mg.cyro-第11部分

快捷操作: 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! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！

hat　was　his　idea　of　letting　me　in。〃
　　〃I　noticed　him；〃　came　Cranston's　quiet　response。　〃He's　been　around　here　a　great　deal　lately。　You　mean　Allan　Holward；　don't　you？〃
　　〃No。　This　fellow's　name　was　Tracy　Lence。　Only　met　him　two　nights　ago。　A　likable　chap。　That　reminds　me：　I　haven't　learned　your　name　yet。　My　name　is　Luke　Gaudrin。　Yours　is…〃
　　〃Lamont　Cranston。〃
　　Luke　stared　as　he　shook　hands。　He　had　heard　mention　of　this　globe…trotting　millionaire。　Then　came　a　buzz　at　the　table。　The　handclasp　ended　as　the　croupier　pushed　over　new　stacks　of　winnings。　Cranston　and　Luke　had　hit　another　bination。
　　〃Don't　pyramid；〃　warned　The　Shadow；　in　the　quiet　tone　of　Cranston。　〃The　luck　is　due　for　a　bad　turn。　Smaller　bets　for　a　while。　Play　for　an　even　break。〃
　　〃Too　bad　you　didn't　meet　Lence；〃　observed　Luke；　as　they　took　the　loss　that　The　Shadow　had　predicted。　〃He　was　ing　out　to　the　house　tomorrow　night。　Going　to　bring　a　plete　mathematical　formula　for　his　system。　But　he　told　me　tonight　that　he　was　leaving　town　for　a　few　days。〃
　　〃Too　bad。　I　should　like　to　have　made　his　acquaintance。　So　you　live　here　in　New　Orleans；　Gaudrin？〃
　　〃Born　here。　The　old　mansion　will　be　in　the　fourth　generation　when　the　governor　passes　it　along　to　me。〃
　　〃You　live　with　your　father？〃
　　〃Yes。　He's　a　gentleman　of　the　old　school。　How　long　do　you　intend　to　be　in　town；　Mr。　Cranston？〃
　　〃Quite　a　while。　Unless　I　should　receive　some　unanticipated　message　from　New　York。〃
　　〃How　about　tomorrow　night。　Couldn't　you　drop　out　and　meet　the　folks？〃
　　〃Possibly。　This　is　rather　an　unexpected　invitation…〃
　　〃A　chap　named　Dunwood　Marr　will　be　there。　Millionaire　from　Florida。　Owns　Mexican　mines…〃
　　〃And　specializes　in　seaplane　trips？〃
　　〃That's　the　man。　Do　you　know　him？〃
　　〃We　have　mutual　acquaintances。〃
　　〃Good。　You　ought　to　meet　Marr。　He's　flying　down　from　Florida　tomorrow　afternoon。　Can　I　count　on　you；　Mr。　Cranston？〃
　　〃Yes。〃
　　The　Shadow　placed　a　new　bet　as　he　accepted　the　invitation。　Luke　copied　the　bination。　The　result　was　a　win。　The　run　of　luck　had　returned。　Eagerly；　the　young　man　watched　the　long…fingered　hands　as　they　placed　new　stacks　of　chips。
　　He　never　glanced　toward　Cranston's　face。　He　did　not　see　the　thin　smile　that　remained　fixed　upon　those　knowing　lips。　He　did　not　realize　that　this　new　friend　had　deliberately　usurped　Tracy　Lence's　place。
　　Having　picked　Lence　as　the　swindler　from　New　York；　knowing　the　murderous　con　man　to　be　an　aid　of　Cyro；　The　Shadow　was　planning　to　learn　the　details　of　the　game　that　the　crook　had　temporarily　abandoned。
　　
　　　CHAPTER　IX　
　　　IN　THE　OFFICE　
　　WHILE　The　Shadow　was　amazing　Luke　Gaudrin　with　the　fine　points　of　roulette　play；　Joe　Cardona　was　lounging　in　a　little　anteroom　where　Rafferty　had　left　him。
　　Minutes　dragged　by；　then　an　inner　door　opened　and　a　big　fellow　in　tuxedo　motioned　the　detective　to　enter。
