mg.cyro-第11部分

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　　TEN　minutes　passed。　A　rap　at　the　door。　Medbrook　called　to　e　in。　A　bouncer　entered。
　　〃What　is　it；　Tony？〃　questioned　Medbrook。
　　〃The　dick's　gone；〃　stated　the　bouncer。　Then；　uneasily：　〃But　so　has　another　guy。〃
　　〃One　you　were　spotting？〃
　　〃No。　Not　exactly。　A　fellow　we　had　on　the　list　of　new　customers。　I'd　have　told　you　sooner；　boss；　but　the　dick　was　in　here…〃
　　〃That's　all　right；　Tony。　What　was　the　man's　name？〃
　　〃Tracy　Lence。〃
　　〃Where　from？〃
　　〃New　York；　I　heard　him　say。〃
　　〃Is　he　in　the　files？〃
　　〃No。　He　looks　like　a　gent；　too。　But　I　was　kind　of　leery　after　Manny　told　me　that　the　guy　went　out　just　about　the　time　the　dick　showed　up。〃
　　〃Tracy　Lence。〃　Medbrook　pronounced　the　name　slowly。　〃Did　he　look　like　he　was　playing　for　some　sucker？〃
　　〃No；〃　admitted　Tony；　〃he　didn't。　That　was　just　it；　boss。　He　was　picking　the　worst　bet　in　the　place。〃
　　〃Whom　do　you　mean？〃
　　〃Luke　Gaudrin。　Anybody　could　tell　that　young　Gaudrin　is　flat。　Leastwise；　this　fellow　Lence　could　have。　This　is　the　third　night　he's　been　palling　with　Gaudrin。
　　〃I　wouldn't　have　suspected　nothing；　boss；　if　Lence　hadn't　ducked　out。　But　it　looked　kind　of　funny；　right　on　top　of　that　New　York　dick　ing　in。　Maybe　I　should　have　stopped　Lence；　or　gone　after　him…〃
　　〃No　Tony；〃　Medbrook　shook　his　head　slowly；　〃you　did　right。　I'll　tell　you　what　to　do。　Where　is　Luke　Gaudrin　right　now？〃
　　〃Playing　Dave's　wheel。〃
　　〃He　still　has　chips？〃
　　〃Plenty。　He's　following　a　guy　that's　got　a　system。〃
　　〃They　all　have　a　system。　But　none　of　them　last。　Listen；　Tony。　Stop　by　and　speak　to　Luke　Gaudrin。　Tell　him　I　want　to　see　him。〃
　　〃Maybe　he　won't　want　to　break　away　from　the　wheel…〃
　　〃Catch　him　at　the　right　moment。　Just　when　he's　made　a　win。　Tip　Dave　to　spin　the　wheel　before　he　can　make　another　play。〃
　　〃All　right。〃
　　Tony　grinned　and　departed。　Royal　Medbrook　extracted　a　fresh　cigar　from　the　box　on　the　desk。　Poker…faced；　he　sat　staring　toward　the　door；　waiting　for　the　arrival　of　Luke　Gaudrin。
　　
　　　CHAPTER　X　
　　　THE　SHADOW'S　STEALTH　
　　WHEN　Joe　Cardona　went　out　through　the　gambling　room　of　the　Club　Caprice；　he　failed　to　observe　Lamont　Cranston。　Joe；　however；　did　not　escape　the　scrutiny　of　the　tall　personage　at　the　roulette　table。　The　keen　eyes　of　The　Shadow　watched　the　detective's　exit。
　　Long　hands　placed　new　chips　upon　the　board。　Luke　Gaudrin；　following　The　Shadow's　move；　put　an　eager　question：
　　〃How　long　will　this　system　hold　out？〃
　　〃This　is　my　last　play；〃　came　Cranston's　quiet　response。　〃But　if　you　follow　this　bination；　you　should　have　luck。　Stop　on　the　sixth　spin；　whether　you　win　or　lose　on　that　particular　play。〃
　　Luke　nodded　as　he　heard　the　odd　instructions。　The　wheel　was　stopping；　this　time　it　gave　an　even　break。　Lamont　Cranston　gathered　his　chips。　He　stood　by　watching　while　Luke　made　another　play。
　　Conscious　of　Cranston's　presence；　Luke　thought　that　his　new　acquaintance　was　standing　by。　But　as　the　wheel　began　its　quick　revolution；　the　tall　stranger　strolled　leisurely　away。　Luke；　his　eyes　riveted　on　the　wheel；　did　not　observe　The　Shadow's　departure。
　　Playing　the　quiet　role　of　Cranston；　The　Shadow　stopped　at　the　faro　table。
　　Though　apparently　watching　the　board；　his　eyes　were　elsewhere。　The　Shadow　saw　Tony　ing　from　the　office。　He　had　seen　the　man　enter　there　just　after　Cardona's　departure。
