mg.cyro-第21部分

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　　〃A　tip；〃　confided　Wayson　to　Cardona。　〃I　thought　one　might　be　ing。〃
　　〃About　Cyro？〃　asked　Joe。
　　〃It　may　be；〃　replied　Wayson。　〃That　chap　came　from　Pierre　Debeq。〃
　　〃Who　is　Debeq？〃
　　〃An　old　Frenchman　who　lives　in　a　house　at　the　end　of　a　little　alley　near　Royal　Street。　He　has　a　great　many　wealthy　friends；　although　his　own　finances　are　limited。　I　think　I　see　a　light。〃
　　〃About　Cyro？〃
　　〃Yes。　Maybe　somebody　who　knows　Debeq　spoke　to　him　about　some　swindler　being　in　town。　It's　a　good　lead。　Swallow　your　coffee。　We'll　go　over　and　see　Debeq。〃
　　
　　WHILE　the　two　men　were　putting　a　hasty　finish　to　their　meal；　The　Shadow　arose　and　strolled　from　the　restaurant。　Under　his　arm；　he　was　carrying　the　package　that　he　had　obtained　at　Gallion's。　In　the　brisk　manner　of　Justin　Oswood；　he　walked　one　block　in　the　direction　of　the　Hotel　Bontezan。　That　distance　covered；　The　Shadow　changed　his　course。　He　came　to　an　empty　house　between　two　street　lamps。　He　stepped　beneath　the　shelter　of　a　deep　balcony。
　　There　was　a　sound　of　crinkling　paper；　as　The　Shadow　opened　the　package　which　he　carried。　Totally　obscured　by　the　gloom；　The　Shadow　remained　in　this　temporary　shelter。　Something　swished　softly　in　the　darkness。　Then　came　silence。
　　A　splotch　of　darkness　moved　along　the　sidewalk；　it　wavered　past　the　fringe　of　the　nearest　lamplight。　A　patrolling　policeman　spied　the　phenomenon；　purely　by　chance。　He　stared　suspiciously　at　the　overhanging　balcony。
　　Clicking　his　flashlight；　the　patrolman　made　an　inspection　of　the　sheltering　space。　The　rays　showed　no　one　beneath　the　balcony…nothing　except　a　wall　of　crumbling　brick。　The　patrolman　resumed　his　beat。　Quiet　reigned　within　the　Vieux　Carre。
　　Silently；　mysteriously；　The　Shadow　had　blended　with　the　night。　No　longer　passing　as　Justin　Oswood；　he　had　assumed　his　favored　garb；　that　cloak　of　blackness　that　so　well…befitted　the　night…splotched　byways　of　this　antiquated　area。
　　
　　WHILE　The　Shadow　was　finding　seclusion　in　the　cover　of　darkness；　two　others　were　also　deciding　that　the　quiet　of　the　French　Quarter　suited　them。
　　Cardona　and　Wayson　had　paced　away　from　Gallion's　and　were　almost　to　the　residence　of　Pierre　Debeq。
　　〃There's　always　life　in　the　Quarter；〃　observed　Wayson；　as　he　guided　Joe　toward　the　new　destination。　〃But　there's　something　that　subdues　it；　an　atmosphere　that　suppresses　trouble。〃
　　〃And　helps　the　law　hold　its　own？〃　questioned　Cardona。
　　〃Usually；〃　returned　Wayson；　〃and　trouble　doesn't　last　long　after　it　starts。　Yet　you　never　can　tell　when　it's　likely　to　begin。　I　always　carry　my　artillery。〃
　　He　patted　the　sides　of　his　coat　to　indicate　two　guns　beneath。　Cardona　grinned　and　thrust　his　hand　to　his　coat　pocket；　to　give　a　momentary　flash　of　a　snub…nosed　revolver。
　　〃We　take　this　alleyway；〃　announced　Wayson。　〃It's　the　way　in　to　Pierre　Debeq's。〃
　　They　entered　a　space　just　past　a　three…story　building；　one　that　was　fronted　with　a　double　balcony　of　iron　lacework。　The　ornamentation　ended　abruptly　at　the　alley。　Wayson　and　Cardona　were　passing　through　a　narrow　passage　that　showed　high；　straight　walls　on　each　side。
　　One　street　lamp　revealed　narrow　sidewalks。　Ahead　was　an　ancient　driveway；　a　continuation　of　the　alley。　Stone　paving　was　visible　beyond　a　gate。　The　grilled　barrier　was　open；　the　visitors　walked　through　a　veritable　tunnel　to　reach　a　dimly　lighted　court。
　　Dark　doorways　and　stairs　to　upper　stories　showed　at　one　side　and　the　end　of　the　court。　At　the　far　portion；　totally　obscured　from　the　outside　alley；　was　the　front　of　a　stone…walled　house。　With　footsteps　echoing　from　the　dull　paving；　Wayson　led　Cardona　to　the　entrance。
　　〃This　is　Debeq's；〃　explained　the　lieutenant。　〃Chez　Debeq；　he　calls　it。
　　Take　a　look　around　this　courtyard；　Cardona。　Walls　on　every　side；　with　those　inner　balconies。　It　looks　as　though　all　four　were　one　house；　but　they　aren't。
　　Only　this　side　is　Debeq's。　He's　probably　waiting　for　us。　We'll　walk　right　in。〃
