mg.dictatorofcrime-第8部分

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　　Therefore；　she　wasn't　worried；　and　by　remaining；　she　might　learn　some　real　inside　facts　that　Lamont　Cranston　would　like　to　know。
　　Facts　for　The　Shadow！
　　〃Peridor　was　grand；〃　declared　Nayre；　in　a　tone　of　recollection。　〃He　told　Castenago　that　he　sided　with　the　Durez　faction　because　they　wanted　reform　in　Centralba。　It　amazed　me；　the　way　Castenago　listened　and　the　promise　he　offered。　He　said　he　would　institute　every　reform　that　Peridor　wanted；　if　Jose　Durez　would　leave　the　country　and　take　his　friends　with　him。
　　〃Of　course；　they　hedged；　until　Castenago　became　generous。　He　insisted　on　that　one　point：　they　would　have　to　leave；　as　a　token　of　good　faith。　So　they　began　talking　terms　regarding　their　concessions。
　　〃He　granted　everything　they　asked；　provided　that　they　get　out。　So　they　did；　and　I　had　to　e　with　them；　because；　by　then；　Castenago　classed　me　as　a　member　of　their　group。
　　〃Funny；　isn't　it？〃　Nayre　shook　his　head。　〃All　during　the　Clipper　trip；　Durez　and　his　crowd　were　congratulating　themselves　on　how　they　had　outsmarted　Castenago。　They　were　talking　about　using　a　chunk　of　that　ten　million　dollars　to　smuggle　arms　into　Centralba　and　start　a　real　revolution。
　　〃They　wanted　me　in　on　the　deal；　and　I　had　to　listen；　though　I　didn't　like　it。　Then；　when　they　arrived　here；　they　were　knocked　off　by　a　bunch　of　American　crooks。〃
　　Nayre　tamped　his　cigarette　in　an　ash　tray　and　rose　from　his　perch　on　the　desk。　Looking　at　Margo　again；　he　saw　sympathy　in　her　gaze。
　　〃Frankly；　Miss　Lane；〃　he　said；　〃I　can't　say　that　I'm　sorry。　Durez　and　his　friends　got　just　what　Castenago　would　have　given　them　had　it　not　been　for　Peridor；　the　only　honest　man　in　Centralba。　I　can　only　state　that　I　had　no　hand　in　it。〃
　　Margo　nodded；　indicating　that　she　believed　everything　that　Nayre　had　said。
　　He　was　still　watching　her；　intently；　when　an　interruption　came。　The　door　opened　and　a　stolid　man　with　a　weather…beaten　face　stepped　into　the　dilapidated　office；　extending　a　hand　to　Nayre。
　　
　　
　　〃RATHER　quick　notice；　Nayre；〃　he　greeted。　〃I　didn't　think　you'd　be　needing　me　so　soon。〃
　　〃There's　been　trouble；　Brady；〃　Nayre　returned。　〃Durez　and　his　crowd　were　wiped　out　by　a　lot　of　crooks；　who　took　their　money。　I　couldn't　afford　to　stay　about　and　argue　with　the　police。〃
　　〃They're　after　you？〃
　　〃I'm　not　sure。〃　Nayre　turned。　〃By　the　way；　Brady；　I'd　like　you　to　meet　my　friend；　Miss　Lane。　She　brought　me　out　here。〃
　　Brady　gave　Margo　an　impersonal　stare；　and　nodded。　He　didn't　seem　to　regard　it　as　remarkable　that　Nayre　had　been　chauffeured　by　a　young　lady　fresh　from　a　swimming　pool；　as　Margo's　ultra　bathing　costume　indicated。
　　Indeed；　Margo　received　the　impression　that　Brady　wouldn't　have　been　surprised　if　Nayre　had　shown　up　on　a　dolphin　piloted　by　a　mermaid。
　　Evidently；　the　two　were　old　friends；　and　Brady　had　been　expecting　Nayre's　arrival　in　Miami。　For　the　present；　that　point　was　merely　indicated　by　their　mutual　accord。　Brady；　in　his　stolid　way；　was　more　interested　in　Nayre's　statements　concerning　the　police。
　　Stepping　to　a　radio　cabinet；　Brady　pressed　the　switch。　He　struck　a　very　appropriate　broadcast；　a　news　program；　that　was　suddenly　interrupted。
　　〃Flash！〃　came　a　voice。　〃Miami　Beach　police　are　seeking　the　perpetrators　of　the　most　stupendous　crime　in　years。　Tonight；　unknown　criminals　raided　the　Equator　Hotel；　murdered　Colonel　Jose　Durez；　with　three　other　members　of　his　faction；　and　took　coffers　containing　ten　million　dollars　which　the　dead　men　brought　from　Centralba。
　　〃Police　believe　that　a　tip…off　enabled　the　criminals　to　acplish　their　work。　Though　the　murderers　escaped　by　water；　from　Miami　Beach；　the　authorities　are　still　searching　for　a　man　named　Colin　Nayre；　who　disappeared　with　them。
　　Evidence　indicates　that　Nayre　could　have　informed　the　local　criminals　of　every　move　that　Durez　intended…〃
　　It　was　Nayre　who　interrupted　the　broadcast；　by　snapping　off　the　switch。
　　His　face　seemed　frozen　as　he　looked　toward　Brady；　who　said　nothing。　It　was　Nayre　who　finally　spoke。