　　Tony　was　circling　over　toward　the　roulette　table。　He　stopped　near　Luke　Gaudrin。　Rafferty；　back　at　the　door　to　the　second　card　room；　also　had　his　eye　on　the　big　bouncer。　The　Shadow's　keen　gaze　turned　toward　Rafferty。　Calmly；　The　Shadow　stepped　away　from　the　faro　table　and　edged　into　the　doorway　of　the　card　room。
　　He　passed　the　portal　unseen。　The　card　room；　vacant　of　players；　was　dimly　illuminated　by　a　wall　lamp。　Cranston's　tall　form　moved　with　swift　glide。　Beside　it　stretched　a　long；　mysterious　shadow…a　blotch　of　blackness　that　ended　in　a　hawklike　silhouette。
　　Though　still　retaining　his　guise　of　Cranston；　The　Shadow　had　bee　a　creature　of　stealth。　His　figure　became　obscure　as　it　reached　a　doorway　that　led　into　the　next　card　room。　The　adjoining　partment　was　dark。　The　Shadow　merged　with　blackness　as　he　entered。
　　Silently；　across　the　floor　to　another　door。　A　tiny　flashlight　formed　a　dollar…sized　disk　upon　the　lock。　A　blackened　pick　appeared　in　a　hand　upon　which　gleamed　a　resplendent　gem。　The　Shadow　probed　the　lock。
　　One　minute　marked　this　stealthy　process。　The　slight　clicks　of　the　pick　were　barely　audible。　The　little　tool　twisted；　the　hand　withdrew　it。　The　flashlight　was　extinguished。
　　Slowly；　The　Shadow　turned　the　knob。　Imperceptibly；　he　opened　the　door　inward　until　a　glare　of　light　came　through　the　crack。　The　Shadow　paused。　His　keen　eye　looked　into　the　next　room。
　　
　　IT　was　Royal　Medbrook's　office。　The　gambler　was　seated　at　his　desk；　going　over　a　stack　of　papers。　As　The　Shadow　watched；　Medbrook　lay　the　papers　aside。
　　Rising；　the　gambler　walked　into　the　inner　office。
　　Instantly；　the　door　from　the　card　room　opened。　A　blackened　figure　twisted　through。　The　door　closed　silently。　A　long　shape　stretched　across　the　floor　as　The　Shadow　stepped　into　the　light。　As　before；　he　appeared　as　Lamont　Cranston。
　　His　motions；　however；　were　swift。
　　The　Shadow　spied　the　curtained　windows。　He　drew　aside　the　velvet　drapes。
　　Beyond　the　pane　was　a　bolted　metal　shutter。　The　sill　between　curtain　and　window　offered　a　broad　space。　The　Shadow　stepped　up　to　the　sill。
　　The　curtains　closed　as　by　magic　just　as　Royal　Medbrook　returned。　The　gambler　did　not　catch　the　motion　of　the　heavy　drapes。　Closed；　they　were　restored　to　their　original　position。　The　keenest　observer　would　not　have　spied　the　watching　eyes　that　peered　from　between　the　meeting　edges　of　the　curtains。
　　Medbrook　resumed　his　seat　at　the　desk。
　　Four　minutes　passed。　Then　came　a　rap　at　the　door。　Medbrook　spoke；　the　door　from　the　anteroom　opened　and　Luke　Gaudrin　stepped　into　view。　Medbrook　pointed　to　the　door。　Luke　closed　it。　The　gambler　motioned　to　a　chair。
　　〃What's　up；　Royal？〃　questioned　Luke；　in　an　anxious　tone。
　　〃I　hear　you've　been　making　friends　here；〃　replied　the　gambler。
　　〃Well；　yes；〃　admired　Luke。　〃I　didn't　see　any　reason　why　I　shouldn't。〃
　　〃Is　there　any　reason　why　you　should？〃
　　〃Well…yes；　I　think　there　is。　On　account　of　the　governor's　attitude。　He　doesn't　approve　of　my　associations。　I　thought　that　I　ought　to　make　some　worthwhile　acquaintances　here。〃
　　〃Such　as　Tracy　Lence？〃
　　〃Yes。　Lence　is　a　mighty　decent　sort。〃
　　〃You　feel　convinced　of　that？〃
　　〃I'm　positive。〃
　　Medbrook　eyed　the　sallow　young　man。　Then；　in　an　elusive　tone；　the　gambler　remarked：
　　〃Lence　left　rather　unexpectedly　tonight。〃
