mg.cyro-第28节

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wanted　to　listen　for　any　signs　of　Lence。　I　was　afraid　he　might　be　butting　in。
　　You　trapped　us；　Wayson；　when　we　were　ing　through。〃
　　
　　〃A　WEAK　alibi；〃　sneered　Danforth　Gaudrin。　〃What　do　you　think；　Marr。　Do　you　agree？〃
　　〃I'm　not　sure；〃　replied　the　millionaire；　with　a　shake　of　his　head。　〃I　must　admit　that　the　story　sounds　weak…〃
　　〃It's　baloney；〃　interjected　Joe　Cardona。
　　〃One　moment。〃　Lieutenant　Wayson　was　speaking。　〃I　am　here　to　vouch　for　Royal　Medbrook。　I　was　surprised　when　I　found　out　who　it　was　that　I　had　trapped。
　　I've　heard　his　story。　I　believe　it。　Let's　hear　young　Gaudrin〃…he　swung　to　Luke…〃and　find　out　if　he　really　kept　what　he　knew　to　himself。〃
　　〃I　did；〃　insisted　Luke。　〃I　told　no　one　except　Royal。　I　knew　he　was　straight。　He　wouldn't　have　talked。　He's　on　the　level。　Somebody　else　pulled　this　crooked　business。〃
　　Pleading　Medbrook's　case；　Luke　gained　a　sudden　inspiration。　He　turned　about　and　stared　straight　toward　Reginald　Exeter。　The　Australian　was　puffing　at　his　pipe。
　　〃There's　the　man！〃　exclaimed　Luke。　〃He　was　here；　at　this　house！　He　could　have　learned　everything！〃
　　〃I　don't　listen　at　keyholes；　Luke；〃　returned　Exeter；　calmly。　〃I　knew　nothing　of　this　treasure。〃
　　〃No？〃　sneered　Luke。　〃Didn't　you　wonder　why　Professor　Babcock　talked　you　out　of　going　on　the　cruise？〃
　　〃I　did　wonder；〃　admitted　Exeter。　〃I　thought　it　was　a　bit　of　eccentricity　on　his　part。　That　was　all。〃
　　An　abrupt　pause。　Then　Joe　Cardona　challenged：
　　〃You're　an　Englishman；　aren't　you；　Exeter？〃
　　〃An　Australian；〃　replied　Exeter。
　　〃Either　one　would　do　for　Cyro；〃　asserted　Joe。　〃He　might　be　an　American；　but　he'd　more　likely　be　an　Englishman。　One　who　has　traveled。〃
　　〃As　Exeter　has；〃　put　in　Luke。　〃He　was　talking　French　like　a　native　tonight。　To　Brilliard。〃
　　〃To　Brilliard；　eh？〃　quizzed　Joe。　〃So　that　was　the　game。　Fixing　your　plans　in　a　lingo　no　one　else　could　get…〃
　　〃Just　a　moment；〃　interposed　Dunwood　Marr。　〃On　behalf　of　Professor　Babcock；　whom　we　know　for　an　honest　man；　I　suggest　that　we　give　Exeter　a　fair　trial。　How　long；　professor；　have　you　known　this　young　man？〃
　　〃He　introduced　himself　to　me　here　in　New　Orleans；〃　cackled　Babcock。　〃Just　a　short　while　after　I　arrived。　He　claims　to　know　friends　of　mine　in　England。〃
　　〃Does　he？〃
　　〃I　do　not　know。〃
　　〃That　is　unfortunate。　Still；　we　must　not　be　too　hasty。　Exeter；　Luke　Gaudrin　saw　something　suspicious　in　your　conversation　with　Brilliard。　Tell　me：
　　had　you　met　Brilliard　before　tonight？〃
　　
　　〃YES；〃　admitted　Exeter。　He　glanced　toward　Alicia。　〃I　visited　Brilliard's　studio　with　Miss　Gaudrin。〃
　　〃And　talked　with　Brilliard？〃
　　〃Yes。〃
　　〃In　French？〃
　　〃Yes。〃
　　〃Do　you　speak　French；　Alicia？〃
　　The　girl　shook　her　head　as　she　heard　Marr's　question。　The　millionaire　appeared　troubled。
　　〃This　is　unfortunate；　Exeter；〃　he　said。　〃The　mere　fact　that　you　have　remained　here　at　the　Gaudrin　home　is　a　bad　factor。　I　think；　though…〃
　　〃Let's　hear　his　excuse；〃　put　in　Joe　Cardona。
