mg.cyro-第24章

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ll　for　it；　thinking　that　Debeq　had　information。
　　〃The　police　will　class　it　as　a　robbery。　They　will　never　suspect　that　these　men　were　from　Paris。　You　see；　now；　Lence；　why　I　kept　mobsmen　from　the　job。　This　town　would　have　been　stirred　up　if　out…of…town　gangsters　had　been　in　the　game。
　　〃Hotels　would　be　watched。　All　suspicious…looking　strangers　would　be　in　trouble。　As　it　is；　we　have　lost　a　squad　of　shock　troops。　But　we　have　learned　something　of　value。　Tabac　told　me　what　Wayson　has　been　saying　to　certain　people。〃
　　〃About　Cardona？〃
　　〃Yes…in　a　sense。　Wayson　has　let　it　out　that　they　are　looking　for　a　con　man　from　New　York。　They're　trying　to　get　a　line　on　him　by　watching　all　strangers　who　look　like　swindlers。　Which　means　that　you　are　safe。〃
　　〃Why　so？〃
　　〃Because　no　description　was　given。　They　don't　know　whom　they　are　after。
　　You　pass　as　a　gentleman。　That　is　why　Cyro　picked　you。　Go　back　to　a　hotel　tomorrow　or　the　day　after。　Resume　your　acquaintance　with　Luke　Gaudrin。　But　hold　off　on　a　visit　to　the　house。　We'll　wait　until　the　Nautilus　is　due。〃
　　〃Cyro's　orders？〃
　　〃Yes。　As　for　the　Apaches；　we　will　not　need　them。　Jose　Larribez　will　reach　New　Orleans　on　the　Steamship　Tarrano；　from　Pernambuco。　He　will　be　here　before　the　Nautilus　sails　into　Lake　Pontchartrain。〃
　　〃With　his　crew？〃
　　〃Yes。　Some　are　aboard　the　same　ship。　They　will　settle　on　the　water　front。
　　They　will　acquire　others　there。　I　had　my　Apaches　ready　only　in　case　Larribez　could　not　get　here　in　time。〃
　　〃Larribez　will　go　to　a　hotel？〃
　　〃Certainly。　He　is　supposed　to　be　a　wealthy　citizen　of　Buenos　Aires。　No　one　knows　that　he　was　a　Porrista　in　Havana。　He　will　have　contact　with　his　crew。
　　Larribez　has　orders　to　e　here　the　night　he　arrives。〃
　　〃You　know　him　by　sight？〃
　　〃I　have　never　met　him。　Like　yourself；　he　is　a　stranger　to　me。　But　I　know　when　to　expect　him。　That　is　sufficient。　He　will　introduce　himself　as　you　did。〃
　　〃Then　I'm　to　be　here　when　he　arrives？〃
　　〃Certainly。　We　three　are　equals；　as　lieutenants　of　Cyro。　The　first　on　the　ground；　I　have　been　the　one　entrusted　to　receive　the　orders。　That　is　all。〃
　　Tracy　Lence　arose　from　his　chair。
　　〃I'll　go　back　to　the　apartment；〃　he　remarked。　〃Since　we're　sure　Cardona　hasn't　spotted　me；　I've　got　nothing　to　worry　about。　Sorry　about　your　mob；　Brilliard…〃
　　〃I'm　not；〃　broke　in　the　Frenchman。　〃I　won't　have　to　bother　about　getting　them　back　to　Paris。　Link　Ruckert　lost　a　few　men　in　a　fight　last　night；　but　he　still　has　plenty。　With　Link　working　under　you　and　Jose　Larribez　supplying　his　own　outfit；　we'll　be　ready　for　the　pay…off。〃
　　Tracy　Lence　strolled　out。　Raoul　Brilliard　closed　the　door　and　bolted　it。
　　He　turned　toward　the　inner　room。　When　he　arrived　there；　he　stepped　into　a　spot　where　The　Shadow　no　longer　lingered。
　　A　closing　shutter　wavered　momentarily　as　Brilliard　reached　the　bedroom。
　　The　artist　did　not　see　that　final　motion　that　indicated　the　departure　of　a　living　presence。　Outside；　The　Shadow　was　descending　the　stairway　that　led　to　the　inner　court。
　　
　　FIFTEEN　minutes　later；　Justin　Oswood　strolled　into　the　lobby　of　the　Hotel　Bontezan。　He　was　carrying　a　folded　garment　over　his　arm。　It　was　black　and　inconspicuous；　it　passed　for　a　light　overcoat。
　　In　his　room；　the　guest　removed　that　garment。　From　pockets　in　its　inner　folds；　he　removed　automatics；　then　thin　black　gloves；　finally；　a　slouch　hat　that　he　had　folded　into　small　press。　The　garment；　itself；　showed　as　a　black　cloak　with　crimson　lining　that　had　been　folded　from　view。
　　Justin　Oswood　pressed　the　light　switch。　In　darkness；　he　became　a　different　being。　From　the　window　of　his　room；　a　strange　personage　looked　out　across　New　Orleans；　where　the　broad　line　of　Canal　Street　formed　a　glimmering　boulevard　whereon　toy　trolley　cars　moved　between　the　traffic　of　tiny　automobiles。
　　The　laugh　of　The　Shadow　whispered　softly　through　the　room。　Burning　eyes　had　turned　the　direction　of　their　gaze　toward　the　low…lying　buildings　of　the　Vieux　Carre。　There；　in　the　French　Quarter；　The　Shadow　had　fought　tonight。　After　victory　in　battle；　he　had　enjoyed　another　triumph。
