fleech

All that you have stated, Fleech, is off the record.

Dave didn't wait to guess Fleech's reasons; the fellow's purpose was enough.

As only a condemned man could, Fleech battled far beyond his normal strength.

Probably Fleech hadn't found a chance to eat it, but he might go to that extreme if he saw the opportunity.

Fleech's face was lifted; his moans had turned to pleas.

Fleech didn't have to mark off the absentees.

Nobody would ever deem him a squealer like Fleech.

As police produced handcuffs to slash on the wrists of prisoners, one approached Fleech.

You knew, Fleech, what that would mean.

It wouldn't be crime to stand by and see Fleech die in a manner that might not be classed as murder at all.

Now in the grasp of the men he had mistaken for police, Fleech was listening while Lawless called the roll himself.

"I liked the way you handled Fleech."

He'd been forced to treachery, Fleech claimed.

They should have settled Fleech first."

Not that Fleech's life was valued on its own account; it simply happened that the police had counted on him for further information.

Turning as he spoke, Judge Lawless fixed his beady eyes on Fleech.

He picked Fleech instead.

Raised hands clenched Dave was almost on the point of offering such a suggestion, when Fleech acted on his own.

But Fleech was addressing Judge Lawless in person, and the pitiful tones made sense.

From where he sat, Dave could see Fleech tremble and sag in the supporting hands of the gloating men who gripped him.

He was indicating men to the number of six; as he pointed each one out, he stabbed the gavel handle Fleech's way.

Swung about by Dave, Fleech turned his gun in a new direction - toward Judge Lawless.

Driving in from the other side, The Shadow was suddenly met by Fleech, who then - apparently for the first time - revealed his real purpose.

For Fleech, the victim, had suddenly turned very human - too human, for Dave to still remain obdurate about the fellow's case.

If Fleech had just been whimpering at the gunners who flanked him, Dave's better nature might not have sprung to the doomed man's cause.