mg.cyro-第21节

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；　The　Shadow　glided　forth　and　resumed　the　course。
　　The　end　of　the　trail　was　close。　The　Apache　proved　it　by　his　actions　on　the　next　street。　His　slouching　gait　ended。　He　became　a　chance　stroller　who　would　have　passed　as　an　ordinary　denizen　of　the　French　Quarter。　In　casual　fashion；　the　rogue　entered　a　doorway　and　disappeared　from　view。
　　The　Shadow　followed。　He　joined　the　blackness　of　the　entrance；　then　moved　through。　He　found　himself　in　a　typical　Frenchtown　courtyard。　Above　were　balconies。　The　Apache　had　gone　up　a　flight　of　stairs；　he　was　knocking　lightly　at　a　doorway。
　　Moving　inward；　The　Shadow　reached　a　dull…stuccoed　pillar　which　showed　faintly　in　the　semidarkness。　Gripping　thick　vines　that　twisted　snakelike　across　the　pillar；　The　Shadow　drew　himself　silently　up　to　the　balcony。　As　he　reached　the　rail；　he　caught　a　glimmer　of　light。　A　door　opened；　the　Apache　stepped　through。　The　door　closed。
　　Close　by　was　a　shuttered　window。　A　faint　gleam　shone　from　its　slats。　The　Shadow　drew　the　shutter　toward　him　and　entered　a　room　by　means　of　an　opened　window。　The　slight　light　showed　a　bedroom；　beyond　was　a　door　through　which　the　illumination　came；　for　the　barrier　was　ajar。
　　The　Shadow　glided　softly　across　the　floor。　He　peered　through　the　crack　of　the　door。　He　could　hear　the　tones　of　a　voice　talking　French　in　the　street　jargon　of　Paris。　He　viewed　the　squint…eyed　Apache；　talking　to　a　bearded　man　who　wore　smock　and　beret。　The　scene　was　a　lighted　studio。
　　The　Shadow　was　in　the　abode　of　Raoul　Brilliard。
　　
　　As　proof　that　he　had　found　the　spot　where　crime　had　been　fostered；　The　Shadow　viewed　a　third　man　present。　Tracy　Lence　was　seated　in　a　corner　of　the　studio；　puzzled　by　the　conversation　which　was　passing　between　the　Apache　and　Brilliard。
　　The　Shadow　understood　the　jargon；　but　Lence　did　not。　The　Apache　spoke　with　many　gesticulations。　He　imitated　the　thrusts　of　knives；　the　motions　of　revolver　fire；　the　action　of　someone　leaping　from　a　high　spot。　When　he　had　finished；　the　man　leered　and　drew　a　wad　of　tobacco　from　his　pocket。　He　twisted　off　a　corner；　half…tossed　it　in　his　mouth　and　began　to　chew　while　he　listened　to　Brilliard　speak。
　　Short　responses　were　all　that　the　Apache　made。　He　snarled　them　while　he　chewed。　〃Oui。。。　Oui。。。　Non。。。〃　Yes　and　no　were　his　intermittent　responses。　He　waited　when　Brilliard　was　through　questioning　him。　Then　the　artist　said：
　　〃Allez；　Tabac。〃
　　The　Apache　departed　by　the　outer　door　of　the　studio。
　　The　Shadow　remained　watching　from　the　inner　room。　This　was　the　reason　why　he　had　spared　the　life　of　the　lone　Apache。　He　had　divined　that　the　fellow　would　weave　a　trail　back　to　the　man　who　had　ordered　the　Parisian　band　on　its　mission　of　death。
　　〃Something　went　wrong？〃　Tracy　Lence　put　the　question　anxiously；　after　the　Apache　had　left。
　　〃Yes；〃　replied　Brilliard。　〃This　fellow…Tabac　they　call　him；　because　of　his　chewing　habit…came　here　to　tell　me　the　bad　news。　My　Apaches　have　been　wiped　out。〃
　　〃What！　By　Cardona？〃