　　Wayson　opened　the　front　door　and　they　passed　beneath　an　archway　to　another　court；　where　a　single　light　shone　upon　a　door　across　the　way。　This　was　a　small　courtyard；　and　Cardona　pictured　it　correctly　when　he　decided　that　it　was　the　equivalent　of　a　vestibule　in　an　ordinary　house。
　　Once　past　the　arch　beneath　the　upper　stories；　no　one　could　find　an　outlet　except　through　a　door　opposite。　That；　in　a　sense；　was　Debeq's　inner　front　door。
　　Once　within　it；　visitors　would　find　themselves　actually　in　the　house　itself。
　　There　would　be　stairways　leading　up　to　all　sections　of　the　upper　floors。
　　Wayson　decided　to　ring　a　bell　that　showed　beside　the　door。　A　clang　answered　his　effort。　Wayson　waited；　then　spoke　to　Cardona。
　　〃Debeq's　an　old　codger　who　prefers　to　live　alone；〃　remarked　the　police　lieutenant。　〃Wait　until　you　see　his　big　hall。　More　like　a　living　room；　just　inside　this　door。〃
　　There　was　no　response。　Wayson　clanged　the　bell　again；　waited；　then　shrugged　his　shoulders。
　　〃Old　Debeq　is　rather　deaf；〃　he　said。　〃I　don't　like　to　walk　in　on　him；　but　since　he　sent　for　us；　we　might　as　well　try　the　door　to　see　if　it's　open。〃
　　
　　THE　barrier　yielded　as　the　police　lieutenant　pressed　it。　Wayson　and　Cardona　stepped　through　a　little　anteroom　that　was　dark。　They　saw　the　gleam　of　candlelight　ahead。　Two　tapers　were　burning　above　a　mantelpiece；　throwing　a　flickering　glare　upon　a　stone　hearth。　Dim　stairways　showed　at　the　sides　of　the　hall。
　　A　clock　between　the　candles　was　chiming　a　three…quarter　hour。　Wayson　stared　about；　his　face　perplexed。　He　had　not　expected　to　find　the　room　deserted。　He　eyed　the　stairways；　then　shrugged　his　shoulders。
　　〃I　don't　see　Debeq；〃　he　began。　〃I　wonder　if…〃
　　The　clock's　chime　ended　as　Wayson　paused。　With　the　last　stroke　came　an　interrupting　sound。　It　was　a　wheezy　whine　from　a　corner　past　the　fireplace。
　　Wayson　stepped　in　that　direction；　Cardona　close　behind。　Both　saw　the　outline　of　a　form　huddled　in　a　chair。
　　〃Debeq！〃　exclaimed　Wayson。　〃Bound　and　gagged！　What's　happened　here？　A　robbery？〃
　　The　lieutenant　yanked　the　handkerchief　from　the　face　of　the　man　in　the　chair。　Cardona　saw　a　plaintive；　withered　countenance　as　Pierre　Debeq　stared　up　into　the　light。　Wayson　tugged　at　binding　ropes　that　held　the　old　man's　arms。
　　Debeq　uttered　feeble　words　in　French。
　　Like　a　flash；　Wayson　sent　Debeq's　chair　skidding　into　the　corner；　its　occupant　riding　with　it。　The　lieutenant　seized　Cardona's　arm　and　wheeled　Joe　out　of　the　light。　He　snapped　a　mand；　Cardona　hurried　with　him　toward　the　door。
　　Debeq's　words　had　been　a　feeble　warning；　delivered　just　in　time。　This　room　was　a　trap；　set　by　those　who　had　overpowered　the　old　Frenchman；　and　Wayson　and　Cardona　were　the　victims　for　whom　it　had　been　planned！
　　
　　　CHAPTER　XV　
　　　OUT　OF　THE　DARK　
　　CROUCHING　figures　were　springing　from　the　stairways。　Knives　glimmered　as　evil　faces　leered。　Wayson　uttered　a　repetition　of　the　warning　that　had　e　from　Debeq。
　　〃Apaches！〃
　　As　Wayson　yanked　open　the　door；　he　was　bringing　a　revolver　into　view　with　his　other　hand。　Cardona；　too；　had　found　his　gun。　Joe's　weapon　spoke　first。　The　nearer　Apache　dropped　instinctively；　his　panion　leaped　for　the　side　wall。
　　Knives　sizzed　through　the　air。　One　skimmed　past　Cardona's　ear　and　buried　itself　in　the　wall　beside　the　door。　The　other　fluked　as　the　Apache　threw　it。　It　clattered　along　the　stone　floor　of　the　hall。
　　Cardona　fired　again；　as　Wayson　yanked　him　out　into　the　court。　Again　the　police　lieutenant　had　made　the　proper　move。　A　third　Apache　had　opened　fire　from　the　stairway。　His　shots　were　wide　as　his　revolver　boomed　through　Debeq's　stuccoed　hall。
　　As　they　reached　the　courtyard；　Wayson　and　Cardona　realized　the　full　menace　of　the　trap。　Out　from　hazy　lurking　spots　came　new　weapon…bearing　enemies。　In　from　the　arched　outer　entrance　surged　a　trio　of　killers　bent　to　prevent　escape。
　　As　within；　the　first　attackers　were　wielding　knives；　intent　to　kill　with　silence。　But　those　behind　them　had　pointed　guns；　ready　to　slay　if　their　forerunners　failed。
　　As　they　wheeled　about　to　fire；　Wayson　and　Cardona　were　hopelessly　outnumbered。　Worst　of　all；　they　were　turning　their　backs　upon　the　killers　whom　they　had　left　within。
　　Directly　abov