mg.cyro-第15章

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　　It　sounds　good　enough…the　way　you've　told　it…to　get　a　few　thousand　from　a　man　who　has　cash　to　spare。　There　are　plenty　of　such　fellows　out　here；　Luke。〃
　　〃I'm　giving　you　my　word；　Royal。　I　haven't　spoken　to　a　soul　about　it…〃
　　〃Then　don't。　If　you　need　cash；　e　to　me。　I'll　let　you　have　it…as　much　as　is　good　for　you…in　addition　to　that　credit　you　have　here。　All　on　the　account；　you　understand。〃
　　〃Thanks；　Royal；　that's　white　of　you。　I　won't　abuse　the　privilege。　What's　more；　I'll　dodge　Lence　when　he　calls　up。　And　I'll　keep　away　from　Cranston　too…〃
　　〃Don't　do　that；〃　interrupted　Medbrook。　〃You　have　made　those　acquaintances。
　　Keep　them。　But　don't　sponge。　Don't　borrow。　And　on　the　contrary；　don't　splurge。
　　Be　yourself…a　young　man　of　a　good　family。　In　moderate　circumstances。
　　〃Remember；　you　will　have　to　impress　your　father　after　his　ship　es　in。
　　If　he　sees　that　you　are　making　acquaintances　among　men　who　appear　to　be　wealthy；　he　will　be　more　inclined　to　finance　you　after　the　wealth　arrives。
　　〃Unless　you　use　mon　sense；　the　deal　will　be　off。　Play　straight。　Let　me　know　as　soon　as　the　Nautilus　is　due；　so　I　can　keep　posted。　Those　terms　are　fair。〃
　　〃Sure　they　are；　Royal。　I'll　play　the　game。〃
　　〃Turn　in　half　your　chips　for　cash。　That's　six　hundred。　Don't　squander　it。
　　Put　the　others　against　your　account。　Play　some　of　them　back　if　you　want。　But　if　you　lose　them　all；　don't　cry　for　more　tonight。〃
　　〃All　right；　Royal。〃
　　
　　MEDBROOK　wrote　out　an　order　and　handed　it　to　Luke。　The　young　man　arose　and　walked　from　the　office。　Tony　came　in　and　looked　quizzical。
　　〃Anything　new；　boss？〃　he　asked。
　　〃Nothing；〃　replied　Medbrook。　〃You　can　go；　Tony。〃
　　〃But　this　fellow　Tracy　Lence…〃
　　〃He's　not　the　one　the　New　York　dick　is　after。〃
　　〃Then　if　he　es　here　again…〃
　　〃Don't　bother　him。〃
　　Tony　went　out。　Shortly　afterward；　Medbrook　arose　from　his　desk。　Peering　eyes　watched　from　behind　the　curtain。　The　Shadow　saw　a　wise　smile　creep　over　the　gambler's　lips。　Medbrook　followed　the　path　that　Tony　had　taken。
　　Ten　minutes　later；　Royal　Medbrook　returned　after　a　brief　tour　through　the　gaming　room。　Again；　his　wise　lips　formed　their　smile。　Methodically；　the　gambler　tried　the　door　to　the　card　room　to　make　sure　it　was　locked。　It　was。
　　No　eyes　were　watching　the　gambler's　return。　The　space　behind　the　curtain　was　empty。　The　Shadow　had　departed；　locking　the　door　to　the　card　room　after　his　exit。
　　
　　OUTSIDE；　Lamont　Cranston　entered　a　taxi　and　told　the　driver　to　take　him　to　New　Orleans。　As　the　cab　headed　townward；　a　soft；　almost　inaudible　laugh　came　from　The　Shadow's　disguised　lips。
　　Tonight；　The　Shadow　had　learned　of　a　game　that　was　big　enough　to　attract　the　famous　Cyro。　He　had　arranged　a　visit　to　the　Gaudrin　mansion；　a　trip　that　would　put　him　in　close　contact　with　those　concerned　in　the　matter　of　the　Spanish　treasure。
　　But　more　than　that；　he　had　analyzed　the　circumstances。　He　had　considered　the　potentialities　of　ing　crime。　Keen　in　his　judgment；　he　had　classed　Luke　Gaudrin　as　a　weakling。　More　than　that；　he　had　sized　the　part　that　Royal　Medbrook　was　playing　in　this　game　of　wealth。
　　
　　　CHAPTER　XI　
　　　CROOKS　AGREE　
　　THE　next　morning　found　Raoul　Brilliard　at　his　easel。　Still　working　upon　the　finishing　touches　of　the　portrait；　the　bearded　artist　was　humming　a　catchy　Parisian　air　as　he　applied　dabs　with　the　brush。　Stepping　back　to　survey　his　work；　Brilliard　became　conscious　that　someone　had　entered。　Smiling；　he　turned　about　to　face　Tracy　Lence。
　　〃Bon　matin；　monsieur；〃　greeted　Brilliard。　〃Entrez；　s'il　vous　plait。　Fermez　la　porte。〃
　　Lence　understood　the　order　to　close　the　door。　He　performed　that　action　while　Brilliard　watched　him。　The　Frenchman　nodded　wisely　as　he　noted　Lence's　anxiety。
　　〃What　is　the　matter？〃　inquired　Brilliard。
　　〃Plenty；〃　returned　Lence。　〃Did　you　ever　hear　of　Joe　Cardona？〃
　　〃No；〃　replied　Brilliard。　〃Who　is　he？　Some　con　man？　Did　you　see　him　out　at　the　Club　Caprice？〃
　　〃He's　not　a　con　man；〃　explained　Lence。　〃He's　a　dick。　A　smart　one；　from　New　York。　But　the　Club　Caprice　was　where　I　saw　him。〃