　　When　Joe　had　passed　the　portal；　the　bouncer　went　out。　Cardona　stood　facing　a　desk　behind　which　sat　a　man　of　unusual　bearing。　This　was　Royal　Medbrook；　proprietor　of　the　Club　Caprice。　Quiet　of　expression；　his　face　held　a　sharpness　that　marked　him　as　a　man　capable　of　action。
　　A　poker　face。　With　eyes　that　were　restless；　yet　always　returning　to　their　mark。　To　Cardona；　Medbrook　looked　like　a　fellow　who　could　beat　the　toughest　third　degree。　He　had　met　others　of　the　gambler's　type；　but　never　one　who　impressed　him　so　effectively。
　　Royal　Medbrook　studied　his　swarthy…faced　visitor。　Then；　without　a　word；　he　arose　from　his　chair；　stretched　across　the　desk　and　shook　hands。　After　that；　he　pulled　a　box　of　cigars　from　a　drawer　and　motioned　for　Joe　to　take　one。
　　The　detective　accepted。　Medbrook　lighted　a　cigar　of　his　own。
　　Not　a　word　had　been　spoken。　Puffing　at　his　cigar；　Medbrook　glanced　about　the　room。　Cardona　found　himself　instinctively　following　the　moves。　He　saw　a　door　that　formed　a　route　into　the　nearest　card　room。　It　was　heavily　constructed　and　bore　a　formidable　lock。　Joe　also　observed　an　opening　to　an　inner　office…a　door　that　stood　ajar。　Finally；　he　noticed　a　heavily　curtained　window　at　the　side　of　the　room。
　　〃I've　heard　of　you；　Cardona。〃
　　Medbrook　broke　the　silence　with　this　statement。　He　followed　with　a　puff　at　his　cigar。　Then　he　added：
　　〃That　was　before　Rafferty　told　me　you　were　ing　here　tonight。〃
　　Cardona　smiled。
　　〃Friends　in　the　profession？〃　he　questioned。
　　〃Yes；〃　acknowledged　Medbrook。　〃Friends。　Straight…shooters。　You'd　know　them　if　I　mentioned　their　names。　They　liked　you。〃
　　〃I'm　glad　to　hear　that；　Medbrook。〃
　　〃One　of　them　took　a　rap　through　you。　But　he　had　no　hard　feelings　about　it。
　　Your　job　was　to　pinch　him；　and　you　did。　That　was　the　way　he　looked　at　it。〃
　　A　pause。　Then　Medbrook　resumed。
　　〃Detectives　don't　e　in　here　often；〃　he　remarked。　〃That's　not　because　I　don't　like　them。　It's　because　I　don't　respect　their　intelligence。　I　am　speaking　chiefly　of　those　from　Northern　cities。　I　can't　deal　with　them；　as　a　rule。〃
　　〃Why　not？〃
　　〃Because　of　their　prejudices。　They　can't　get　rid　of　the　idea　that　the　gambling　business　is　a　racket。　They　take　the　attitude　that　all　proprietors　like　myself　are　out　to　trim　the　suckers。　Which　is　true　in　the　cities　where　those　particular　detectives　e　from。
　　〃Illegal　gambling　is　a　high…priced　proposition　for　those　who　run　it。
　　They're　always　expecting　a　double　cross　from　the　politicians　with　whom　they　deal。　It's　a　racket；　all　right；　but　the　racketeers　are　the　politicians。　You　can't　blame　the　gamblers　for　grabbing　all　they　can　while　the　game　is　hot。〃
　　〃There's　a　lot　in　what　you　say；　Medbrook。〃
　　〃I　know　there　is。　But　here；　it's　different。　I　pay　for　my　privileges；　but　I　pay　a　set　price　and　there's　no　chiseling。　They　don't　put　the　heat　on　me；　so　I　don't　take　it　out　on　my　customers。　Is　that　clear？〃
　　Cardona　nodded。
　　
　　〃ALL　right。〃　Medbrook　leaned　across　the　desk　and　wagged　his　cigar。　〃I　understand　you're　looking　for　a　bigshot　swindler。　There's　a　chance　that　he's　been　here　at　the　Club　Caprice。　That　tip　es　from　you。　On　that　account；　I　owe　you　a　vote　of　thanks。　You　would　like　to　grab　this　fellow　Cyro。　So　would　I。
