mg.cyro-第11部分

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！


　　〃What's　the　difference？〃　quizzed　the　passenger。
　　〃Well；　it　all　depends；〃　replied　the　cabby；　with　a　grin。　〃If　you　parked　a　car　and　found　that　it's　been　towed　away；　you'll　find　it　at　the　old　station　house。　That's　where　they　haul　the　autos　when　they　grab　them…〃
　　〃I　want　to　see　the　chief　of　detectives。〃
　　〃That's　different。　You'll　find　him　up　at　the　new　place。〃
　　
　　FIFTEEN　minutes　later；　Joe　Cardona　alighted　in　front　of　an　imposing　edifice　that　occupied　an　entire　block。　He　entered　the　portals；　made　an　inquiry　and　was　directed　down　the　corridor。　Soon　he　was　talking　with　the　chief　of　detectives。
　　〃So　you're　looking　for　a　con　man；　eh？〃　questioned　the　chief。　〃Big　shot　or　small　fry？〃
　　〃This　fellow　is　a　big　shot；〃　replied　Cardona。　〃Wanted　for　the　murder　of　Roke　Rowden；　in　New　York。　All　I　know　about　him　is　that　he　goes　by　the　name　of　Cyro。〃
　　〃Never　heard　of　him。〃
　　Cardona　laughed　gruffly。
　　〃That's　what　I　told　the　missioner；〃　he　said。　〃But　you　can't　argue　with　him。　He　knows　that　there's　a　crook　named　Cyro；　that　Scotland　Yard　was　trailing　the　guy；　that　maybe　the　fellow　is　an　Englishman。　But　maybe　again　he　isn't　an　Englishman。〃
　　The　chief　of　detectives　smiled。
　　〃Anyway；〃　resumed　Joe；　〃I'm　here。　And　my　best　bet　is　to　look　over　the　field。　I　might　have　luck。　I've　had　it　before。〃
　　〃You　say　the　fellow　is　a　big　shot。〃
　　〃Yes。　That　part　of　it　is　sure。〃
　　〃Then　I'll　send　you　out　to　the　Club　Caprice。〃
　　Cardona's　eyebrows　lifted；　as　proof　that　he　had　never　heard　of　the　place　the　chief　had　mentioned。
　　〃It's　this　way；　Cardona；〃　explained　the　chief。　〃We　put　the　clamps　on　some　of　the　gambling　joints　a　few　years　ago。　So　they　opened　up　some　swell　places　outside　the　city　limits。　Since　then；　New　Orleans　has　changed　a　bit。　Many　people　prefer　to　remain　in　town　for　a　good　time；　after　repeal　arrived。　But　the　swell　joints　still　get　the　business。　They　attract　the　boys　with　the　money。　If　your　con　man　is　a　real　big　shot；　that's　where　he'd　be。〃
　　〃It's　outside　your　jurisdiction？〃
　　〃Yes。　But　we　keep　tabs　on　what　happens　there。　Take　a　trip　to　the　Club　Caprice　tonight。　Ask　for　Rafferty。　He　will　introduce　you　to　Royal　Medbrook；　the　man　who　runs　the　place。〃
　　
　　IT　was　after　eight　o'clock　when　Joe　Cardona　arrived　at　the　Club　Caprice。
　　Staring　from　the　window　of　a　cab；　the　New　York　detective　spied　a　galaxy　of　lights　set　back　from　the　road。　The　cab　wheeled　into　a　tremendous　driveway；　rolled　past　deep　rows　of　parked　cars　and　pulled　up　at　a　pretentious　doorway。
　　The　mingled　strains　of　a　famous　orchestra　reached　Cardona's　ears　as　a　resplendent　doorman　stepped　up　to　the　cab。　Cardona　alighted；　paid　the　cabby　and　made　his　way　through　clustered　patrons　into　the　Club　Caprice。
　　From　a　center　hallway；　Joe　viewed　a　mammoth　nightclub。　Hundreds　of　tables　were　set　about　a　huge　dance　floor；　beyond　that；　the　orchestra；　upon　a　platform　that　looked　like　a　stage。　Cardona　recognized　the　glittering　name　of　the　orchestra　leader；　as　he　read　it　upon　a　banner　above　the　platform。　The　leader　was　of　nation…wide　prominence。
　　Joe　stared　as　he　saw　a　card　by　the　doorway；　announcing　the　cover　charge。
　　He　rubbed　his　chin　as　he　calculated　the　amount　that　the　nightclub　was　grossing。
　　The　place　was　packed；　with　new　patrons　struggling　to　get　in。
　　〃You'll　have　to　wait；　sir；〃　assured　a　polite　head　waiter；　as　he　saw　the　detective。　〃Are　you　alone；　sir？〃
　　〃Me？〃　asked　Joe。　〃I'm　not　going　in　just　yet。　I'm　looking　for　a　man　named　Rafferty。〃
　　〃Yes；　sir。〃　The　head　waiter　was　prompt　with　his　reply。　〃Step　over　here。　I　shall　find　him　for　you。〃
　　They　crossed　the　hallway　and　came　to　a　pair　of　heavy　doors　where　two　huskies　in　evening　clothes　stood　on　guard。　The　head　waiter　spoke　to　one　of　them。　The　fellow　approached　Joe　Cardona。
　　〃Your　name？〃　he　asked。
　　〃Cardona；〃　replied　Joe。
　　The　bouncer　nodded。　His　panion　swung　the　door。　Joe　was　ushered　through　and　the　second　bouncer　gave　the　low…voiced　information：
　　〃You'll　find　Rafferty　over　by　the　faro　table。　Near　the　door　of　the　second　card　room。〃