　　〃You　know　him　then？〃
　　〃By　sight。〃
　　〃Does　he　know　you？〃
　　〃No。〃
　　Brilliard　shrugged　his　shoulders　and　turned　back　to　work　at　the　easel。
　　Apparently；　he　could　not　see　how　Joe　Cardona's　arrival　in　New　Orleans　concerned　the　cause　for　which　Cyro's　aids　were　striving。
　　Lence　caught　the　significance　of　the　Frenchman's　shrug。　He　decided　to　explain　matters。
　　〃When　I　was　in　New　York；　Brilliard；〃　he　said；　cautiously；　〃I　was　on　my　own。　Not　working　for　Cyro。　You　understand；　don't　you？〃
　　Brilliard　nodded。　It　was　obvious　that　he　had　learned　the　facts　of　Lence's　probation。
　　〃I　was　counting　on　a　tip　from　Cyro；〃　resumed　Lence。　〃But　I　had　to　live　in　the　meantime。　So　I　teamed　up　with　a　smart　worker　named　Roke　Rowden。　He　was　the　front。　I　was　the　blind；　ready　to　strut　my　stuff　under　a　phony　name…so　I'd　keep　under　cover。〃
　　〃I　understand。　Go　on。〃
　　〃Well〃…Lence　hesitated…〃Rowden　spotted　that　message　that　came　in　from　Cyro。　He　wanted　to　be　in　the　know。　Threatened　to　queer　the　game。　So　I　bumped　him。〃
　　〃Openly？〃
　　〃No。　We　were　alone　in　his　apartment。　I　made　a　perfect　getaway。　Left　Roke　Rowden　dying；　with　suicide　appearances。　When　I　left　New　York；　I　ducked　around　a　bit　on　my　way　here。〃
　　〃So　you　told　me。〃
　　〃I　didn't　leave　a　clue。　I　wouldn't　have　e　here　if　I　had。　Yet　here's　Joe　Cardona　in　town。　Out　at　the　Club　Caprice；　talking　with　a　chap　named　Rafferty；　who's　a　stooge　for　the　New　Orleans　police。〃
　　〃On　your　trail；　eh？〃
　　〃I　wouldn't　say　that。　I　think　he's　after　somebody　else。　Looking　for　some　lammister；　maybe。　There's　probably　a　bunch　of　them　bumming　around　New　Orleans。
　　But　here's　the　way　I　figure　it；　Brilliard。　Cardona　is　smart。　He's　a　guy　with　hunches。　I　don't　like　him　being　in　town。〃
　　〃Why　not　suggest　that　he　leave？〃
　　Brilliard's　tone　rang　with　sarcasm。　Tracy　Lence　winced。　He　laughed　in　forced　fashion。　Then　he　became　more　serious　than　before。
　　
　　〃CYRO　is　a　big　shot；〃　he　declared。　〃I　know　he　doesn't　worry　about　wise　dicks。　But　Cardona　is　a　lucky　bird。　Runs　into　the　breaks；　that　fellow　does。〃
　　〃You　mean　then〃…Brilliard　wheeled；　impressed　by　his　panion's　tone　…
　　〃that　there　is　actually　a　chance　that　this　detective　could　interfere　with　our　plans？〃
　　〃I　mean　it；〃　assured　Lence。
　　Brilliard　considered。　While　the　Frenchman　was　still　pondering；　Lence　put　in　new　statements。
　　〃I　had　Luke　Gaudrin　lined　up；〃　he　asserted。　〃But　when　I　saw　Cardona；　I　ducked。　I　headed　in　town　and　checked　out　of　my　hotel。　Checked　all　my　luggage　and　drove　up　to　Gulfport。　Stayed　there　for　the　night　and　drove　back　this　morning。〃
　　〃And　Luke　Gaudrin；〃　questioned　Brilliard；　narrowly；　〃did　he　suspect　anything？〃
　　〃Nothing；〃　assured　Lence。　〃I　told　him　I　would　get　in　touch　with　him　after　I　returned　to　town。　Within　a　few　days；　that　is　to　be。〃
　　Brilliard　nodded。　He　reached　in　his　smock；　drew　out　a　small　card；　and　wrote　an　address　upon　it。
　　〃Move　into　this　place；〃　he　said。　〃An　apartment　over　near　the　Cabildo。
　　Close　by　Jackson　Square。　I　leased　the　apartment　for　a　friend　named　Richard　Guyas。　The　name　is　already　on　the　door。　Introduce　yourself　as　Guyas　and　live　there。
　　〃You　will　then　be　free　to　move　out　of　sight　any　time　you　choose。　For　the　present；　keep　out　of　sight。　Except　when　you　e　here；　which　you　may　do　any　time　during　the　day　or　evening　up　to　midnight。
　　〃If　you　see　this　door　closed；　do　not　enter。　That　will　mean　that　I　have　art　patrons　present。　They　e　seldom；　for　I　do　not　encourage　them。　But　let　me　add　one　point：　after　tonight；　keep　a　sharp　lookout　while　you　are　traveling　through　the　Quarter。〃
　　〃Why？〃
　　〃On　account　of　this　man　Cardona。〃
　　〃You　think　he　will　be　around　here？〃
　　〃If　he　is　looking　for　someone　and　does　not　find　that　person　at　the　Club　Caprice；　he　will　most　certainly　e　to　the　French　Quarter。　We　can　allow　him　one　more　night；　then　watch　out。〃
　　〃I　get　it。　He'll　wait　for　a　report　from　the　Club　Caprice。　Maybe　he'll　go　there。　If　there's　nothing　doing；　he'll　be　down　in　this　section。〃
　　〃Exactly。　And　that　is　the　time　when　we　must　be　ready　for　trouble。　But　I　do　not　suppose　there　wil