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Cardona walked through and found himself in the most extensive gaming room that he had ever seen。 Occupying a plete wing of the Club Caprice； it afforded facilities for hundreds of players。
Roulette wheels were spinning； with croupiers busy beside them。 These tables occupied the center of the room； while lesser games were on the outskirts。 Slot machines； equipped for fifty cent and silver dollar play； formed long rows along the walls at the side。
The room was well thronged； although it had not even started to do a capacity business。 Cardona estimated the crowd at sixty or seventy persons； nearly half of the players women。 He decided that this must be a good…sized crowd for this early hour。 Midnight would be the time when business would near capacity。
There were a few players at the faro table。 Beyond； Cardona saw a slim； droop…shouldered fellow wearing a tuxedo。 A cigarette was dangling from the man's lips。 His eyes looked wise as they kept a roving lookout about the room。
Cardona approached。
〃Rafferty？〃 he questioned。
The fellow nodded。
〃Cardona's my name；〃 said Joe。
Another nod。 Rafferty gripped the detective's elbow。
〃Stick here；〃 he said。 〃I'll drop in and tell Medbrook you've arrived。〃
Rafferty moved away。 Joe stood by the door of an empty card room and began to look over the patrons。 He was skillful at this business； and he intended to make good use of his time while waiting for Rafferty's return。
THOUGH Cardona did not realize it； he had made a conspicuous figure from the moment that he had entered。 He had neglected to don evening clothes； and only a few of the patrons had done the same。 Fully one dozen pairs of eyes had watched Joe cross the gambling room。
Two men had been chatting by a roulette table when Cardona had entered。
One was Tracy Lence； his panion was Luke Gaudrin。 Tracy had spotted Joe during his passage。 At the very moment when the detective began to look about； the swindler drew a watch from his pocket。
〃Half past eight！〃 he ejaculated。 〃I promised to be at the hotel before nine。 I'm leaving town for a day or two； Luke。 I've already checked out。〃
〃I thought you were going to drop out to the house；〃 put in Luke。 〃You told me…〃
〃After I get back；〃 interposed Lence。 〃I'll give you a call； Luke。
Good…by； old man。〃
A handshake； then Lence turned and strolled toward the outer door。
Familiar with New York； he had recognized Joe Cardona。
Lence had a hunch that the ace sleuth was after him。 With his back turned； however； he took his time in departing。 He followed a gentleman and a lady who were on their way to the exit。 Cardona spied the trio。 He mistook them for a party。
There was one observer； however； who spied the actual circumstances of Lence's departure。 This onlooker was a tall； keen…visaged personage who was perfectly attired in evening clothes。 His face； firm and well…molded； was almost masklike。 His eyes were brilliant as they peered from either side of a hawk…like nose。
Visiting the Club Caprice； this worthy had found his name an open sesame to the portals of the gaming room。 He had introduced himself as Lamont Cranston。 He had been recognized as a millionaire who had previously visited this deluxe gambling den。
Actually； Lamont Cranston was The Shadow。 He had arrived in New Orleans ahead of Joe Cardona。 Without the need of police information； he had picked the Club Caprice as a most likely spot for any swindler on the hunt for game。
The Shadow had spotted a dozen faces worthy of observation； among them； that of Tracy Lence。 He； too； had seen Cardona enter。 He was as anxious as Lence to avoid the detective's gaze。 For Lamont Cranston…friend of Wainwright Barth…was known to the Manhattan sleuth。
The Shadow； however； had seen no need for departure。 He had adopted the simple ruse of strolling to another place at the roulette wheel。 By a natural turn； he had kept his face from Cardona's view。 At the same time； he had watched the door to see who went out。
He had deducted that Roke Rowden's murderer…if present…would take prompt steps to escape Cardona's scrutiny。 Noting Lence； The Shadow had made no effort to follow the fellow。 Instead； he moved another pace at the table and gazed squarely toward Luke Gaudrin。 He noticed Luke's face swinging back toward the table。 He recognized Luke as the man who had made friends with Lence。
Having picked out Lence by a process of prompt reasoning； The Shadow eliminated the other persons whom he had watched。 He walked about the table and reached a spot by Luke Gaudrin's side。 The young man looked around； saw Cranston nod affably； then nodded in return。
WATCHING the spinning wheel； The Shadow thrust forth a stack of chips and placed them on the corners of four numbers； a one to eight chance。 Again he glanced toward Luke。 Fumbling a few scant chips； the young man put his money on the same corner； just as the man at the wheel gave it a new spin。
The wheel slowed。 The ball clicked as it bounded about； then it plopped into a pocket bearing one of The Shadow's numbers。 The croupier pushed chips toward the winners。 Lamont Cranston received his in leisurely fashion； Luke Gaudrin was eager as he grabbed his winnings。
〃Playing a system？〃 he questioned； hoarsely。
〃Of a sort。〃 The reply came with a quiet smile。 〃Here…follow this one。〃
The Shadow spread chips in bination。 A single number； a four…square bination； then chips on the first twelve； the red and the odd。 Luke duplicated the process with his winnings。
The wheel whirled and stopped。 All but the single number cashed。 The croupier pushed over stacks of new winnings。
The Shadow； preparing to place new bets； made a slight turn。 He caught a glimpse of Joe Cardona； following Rafferty to a corner door marked 〃Office。〃 A thin smile appeared upon the lips of Lamont Cranston。 The Shadow knew Joe's purpose here。 He concentrated on the roulette table。 Luke followed his lead。
