mg.cyro-第12部分

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　　He　had　deducted　that　Roke　Rowden's　murderer…if　present…would　take　prompt　steps　to　escape　Cardona's　scrutiny。　Noting　Lence；　The　Shadow　had　made　no　effort　to　follow　the　fellow。　Instead；　he　moved　another　pace　at　the　table　and　gazed　squarely　toward　Luke　Gaudrin。　He　noticed　Luke's　face　swinging　back　toward　the　table。　He　recognized　Luke　as　the　man　who　had　made　friends　with　Lence。
　　Having　picked　out　Lence　by　a　process　of　prompt　reasoning；　The　Shadow　eliminated　the　other　persons　whom　he　had　watched。　He　walked　about　the　table　and　reached　a　spot　by　Luke　Gaudrin's　side。　The　young　man　looked　around；　saw　Cranston　nod　affably；　then　nodded　in　return。
　　
　　WATCHING　the　spinning　wheel；　The　Shadow　thrust　forth　a　stack　of　chips　and　placed　them　on　the　corners　of　four　numbers；　a　one　to　eight　chance。　Again　he　glanced　toward　Luke。　Fumbling　a　few　scant　chips；　the　young　man　put　his　money　on　the　same　corner；　just　as　the　man　at　the　wheel　gave　it　a　new　spin。
　　The　wheel　slowed。　The　ball　clicked　as　it　bounded　about；　then　it　plopped　into　a　pocket　bearing　one　of　The　Shadow's　numbers。　The　croupier　pushed　chips　toward　the　winners。　Lamont　Cranston　received　his　in　leisurely　fashion；　Luke　Gaudrin　was　eager　as　he　grabbed　his　winnings。
　　〃Playing　a　system？〃　he　questioned；　hoarsely。
　　〃Of　a　sort。〃　The　reply　came　with　a　quiet　smile。　〃Here…follow　this　one。〃
　　The　Shadow　spread　chips　in　bination。　A　single　number；　a　four…square　bination；　then　chips　on　the　first　twelve；　the　red　and　the　odd。　Luke　duplicated　the　process　with　his　winnings。
　　The　wheel　whirled　and　stopped。　All　but　the　single　number　cashed。　The　croupier　pushed　over　stacks　of　new　winnings。
　　The　Shadow；　preparing　to　place　new　bets；　made　a　slight　turn。　He　caught　a　glimpse　of　Joe　Cardona；　following　Rafferty　to　a　corner　door　marked　〃Office。〃　A　thin　smile　appeared　upon　the　lips　of　Lamont　Cranston。　The　Shadow　knew　Joe's　purpose　here。　He　concentrated　on　the　roulette　table。　Luke　followed　his　lead。
　　〃Friend　of　mine　who　just　left；〃　remarked　Luke。　〃He　had　a　system。　Offered　to　stake　me　if　I　tried　it。　So　it　wouldn't　look　as　if　he　was　doing　all　the　betting。　That　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