　　〃By　Cardona　and　that　sharpshooter；　Wayson。　The　one　man　on　the　whole　New　Orleans　force　who　could　have　put　up　so　powerful　a　fight。　Tabac　says　there　was　another…probably　a　friend　of　Debeq's…who　entered　the　fray　from　a　balcony。〃
　　〃Why　did　Tabac　e　here？　He　might　have　been　followed。　Are　you　sure　that　no　one…〃
　　〃You　can't　trail　an　Apache；〃　interrupted　Brilliard。　〃He　has　been　in　New　Orleans　long　enough　to　learn　the　ground。　He　knows　this　Quarter　perfectly。　He　will　go　into　hiding。　The　police　will　not　find　him。〃
　　〃But　the　other　Apaches…〃
　　〃Are　dead。　They　will　pass　for　natives　of　Frenchtown；　riffraff　gone　berserk。　Robbing　Debeq；　ready　to　kill　when　balked。　That　was　the　way　I　planned　it；　after　receiving　orders　from　Cyro；　yesterday。〃
　　〃By　telephone　at　Thibault's？〃
　　Brilliard　did　not　reply。　He　was　thinking　of　tonight's　episode。　He　resumed　his　ment。
　　
　　〃APACHES　spotted　Cardona　and　Wayson　early　in　the　evening。　They　picked　Debeq's　house　as　the　best　spot　for　their　trap。　One　went　in　and　told　Wayson　Debeq　wanted　to　see　him。　Apparently；　Wayson　fell　for　it；　thinking　that　Debeq　had　information。
　　〃The　police　will　class　it　as　a　robbery。　They　will　never　suspect　that　these　men　were　from　Paris。　You　see；　now；　Lence；　why　I　kept　mobsmen　from　the　job。　This　town　would　have　been　stirred　up　if　out…of…town　gangsters　had　been　in　the　game。
　　〃Hotels　would　be　watched。　All　suspicious…looking　strangers　would　be　in　trouble。　As　it　is；　we　have　lost　a　squad　of　shock　troops。　But　we　have　learned　something　of　value。　Tabac　told　me　what　Wayson　has　been　saying　to　certain　people。〃
　　〃About　Cardona？〃
　　〃Yes…in　a　sense。　Wayson　has　let　it　out　that　they　are　looking　for　a　con　man　from　New　York。　They're　trying　to　get　a　line　on　him　by　watching　all　strangers　who　look　like　swindlers。　Which　means　that　you　are　safe。〃
　　〃Why　so？〃
　　〃Because　no　description　was　given。　They　don't　know　whom　they　are　after。
　　You　pass　as　a　gentleman。　That　is　why　Cyro　picked　you。　Go　back　to　a　hotel　tomorrow　or　the　day　after。　Resume　your　acquaintance　with　Luke　Gaudrin。　But　hold　off　on　a　visit　to　the　house。　We'll　wait　until　the　Nautilus　is　due。〃
　　〃Cyro's　orders？〃
　　〃Yes。　As　for　the　Apaches；　we　will　not　need　them。　Jose　Larribez　will　reach　New　Orleans　on　the　Steamship　Tarrano；　from　Pernambuco。　He　will　be　here　before　the　Nautilus　sails　into　Lake　Pontchartrain。〃
　　〃With　his　crew？〃
　　〃Yes。　Some　are　aboard　the　same　ship。　They　will　settle　on　the　water　front。
　　They　will　acquire　others　there。　I　had　my　Apaches　ready　only　in　case　Larribez　could　not　get　here　in　time。〃
　　〃Larribez　will　go　to　a　hotel？〃
　　〃Certainly。　He　is　supposed　to　be　a　wealthy　citizen　of　Buenos　Aires。　No　one　knows　that　he　was　a　Porrista　in　Havana。　He　will　have　contact　with　his　crew。
　　Larribez　has　orders　to　e　here　the　night　he　arrives。〃
　　〃You　know　him　by　sight？〃
　　〃I　have　never　met　him。　Like　yourself；　he　is　a　stranger　to　me。　But　I　know　when　to　expect　him。　That　is　sufficient。　He　will　introduce　himself　as　you　did。〃
　　〃Then　I'm　to　be　here　when　he　arrives？〃
　　〃Certainly。　We　three　are　equals；　as　lieutenants　of　Cyro。　The　first　on　the　ground；　I　have　been　the　one　entrusted　to　receive　the　orders。　That　is　all。〃
