mg.cyro-第14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！


　　〃Impossible；〃　replied　Marr。　〃No　place　for　a　landing。〃
　　〃Which　shows　the　merits　of　the　autogiro；　Marr。　I　flew　into　Mexico；　some　time　ago；　and　landed　perfectly　in　a　forgotten　valley；　right　into　the　midst　of　a　surviving　Aztec　tribe；　on　the　flat　rock　where　they　were　holding　a　religious　ceremony。〃　（See：　Vol。　IV；　No。　6；　〃Six　Men　of　Evil。〃）
　　〃Amazing！　How　did　you　escape　death？〃
　　〃They　took　me　for　an　ancient　god。　A　messenger　from　the　moon。　They　gave　me　a　marvelous　emerald　as　a　token　of　their　esteem。　They　greatly　regretted　my　departure。〃
　　〃What　an　experience！〃
　　〃Perhaps　we　might　fly　together　to　Hidalgo。　I　should　like　to　see　those　mines　of　yours。〃
　　〃It's　a　go；　Cranston。　But　not　until　a　month　from　now。　I　have　arranged　a　yachting　cruise　from　Florida。〃
　　
　　〃IN　the　Nautilus？〃　inquired　Danforth　Gaudrin。
　　〃Yes；〃　replied　Marr。　〃After　I　flew　back　to　Florida；　I　told　my　friends　that　I　had　purchased　the　Nautilus。　They　were　enthusiastic　and　induced　me　to　plan　a　cruise。　That　is　why　I　sent　my　seaplane　back　alone。　I　shall　return　to　Florida　in　the　Nautilus。〃
　　〃Father's　yacht；〃　explained　Luke；　to　Cranston；　〃Mr。　Marr　bought　it　about　a　month　ago。〃
　　〃After　it　was　chartered；〃　put　in　Danforth　Gaudrin。　〃A　London　scientist　…
　　Professor　Pearson　Babcock…acquired　the　Nautilus　for　a　coral…hunting　cruise。
　　We　expect　the　yacht　to　arrive　in　Lake　Pontchartrain　within　a　few　days。〃
　　〃It　es　up　that　way　from　the　Gulf；　you　know；〃　added　Luke。　〃Through　the　channels。〃
　　〃Too　bad　you　are　leaving　for　New　York　tomorrow；〃　remarked　Marr。
　　〃Otherwise；　Cranston；　I　should　insist　that　you　go　by　way　of　Florida　with　me。　I　intend　to　go　to　Miami；　and　the　trip　around　the　Keys　should　prove　most　interesting。〃
　　〃I　should　like　to　take　it；　Marr；〃　agreed　The　Shadow。　〃But　my　stay　in　New　Orleans　is　necessarily　limited。　However；　I　shall　return　South　and　will　meet　you　in　Florida；　after　your　ing　cruise　is　ended。〃
　　
　　OUT　on　the　veranda；　Alicia　Gaudrin　was　talking　to　Reginald　Exeter。　The　girl　was　discussing　the　artist　whom　they　had　met　that　noon。
　　〃Monsieur　Brilliard　admires　me　as　a　type；〃　explained　Alicia。　〃When　I　met　him　at　Esther　Letkin's；　he　became　quite　enthusiastic　about　doing　my　portrait。　I　told　him　that　I　could　not　afford　to　pay　for　one。〃
　　〃But　he　remained　insistent？〃　inquired　Exeter。
　　〃Yes；〃　replied　Alicia。　〃He　told　me　that　he　was　here　for　a　vacation。
　　Painting　only　as　he　chose。　The　matter　of　money　was　inconsequential。　He　had　already　turned　down　some　attractive　offers；　on　the　contrary；　he　was　doing　portraits　without　charge。　Doesn't　that　strike　you　as　a　bit　odd？〃
　　〃Not　at　all；〃　declared　Exeter。　〃All　artists　are　temperamental。　Brilliard　apparently　has　a　reputation。　Painting　only　for　a　price　would　go　against　his　grain。〃
　　〃Then　you　think　that　I　am　right　in　allowing　him　to　do　my　portrait？〃
　　〃Absolutely；　Alicia。　I　must　congratulate　Brilliard　upon　his　rare　judgment。〃
　　〃In　choosing　a　setting？〃
　　〃No；　in　choosing　a　subject。〃
　　The　girl　smiled　as　she　heard　Exeter's　flattery。　The　young　man　reached　out　and　received　the　girl's　hand。　He　drew　closer　to　her　chair。
　　〃The　others　will　soon　be　here；　Reggie；〃　reminded　the　girl。　〃Perhaps　we　should　be　found　in　formal　conversation。　Talking　about　seaplanes；　or　yachts。〃
　　〃I　suppose　so。〃　Exeter　arose　and　strolled　across　the　veranda。　〃Speaking　of　yachts；　Alicia；　the　Nautilus　should　soon　be　due。　Has　your　father　heard　any　new　word　from　the　captain？〃