　　〃They've　figured　it　all　out；〃　he　declared　glumly。　〃Just　as　I　expected：　I'm
　　the　goat！〃
　　〃Lucky　you　told　me　to　stick　around；〃　returned　Brady。　〃The　old　crate　is　ready；　like　you　wanted。〃
　　〃To　take　me　back　to　Centralba？〃
　　〃Too　long　a　hop；〃　Brady　shook　his　head　emphatically。　〃How　about　the　Isle　of　Pines？〃
　　〃It　will　do；〃　nodded　Nayre。　〃I　can　get　to　Centralba　easily　from　there。〃
　　〃No　use；　then；　to　wait　any　longer。〃　Brady　gave　a　beckon　that　included　Margo。　Nayre　turned　suddenly　and　saw　the　girl's　intensity。　Margo　was　half　risen　from　the　chair；　her　hands　on　the　arms。　She　eased　back；　hoping　to　show　indifference　when　Nayre　looked　her　way。　Too　late　Brady　caught　the　look　that　flashed　between　them；　and　asked：
　　〃Isn't　Miss　Lane　ing　along？〃
　　〃She　certainly　is；〃　assured　Nayre　firmly。　〃She's　heard　too　much　for　her　to　stay　here。〃
　　〃But　I　can't　go！〃　expressed　Margo　helplessly。　〃Not　unless　I　can　stop　at　my　hotel；　first；　for　more　clothes。〃
　　〃The　bathing　is　fine　at　the　Isle　of　Pines；〃　snapped　Nayre。　〃It's　south　of　Cuba；　you　know。　You　can　finish　your　swim　there。〃
　　〃All　the　way　back　to　Miami？〃
　　Nayre　laughed；　indulgently。
　　〃Brady　has　friends　on　the　Isle　of　Pines；〃　he　declared。　〃They　owe　him　money；　like　everybody　does。　We'll　stake　you　to　a　whole　new　wardrobe；　and　a　Clipper　trip　back　here。〃
　　〃Sure　we　will；〃　added　Brady；　〃and　there　are　a　lot　of　wraps　in　the　plane。
　　You　can　bundle　up　in　those。　It　will　be　a　nice　trip　by　moonlight。　The　crate　will　hold　out　that　far。〃
　　
　　
　　ARGUMENT　wouldn't　help；　and　Margo　knew　it。　Meekly；　she　acpanied　Nayre　and　Brady　out　to　the　hangar；　and　stood　by　while　they　hurriedly　put　the　plane　in　readiness。　It　was　a　cabin　ship；　though　of　a　very　antiquated　model。　Standing　near　the　propeller；　Margo　watched　Nayre　spin　it　when　Brady　called　〃Contact。〃
　　Then；　before　Margo　could　make　up　her　mind　toward　the　next　step；　Nayre　brought　out　his　revolver　and　pointed　her　toward　the　cabin。
　　Only　a　gesture　was　needed；　for　Margo　seemed　quite　resigned　to　the　ing　trip。　She　would　have　stepped　into　the　ship　if　she　hadn't　chanced　to　glance　toward　the　highway；　where　she　saw　a　pair　of　headlights　turn　suddenly　into　the　sand　road。
　　With　a　quick　turn；　Margo　darted　across　the　wide　stretch　that　formed　Brady's　rough　landing　field。　She　knew　that　she　was　a　perfect　target　in　the　moonlight；　but　she　felt　sure　that　Nayre　wouldn't　aim　for　her。　She　heard　his　revolver　speak；　and　the　mere　report　shuddered　her；　but　she　kept　on　running。
　　Another　gun　responded。　It　stabbed　from　the　newly　arrived　car；　which　Margo　recognized　as　a　taxicab。　Stumbling　over　a　hump　in　the　sand；　Margo　landed　with　a　half　somersault　that　ended　with　a　roar。
　　The　roar　came　from　Brady's　plane；　as　it　took　off。　More　shots　were　spurting　from　the　cab；　but　Nayre　wasn't　answering　them。　Margo　knew　that　he　must　have　hopped　into　the　plane　with　Brady。
　　Then　strong　hands　were　lifting　her　from　the　sand。　The　lights　of　the　plane　were　twinkling　high；　but　the　burning　eyes　that　Margo　saw　were　close。　They　were　the　eyes　of　The　Shadow；　peering　from　beneath　the　brim　of　a　slouch　hat　that　matched　the　blackness　of　his　cloak。
　　He　was　walking　toward　her　car；　and　on　the　way；　Margo　was　panting　every　detail　of　her　adventure。
　　When　they　reached　the　roadster；　Margo　heard　The　Shadow's　whispered　laugh。
　　It　denoted　full　understanding。
　　〃Drive　back　to　the　Equator；〃　he　told　her。　〃I　shall　return　later；　with　the　cab。　You　will　have　time　to　finish　your　swim…〃
　　〃Before　you　arrive？〃
　　Again；　The　Shadow　laughed；　in　response　to　Margo's　eager　question。　His　next　words　corrected　her。
　　〃You　won't　find　me　at　the　Equator；〃　spoke　The　Shadow。　〃But　I　think　you　will　meet　your　friend；　Lamont　Cranston；　if　you　look　for　him。　I　believe　that　he　has　been　looking　for　you　most　of　the　evening。〃
　　
　　
　　　CHAPTER　VII　
　　　THE　SHADOW'S　COURSE　
　　It　was　afternoon；　and　Margo　Lane　was　gazing　from　the　roof　garden　of　the　Hotel　Tropico；　in　Miami。　She　was　looking　across　the　wide　green　strip　of　Bayfront　Park；　to　the　greater　breadth　of　blue　that　represented　Biscayne　Bay。
　　Among　the　assorted　speedboats　Margo　saw　one　of　somewhat　larger　build；　yet　with　the　trim