the 床に打ち倒す of the tunnel, but it had also fallen aslant of another 木造の member. Now, that same beam supported the greater part of the 難破 and 妨げるd the 負わせる of the fallen structure from 鎮圧するing him.

開始 his 注目する，もくろむs, "X" 設立する that a few starry points of light filtered through the 破片 only a few feet ahead of him. As he had dropped his flashlight when the tunnel had 洞穴d in, he was 軍隊d to work blindly. He pulled aside a 後援d board in 前線 of him, and wormed his way 今後. Digging in the dirt, he dislodged another piece of 難破 and thrust it to one 味方する. He 押し進めるd aside loose earth, and 設立する that he was able to thrust his 長，率いる through an 開始. He saw that only that part of the tunnel in which he had been standing had 崩壊（する）d.

Not far ahead, where the 殺し屋 stood, the 木材／素質s were still sound. "X" realized that the ギャング（団） leader, in 建設するing the tunnel, had 隠すd cables, levers and wires in such a manner that moving a 選び出す／独身 lever would 解放（する） the whole flimsily 建設するd passage. This 罠（にかける） had not been 特に 用意が出来ている for スパイ／執行官 "X," but was a simple means for the 殺し屋 to 燃やす his 橋（渡しをする）s behind him or 瓶／封じ込める up his enemies in 事例／患者 of 緊急.

It meant 緊張するing every muscle to the 最大の; for once he had はうd from beneath the 避難所ing beam, he had to carry tremendous 負わせる of the 難破 on his 支援する. Fully ten minutes must have passed before "X" wormed （疑いを）晴らす of the pile of earth and 支持を得ようと努めるd and was able to stand upright. Ten minutes! His 敵 might have escaped in that time.

スパイ／執行官 "X" hurried, as quickly as 警告を与える would 許す, up the passage to a rude flight of stairs at its 終点. He climbed the steps to bump against a 一連の会議、交渉／完成する manhole cover 始める，決める in the 床に打ち倒す above. He raised it slowly and peered into a 地階, evidently that of the old house which had been the 目的地 of the mystery car. The room was dimly lighted and 明らかに 砂漠d.

He 押し進めるd the アイロンをかける manhole cover up さらに先に, 掴むd its 縁 to 妨げる it from 落ちるing 支援する on the 地階 床に打ち倒す, and climbed through the 開始. 静かに, he lowered the cover into place.

THE room housed the furnace and coal 貯蔵所. It was when he opened an unpainted door in the west 塀で囲む that he made an important 発見. Precious as time was, he stood in the door 星／主役にするing about him. And from every 考えられる インチ of 塀で囲む space, 直面するs out of the past, 直面するs of men long since dead, 星／主役にするd 支援する at him with hollow, sightless 注目する，もくろむs. They were masks that were perfect replicas of human 直面するs. Beneath each one was a label. 近づく at 手渡す, he saw the mask of "Big Tim" Riley, ギャング（団） boss of 禁止 days. Next to the Riley mask was another fashioned after the 直面する of dead Willy Hymes. Everywhere were death masks, 正確に 色合いd. This explained what "X" had long since guessed—that the 死体-ギャング（団） was made up of living men wearing the 直面するs of the dead.

"X's" 注目する，もくろむs hurried about the room. He was 追跡（する）ing for one 直面する that did not belong to a 犯罪の. The 未来 of Betty Dale depended upon him finding the mask that the ギャング（団） leader had made in her image. さもなければ, she would 結局 be hounded by the police. Only the mask of Betty Dale would 証明する to the police that she was not the person seen behind the mystery car's machine gun.

At the opposite end of the room, beside the one vacancy in the さもなければ 無傷の line of 犯罪の death masks, he saw the lifelike features of Betty Dale. He hurried across the room and took the mask from the 塀で囲む. It was made of very thin, 柔軟な 構成要素—so 柔軟な that when worn over the 直面する, facial 表現s on the mask were made possible by moving the muscles of the real 直面する beneath.