　　〃Only　that　the　Nautilus　is　homeward　bound。〃
　　〃From　where？〃
　　〃Some　island　in　the　Gulf　of　Mexico…where　Professor　Babcock　had　divers　plunging　for　his　precious　coral。〃
　　〃Funny　old　duck；　the　professor。　Seemed　so　distressed　about　leaving　me　here　that　I　promised　him　I'd　wait　about　until　he　returned　from　the　cruise。〃
　　〃And　after　he　gets　back？〃
　　〃Then　I'll　have　no　excuse　for　staying　here。〃
　　〃You　have　a　reason；　Reggie。　The　reason　is　that　you　are　always　wele　here。〃
　　〃There's　another　reason；　Alicia。〃
　　〃I　should　like　to　hear　it；　Reggie。〃
　　〃Because〃…the　man　paused　close　by　the　girl's　chair…〃because；　Alicia；　I　love　you…〃
　　
　　ALICIA'S　gaze　was　straight　into　Exeter's　eyes。　As　the　man　paused；　almost　hesitant　in　declaring　his　love；　the　girl　smiled　and　nodded；　then　quickly　raised　her　finger　to　her　lips。
　　Anticipating　some　interruption；　Exeter　stepped　away　and　turned　toward　the　door　that　led　from　the　house。　He　saw　the　others　ing　toward　the　porch。
　　Marr　and　Cranston　stepped　into　view；　then　Danforth　Gaudrin　and　his　son　Luke。　The　four　joined　Exeter　and　Alicia。　New　conversation　began。　Soon　Luke　had　an　opportunity　for　remarks。
　　〃Sorry　my　friend　Lence　couldn't　be　here；〃　he　said。　〃You'd　like　Tracy。　He's　a　fine　chap。　I'll　invite　him　out　when　I　hear　from　him。　He　might　be　up　at　the　Club　Caprice　tonight。　I　was　going　to　suggest　a　run　up　there。　What　say；　governor〃…he　turned　to　his　father…〃don't　you　feel　sporting　enough　to　pay　a　visit？〃
　　〃I　have　no　objections　to　the　Club　Caprice；〃　responded　Danforth　Gaudrin。
　　〃But　I　do　consider　it　a　mistake　for　young　men　of　limited　means　to　squander　what　money　they　do　possess。　In　my　youthful　days；　I　did　not　indulge　in　too　much　gambling。　It　ceases　to　bee　a　pleasure　when　one　steps　beyond　his　depth。〃
　　〃Quite　right；　governor；〃　agreed　Luke；　in　a　humoring　tone。　〃I　overdid　it　when　I　started　playing　at　the　Club　Caprice。　I've　toned　down　a　bit　since　then。　I　even　have　a　credit　at　the　place。〃
　　〃Then　cash　it　in；〃　suggested　Danforth　Gaudrin。
　　〃I　can't　do　that；　governor；〃　put　in　Luke；　glibly。　〃They　treated　me　well　when　I　was　below　the　line。　I　have　to　jolly　them　a　bit；　now　that　I'm　making　out　better。　What　say　we　roll　up　there　for　an　hour？　How　about　it；　Exeter？　Feel　like　doing　the　chauffeur　act　tonight？〃
　　〃If　it　suits　Alicia；〃　replied　Exeter。
　　〃I'm　agreed；〃　declared　the　girl。
　　
　　HALF　an　hour　later；　the　crowd　arrived　at　the　Club　Caprice。　Alicia　favored　dancing；　she　and　Reginald　Exeter　went　into　the　night…club　side　of　the　establishment。　Luke　Gaudrin　headed　the　others　into　the　gaming　room。
　　Obtaining　a　moderate　supply　of　chips；　Luke　began　to　play　a　roulette　wheel　Marr　and　Cranston　joined　in　the　game；　while　Danforth　Gaudrin　looked　on。　Luke　copied　Cranston's　binations。　All　play　was　conservative；　and　the　elder　Gaudrin　nodded　approvingly　as　he　watched　the　care　with　which　his　son　hazarded　his　chips。
　　Tony；　one　of　the　gaming…room　bodyguards；　was　standing　near　the　roulette　wheel。　Luke　had　a　chance　to　speak　to　him。　Only　The　Shadow　overheard　the　young　man's　words；　as　Luke　whispered：
　　〃Ask　Royal　to　drop　out；　will　you；　Tony？〃
　　Tony　nodded　and　disappeared。　Shortly　afterward；　Royal　Medbrook　strolled　from　the　office。　Luke；　watching；　saw　him。　Ending　the　play；　he　beckoned　to　the　others。　They　walked　over　toward　the　faro　table；　where　Luke　introduced　his　father　and　the　two　millionaires　to　Medbrook。
