mg.cyro-第25章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　　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　who　stood　on　the　opposite　side　of　the　table。　He　was　a　new　guest　of　the　Club　Caprice；　one　who　had　been　introduced　as　Justin　Oswood。
　　No　longer　Lamont　Cranston；　The　Shadow　had　watched　a　meeting　at　the　door　of　the　gaming　room　where　Luke　Gaudrin　and　Dunwood　Marr　had　run　into　Tracy　Lence。　He　had　observed　the　trio　from　then　on。　He　had　also　noted　Royal　Medbrook's　arrival。
　　The　Shadow　had　seen　significance　in　Medbrook's　approach；　and　it　seemed　that　Dunwood　Marr　had　also　gathered　that　the　gambler　might　have　more　than　a　passing　interest　in　the　affairs　of　Luke　Gaudrin。
　　Lence　was　talking　roulette　systems　to　Luke。　Marr　had　resumed　a　style　of　play　that　appeared　to　be　his　own。　Secure　and　unrecognized　in　his　guise　of　Justin　Oswood；　The　Shadow　strolled　from　the　gaming　room。　He　passed　that　portal；　near　the　veranda；　he　observed　two　other　persons：　Reginald　Exeter　and　Alicia　Gaudrin。
　　
　　〃I　WISH　they　would　hurry　out；〃　Alicia　was　saying。　〃I'm　tired　of　the　nightclub；　Reggie。　And　I　wouldn't　go　in　that　gambling　room；　even　I　knew　I　would　surely　win。〃
　　〃Why　not；　Alicia？〃　inquired　Exeter。
　　〃Because　of　Luke；〃　replied　the　girl。　〃He　is　wheedling　father。　That's　a　fact；　Reggie。　I　think　he's　lost　money　here　and　he's　trying　to　make　them　think　that　father　will　pay　up。
　　〃He　brought　Mr。　Cranston　here　and　this　is　the　second　time　that　he　has　had　Mr。　Marr　in　the　place。　Father　came　that　first　time。　Luke　is　trying　to　impress　the　management。〃
　　〃Not　so　loud；　Alicia。　Some　one　might　hear　you。　Tell　me　more　about　that　dinner　party　that　you　have　arranged。〃
　　〃It　is　in　honor　of　Professor　Babcock；　on　his　return。　It　will　be　quite　informal；　Reggie。　Father；　Luke；　you　and　I；　Captain　Emory…to　meet　the　new　owner　of　the　Nautilus。〃
　　〃Namely；　our　friend　Mr。　Marr。　He　will　be　present　of　course。〃
　　〃Yes。　And　I　have　managed　to　land　Raoul　Brilliard。　That　should　please　you。
　　You　will　be　able　to　talk　all　the　French　you　want；　Reggie。〃
　　〃You　will　make　the　arrangements　for　the　portrait？〃
　　〃Yes。　Won't　that　be　grand？〃
　　〃I　should　say！　By　the　way；　Alicia；　didn't　I　hear　Luke　say　something　about　the　dinner　when　he　introduced　us　to　this　chap　Tracy　Lence？〃
　　〃Yes。〃　The　girl　seemed　annoyed。　〃You　know　he　invited　Lence　to　the　house　that　night　Mr。　Cranston　came。　So　he　repeated　the　invitation　again；　tonight。〃
　　〃Inviting　Lence　for　the　big　party？〃
　　〃Yes…and　I　think　it　was　nervy　on　Luke's　part。　I'm　going　to　tell　him　so。
　　I　don't　want　this　man　Lence　at　that　dinner。〃
　　〃You　shouldn't　say　that；　Alicia。　Lence　may　prove　to　be　quite　as　interesting　as　Cranston。〃
　　〃I　don't　care。　I'm　going　to　tell　Luke　that　he…〃
　　〃You　will　say　nothing　to　him。〃
　　Alicia's　eyes　flashed　angrily。　Then　a　smile　came　to　her　lips；　replacing　a　pout。
　　〃You're　right；　Reggie；〃　said　the　girl；　in　a　soft　voice。　〃So　considerate；　always；　of　people's　feelings。　It　would　not　be　right　to　embarrass　Luke　now　that　he　has　given　the　invitation。〃
　　〃That　is　the　way　I　feel；　Alicia。〃
　　The　Shadow　strolled　away。　Exeter　had　not　noticed　him；　for　his　back　was　toward　the　personage　who　posed　as　Justin　Oswood。　Nor　did　Alicia　observe　the　tall　stranger。　She　was　too　intent　in　her　conversation　with　Exeter。
　　
　　ENTERING　a　cab；　The　Shadow　drawled　his　destination。　He　mentioned　a　pier　on　the　Mississippi；　then　specified　that　he　wished　to　be　there　within　a　half　hour。
　　The　driver　responded；　saying　he　could　make　it。
　　The　cab　arrived　within　the　time　appointed。　A　steamship　had　docked；　lights　showed　the　name　at　the　stern。　The　boat　was　the　Tarrano；　from　Pernambuco。
　　Smoking　a　cigarette；　The　Shadow　joined　a　group　of　persons　who　were　watching　a　scattering　of　passengers　descend　the　gangplank。
　　Chiefly　a　freighter；　the　Tarrano　had　brought　a　large　and　cosmopolitan　crew。　Some　of　the　seamen　had　already　left　the　vessel。　The　passengers；　however；　numbered　less　than　thirty。　One　individual；　dark…faced　and　mustached；　caught　The　Shadow's　eye。