"X" 隠すd the mask of Betty Dale beneath his coat, and was about to turn away when he noticed the vacancy on the 塀で囲む 近づく by. Two masks had hung there; the labels were still in place. One label read 'Jim Hobart.' The other read 'The real 直面する of Secret スパイ／執行官 "X"'.

So anxious had "X" been to find the mask that would （疑いを）晴らす Betty Dale, that he had forgotten for the moment that the master 犯罪の was in 所有／入手 of a 記録，記録的な／記録する of the スパイ／執行官's true features. He remembered the 殺し屋's 脅し—the police were to find the mask that 記録，記録的な／記録するd the real 直面する of スパイ／執行官 "X" and they were to compare it with the real 直面する of the man entombed in the passage below.

"X" sprang toward the door 主要な from the room. Perhaps he was already too late. Perhaps the master 犯罪の had already sent the mask to the police.

From the next room, stairs 延長するd up to the first 床に打ち倒す of the house. "X" raced to the 最高の，を越す and turned into a kitchen. From there, he 削減（する） across the dining room to come to a stop in 前線 of a door 主要な from an old-fashioned 歓迎会 hall. He stopped to listen. On the other 味方する of that door, a 発言する／表明する was speaking:

"Hello, police （警察，軍隊などの）本部. This is Dr. Jules Planchard speaking. I was kidnapped by the 死体-ギャング（団）. I have just made my escape from the leader of the ギャング（団）—the man called Secret スパイ／執行官 'X.' I was 追求するd by this 'X' person when I ran through a passage 主要な from the garage to the house...Yes, I am 確かな that the man is スパイ／執行官 'X.' I alone have seen his true 直面する. What is more, I have a 永久の 記録，記録的な／記録する of that 直面する—a mask made by the スパイ／執行官 himself. Death masks seem to be his hobby-masks of the persons he has impersonated. You will find the mask of "X's" true 直面する in a Gladstone 捕らえる、獲得する in the living room of the old 先頭 Startz house. He was really やめる an artist along that line...Yes, was. スパイ／執行官 'X' is dead. You will find his 団体／死体 in the tunnel 主要な from the garage to the 先頭 Startz house. The tunnel 洞穴d in while he was 追求するing me.

スパイ／執行官 "X" tried the knob of the door. It was locked. His master 重要なs had gone the way of his other special 器具／備品. He 支援するd away from the door, hunched his shoulders, and flung himself upon the パネル盤. The lock burst. He catapulted into the room and sprang toward the desk where sat a man in blue 全体にわたるs. "X's" 権利 手渡す rammed into his empty coat pocket, his forefinger outthrust so that it appeared his coat pocket covered a gun.

"I have you covered!" he barked.

The man in blue 全体にわたるs calmly 押し進めるd aside the telephone, and turned around. His breath hissed through the mask that cleverly 偽造のd the 直面する of Jim Hobart. "How unfortunate," he murmured softly. "How very unfortunate that you 港／避難所't got a gun. Really, you don't think I would have undertaken to impersonate you without learning something about your methods, do you? You have no liking for 死に至らしめる武器s. Now, I have no foolish scruples about taking human life."

"やめる evident," replied the スパイ／執行官.

The man at the desk laughed softly. He opened a drawer in the desk, calmly took out an (a)自動的な／(n)自動拳銃. "Do you happen to know who I am, スパイ／執行官 'X'?"

"X" NODDED. "I knew just as soon as I understood how the 死体-ギャング（団） was created. No man in the country knows as much about 犯罪の physiognomy as you do. You have had 接近 to all police 記録，記録的な／記録するs. In the past, you have known every 犯罪の who was impersonated by members of your ギャング（団）. You have made death masks before!"

"X" took a step toward the desk. "Oddly enough," he continued, "the personal trait which told me who you were, you were unable to disguise by any mask. Perhaps, it is only a habit of yours that you have overlooked in your impersonations. Perhaps, it is a physical defect. The other night when we visited the Stinehope bank building, you 設立する your 適切な時期 to fade out.

