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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 summon to obey The Shadow's needs。
CHAPTER XVII
TWO NIGHTS LATER
〃NOTHING new； Rafferty；〃 declared Royal Medbrook from behind his office desk。 〃Take a look at the sheets if you want。〃
〃Never mind； Royal；〃 returned Rafferty； with a grin。 〃I'll take your word for it。 The New York dick is still in town and I've got to keep him posted。〃
〃Certainly。 I suppose he's still scouring the French Quarter； along with Lieutenant Wayson。〃
〃Yeah。 But they'd have given it up if it hadn't been for that brawl at Debeq's。〃
〃At Debeq's？〃 questioned Medbrook； a slight look of interest on his face。
〃Who is Debeq？〃
〃Didn't you ever hear of him？〃 inquired Rafferty。 〃He's an old Frenchman who lives down in the Quarter。 Some tough birds tried to burgle Debeq's place。
They shot it out with the cops。〃
〃I read about it；〃 recalled Medbrook。 〃But I didn't know Cardona and Wayson were in on the fight。〃
〃They kept it out of the papers…their part of it…so nobody would know Cardona was here in town。 The cops took the credit； but Wayson and Cardona did the heavy work。〃
〃I see。 And Cardona probably thinks that those rowdies could be hooked with the con man？〃
〃I guess he does。 He hasn't said it though。 Just seems to be sticking around in hope of something happening。 Wayson is off regular duty。 Just working to help Cardona。〃
〃Well； if either of them think that swindlers use mobs； they're crazy。
That's my opinion。〃
〃Ditto； Royal。〃
Rafferty went out。 Tony entered。 He made a gesture toward the papers on the desk。
〃I didn't put that fellow Lence on the list；〃 he confided。 〃He's back again。 I thought you'd better know it。 He's talking to young Gaudrin。〃
〃Don't worry about Lence； Tony。 He's in the clear。 Who else is with Luke Gaudrin？〃
〃The millionaire。〃
〃Cranston？ I thought he had left town。〃
〃Cranston isn't here。 I'm speaking about Marr。〃
〃I'll drop out and say hello。〃
〃All right； boss。〃
MEDBROOK followed Tony from the office。 Reaching the gaming room； he shook hands with Luke Gaudrin； then with Dunwood Marr。 Luke turned to introduce the gambler to Tracy Lence。 Another handshake。
Luke turned back to the roulette table。 Medbrook clapped a friendly hand upon the young man's shoulders。 Luke had acquired a fair…sized stack of chips； the action looked like friendly congratulation on Medbrook's part。
〃Good work； Luke；〃 said the gambler。 〃Keep right on winning； as long as you don't break the bank。 How is your father？〃
〃The governor's feeling great。〃
〃Good！ Give him my best regards。 I might drop in some evening； when I'm
going by。〃
〃We'd be glad to see you； Royal。〃
Medbrook stepped away。 Dunwood Marr watched the gambler with a quizzical gaze。 Something that resembled suspicion crept over the millionaire's face。
Then Marr suddenly resumed his usual genial expression。
Neither Luke Gaudrin nor Tracy Lence had noted Marr's change of countenance。 But another observer had。 This was a player wh