mg.cyro-第7部分

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es　Moines。
　　The　Shadow；　like　Joe　Cardona；　was　making　plans　for　an　immediate　trip　to　New　Orleans。
　　
　　　CHAPTER　V　
　　　IN　NEW　ORLEANS　
　　THE　brilliant　waters　of　Lake　Pontchartrain　lay　blue　beneath　the　midday　sun。　Viewed　from　the　shore；　the　lake　seemed　a　limitless　expanse；　stretching　clear　to　the　horizon。　But　to　the　three　people　who　stood　beside　an　antiquated　limousine；　the　sight　was　monplace。　Their　eyes　were　turned　skyward；　watching　a　squatty　seaplane　as　it　glided　downward　toward　the　water。
　　〃That's　Mr。　Marr's　plane；　father。〃　The　speaker　was　an　attractive　girl　of　twenty；　attired　in　white　sport　costume。　〃My！　It's　making　a　marvelous　landing。〃
　　〃You　are　right；　Alicia；〃　said　the　elderly　man　who　stood　by　the　girl's　side。　〃There　is　Marr　at　the　door　of　the　cabin。　e；　let　us　meet　him　when　he　steps　ashore。〃
　　Father　and　daughter　walked　away　from　the　car。　With　them　came　the　third　member　of　the　party。
　　This　individual　was　a　man　of　about　thirty。　Knickers　and　sweater　gave　him　an　appearance　of　stockiness。　His　face　was　a　handsome　one；　bronzed　and　rugged。
　　He　was　hatless；　as　he　strolled　toward　the　lake；　he　ran　his　left　hand　through　his　heavy；　rumpled　hair。
　　Dunwood　Marr　had　reached　the　shore　when　the　group　arrived。　The　man　from　the　seaplane　had　e　as　a　passenger。　Wearing　white　flannels　and　blue　coat；　he　was　a　sportsman　rather　than　an　aviator。　A　man　in　his　early　forties；　Dunwood　Marr　possessed　a　vigor　that　matched　his　tall；　limber　build。　His　long；　keen…featured　face　was　smiling　as　he　sprang　forward　to　shake　hands　with　the　elderly　man　who　came　to　greet　him。
　　〃Danforth　Gaudrin！〃　exclaimed　Marr。　〃It's　great　to　see　you。　I　missed　you　when　I　flew　over　from　St。　Petersburg　last　Sunday。〃
　　〃That　was　why　I　wired　you；〃　replied　Gaudrin。　〃We　had　gone　on　a　trip　to　Grand　Isle。　If　you　had　only　told　us　that　you　were　ing…〃
　　〃It　was　just　an　afternoon　flight；　Danforth。　Due　back　in　Florida　that　evening。　But　this　time　I　have　e　to　stay　for　a　few　days。〃　He　paused　and　turned　to　the　girl。　〃Hello；　Alicia。　You're　looking　as　great　as　ever。〃
　　〃And　you　are　as　plimentary　as　usual；〃　laughed　the　girl。　〃You've　met　Reginald　Exeter；　Mr。　Marr。〃
　　〃I　have。〃　Dunwood　Marr　shook　hands　with　the　stocky　young　man。　〃Glad　to　see　you　again；　Exeter。　You　appear　to　be　enjoying　New　Orleans。〃
　　〃I　am；〃　replied　Exeter。
　　〃And　for　the　present；〃　added　Alicia；　〃Reggie　is　acting　as　the　Gaudrin　chauffeur。　He　has　shown　great　skill　at　maneuvering　our　antique　hack。　Reggie　will　demonstrate　for　your　approval。〃
　　They　walked　to　the　car；　where　a　man　had　arrived　with　Marr's　bags。　The　fellow　placed　suitcases　aboard。　Marr　handed　him　two　one…dollar　bills　as　a　tip。
　　Then　Marr　and　Gaudrin　climbed　in　the　back　seat　with　the　bags。　Exeter　took　the　wheel；　with　Alicia　in　the　front　seat　beside　him。
　　
　　AS　the　car　rolled　westward　along　Gentilly　Road；　Danforth　Gaudrin　began　to　speak。　His　tone　was　confidential；　but　it　brought　a　head…shake　from　Dunwood　Marr。　Gaudrin　understood　and　nodded。
　　〃How　is　your　son　Luke？〃　questioned　Marr；　seeking　a　change　of　form　of　conversation。
　　〃As　usual；〃　replied　Gaudrin；　with　a　shake　of　his　head。　〃Ready　to　squander　what　little　money　he　can　lay　his　hands　on。　Since　I　cut　off　his　allowance；　he　has　been　moping　about　the　house。〃
　　〃Too　bad；〃　mused　Marr。　〃Luke　is　a　likable　young　chap。〃
　　〃He　was；〃　returned　Gaudrin；　abruptly。　〃But　he　has　wasted　his　talents；　Marr。　Let　us　not　discuss　him。〃
　　Marr　nodded。　He　could　understand　the　disappointment　that　Gaudrin　had　experienced　because　of　his　wayward　son。　Marr　produced　a　cigar　case　and　tendered　a　panetela　to　Gaudrin；　then　took　one　for　himself。　They　smoked　in　silence。
　　The　limousine　was　approaching　the　center　of　the　city。　A　big　clock　chimed　as　the　car　paused　before　a　stop　light。　Danforth　Gaudrin　checked　his　watch　and　noted　that　it　was　twelve　o'clock。
　　〃High　noon；〃　he　remarked。　〃I'm　glad　that　we　are　not　driving　down　Canal　Street。　The　thoroughfares　are　clogged　with　pedestrians　at　this　hour。〃
　　〃We　turn　here？〃　questioned　Marr。