"The （警察の）手入れ，急襲 on the Stinehope bank, you arranged ahead of time—just as soon as you learned that Foster and I were going to the bank. That （警察の）手入れ，急襲 had a 二塁打 目的. Not only did the ギャング（団） manage to save the 略奪する it had 蓄える／店d in the bank 丸天井, but it gave you a chance to fade out of the picture. You wrote that 公式文書，認める 説 that Stinehope had been kidnapped, when 現実に—"

The 殺し屋's laugh broke through "X's" 宣告，判決. "So I am Stinehope!"

"Still trying to run a bluff?" asked "X" 静かに.

The 殺し屋 stood up and took a step toward "X." The (a)自動的な／(n)自動拳銃 in his 手渡す was unwavering. "Bluff? Of course, I'm bluffing. My entire life has been a bluff to hide my 憎悪 of the 法律—and the men who 代表する it. Day after day I have schooled myself until I can impersonate any male 発言する／表明する. Then I sought for the perfect disguise, I was already 技術d in the making of death masks. I needed something to produce practical masks as pliant as human flesh.

"Synthetic flesh solved my problem. Do you think I am after wealth? Only for what it can buy—the service of 殺し屋s. I built up my army from the discontented 犠牲者s of the 不景気 and from groups of 豊富な young thrill 探検者s. With my 柔軟な masks, they were able to impersonate 犯罪のs who had long since died. I told them that the police would be too terrified to raise a 手渡す against them. 現実に, it was because of my machine gun 弾丸s that the police had no 適切な時期 to come in actual 衝突 with my men!

"I have killed over a hundred police, and my career is not yet finished. But yours, スパイ／執行官 'X', has come to a 限定された end. And you will die without knowing who I really am!"

"X" held up his 手渡す. "Never for a moment have I imagined you were Stinehope. Stinehope died the night your ギャング（団） was 軍隊d to （警察の）手入れ，急襲 the Stinehope Bank ーするために 回復する the 略奪する. You were the first member of the ギャング（団） to enter the bank that night. When you met Stinehope in the Krausman 蓄える／店 that day, you すぐに noticed that he was about your build and of the same blond complexion. Even then you must have planned that when you 手配中の，お尋ね者 to retire to safety, Stinehope would die and his 団体／死体 be panned off for yours.

"That night in the bank, you killed Stinehope after getting him to the 最高の，を越す 床に打ち倒す of the bank building. Then you （機の）カム 負かす／撃墜する to direct the activities of your men. I knew you were there. I did not see you, but I heard you breathe. It was that 半端物 habit of yours of breathing forcefully in 緊張した moments that gave you away.

"Then, as soon as you saw that Foster and I had a chance to escape, you went up the 解雇する／砲火／射撃 escape to the room where you had left Stinehope. You obliterated his features so that his 団体／死体 could not have been told from yours. You changed 着せる／賦与するs with him. You wrote that 公式文書，認める accounting for Stinehope's 見えなくなる. Then you threw Stinehope out of the window. If you had only been able to work without breathing—"

The gun in the 殺し屋's 手渡す jerked. A 弾丸 sung past "X's" 長，率いる. Another plumped into his chest and was stopped by the 弾丸-proof vest he always wore. "X" 投げつけるd himself at the 殺し屋. His fingers caught the man's wrist. A quick wrench, and the gun spun across the 床に打ち倒す. Then the 殺害者 knew the might of スパイ／執行官 "X." He 試みる／企てるd to dig his nails into "X's" throat. "X" 開始する，打ち上げるd a terrific 権利 that 続けざまに猛撃するd into the 殺し屋's chest, 運動ing out his breath and sending him 倒れるing backwards to 倍の across the desk. His 手渡すs しっかり掴むd thin 空気／公表する as he tried to struggle to his feet.