　　Tracy　Lence　arose　from　his　chair。
　　〃I'll　go　back　to　the　apartment；〃　he　remarked。　〃Since　we're　sure　Cardona　hasn't　spotted　me；　I've　got　nothing　to　worry　about。　Sorry　about　your　mob；　Brilliard…〃
　　〃I'm　not；〃　broke　in　the　Frenchman。　〃I　won't　have　to　bother　about　getting　them　back　to　Paris。　Link　Ruckert　lost　a　few　men　in　a　fight　last　night；　but　he　still　has　plenty。　With　Link　working　under　you　and　Jose　Larribez　supplying　his　own　outfit；　we'll　be　ready　for　the　pay…off。〃
　　Tracy　Lence　strolled　out。　Raoul　Brilliard　closed　the　door　and　bolted　it。
　　He　turned　toward　the　inner　room。　When　he　arrived　there；　he　stepped　into　a　spot　where　The　Shadow　no　longer　lingered。
　　A　closing　shutter　wavered　momentarily　as　Brilliard　reached　the　bedroom。
　　The　artist　did　not　see　that　final　motion　that　indicated　the　departure　of　a　living　presence。　Outside；　The　Shadow　was　descending　the　stairway　that　led　to　the　inner　court。
　　
　　FIFTEEN　minutes　later；　Justin　Oswood　strolled　into　the　lobby　of　the　Hotel　Bontezan。　He　was　carrying　a　folded　garment　over　his　arm。　It　was　black　and　inconspicuous；　it　passed　for　a　light　overcoat。
　　In　his　room；　the　guest　removed　that　garment。　From　pockets　in　its　inner　folds；　he　removed　automatics；　then　thin　black　gloves；　finally；　a　slouch　hat　that　he　had　folded　into　small　press。　The　garment；　itself；　showed　as　a　black　cloak　with　crimson　lining　that　had　been　folded　from　view。
　　Justin　Oswood　pressed　the　light　switch。　In　darkness；　he　became　a　different　being。　From　the　window　of　his　room；　a　strange　personage　looked　out　across　New　Orleans；　where　the　broad　line　of　Canal　Street　formed　a　glimmering　boulevard　whereon　toy　trolley　cars　moved　between　the　traffic　of　tiny　automobiles。
　　The　laugh　of　The　Shadow　whispered　softly　through　the　room。　Burning　eyes　had　turned　the　direction　of　their　gaze　toward　the　low…lying　buildings　of　the　Vieux　Carre。　There；　in　the　French　Quarter；　The　Shadow　had　fought　tonight。　After　victory　in　battle；　he　had　enjoyed　another　triumph。
　　By　stealth；　he　had　found　the　men　he　wanted。　Lence　and　Brilliard；　lieutenants　of　Cyro；　had　discussed　their　plans　within　The　Shadow's　range　of　hearing。　His　strategy　in　sparing　Tabac　had　brought　dividends。　One　more　lieutenant　to　be　watched：　Jose　Larribez；　when　that　new　villain　arrived。
　　Then　would　final　plans　be　ready。　Then　would　Cyro's　lieutenants　move。　A　soft　laugh　showed　that　The　Shadow　was　contemplating　some　counterstroke　that　would　nullify　their　efforts。　A　move　that　would　do　more：　one　that　might　lead　to　the　unknown　chief　of　evil；　Cyro；　himself。
　　The　Shadow　stepped　from　the　window。　He　picked　up　a　telephone　in　the　darkness。　He　spoke；　not　in　a　weird　whisper；　but　in　the　easy　drawl　that　suited　the　character　of　Justin　Oswood。　As　Oswood；　he　was　sending　a　night　telegram　to　New　York。
　　The　message　pertained　to　securities。　It　was　to　an　investment　broker　named　Rutledge　Mann。　But　the　stocks　and　bonds　mentioned　in　that　message　carried　a　hidden　meaning。　They　pertained　to　persons…not　to　investments…to　agents　whom　Mann；　as　contact；　would　sum