mg.cyro-第18部分

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perfect　shot。　As　Cardona's　gun　clicked　empty；　Wayson　fired　again；　sprawling　the　man　whom　Joe　had　wounded。
　　〃Look　out！　The　door！〃
　　Wayson　wheeled　at　Cardona's　cry。　The　three　Apaches　who　had　remained　in　Debeq's　hall　were　surging　forth　as　a　reserve　band。　These　ruffians　had　remained　inside；　to　block　off　a　retreat。　ing　out　after　hearing　gunfire；　they　had　expected　to　find　Wayson　and　Cardona　dead　upon　the　flagstones　of　the　court。
　　Intent　upon　butchery；　the　first　two　Apaches　were　wielding　the　knives　that　they　had　previously　thrown。　Cardona；　his　revolver　empty；　sprang　to　meet　the　first　attacker。　He　grappled　with　the　Apache。
　　Wayson　turned　to　fire　upon　the　second　killer。　The　Apache　caught　the　lieutenant's　arm。　Wayson　stopped　the　knife　thrust　with　a　warding　blow　of　his　free　hand。　Like　Cardona；　he　went　staggering　backward；　wrestling　with　his　foeman。
　　The　third　Apache　came　lurching　out　from　beneath　the　balcony；　seeking　a　chance　to　aim。　A　leer　showed　on　his　squinty　countenance　as　he　raised　his　gun。
　　He　did　not　know　that　a　menace　lay　above。
　　The　Shadow　had　swung　clear　of　the　balcony。　He　had　aimed　for　the　Apaches　whom　Wayson　and　Cardona　had　dropped。　But　he　had　not　fired　when　he　saw　those　killers　fall。　Swinging　as　he　heard　Cardona's　cry；　The　Shadow　saw　the　two　Apaches　leap　forward；　then　he　spied　the　third　scoundrel　in　their　wake。
　　With　a　springing　motion；　The　Shadow　released　his　hold　upon　the　balcony　rail。　A　silent　avalanche　of　blackness；　he　plunged　through　the　air。
　　The　aiming　Apache　heard　the　slight　swish。　The　fellow　uttered　a　cry　as　he　looked　upward。
　　
　　THEN　The　Shadow　struck。　He　hit　squarely　upon　the　Apache's　shoulders；　flattening　the　fellow　upon　the　flagstones。　The　Apache's　gun　went　scudding　a　dozen　feet　across　the　court。　The　Shadow；　rolling　free　from　his　stunned　prey；　came　to　his　feet　in　acrobatic　fashion。
　　A　knife…wielding　Apache　had　made　a　wide　stroke　at　Joe　Cardona。　The　blade　had　ripped　the　detective's　sleeve。　The　Apache　was　poising　for　a　fatal　thrust；　when　The　Shadow　sprang　upon　him。　Swinging　an　emptied　automatic；　the　black…clad　fighter　dropped　the　Apache　with　a　blow　upon　the　skull。　The　knife　blade；　already　swinging　downward；　went　wide　of　Cardona's　struggling　form。
　　Wayson；　holding　his　own　foe　at　bay；　managed　a　shot　straight　for　Cardona's　toppling　foeman。　The　Shadow　had　stunned　the　Apache。　Wayson's　quick　shot　reached　the　ruffian's　heart。　But　with　that　gesture；　Wayson　lost　control　upon　the　man　with　whom　he　wrestled。　The　lieutenant　sprawled。
　　The　Apache；　sensing　a　new　attacker；　hurled　himself　upon　The　Shadow。
　　The　Shadow　had　dropped　his　empty　automatic。　His　gloved　hand　was　beneath　his　cloak。　Whisking　forth；　it　produced　a　fresh　。45；　just　as　the　Apache　arrived。
　　The　weapon　boomed。
　　The　Apache　screamed　and　gave　a　high　leap　in　the　air。　His　knife　sailed　from　his　upswinging　hand。　It　whirred；　flashing；　above　the　level　of　the　balcony；　then　came　clattering　in　the　court。　But　before　the　knife　landed；　its　owner　had　sprawled　dead　upon　the　flagstones。
　　A　shout　from　Cardona。　The　Apache　whom　The　Shadow　had　flattened　by　his　spring　was　rising　and　making　headway　toward　the　outer　arch。
　　Wayson　heard　Joe's　cry。　Rising　to　one　knee；　the　police　lieutenant　took　aim。　A　perfect　marksman；　he　had　the　bead　upon　his　one　survivor　of　the　Apache　crew。