　　〃He　had　an　appointment　with　some　friends。　Going　out　of　town　for　a　few　days。　He's　going　to　call　me　up　when　he　es　back。　Honestly；　Royal；　I　didn't　try　to　hit　the　fellow　for　a　touch。　I　promised　you　I'd　quit　that　business　of　sponging…〃
　　〃All　right。〃　The　gambler　smiled　and　stopped　Luke　with　a　wave　of　his　hand。
　　〃I'm　glad　to　hear　that　you　have　reformed。　You　came　near　driving　away　some　good　customers。　I　just　wanted　to　make　sure　that　you　weren't　annoying　Lence。　By　the　way；　where　is　he　from？〃
　　〃New　York。〃
　　〃What's　his　business？〃
　　〃He　didn't　say。〃
　　A　pause。　Medbrook　settled　back　in　his　chair。　Luke　decided　to　resume　the　talk。
　　
　　〃I　HIT　a　winning　streak；　Royal；〃　he　declared。　〃Came　out　about　twelve　hundred　to　the　good　on　one　of　your　wheels。　If　you　want；　I　can　pay　something　on　that　account　of　mine…〃
　　〃Keep　it…in　credit。　Maybe　you'll　have　another　good　run。　Or　maybe〃…a　smile…〃my　total　will　swell　a　bit　after　you　have　lost　tonight's　winnings。〃
　　〃I　was　following　a　system；〃　informed　Luke。　〃Met　a　man　who　was　winning　with　it…〃
　　〃Another　new　friend；　oh？　What　was　his　name？〃
　　〃Lamont　Cranston。〃
　　〃A　millionaire。　Good　man　to　know。〃
　　〃I　found　that　out。〃
　　Medbrook　smiled。　He　reached　for　a　cigar。　Lighting　the　panetela；　he　rested　back　and　stared　at　the　ceiling。　It　was　his　way　of　bringing　up　a　new　subject。
　　When　he　spoke；　his　tone　was　serious。
　　〃I've　been　thinking　about　you；　Luke；〃　he　declared。　〃The　month　is　just　about　up。〃
　　〃I　know　that；　Royal；〃　returned　the　young　man；　quickly。　〃And　I've　got　good　news　for　you。　I　could　have　told　you　a　couple　of　nights　ago；　but　I　didn't　want　to　bother　you。〃
　　〃Considerate　of　you；〃　remarked　Royal；　with　a　slight　tone　of　sarcasm。
　　〃Don't　mind　about　bothering　me　in　the　future。　That　is；　when　you　have　dough。〃
　　〃I　don't　have　it　yet。　But　it's　in　the　bag。〃
　　〃That's　what　you　told　me　a　month　ago。〃
　　〃Listen；　Royal。　I　told　you…〃
　　〃You've　told　me　a　great　many　stories；　Luke。　They　don't　always　jibe。　That's　the　trouble。〃
　　〃I'm　not　trying　to　bluff　you；　Royal。〃
　　Medbrook　made　no　reply。　His　eyes；　however；　held　a　doubtful　look。　Luke's　voice　became　almost　pleading。
　　〃Listen　to　me；　Royal；〃　he　persisted。　〃I'll　go　back　to　the　beginning。
　　You'll　see　I　haven't　changed　my　story。　About　a　month　ago；　I　owed　you　ten　thousand　dollars；　didn't　I？〃
　　〃Nine　thousand　eight　hundred　and　fifty；〃　returned　Medbrook；　looking　at　one　of　the　slips　on　his　desk。
　　〃You　wanted　your　money；　Royal。　I　told　you　I'd　try　to　borrow　it　from　Dunwood　Marr；　who　was　ing　to　see　us。　Then　I　heard　the　governor　say　something　to　old　Professor　Babcock…about　selling　the　Nautilus　to　Marr。　The　gov　and　Babcock　went　into　the　office　for　a　conference　with　Captain　Emory。　I　listened　in。　That's　how　I　found　out　that　the　yacht　was　going　after　Spanish　treasure。〃
　　〃To　be　brought　back　within　a　month。〃
　　〃Yes。　That's　what　I　told　you。　Marr　bought　the　yacht；　but　didn't　call　for　immediate　delivery。　That　financed　the　trip；　like　I　told　you。　You　said　you'd　hold　off　collecting　my　debt。　You　promised　me　more　credit。〃
　　〃Which　I　gave　you。〃
　　〃Yes。　Now　I'm　in　a　hole　for　about　fifteen　thousand。〃
　　〃Not　quite。　It　was　fifteen　thousand　eight　hundred。　Deducting　your　twelve　hundred　gain　tonight　reduces　it　to　fourteen　thousand　six　hundred。　But　the　month　is　about　up；　Luke。〃
　　〃I　know　it。　And　the　treasure　is　on　the　Nautilus。〃
　　
　　ROYAL　MEDBROOK　stared　steadily　at　Luke。　He　saw　an　expression　of　real　satisfaction　upon　the　young　man's　face。　It　was　plain　th