Then, a sudden, dull plop. "X" saw the 殺し屋's 脚s jerk. The man rolled from the desk, clutching at the 前線 of his 全体にわたるs. A dark stain was already spreading across the blue denim. He staggered backwards and 崩壊（する）d on the 床に打ち倒す.

"X" PIVOTED. Coming slowly across the room, dragging a rusty chain that was 大（公）使館員d to his left 脚, was a very dirty, very haggard Jules Planchard. The plastic 外科医 星／主役にするd dully at the man on the 床に打ち倒す. The silenced gun drooped in his 延長するd 手渡す.

"Dead," he whispered like a man in a dream. "I have killed him. Weeks I have 追跡（する）d the man who stole my 決まり文句／製法 for synthetic flesh. I had worked on it for years. It was the only 人工的な 実体 in the world that might have been 汚職，収賄d to living tissue. I had it nearly perfected. Then, he stole all my 公式文書，認めるs. Stole them through that damned woman I thought my friend—Felice Vincart. I should have killed her, too. The 秘かに調査する! Then he brought me here because he was afraid of me. He would have killed me had not Felice Vincart begged him not to. She loved me once—though she stole from me. But now—but now I have killed him!" His 発言する／表明する rose to an hysterical pitch. "I have killed him!"

Suddenly, the gun in the 手渡すs of Jules Planchard （機の）カム up. He thrust the muzzle into his own mouth.

"Stop!" Secret スパイ／執行官 "X" sprang toward the crazed doctor. But before he could reach him, the gun had popped. Planchard fell 今後 on his 直面する.

"X" stooped over the fallen doctor. He 選ぶd up the silenced (a)自動的な／(n)自動拳銃 which had fallen from his 手渡すs after his 自殺. He put the gun into his pocket, and went over to the desk. He took a piece of paper from the 覚え書き pad and scribbled a 公式文書，認める. He 除去するd the mask of Betty Dale from his coat and was placing it beside the 公式文書，認める when he was suddenly aware of a 厳しい, familiar 発言する／表明する shouting in the next room.

For a moment, the スパイ／執行官's heart stood still. He sprang to the door. 手渡す on the knob, he paused. In the room beyond, he distinctly heard the 発言する／表明する of 視察官 Burks. その上に, he could make out the 視察官's words:

"The telephone call referred to a 黒人／ボイコット 捕らえる、獲得する that 含む／封じ込めるd the real 直面する of スパイ／執行官 'X'," Burks was 説. "This must be the one."

スパイ／執行官 "X" yanked the door open.

The silenced gun was in his 手渡す. Burks and a plainclothes man were 直面するing a small 黒人／ボイコット traveling 捕らえる、獲得する on the davenport in the living room. Burks' fingers were on the clasps!

Not for a fraction of a second did "X" hesitate. His 未来 activities depended 完全に upon the 速度(を上げる） and 正確 of his movements. The silenced gun plopped once. It was a snap 発射 that nicked the 扱う of the 黒人／ボイコット 捕らえる、獲得する. Burks uttered a startled 誓い, and let it 減少（する）. He turned, snatching at his gun. But in the time 要求するd for Burks and his companion to turn, "X" had crossed the room to within a few feet of where they stood. 明らかに, without 目的（とする）ing, "X" squeezed the 誘発する／引き起こす of the silenced gun a second time. Total 不明瞭. The 弾丸 had 粉々にするd the only light globe in the room.

"The 捕らえる、獲得する!" Burks shouted. "得る，とらえる the 捕らえる、獲得する!" And Burks himself しっかり掴むd at blackness, 遭遇（する）d a coat-sleeved arm, and hung on. He led a powerful 権利 hook that landed. The arm in his 手渡す went limp. A 団体／死体 sagged to the 床に打ち倒す.

"Got him!" he shouted. "Lights, somebody!"

AS police burst through the French doors of the living room, flashlights lanced the gloom. Burks 星／主役にするd 負かす／撃墜する at the man he had knocked out. It was one of his own 探偵，刑事s.

