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〃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 not equal the pace of the maddened driver up ahead。
〃Over〃…The Shadow's mand came from the rear of the cab as his automatic pressed the driver's neck。 〃Pull over and stop。 Stop hard。〃
Cold steel of the gun's muzzle spurred the driver to prompt response。 He had doubled the distance between his cab and the car behind。 The halt that he made was terrific。 He jammed the brake and banked the cab upon a mound of dirt at the side of the road。
〃Out；〃 ordered The Shadow。 〃Run for cover！〃
The driver dived from the wheel and scrambled over the low bank at the side of the road； never glancing behind him。 At the same instant； The Shadow yanked open the door and leaped against the bank。
His left hand clutched the lapels of his full…dress coat； pressing them so they hid the whiteness of collar； shirt and tie。 As his right shoulder struck the bank； The Shadow spun about。 Half rolling； half leaping； he whirled back； away from the stalled taxi。
He was a mass of spinning blackness in the shroud of night。 The Shadow was unseen despite the glare of approaching lights。 The attire of Lamont Cranston was serving him as well as any cloak。 In four swift seconds； he had hurled himself from a spot of pressing danger。
FROM the pursuing automobile came flashes of flame； acpanied by the roar of revolvers。 Bullets ripped the rear of the halted cab。 Slugs crashed windows as the big machine approached。 An open touring car； its sides offered opportunity for the marksman in it。
Opportunity lay elsewhere； also。 Ending his spin against the banked side of the road； The Shadow stopped with automatic levelled。 He pressed the trigger as the touring car arrived。 Not once； but often。
The kicking automatic sent fierce jabs of flame。 With every spurt； The Shadow's arm was swinging； following the car that had e to deluge the cab with leaden hail。 Screamed oaths shrieked through the air as the driver applied the brakes。 The touring car spun roundabout； a dozen yards beyond the cab。
Rising； The Shadow swung himself up the embankment； the action took no more than one swift leap。 Dropping flat； he aimed to deal with desperadoes should they require more。 The touring car was straight across the road。 Lights from an approaching automobile showed toppled figures dangling above its doors。
One unscathed marksman had seen The Shadow's shots。 Leaning from beside the driver's seat； he loosed a volley for the center of the bank where The Shadow had been。 Whirling bullets thudded the dirt； the air crackling as it closed behind them。
A single shot answered from atop the embankment。 A last burst from the automatic； it proved a perfect stroke。 The crook beside the driver jounced upward； then slumped down in the car。 The man at the wheel stepped on the gas。
Jolting from the road； he drove hard through a chance opening between trees。 Cutting wildly across a field； he reached a dirt road that led to another highway。 The touring car jounced from side to side； then sped away in flight； its driver carrying a cargo of dead and crippled pals。
Cars had stopped all about。 Lights were glaring on the road。 Those headlamps； however； did not show the right side of the taxicab。 Nor did they reveal The Shadow as he crawled quickly along the embankment； then dropped beside the taxi。
Leaping to the wheel； The Shadow started the bullet…riddled cab。 Shots had been for the body…not for tires； tank or motor。 The cab responded。 The Shadow drove it roaring； past cars that had halted in their path from the city。 Racing the motor to full speed； he whizzed into the city limits of New Orleans。
NOT long afterward； Lamont Cranston appeared in the lobby of the hotel where he was stopping。 His usually immaculate attire bore slight traces of grime； that fact； however； was not noticed by the elevator operator。
Reaching his room； The Shadow changed his clothes。 He packed his bags； then summoned the porter and arranged for his luggage to be expressed to New York； save for a briefcase that he intended to carry with him。
Going down to the lobby； The Shadow che