　　The　meeting　seemed　a　chance　one　to　Danforth　Gaudrin。　The　Shadow；　however；　knew　that　Luke's　purpose　was　to　impress　Royal　Medbrook；　to　make　the　gambler　believe　that　Luke　had　squared　matters　with　his　father。　Marr's　presence；　too；　was　a　guarantee　that　Luke　had　talked　straight　on　the　night　before。
　　Medbrook　strolled　a　way　past　the　faro　table。　As　he　did；　The　Shadow　left　the　group；　in　leisurely　fashion　he　neared　the　door　of　the　card　room　and　paused　there。　Rafferty　was　at　his　accustomed　spot；　watching　for　Royal；　he　did　not　see　The　Shadow　close　at　hand。
　　Nor　did　Medbrook；　as　Rafferty　approached　him。　Chameleonlike；　The　Shadow；　motionless　in　the　guise　of　Cranston；　was　half　obscured　beside　the　drapery　of　a　wall。　Listening；　he　caught　a　buzzed　conversation。
　　〃You　called　New　Orleans？〃
　　The　question　came　from　Medbrook。　Rafferty　nodded。
　　〃Told　them　there　was　no　sign　of　the　bird　that　the　New　York　dick　was　after；〃　informed　Rafferty。　〃Said　you'd　made　a　final　check…up　tonight。　The　chief　said　that　they're　going　to　take　a　stab　at　Frenchtown。〃
　　〃I　don't　think　they'll　find　the　fellow　there；　either；〃　mented　Medbrook。
　　〃They've　got　to　cooperate；　though。　That's　the　way　the　police　work。〃
　　Medbrook　strolled　to　the　office。　Stopping　part　way；　he　glanced　about。　He　saw　the　tall　figure　of　Lamont　Cranston　moving　toward　the　faro　table。　Medbrook's　eyes　narrowed　as　he　continued　to　the　office。
　　Ten　minutes　later；　Rafferty　came　in　to　speak　to　the　gambler。　Royal　was　sitting　at　the　desk；　his　hand　was　beside　the　telephone。　Royal　beckoned。
　　〃This　man　Cranston；〃　he　remarked。　〃Was　he　listening　to　us　when　we　talked？〃
　　〃Didn't　notice　him；〃　returned　Rafferty。　〃He's　still　outside；　Royal。　The　others　are　leaving；　but　he　isn't　going　in　with　them。　Want　me　to　keep　an　eye　on　him？〃
　　〃No；〃　returned　the　gambler；　with　a　slight　smile。　〃I　just　called　a　friend　of　mine。　He's　looking　up　the　hotel　where　Cranston's　stopping。　If　he　isn't　O。K。
　　…　well；　never　mind　Rafferty。　I'll　attend　to　it。〃
　　
　　ONE　hour　later；　The　Shadow　left　the　Club　Caprice。　He　entered　a　taxicab　and　the　driver　pulled　away　from　the　entrance。　As　the　cab　swung　toward　the　fronting　highway；　The　Shadow's　keen　eyes　spotted　a　figure　sliding　to　a　car　that　had　stopped　a　hundred　feet　beyond　the　entrance　to　the　Club　Caprice。　Its　lights　were　dim；　evidently　the　machine　had　just　arrived。
　　〃Where　to；　boss？〃　queried　the　taxi　driver；　shoving　his　face　to　the　open　window。　〃Whereabouts　in　the　city　are　you…〃
　　The　driver　gasped。　He　was　staring　into　the　muzzle　of　a　leveled　automatic。
　　The　Shadow　had　drawn　the　gun　just　after　the　swing　to　the　highway。　Above　the　barrel　of　the　。45　were　eyes　that　flashed　terror　to　the　taxi　driver's　thumping　heart。
　　
　　　CHAPTER　XIII　
　　　BALKED　KILLERS　
　　〃STEP　on　it！〃　came　The　Shadow's　firm　mand。　〃Speed　to　the　city　limits。
　　Then　pull　to　the　side　of　the　road。〃
　　The　frightened　taxi　driver　needed　no　further　urge。　Though　quivering；　he　obeyed　as　his　terror　magnified。　Tramping　accelerator　to　the　floor　he　shot　his　machine　forward　at　full　speed；　anxious　only　to　do　the　bidding　of　this　being　who　would　brook　no　dallying。
　　As　the　cab　whirled　forward；　the　car　near　the　Club　Caprice　shot　out　with　immediate　speed。　Hoarse　cries　came　from　its　occupants。　They　knew　that　their　quarry　had　spotted　their　presence。　Madly　they　took　up　the　chase　of　the　lurching　cab。　But　they　could　n