　　By　stealth；　he　had　found　the　men　he　wanted。　Lence　and　Brilliard；　lieutenants　of　Cyro；　had　discussed　their　plans　within　The　Shadow's　range　of　hearing。　His　strategy　in　sparing　Tabac　had　brought　dividends。　One　more　lieutenant　to　be　watched：　Jose　Larribez；　when　that　new　villain　arrived。
　　Then　would　final　plans　be　ready。　Then　would　Cyro's　lieutenants　move。　A　soft　laugh　showed　that　The　Shadow　was　contemplating　some　counterstroke　that　would　nullify　their　efforts。　A　move　that　would　do　more：　one　that　might　lead　to　the　unknown　chief　of　evil；　Cyro；　himself。
　　The　Shadow　stepped　from　the　window。　He　picked　up　a　telephone　in　the　darkness。　He　spoke；　not　in　a　weird　whisper；　but　in　the　easy　drawl　that　suited　the　character　of　Justin　Oswood。　As　Oswood；　he　was　sending　a　night　telegram　to　New　York。
　　The　message　pertained　to　securities。　It　was　to　an　investment　broker　named　Rutledge　Mann。　But　the　stocks　and　bonds　mentioned　in　that　message　carried　a　hidden　meaning。　They　pertained　to　persons…not　to　investments…to　agents　whom　Mann；　as　contact；　would　summon　to　obey　The　Shadow's　needs。
　　
　　　CHAPTER　XVII　
　　　TWO　NIGHTS　LATER　
　　〃NOTHING　new；　Rafferty；〃　declared　Royal　Medbrook　from　behind　his　office　desk。　〃Take　a　look　at　the　sheets　if　you　want。〃
　　〃Never　mind；　Royal；〃　returned　Rafferty；　with　a　grin。　〃I'll　take　your　word　for　it。　The　New　York　dick　is　still　in　town　and　I've　got　to　keep　him　posted。〃
　　〃Certainly。　I　suppose　he's　still　scouring　the　French　Quarter；　along　with　Lieutenant　Wayson。〃
　　〃Yeah。　But　they'd　have　given　it　up　if　it　hadn't　been　for　that　brawl　at　Debeq's。〃
　　〃At　Debeq's？〃　questioned　Medbrook；　a　slight　look　of　interest　on　his　face。
　　〃Who　is　Debeq？〃
　　〃Didn't　you　ever　hear　of　him？〃　inquired　Rafferty。　〃He's　an　old　Frenchman　who　lives　down　in　the　Quarter。　Some　tough　birds　tried　to　burgle　Debeq's　place。
　　They　shot　it　out　with　the　cops。〃
　　〃I　read　about　it；〃　recalled　Medbrook。　〃But　I　didn't　know　Cardona　and　Wayson　were　in　on　the　fight。〃
　　〃They　kept　it　out　of　the　papers…their　part　of　it…so　nobody　would　know　Cardona　was　here　in　town。　The　cops　took　the　credit；　but　Wayson　and　Cardona　did　the　heavy　work。〃
　　〃I　see。　And　Cardona　probably　thinks　that　those　rowdies　could　be　hooked　with　the　con　man？〃
　　〃I　guess　he　does。　He　hasn't　said　it　though。　Just　seems　to　be　sticking　around　in　hope　of　something　happening。　Wayson　is　off　regular　duty。　Just　working　to　help　Cardona。〃
　　〃Well；　if　either　of　them　think　that　swindlers　use　mobs；　they're　crazy。
　　That's　my　opinion。〃
　　〃Ditto；　Royal。〃
　　Rafferty　went　out。　Tony　entered。　He　made　a　gesture　toward　the　papers　on　the　desk。
　　〃I　didn't　put　that　fellow　Lence　on　the　list；〃　he　confided。　〃He's　back　again。　I　thought　you'd　better　know　it。　He's　talking　to　young　Gaudrin。〃
　　〃Don't　worry　about　Lence；　Tony。　He's　in　the　clear。　Who　else　is　with　Luke　Gaudrin？〃
　　〃The　millionaire。〃
　　〃Cranston？　I　thought　he　had　left　town。〃
　　〃Cranston　isn't　here。　I'm　speaking　about　Marr。〃
　　〃I'll　drop　out　and　say　hello。〃
　　〃All　right；　boss。〃
　　
　　MEDBROOK　followed　Tony　from　the　office。　Reaching　the　gaming　room；　he　shook　hands　with　Luke　Gaudrin；　then　with　Dunwood　Marr。　Luke　turned　to　introduce　the　gambler　to　Tracy　Lence。　Another　handshake。
　　Luke　turned　back　to　the　roulette　table。　Medbrook　clapped　a　friendly　hand　upon　the　young　man's　shoulders。　Luke　had　acquired　a　fair…sized　stack　of　chips；　the　action　looked　like　friendly　congratulation　on　Medbrook's　part。
　　〃Good　work；　Luke；〃　said　the　gambler。　〃Keep　right　on　winning；　as　long　as　you　don't　break　the　bank。　How　is　your　father？〃
　　〃The　governor's　feeling　great。〃
　　〃Good！　Give　him　my　best　regards。　I　might　drop　in　some　evening；　when　I'm
　　going　by。〃
　　〃We'd　be　glad　to　see　you；　Royal。〃
　　Medbrook　stepped　away。　Dunwood　Marr　watched　the　gambler　with　a　quizzical　gaze。　Something　that　resembled　suspicion　crept　over　the　millionaire's　face。
　　Then　Marr　suddenly　resumed　his　usual　genial　expression。
　　Neither　Luke　Gaudrin　nor　Tracy　Lence　had　noted　Marr's　change　of　countenance。　But　another　observer　had。　This　was　a　player　wh