　　〃He　has　no　excuse！〃　cried　Alicia；　suddenly。　〃He　has　every　reason　to　be　here。　Father〃…the　girl　turned　toward　Danforth。　Gaudrin…〃Reggie　and　I　were　ing　in　here　when　you　met　us；　ing　to　tell　you　that　we　intend　to　be　married！〃
　　〃Preposterous！〃　exclaimed　Gaudrin。　〃This　is　proof　of　Exeter's　perfidy！　So　that　was　your　game；　you　rogue？　Using　my　daughter's　trust　as　a　shield　against　this　just　accusation！〃
　　Lieutenant　Wayson　suddenly　thrust　himself　forward　as　Danforth　Gaudrin；　face　purple；　was　about　to　spring　toward　Exeter。　Holding　Gaudrin　back；　Wayson　laid　down　the　law。
　　〃We've　landed　two　crooks；〃　he　announced；　turning　to　Joe　Cardona；　〃Brilliard　and　Lence。　We're　going　to　put　them　behind　bars。　We'll　see　what　Cyro　thinks　of　that。　Over　here；　you　two。〃
　　He　motioned　to　the　wall。　Brilliard　and　Lence　backed　in　that　direction。
　　Wayson　motioned　to　Exeter；　then　to　Medbrook。　They　followed。　Finally；　the　police　lieutenant　added　Luke　Gaudrin。
　　〃We've　got　two　crooks；〃　he　repeated。　〃What's　more；　we　have　the　man　who　might　be　Cyro。　I'm　including　you；　Medbrook；　like　Exeter。　I'm　impartial。　And　young　Luke　here　isn't　above　suspicion。　I　figured　you　on　the　level；　Medbrook；　but　this　chap　Exeter　looks　square；　too。
　　〃I'll　wager　that　we'll　have　Cyro　talking　soon　enough；〃　Wayson　chuckled。
　　〃We're　at　the　end　of　the　trail…〃
　　
　　A　CHUCKLE　came　in　echo　of　Wayson's。　The　police　lieutenant　turned。　So　did　Joe　Cardona。　Those　two　alone　had　guns　in　readiness。　But　they　were　unprepared　for　what　they　faced。　Dunwood　Marr　had　stepped　back　while　the　others　were　watching　Wayson。　The　millionaire　had　drawn　two　revolvers。
　　One　gun　was　aimed　toward　Joe　Cardona。　The　other　covered　Wayson。　While　the　two　stood　dumfounded；　Brilliard　and　Lence　leaped　forward。　One　grabbed　Cardona's　lowered　gun。　The　other　caught　Wayson's　wrist　and　twisted　the　revolver　from　the　police　lieutenant's　grasp。
　　Covered　by　Marr's　revolvers；　the　representatives　of　the　law　could　offer　no　resistance。　Before　Exeter　and　Medbrook　could　spring　forward；　Marr　was　covering　them；　while　Brilliard　and　Lence　were　pointing　their　newly　gained　guns　toward　Wayson　and　Cardona。
　　Danforth　Gaudrin…Captain　Emory…Professor　Babcock…all　stood　rooted。
　　They　were　totally　astonished　by　this　denouement。　Dunwood　Marr；　his　revolvers　slowly　sweeping　to　cover　the　entire　room；　was　indulging　in　a　vicious　leer。
　　〃You　captured　my　lieutenants；〃　he　sneered。　〃You　thought　that　you　had　Cyro。
　　You　never　suspected　the　part　that　I　had　played。　I　am　here；　fools；　to　claim　this　treasure　as　my　own！　I　am　Cyro！〃
　　
　　　CHAPTER　XXII　
　　　VILLAIN'S　GLOAT　
　　DUNWOOD　MARR…otherwise　Cyro…stood　master　of　the　field。　Huddled　in　corners；　fierce　but　helpless；　were　those　whom　he　and　his　lieutenants　had　trapped。　Wayson　and　Cardona　were　lined　up　with　Exeter　and　Medbrook。　Alicia　had　been　motioned　to　join　her　father；　Emory　and　Babcock。　Luke　was　also　with　this　latter　group。
　　While　Brilliard　covered　Cardona's　group；　Lence　held　his　gun　toward　Gaudrin's　corner。　Dunwood　Marr　had　attended　to　the　frisking。　Weapons　lay　beside　the　treasure。　Choosing　two　guns；　Marr　handed　one　to　Brilliard　and　the　other　to　Lence。　Each　subordinate　had　a　brace　of　revolvers。