　　Cardona　walked　through　and　found　himself　in　the　most　extensive　gaming　room　that　he　had　ever　seen。　Occupying　a　plete　wing　of　the　Club　Caprice；　it　afforded　facilities　for　hundreds　of　players。
　　Roulette　wheels　were　spinning；　with　croupiers　busy　beside　them。　These　tables　occupied　the　center　of　the　room；　while　lesser　games　were　on　the　outskirts。　Slot　machines；　equipped　for　fifty　cent　and　silver　dollar　play；　formed　long　rows　along　the　walls　at　the　side。
　　The　room　was　well　thronged；　although　it　had　not　even　started　to　do　a　capacity　business。　Cardona　estimated　the　crowd　at　sixty　or　seventy　persons；　nearly　half　of　the　players　women。　He　decided　that　this　must　be　a　good…sized　crowd　for　this　early　hour。　Midnight　would　be　the　time　when　business　would　near　capacity。
　　There　were　a　few　players　at　the　faro　table。　Beyond；　Cardona　saw　a　slim；　droop…shouldered　fellow　wearing　a　tuxedo。　A　cigarette　was　dangling　from　the　man's　lips。　His　eyes　looked　wise　as　they　kept　a　roving　lookout　about　the　room。
　　Cardona　approached。
　　〃Rafferty？〃　he　questioned。
　　The　fellow　nodded。
　　〃Cardona's　my　name；〃　said　Joe。
　　Another　nod。　Rafferty　gripped　the　detective's　elbow。
　　〃Stick　here；〃　he　said。　〃I'll　drop　in　and　tell　Medbrook　you've　arrived。〃
　　Rafferty　moved　away。　Joe　stood　by　the　door　of　an　empty　card　room　and　began　to　look　over　the　patrons。　He　was　skillful　at　this　business；　and　he　intended　to　make　good　use　of　his　time　while　waiting　for　Rafferty's　return。
　　
　　THOUGH　Cardona　did　not　realize　it；　he　had　made　a　conspicuous　figure　from　the　moment　that　he　had　entered。　He　had　neglected　to　don　evening　clothes；　and　only　a　few　of　the　patrons　had　done　the　same。　Fully　one　dozen　pairs　of　eyes　had　watched　Joe　cross　the　gambling　room。
　　Two　men　had　been　chatting　by　a　roulette　table　when　Cardona　had　entered。
　　One　was　Tracy　Lence；　his　panion　was　Luke　Gaudrin。　Tracy　had　spotted　Joe　during　his　passage。　At　the　very　moment　when　the　detective　began　to　look　about；　the　swindler　drew　a　watch　from　his　pocket。
　　〃Half　past　eight！〃　he　ejaculated。　〃I　promised　to　be　at　the　hotel　before　nine。　I'm　leaving　town　for　a　day　or　two；　Luke。　I've　already　checked　out。〃
　　〃I　thought　you　were　going　to　drop　out　to　the　house；〃　put　in　Luke。　〃You　told　me…〃
　　〃After　I　get　back；〃　interposed　Lence。　〃I'll　give　you　a　call；　Luke。
　　Good…by；　old　man。〃
　　A　handshake；　then　Lence　turned　and　strolled　toward　the　outer　door。
　　Familiar　with　New　York；　he　had　recognized　Joe　Cardona。
　　Lence　had　a　hunch　that　the　ace　sleuth　was　after　him。　With　his　back　turned；　however；　he　took　his　time　in　departing。　He　followed　a　gentleman　and　a　lady　who　were　on　their　way　to　the　exit。　Cardona　spied　the　trio。　He　mistook　them　for　a　party。
　　There　was　one　observer；　however；　who　spied　the　actual　circumstances　of　Lence's　departure。　This　onlooker　was　a　tall；　keen…visaged　personage　who　was　perfectly　attired　in　evening　clothes。　His　face；　firm　and　well…molded；　was　almost　masklike。　His　eyes　were　brilliant　as　they　peered　from　either　side　of　a　hawk…like　nose。
　　Visiting　the　Club　Caprice；　this　worthy　had　found　his　name　an　open　sesame　to　the　portals　of　the　gaming　room。　He　had　introduced　himself　as　Lamont　Cranston。　He　had　been　recognized　as　a　millionaire　who　had　previously　visited　this　deluxe　gambling　den。
　　Actually；　Lamont　Cranston　was　The　Shadow。　He　had　arrived　in　New　Orleans　ahead　of　Joe　Cardona。　Without　the　need　of　police　information；　he　had　picked　the　Club　Caprice　as　a　most　likely　spot　for　any　swindler　on　the　hunt　for　game。
　　The　Shadow　had　spotted　a　dozen　faces　worthy　of　observation；　among　them；　that　of　Tracy　Lence。　He；　too；　had　seen　Cardona　enter。　He　was　as　anxious　as　Lence　to　avoid　the　detective's　gaze。　For　Lamont　Cranston…friend　of　Wainwright　Barth…was　known　to　the　Manhattan　sleuth。
　　The　Shadow；　however；　had　seen　no　need　for　departure。　He　had　adopted　the　simple　ruse　of　strolling　to　another　place　at　the　roulette　wheel。　By　a　natural　turn；　he　had　kept　his　face　from　Cardona's　view。　At　the　same　time；　he　had　watched　the　door　to　see　who　went　out。
　　He　had　deducted　that　Roke　Rowden's　murderer…if　present…would　take　prompt　steps　to　escape　Cardona's　scrutin