　　But　before　Wayson　could　press　the　trigger；　a　powerful　arm　came　sweeping　about　his　body；　The　lieutenant　went　sprawling　sidewise。　He　caught　the　flash　of　burning　eyes。　He　saw　a　black　figure　sweep　to　its　feet　and　spin　away。
　　The　Shadow　had　stopped　Wayson's　shot！　The　amazing　rescuer　had　suddenly　sprung　to　attack　one　of　those　whom　he　had　saved。　Cardona　stood　open…mouthed；　as　he　witnessed　The　Shadow's　action。　The　last　Apache　was　running　free；　his　life　saved　by　The　Shadow！
　　
　　THE　Apache　had　passed　the　archway。　The　Shadow　was　whirling　in　that　direction。　His　laugh　rang；　outlandish；　through　the　court；　as　Wayson；　foiled　in　his　shot；　came　angrily　to　his　feet。　Maddened　by　The　Shadow's　thrust；　not　realizing　the　full　part　that　the　cloaked　fighter　had　played；　Wayson　aimed　at　the　elusive　shape。
　　Cardona　flung　himself　to　stop　the　police　lieutenant's　aim。　Joe's　action　was　unnecessary。　Wayson　fired　a　split…second　too　late。　His　bullet　cracked　the　stone　side　of　the　arch　as　The　Shadow；　spinning　with　a　final　turn；　went　through　to　outer　safety。
　　The　courtyard　was　shivering　with　the　echoes　of　a　parting　laugh。　Cardona　caught　Wayson's　arm　and　stopped　the　marksman　from　attempting　another　shot。
　　Persuasively；　Joe　argued。
　　〃He　rescued　us；〃　stated　the　detective。　〃Let　him　go；　Wayson！　He　dropped　those　killers　when　he　was　on　the　balcony。〃
　　〃But　he　stopped　me　from　picking　off　the　last　of　the　crew…〃
　　〃He　wanted　to　make　a　get…away　himself。　That's　why。〃
　　Joe　put　the　argument　on　the　basis　of　a　hunch。　He　knew　the　identity　of　that　sharp…shooting　rescuer。　He　realized　that　The　Shadow　must　have　had　some　purpose　in　permitting　the　flight　of　the　last　Apache。　His　mention　of　a　getaway　seemed　to　convince　Wayson。　The　police　lieutenant　nodded。
　　〃Let's　see　to　Debeq；〃　he　suggested。
　　
　　THEY　went　into　the　house；　to　find　the　old　Frenchman　cowering；　uninjured；　in　the　corner。　Debeq　stammered　his　story。　The　rogues　had　entered；　apparently　intent　upon　robbery。　They　had　bound　and　gagged　him；　a　full　hour　ago。　Debeq　had　sent　no　message　to　Wayson。
　　〃It　must　have　been　a　pal　who　tipped　me　to　e　here；〃　observed　Wayson　to　Cardona。　〃Some　friend　that　knew　Debeq　was　in　trouble　and　was　afraid　he'd　be　killed　if　the　cops　came　banging　in　here。〃
　　Cardona　nodded　his　agreement。　The　suggestion　seemed　sound。　Yet；　somehow；　Joe　could　not　discard　the　hunch　that　this　trap　had　been　planned　to　thwart　his　search　for　Cyro。　Nevertheless；　Joe　Cardona　felt　nearer　to　his　goal。
　　He　knew　that　The　Shadow　was　in　New　Orleans。　Once　again　that　cloaked　rescuer　had　intervened　in　Joe's　behalf。　In　New　York；　Cardona's　life　had　been　saved　by　The　Shadow。　That　master　fighter　knew　well　how　to　foil　men　of　crime。
　　Rogues　of　the　Latin　Quarter　had　been　eliminated。　Lieutenant　Wayson　was　examining　dead　faces。　Police　were　arriving　from　the　street；　to　back　his　belief　that　these　were　merely　riffraff　of　New　Orleans。　Not　even　Joe　Cardona　was　ready　with　the　theory　that　they　might　be　imported　killers。
　　But　Joe　did　have　the　hunch　that　these　dead　Apaches　were　minions　of　Cyro。
　　If　so；　The　Shadow；　too；　was　on　the　master　swindler's　trail。　Grimly；　Joe　Cardona　could　see　that　success　might　lay　ahead。　The　star　detective　was　set　to　remain　in　New　Orleans。
　　
　　　CHAPTER　XVI　
　　　THE　SHADOW'S　TRAIL　
　　RAOUL　BRILLIARD　had　termed　his　Apaches　〃rats。〃　Like　rats　they　had　skulked　in　darkness；　like　rats　they　had　fought　and　died。　One　alone　remained。　A　human　rodent；　seeking　security；　this　squint…eyed　ruffian　had　taken　to　a　hole。
