mg.cyro-第19节

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　　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　above　Debeq's　inner　door　was　a　balcony；　above　it　was　the　first　tier　of　a　flat　French　roof。　It　was　from　the　roof　that　a　blackened　shape　dropped　squarely　upon　the　balcony。　Extended　arms　swung　over　the　rail。　Two　automatics　roared　as　the　Apaches　surged　upon　Wayson　and　Cardona。
　　
　　THE　Shadow　had　arrived　across　the　roof　of　Debeq's　house。　His　automatics　awakened　thunder　as　they　echoed　among　the　stone　walls　of　the　court。　His　fierce　fire　sprayed　its　messages　of　lead　along　a　sweeping　arc　as　he　mowed　down　the　men　with　knives。
　　The　Shadow　had　found　a　perfect　spot　from　which　to　deliver　this　counterthrust。　But　as　he　loosed　his　fire；　the　flames　that　tongued　from　his　guns　were　a　warning　to　the　reserves。　Up　came　the　gun　hands　of　the　Apaches　who　guarded　the　outer　arch。
　　The　Shadow　was　swaying　on　the　balcony。　His　moves　were　timed　almost　to　his　enemy's　action。　Vicious　killers　fired。　Their　bullets　flattened　against　the　brick　wall。　While　those　slugs　were　thudding；　The　Shadow　found　a　centered　aim。
　　Straight　into　the　blocking　trio　came　The　Shadow's　answer。　Bulleted　Apaches　sprawled。　Snarling　as　they　fell；　these　products　of　the　Parisian　slums　still　tried　to　get　their　foe。
　　One　dying　Apache　managed　a　shot　that　whistled　through　The　Shadow's　hat　brim。　But　the　would…be　killer　had　found　his　aim　too　late。　A　burst　from　an　automatic　ended　his　next　vicious　effort。
　　Wayson　and　Cardona　were　caught　flat…footed；　as　their　rescuer　began　his　timely　aid。　Knife…thrusting　Apaches　fell　as　they　surged　upon　them。　Amazed；　the　two　men　found　themselves　firing　at　sprawling　foemen。　As　they　came　up　to　aim　for　their　further　marks；　the　others；　too；　were　dropping。
　　Two　flanking　Apaches　had　been　clear　of　The　Shadow's　range。　They；　too；　were　concerned　with　the　attack　from　the　balcony；　swinging　over　to　take　aim　at　the　foe　above。　Suddenly；　they　recalled　their　first　objective。　They　whirled　upon　Wayson　and　Cardona。
　　Cardona　nipped　one　with　a　shot　from　his　snub…nosed　revolver。　Wayson　dropped　the　second　Apache　with　a　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　balc