　　This　was　obviously　Jose　Larribez。　His　luggage　had　undergone　inspection；　he　was　arranging　for　his　large　suitcases　to　go　to　a　taxicab。　〃Si；　Senor　Larribez〃　…
　　the　proving　words　of　identity　came　from　a　steward。　The　Shadow　caught　Larribez's　response…a　mention　of　the　Hotel　Bontezan。
　　A　soft　laugh　came　from　Oswood's　lips　as　The　Shadow　strolled　away　from　the　group　of　idlers。　Larribez　had　chosen　The　Shadow's　hotel。　The　coincidence　simplified　the　task　which　The　Shadow　had　set　for　this　evening。　There　was　no　need　for　haste。
　　
　　SHORTLY　after　Jose　Larribez　had　registered　at　the　Bontezan；　Justin　Oswood　appeared　at　the　desk　to　inquire　about　mail。　He　found　several　letters　awaiting　him。　While　the　clerk　obtained　them；　The　Shadow　spied　the　register　and　noted　the　location　of　Larribez's　rooms。　The　new　arrival　had　taken　a　suite。
　　In　the　room　which　The　Shadow　occupied　as　Oswood；　a　strange　phenomenon　occurred　shortly　afterward。　A　switch　clicked；　the　light　from　a　table　lamp　came　on；　to　throw　a　spot　of　illumination　in　a　room　that　was　otherwise　totally　dark。
　　Beneath　that　light　appeared　long…fingered　hands。　A　gem…The　Shadow's　girasol…sparkled　from　a　finger　on　the　left。　The　hands　opened　envelopes。　Coded　messages　came　into　view。　Writing　faded　as　keen　eyes　read　the　statements。
　　Then　came　a　rippling　laugh；　suppressed　to　a　shuddering　whisper。　The　light　clicked　out。　Swishing　sounds　came　from　the　gloom。　The　door　opened。　Into　a　silent；　deserted　corridor　stepped　a　figure　cloaked　in　black。
　　The　Shadow　followed　the　corridor　to　a　flight　of　little…used　stairs。　He　went　up　one　floor；　turned　left　and　arrived　at　a　door　which　he　knew　must　be　the　inner　room　of　Larribez's　suite。　The　Shadow　probed　the　lock　with　his　pick。　The　door　opened　when　he　softly　turned　the　knob。
　　The　room　was　dark；　but　rays　of　light　penetrated　from　the　doorway　to　the　living　room。　Closing　the　outer　door　behind　him；　The　Shadow　softly　locked　it　and　stepped　toward　the　connecting　door。　Feet　scuffed　in　the　other　room。　The　door　swung　open。　The　Shadow　deftly　swerved　behind　it　as　Larribez　entered　and　turned　on　the　light。
　　The　dark…faced　man　began　to　unpack　a　bag。　The　door；　almost　fully　opened；　prevented　him　from　seeing　the　figure　that　stood　behind　it。　While　Larribez　was　still　placing　articles　in　a　bureau　drawer；　there　was　a　soft　knock　at　the　outer　door　of　the　living　room。
　　Larribez　went　to　answer　it。　He　turned　out　the　bedroom　light　while　on　the　way；　but　he　left　the　door　open。
　　The　Shadow　heard　someone　enter　the　living　room。　Peering　through　the　crack　of　the　door；　he　observed　a　stocky；　rough…faced　fellow　who　had　entered。
　　〃They're　getting　set；〃　announced　the　arrival。　〃Down　at　a　joint　called　the　Cafe　Internationale…a　water…front　beanery　run　by　a　Frenchy　named　Michlieu。〃
　　〃I　know　the　place；〃　replied　Larribez；　in　a　slightly　foreign　accent。　〃But　it　is　not　the　one　that　I　should　have　chosen。　There　are　too　many　other　people　there。〃
　　〃Downstairs；　yes；〃　admitted　the　other　man。　〃But　Michlieu's　got　an　upstairs　joint　for　the　overflow。　I　told　him　I　was　trying　to　get　a　crew　for　a　tramp　steamer。　I　paid　him　for　the　use　of　the　upstairs　room。〃
　　〃Excellent；　Dombar！〃　decided　Larribez。　〃You　can　make　your　headquarters　there。〃
　　〃And　I'll　stay　there；〃　added　Dombar；　〃I'm　wanted　in　this　town　for　that　mutiny　on　the　Stellar　five　years　ago。　Nobody　knows　I'm　the　guy　that　crowned　the　skipper　with　a　belaying　pin；　but…〃
　　〃Forget　your　previous　murders；　Dombar；〃　interposed　Larribez；　calmly。　〃The　other　men　have　all　performed　similar　deeds。　That　is　why　I　chose　them　and　brought　them　here。　You　are　in　charge　only　because　you　are　an　American。　When　will　the　crew　assemble？〃
　　〃Inside　an　hour。　Password　is　the　one　you　gave　me：　Cajobabo。　I've　passed　the　word　to　the　ones　I　know；　they'll　get　it　to　the　rest。〃
　　〃And　all　will　soon　be　acquainted。　All　right；　Dombar。　You　must　return　to　the　Cafe　Internationale。　Call　me　by　the　telephone　after　this…unless　you　hear　from　me；　through　someone　with　the　countersign。〃
　　The　door　closed。　Jose　Larribez　was　alone。　The　ex…Porrista　made　a　few　notations　at　the　writing　desk；　then　turned