　　Clear　of　Debeq's　courtyard；　the　survivor　had　picked　an　obscure　passage　between　two　buildings。　He　was　scurrying　along　it；　stopping　to　breathe　hard　and　listen　for　sounds　of　approaching　police。　He　came　to　a　fence。　Cautiously；　the　Apache　clambered　over　the　barrier　to　a　courtyard　on　the　other　side。
　　He　thought　that　he　had　left　an　empty　passage　behind　him。　He　was　wrong。　A　follower　had　e　along　his　trail。　Unseen；　unheard；　The　Shadow　had　taken　up　the　course　set　by　the　lone　survivor　of　the　Parisian　mob。
　　This　Apache　had　learned　the　ins　and　outs　of　New　Orleans。　He　was　as　familiar　with　this　Latin　Quarter　as　with　the　streets　of　his　native　Montmartre；　a　fact　which　he　demonstrated　as　he　proceeded。　Ratlike；　he　uncovered　inconspicuous　spots　that　led　from　alleyways。　He　threaded　a　mazelike　course　through　the　streets　of　the　Vieux　Carre。
　　Hunched　in　his　nervous；　shuffling　gait；　the　Apache　avoided　lighted　byways。
　　The　French　Quarter　had　been　aroused。　Policemen　and　alert　detectives　were　converging　upon　the　area　close　to　Debeq's。　But　none　of　these　representatives　of　the　law　spied　the　slouching　Apache　in　his　circuitous　flight。　The　man　was　too　quick　when　he　ducked　for　cover。
　　The　Apache；　however；　had　forgotten　the　weak　point　of　his　tortuous　flight。
　　He　did　not　realize　that　his　own　penchant　for　dark　spots　would　serve　a　pursuer　who　could　manage　the　same　tactics。　It　was　not　surprising　that　the　rogue　should　neglect　to　consider　that　factor。
　　In　New　Orleans；　as　in　Paris；　this　Apache　was　confident　that　no　trailing　person　could　match　his　skill　at　lurking。　Police　and　detectives　were　like　gendarmes…easily　dodged；　easily　spied　if　they　tried　to　find　cover　for　themselves。　The　quick　glances　that　the　man　shot　over　his　hunched　shoulders　were　sufficient　proof…to　him…that　no　one　was　on　his　trail。
　　The　Apache　had　never　heard　of　The　Shadow。　He　did　not　know　that　the　enemy　who　had　sprung　down　from　the　balcony　was　a　master　at　the　art　of　pursuit。　Every　time　the　Apache　dug　into　a　sheltering　cover；　The　Shadow；　close　behind；　found　one　that　suited　him　as　well。
　　
　　REACHING　the　end　of　a　tiny　alleyway；　the　Apache　opened　a　door　and　sidled　into　the　back　room　of　a　grog　shop。　With　the　shuffle　of　a　soft…shoe　dancer；　he　ascended　a　flight　of　darkened　stairs。
　　Scarcely　had　he　gone　from　view　before　the　lower　door　opened　and　a　blackened　shape　entered　the　deserted　room。　For　a　brief　second；　The　Shadow　appeared　in　cloak　and　slouch　hat；　then　he　merged　with　the　darkness　of　the　stairway。
　　The　Apache　arrived　upon　a　balcony。　A　police　car　was　rolling　along　the　street　below。　The　Apache　watched　it　through　the　rail。　While　the　rogue　gazed；　blackness　loomed　in　the　opened　doorway　behind　him。　The　Shadow　was　within　two　yards　of　the　foe　whom　he　had　spared。
　　Moving　along　the　balcony；　the　Apache　climbed　a　rail　that　separated　the　balcony　from　that　of　the　next　house。　He　huddled　into　a　doorway。　The　Shadow　saw　him　and　glided　along　the　same　path。　Reaching　the　adjoining　house；　The　Shadow　spied　a　dim　stairway　that　the　Apache　had　taken。　The　Shadow　followed　swiftly。
　　The　trail　led　downstairs　and　out　through　a　courtyard　to　a　rear　street。
　　Reaching　that　point；　The　Shadow　peered　from　the　doorway　and　spied　the　Apache　entering　an　alley　on　the　opposite　side　of　the　street。　A　blackened　form；　dim　between　the　glow　of　two　antique　lamp…posts；　The　Shadow　glided　forth　and　resumed　the　course。
　　The　end　of　the　trail　was　close。　The　Apache　pr