　　〃To　you　it　would　mean　a　pinch。　Big　credit　for　you　back　in　New　York。　To　me；　it　might　mean　anywhere　from　fifty　grand　up。　If　a　con　man　struts　his　stuff　around　this　place　and　gets　away　with　it；　I　not　only　lose　the　customer　who　was　trimmed；　I　lose　all　his　friends　and　all　their　friends。　Do　you　get　it？〃
　　Another　nod　from　Cardona。
　　〃I　thought　you　would；〃　resumed　Medbrook。　〃I've　been　on　this　case　ever　since　word　came　to　me　this　afternoon。　I　have　thirty　men　around　this　place；　Cardona。　Any　one　of　them　would　be　a　credit　to　the　best　detective　agency　in　the　country。　Here　are　their　reports。〃
　　He　paused　to　pull　a　sheaf　of　papers　from　a　desk　drawer。　He　thumbed　the　pages　one　by　one；　then　tossed　the　batch　to　Cardona。
　　〃Read　them　for　yourself；〃　declared　Medbrook。　〃They　cover　the　past　week。
　　They　list　every　muscler　that　walked　into　this　club。　They　have　every　man　labeled。　I'd　be　tickled　pink　if　your　man　Cyro　was　among　them。　But　he　isn't。〃
　　Cardona　studied　the　listings。　He　was　astonished　at　their　detail。　They　included　aliases　as　well　as　bona　fide　names。　They　referred　to　crooked　deals　that　the　marked　men　had　performed。　But　as　Medbrook　had　said；　every　rogue　was　of　a　tawdry　sort。
　　〃You've　seen　my　bouncers。〃　There　was　a　tinge　of　pride　in　Medbrook's　tone。
　　〃They　invited　every　one　of　these　small…timers　out　of　the　place。　If　they　had　slugged　the　whole　lot…hung　a　haymaker　on　every　chin…there　wouldn't　have　been　a　e…back　from　a　single　one　of　the　rats。　But　I　don't　like　skinned　knuckles。　They　don't　go　well　with　evening　clothes。　Those　huskies　of　mine　use　politeness　until　it　hurts。　But　it　works。〃
　　〃It　don't　look　like　I'm　tracing　Cyro；〃　remarked　Cardona；　passing　the　papers　back　to　Medbrook。　〃But　I've　learned　something　tonight。　If　I　had　thirty　men　as　good　as　yours；　I　could　show　some　results　that　would　knock　the　police　missioner　off　his　pins。〃
　　〃They　cost　me　three　grand　a　week；〃　observed　Medbrook。　〃More　than　that。　Pay　that　price　for　a　squad　of　detectives　and　you'll　make　out　as　well　as　I　do。　All　right；　Cardona。　There's　the　story。〃
　　〃And　it　means　no　luck。〃
　　〃You've　sized　it。　But　there's　still　a　chance。　Tonight　isn't　over。　The　boys　are　tipped。　Maybe　they'll　pick　up　a　lead。　How　long　are　you　going　to　be　in　New　Orleans？〃
　　〃A　long　while；　I　think。〃
　　〃That　means　more　nights。　Just　like　the　roulette　wheel。　Always　a　chance　for　a　big　win。　But　you　won't　gain　anything　by　ing　out　here。　Where　are　you　stopping？〃
　　〃At　the　Montezuma。〃
　　〃A　good　spot。　Well；　if　we　spot　your　man；　you'll　hear　from　Rafferty。　And　get　this；　Cardona：　If　we　spot　him；　you'll　get　him。　He'll　be　waiting　for　you　when　you　call。　Is　that　satisfactory？〃
　　Cardona　nodded。　Medbrook　arose　and　extended　his　hand。　Cardona　accepted　it。
　　Medbrook　picked　up　the　box　of　cigars；　Joe　helped　himself　to　a　batch　of　the　expensive　smokes。
　　〃I　said　not　to　e　here；　Cardona；〃　reminded　the　gambler。　〃By　that　I　mean　don't　bother　with　the　gambling　room。　We're　watching　it。　But　as　for　the　nightclub〃…Medbrook　smiled…〃drop　in　there　any　time　you　want。　Ask　for　Louie。
　　Tell　him　who　you　are。　Give　Louie　the　chec