〃Friend of mine who just left；〃 remarked Luke。 〃He had a system。 Offered to stake me if I tried it。 So it wouldn't look as if he was doing all the betting。 That was his idea of letting me in。〃
〃I noticed him；〃 came Cranston's quiet response。 〃He's been around here a great deal lately。 You mean Allan Holward； don't you？〃
〃No。 This fellow's name was Tracy Lence。 Only met him two nights ago。 A likable chap。 That reminds me： I haven't learned your name yet。 My name is Luke Gaudrin。 Yours is…〃
〃Lamont Cranston。〃
Luke stared as he shook hands。 He had heard mention of this globe…trotting millionaire。 Then came a buzz at the table。 The handclasp ended as the croupier pushed over new stacks of winnings。 Cranston and Luke had hit another bination。
〃Don't pyramid；〃 warned The Shadow； in the quiet tone of Cranston。 〃The luck is due for a bad turn。 Smaller bets for a while。 Play for an even break。〃
〃Too bad you didn't meet Lence；〃 observed Luke； as they took the loss that The Shadow had predicted。 〃He was ing out to the house tomorrow night。 Going to bring a plete mathematical formula for his system。 But he told me tonight that he was leaving town for a few days。〃
〃Too bad。 I should like to have made his acquaintance。 So you live here in New Orleans； Gaudrin？〃
〃Born here。 The old mansion will be in the fourth generation when the governor passes it along to me。〃
〃You live with your father？〃
〃Yes。 He's a gentleman of the old school。 How long do you intend to be in town； Mr。 Cranston？〃
〃Quite a while。 Unless I should receive some unanticipated message from New York。〃
〃How about tomorrow night。 Couldn't you drop out and meet the folks？〃
〃Possibly。 This is rather an unexpected invitation…〃
〃A chap named Dunwood Marr will be there。 Millionaire from Florida。 Owns Mexican mines…〃
〃And specializes in seaplane trips？〃
〃That's the man。 Do you know him？〃
〃We have mutual acquaintances。〃
〃Good。 You ought to meet Marr。 He's flying down from Florida tomorrow afternoon。 Can I count on you； Mr。 Cranston？〃
〃Yes。〃
The Shadow placed a new bet as he accepted the invitation。 Luke copied the bination。 The result was a win。 The run of luck had returned。 Eagerly； the young man watched the long…fingered hands as they placed new stacks of chips。
He never glanced toward Cranston's face。 He did not see the thin smile that remained fixed upon those knowing lips。 He did not realize that this new friend had deliberately usurped Tracy Lence's place。
Having picked Lence as the swindler from New York； knowing the murderous con man to be an aid of Cyro； The Shadow was planning to learn the details of the game that the crook had temporarily abandoned。
CHAPTER IX
IN THE OFFICE
WHILE The Shadow was amazing Luke Gaudrin with the fine points of roulette play； Joe Cardona was lounging in a little anteroom where Rafferty had left him。
Minutes dragged by； then an inner door opened and a big fellow in tuxedo motioned the detective to enter。
When Joe had passed the portal； the bouncer went out。 Cardona stood facing a desk behind which sat a man of unusual bearing。 This was Royal Medbrook； proprietor of the Club Caprice。 Quiet of expression； his face held a sharpness that marked him as a man capable of action。
A poker face。 With eyes that were restless； yet always returning to their mark。 To Cardona； Medbrook looked like a fellow who could beat the toughest third degree。 He had met others of the gambler's type； but never one who impressed him so effectively。
Royal Medbrook studied his swarthy…faced visitor。 Then； without a word； he arose from his chair； stretched across the desk and shook hands。 After that； he pulled a box of cigars from a drawer and motioned for Joe to take one。
The detective accepted。 Medbrook lighted a cigar of his own。
Not a word had been spoken。 Puffing at his cigar； Medbrook glanced about the room。 Cardona found himself instinctively following the moves。 He saw a door that formed a route into the nearest card room。 It was heavily constructed and bore a formidable lock。 Joe also observed an opening to an inner office…a door that stood ajar。 Finally； he noticed a heavily curtained window at the side of the room。
〃I've heard of you； Cardona。〃
Medbrook broke the silence with this statement。 He followed with a puff at his cigar。 Then he added：
〃That was before Rafferty told me you were ing here tonight。〃
Cardona smiled。
〃Friends in the profession？〃 he questioned。
〃Yes；〃 acknowledged Medbrook。 〃Friends。 Straight…shooters。 You'd know them if I mentioned their names。 They liked you。〃
〃I'm glad to hear that； Medbrook。〃
〃One of them took a rap through you。 But he had no hard feelings about it。
Your job was to pinch him； and you did。 That was the way he looked at it。〃
A pause。 Then Medbrook resumed。
〃Detectives don't e in here often；〃 he remarked。 〃That's not because I don't like them。 It's because I don't respect their intelligence。 I am speaking chiefly of those from Northern cities。 I can't deal with them； as a rule。〃
〃Why not？〃
〃Because of their prejudices。 They can't get rid of the idea that the gambling business is a racket。 They take the attitude that all proprietors like myself are out to trim the suckers。 Which is true in the cities where those particular detectives e from。
〃Illegal gambling is a high…priced proposition for those who run it。
They're always expecting a double cross from the politicians with whom they deal。 It's a racket； all right； but the racketeers are the politicians。 You can't blame the gamblers for grabbing all they can while the game is hot。〃
〃There's a lot in what you say； Medbrook。〃
〃I know there is。 But here； it's different。 I pay for my privileges； but I pay a set price and there's no chiseling。 They don't put the heat on me； so I don't take it out on my customers。 Is that clear？〃
Cardona nodded。
〃ALL right。〃 Medbrook leaned across the desk and wagged his cigar。 〃I understand you're looking for a bigshot swindler。 There's a chance that he's been here at the Club Caprice。 That tip es from you。 On that account； I owe you a vote of thanks。 You would like to grab this