From out of nowhere, （機の）カム a strange, eerie whistle. Burks sprang to the open 前線 door. "This way!" he shouted. "Surround the house. Search the grounds!"

But his search was in vain. A few minutes later, a young 探偵，刑事 （機の）カム running excitedly to the 視察官.

"He's dead!" shouted the man. "Secret スパイ／執行官 'X' is dead!" He 掴むd the 視察官's arm and dragged him into the library where Planchard had committed 殺人 and 自殺.

"The guy with the mustache is Dr. Jules Planchard!" explained the young 探偵，刑事. "I remember seeing him in the papers. The other guy—"

"He looks 正確に／まさに like that 私的な 刑事, Hobart, we pulled out of the closet in 記念の Hall." Burks 削減（する） in.

"Looks that way," said the enthusiastic young 探偵，刑事. "But it's just a mask. Don't you get it? This guy must be Secret スパイ／執行官 'X'!"

Burks knelt beside the 死体. With fingers that trembled with excitement, he 解除するd the 柔軟な mask that covered the ギャング（団） leader's 直面する.

"Good Lord!" he breathed. "Why, he was supposed to be dead! Why, of all the 偽のs!" He gripped his companion's arm. "I begin to see! By heaven, no wonder he knew what all the old-time 犯罪のs looked like. Why, he was a nut on making death masks of 犯罪のs, in the old days. When Foster hears this, it'll damn 近づく kill him!"

"Who is it, 視察官?" asked the young 探偵，刑事, leaning over Burks' shoulder.

"Who is it? 井戸／弁護士席, it's the ex-police commissioner of this city! It's Major Derrick himself! He retired several years ago when a policeman accidentally 発射 and killed his son. That must have been why he 手配中の，お尋ね者 to square things with the police!"

"But look at this mask on the desk," said another man. "It's the 直面する of that girl reporter on the 先触れ（する）!"

Burks strode to the desk, 選ぶd up the mask of Betty Dale and looked at it inside and out. Then he regarded the 公式文書，認める which 残り／休憩（する）d beside it. Aloud, he read:

"This will （疑いを）晴らす Betty Dale, won't it, Burks? In the 地階 of this house, you will find many masks of many people who are dead or alive. You will understand how Derrick created the 死体 ギャング（団）. Derrick used this mask to でっちあげる，人を罪に陥れる Betty Dale—probably because her father was on the police 軍隊 when Derrick's son was killed. Sorry to 奪う you of the 楽しみ of seeing my 直面する. But look around you. Perhaps I am in this room 権利 now!"

A tiny letter "X" was penciled at the 底（に届く） of the 公式文書，認める.

Burk's 注目する，もくろむs darted about the room. "Every man inside this room and の近くに the door!" he ordered. "I'm going to see which of you has make-up on his 直面する!"

The group of 探偵，刑事s looked at each other as though they thought Burks had suddenly lost his mind. And little wonder; for a mile or more away, one lonely man stood in a 完全に equipped 科学の 研究室／実験室. It was a room known only to Secret スパイ／執行官 "X."

Light from the door of a small portable furnace cast strange, ruddy lights over the man's features—不規律な and dirt smeared features they were, for the スパイ／執行官's make-up had undergone かなりの 損失 in the past thirty or forty minutes.

He stood perfectly still, fascinated by the 炎上s inside the furnace. If one might have been permitted to look over the スパイ／執行官's shoulder, one might have seen a strange thing in the heart of the 炎上s. It was a little terrifying. Red and yellow tongues of 解雇する／砲火／射撃 licked up and around what appeared to be a human 長，率いる—or at least a human 直面する. The features were sagging, becoming more and more distorted as the 炎上s devoured it.

But it was not a human 長，率いる. It was only a mask, perfectly modeled after the true features of the living Secret スパイ／執行官. No man would ever see the like again.

THE END

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