　　〃Look　me　over；〃　purred　Marr。　〃The　smoothest　swindler　in　the　business！
　　Cyro！　Revealed　at　last。　Dunwood　Marr；　millionaire。　Funny　no　one　has　ever　troubled　to　investigate　my　Mexican　mines。
　　〃I　own　them。　But　they　do　not　produce。　That　is　why　I　undertook　this　quest　for　gold。〃　He　glanced　toward　the　treasure　chests　and　chuckled。　〃Gold　that　is　real。　I'll　have　my　pick　of　doubloons；　Gaudrin。　My　pick　of　all　of　them。〃
　　Vicious　of　expression；　Marr　paused　to　survey　the　silent　group。　Savagely；　he　changed　his　tone　as　he　snarled　threats　of　doom。
　　〃My　swindles　have　been　big　ones；〃　he　asserted。　〃Enough　to　enable　me　to　continue　my　part　as　a　millionaire。　New　dupes　every　year；　plucked　by　my　skilled　workers。　No　wonder　I　have　kept　getting　steady　dividends　from　my　pretended　mines。
　　〃But　this　pay…off　needed　crime…burglary　and　murder。　It　was　big　enough。
　　Still；　I　tried　to　play　my　part。　As　Dunwood　Marr；　I　was　ready　to　stand　among　the　dupes。　Do　you　know　where　this　treasure　is　going？　To　the　Nautilus！
　　〃You　would　never　have　found　it　there。　After　the　robbery；　with　my　minions　scattered；　I　would　have　boarded　my　new　yacht…to　travel　away　with　the　purloined　treasure。　Police　looking　for　crooks　who　carried　nothing；　while　I；　Cyro；　sailed　openly　from　Lake　Pontchartrain。
　　〃I　knew　the　Nautilus　was　after　treasure。　I　figured　it　a　year　ago；　Gaudrin；　when　I　took　that　cruise。　That's　why　I　kept　in　touch　with　you。　Well；　I've　reached　the　pay…off。　What　is　more；　I　am　going　to　leave　as　I　intended。　I　shall　be　Dunwood　Marr　aboard　the　Nautilus。　I　shall　say　that　I　left　this　mansion　early；　before　trouble　started。　That〃…Marr　paused　insidiously…〃will　be　a　true　statement。〃
　　
　　WITH　an　order　to　Brilliard　and　Lence；　Marr　swung　from　the　center　of　the　room。　He　opened　the　door　to　the　hall。　Those　in　the　study　heard　him　hiss　a　signal。　Marr　reentered。　A　few　moments　later；　a　dark…faced；　mustached　man　joined　him。　Brilliard　and　Lence　grinned　as　they　saw　Larribez。
　　〃Jose　Larribez；〃　introduced　Marr；　with　a　sneer。　〃Another　friend；　from　Havana。　He　was　not　to　meet　you　tonight。　But　I　have　altered　my　plan。　I　shall　tell　you　why。　Now　that　I　am　known　as　Cyro；　I　can　not　afford　to　leave　living　witnesses。　All　of　you　are　doomed。
　　〃Larribez　has　a　crew　from　the　water　front。　They　will　carry　out　this　treasure。〃　One　gun　pocketed；　Marr　was　locking　the　opened　boxes。　〃They　will　take　it　to　the　Nautilus　where　I　shall　meet　them。　Lence　has　a　squad　of　mobsters。　They　will　attend　to　matters　here。　This　place　will　be　a　shambles　when　they　have　finished。〃
　　With　Brilliard　and　Lence　steady　with　two　guns　each；　Marr　stopped　and　calmly　scooped　up　odd　coins　that　lay　upon　the　floor。　Pocketing　the　gold；　he　turned　toward　Larribez。
　　〃Ah；　Senor　Cyro；〃　purred　Larribez；　〃you　are　ready　that　I　should　take　the　treasure？　My　men…they　are　waiting　for…〃
　　〃Bring　them；〃　ordered　Marr。
　　Larribez　walked　from　the　room。　Marr　suddenly　swung　after　him。　He　stopped　Larribez　at　the　door。
　　〃Wait；　senor！〃　he　manded。　〃Perhaps　I　have　spoken　too　much。　It　is　wise　that　we　should