　　〃Yes；〃　replied　Gaudrin。　〃This　avenue　skirts　the　congested　area　and　forms　a　short　route　to　my　home。〃
　　〃New　Orleans　streets　always　puzzle　me；〃　remarked　Marr。　〃Moreover；　I　have　usually　e　to　your　house　at　night。〃
　　Ten　minutes　later；　the　lumbering　limousine　rolled　into　the　driveway　of　a　huge；　pillared　mansion　that　stood　on　a　secluded　street。　The　place　had　an　air　of　calmness　amid　the　huge　oaks　on　the　lawn。
　　Hanging　clusters　of　Spanish　moss　gave　the　big　trees　a　sedate　and　venerable　appearance；　palm　trees　formed　a　contrast　to　the　great　oaks。
　　Marr　alighted　and　was　reaching　for　his　bags　when　Exeter；　ing　from　the　front　seat；　stopped　him。
　　〃I'm　chief　handy　man　as　well　as　chauffeur；〃　informed　Exeter。　〃Walk　right　in；　Mr。　Marr。　I'll　see　that　the　luggage　gets　to　your　room。〃
　　〃Thanks；　Exeter。〃
　　
　　AS　Danforth　Gaudrin　and　Dunwood　Marr　walked　through　the　gloomy　silence　of　the　great　hall；　a　young　man　raised　his　head　from　a　couch　in　a　side　room。　Luke　Gaudrin；　sallow　and　peak…faced；　watched　the　two　men　go　past。　He　recognized　Dunwood　Marr　as　the　guest　who　had　e　with　his　father。
　　The　two　were　bound　for　Gaudrin's　study。　That　room　was　located　just　in　back　of　the　parlor　where　Luke　was　lounging。　A　thick　wall　intervened　between　parlor　and　study；　but　an　unused　passage　formed　a　connection；　with　locked　doors　at　each　end。
　　With　a　wary　glance　toward　the　hall；　Luke　drew　a　key　from　his　pocket　and　stole　to　the　corner　of　the　parlor。　He　unlocked　the　door　and　entered　the　passage。　He　closed　the　door　behind　him　just　as　Reginald　Exeter　entered　the　hallway　with　Alicia。
　　Safe　in　the　passage；　Luke　Gaudrin　sneaked　to　the　further　door。　Stooping；　he　pressed　his　ear　to　the　keyhole　and　listened。　He　could　catch　the　sound　of　voices　from　within；　the　words　were　not　plain；　for　the　two　men　were　walking　about。
　　Then　came　the　grating　sound　of　chairs　being　moved。　Clink　of　glasses　and　gurgle　of　liquid　indicated　that　Danforth　Gaudrin　was　preparing　liquid　refreshment　for　his　guest。　The　voices　began　again。　Luke　could　hear　every　word。
　　Secretly；　Danforth　Gaudrin's　ne'er…do…well　son　was　listening　in　on　an　important　conference。　From　his　hiding　place；　Luke　Gaudrin　was　seeking　facts　from　this　private　discussion。　From　high　up　in　the　passage；　a　tiny　window　admitted　feeble　daylight。　That　glimmer　showed　Luke　Gaudrin's　face。
　　The　sallow　countenance　wore　an　eagerness；　mingled　with　desperation。
　　Whatever　the　subject　that　lay　between　Danforth　Gaudrin　and　Dunwood　Marr；　it　was　apparent　that　Luke　Gaudrin　was　staking　much　upon　whatever　he　might　learn。
　　
　　　CHAPTER　VI　
　　　PAWNED　WEALTH　
　　WITHIN　the　study；　Danforth　Gaudrin　and　Dunwood　Marr　were　reclining　in　easy　chairs。　The　two　had　lighted　fresh　cigars。　Tall　glasses　in　hand；　they　had　settled　down　to　a　fortable　chat。　Yet　there　was　a　contrast　in　their　bearing。
　　Gaudrin；　elderly　and　aristocratic；　seemed　troubled；　while　Marr；　vigorous　and　pleasant；　was　enjoying　himself　immensely。　The　reason　for　the　difference　was　financial。　Danforth　Gaudrin　was　at　the　end　of　his　resources；　Dunwood　Marr　was　a　reputed　millionaire。
　　〃Marr；〃　Gaudrin　opened　negotiations；　〃I　feel　that　I　owe　you　an　explanation。〃
　　〃On　what　score？〃　quizzed　Marr；　in　surprise。
　　〃Regarding　the　Nautilus；〃　stated　Gaudrin。　〃I　have　had　word　from　Captain　Emory。〃
　　〃Nothing　has　happened　to　the　yacht？〃
　　〃No；　but　the　arrival　will　be　delayed。〃
　　〃That　does　not　matter。　I　do　not　need　the　yacht　immediately。〃
　　Gaudrin　gave　a　slight　sigh　of　relief。　He　clicked　the　ice　in　his　glass；　then　leaned　forward　and　spoke　directly。
　　〃Marr；〃　stated　the　old　aristocrat；　〃I　appreciate　your　friendship。　It　has　served　me　in　a　time　of　great　need。　When　you　purchased　the　Nautilus；　one　month　ago；　you　did　me　a　marvelous　favor。〃
　　〃I　don't　agree；　Danforth；〃　replied　Marr。　〃The　favor　was　yours。　You　offered　me　the　Nautilus　for　twenty　thousand　dollars。　A　mere　half　of　its　value。
　　Naturally。　I　made　the　purchase。〃
　　〃But　I　promised　you　delivery　of　the　yacht　within　thirty　days；　or　your　money　back　with　interest…〃
　　〃And　you　tell　me　now　that　I　must　wait　a　little　longer　to　receive　the　ship。
　　That　is　a　trifling　matter。〃
　　〃You　don't　understand；　Marr；〃　said　Ga