按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
u would like to grab this fellow Cyro。 So would I。
〃To you it would mean a pinch。 Big credit for you back in New York。 To me； it might mean anywhere from fifty grand up。 If a con man struts his stuff around this place and gets away with it； I not only lose the customer who was trimmed； I lose all his friends and all their friends。 Do you get it？〃
Another nod from Cardona。
〃I thought you would；〃 resumed Medbrook。 〃I've been on this case ever since word came to me this afternoon。 I have thirty men around this place； Cardona。 Any one of them would be a credit to the best detective agency in the country。 Here are their reports。〃
He paused to pull a sheaf of papers from a desk drawer。 He thumbed the pages one by one； then tossed the batch to Cardona。
〃Read them for yourself；〃 declared Medbrook。 〃They cover the past week。
They list every muscler that walked into this club。 They have every man labeled。 I'd be tickled pink if your man Cyro was among them。 But he isn't。〃
Cardona studied the listings。 He was astonished at their detail。 They included aliases as well as bona fide names。 They referred to crooked deals that the marked men had performed。 But as Medbrook had said； every rogue was of a tawdry sort。
〃You've seen my bouncers。〃 There was a tinge of pride in Medbrook's tone。
〃They invited every one of these small…timers out of the place。 If they had slugged the whole lot…hung a haymaker on every chin…there wouldn't have been a e…back from a single one of the rats。 But I don't like skinned knuckles。 They don't go well with evening clothes。 Those huskies of mine use politeness until it hurts。 But it works。〃
〃It don't look like I'm tracing Cyro；〃 remarked Cardona； passing the papers back to Medbrook。 〃But I've learned something tonight。 If I had thirty men as good as yours； I could show some results that would knock the police missioner off his pins。〃
〃They cost me three grand a week；〃 observed Medbrook。 〃More than that。 Pay that price for a squad of detectives and you'll make out as well as I do。 All right； Cardona。 There's the story。〃
〃And it means no luck。〃
〃You've sized it。 But there's still a chance。 Tonight isn't over。 The boys are tipped。 Maybe they'll pick up a lead。 How long are you going to be in New Orleans？〃
〃A long while； I think。〃
〃That means more nights。 Just like the roulette wheel。 Always a chance for a big win。 But you won't gain anything by ing out here。 Where are you stopping？〃
〃At the Montezuma。〃
〃A good spot。 Well； if we spot your man； you'll hear from Rafferty。 And get this； Cardona： If we spot him； you'll get him。 He'll be waiting for you when you call。 Is that satisfactory？〃
Cardona nodded。 Medbrook arose and extended his hand。 Cardona accepted it。
Medbrook picked up the box of cigars； Joe helped himself to a batch of the expensive smokes。
〃I said not to e here； Cardona；〃 reminded the gambler。 〃By that I mean don't bother with the gambling room。 We're watching it。 But as for the nightclub〃…Medbrook smiled…〃drop in there any time you want。 Ask for Louie。
Tell him who you are。 Give Louie the check。 He'll take care of it。
〃Bring your friends； and if you don't have any； tell Louie。 He'll
introduce you。 But in the meantime； you've still got a big bet in the city。
I'll tell you why。 Even in New Orleans； the police don't know how well organized we are。 But the con men do。 They've passed the word along their grapevine。
〃If this fellow Cyro is looking for something soft in New Orleans； he may be wise enough to know that the Club Caprice is a poor spot to start at。 So take a look around town。 They'll arrange that for you at headquarters。〃
Medbrook arose from his desk and strolled out into the room。 Cardona followed。 With one hand； the gambler opened the door； with the other； he clapped the detective warmly upon the back。 He closed the door after Cardona had gone。 He went back to his desk。
TEN minutes passed。 A rap at the door。 Medbrook called to e in。 A bouncer entered。
〃What is it； Tony？〃 questioned Medbrook。
〃The dick's gone；〃 stated the bouncer。 Then； uneasily： 〃But so has another guy。〃
〃One you were spotting？〃
〃No。 Not exactly。 A fellow we had on the list of new customers。 I'd have told you sooner； boss； but the dick was in here…〃
〃That's all right； Tony。 What was the man's name？〃
〃Tracy Lence。〃
〃Where from？〃
〃New York； I heard him say。〃
〃Is he in the files？〃
〃No。 He looks like a gent； too。 But I was kind of leery after Manny told me that the guy went out just about the time the dick showed up。〃
〃Tracy Lence。〃 Medbrook pronounced the name slowly。 〃Did he look like he was playing for some sucker？〃
〃No；〃 admitted Tony； 〃he didn't。 That was just it； boss。 He was picking the worst bet in the place。〃
〃Whom do you mean？〃
〃Luke Gaudrin。 Anybody could tell that young Gaudrin is flat。 Leastwise； this fellow Lence could have。 This is the third night he's been palling with Gaudrin。
〃I wouldn't have suspected nothing； boss； if Lence hadn't ducked out。 But it looked kind of funny； right on top of that New York dick ing in。 Maybe I should have stopped Lence； or gone after him…〃
〃No Tony；〃 Medbrook shook his head slowly； 〃you did right。 I'll tell you what to do。 Where is Luke Gaudrin right now？〃
〃Playing Dave's wheel。〃
〃He still has chips？〃
〃Plenty。 He's following a guy that's got a system。〃
〃They all have a system。 But none of them last。 Listen； Tony。 Stop by and speak to Luke Gaudrin。 Tell him I want to see him。〃
〃Maybe he won't want to break away from the wheel…〃
〃Catch him at the right moment。 Just when he's made a win。 Tip Dave to spin the wheel before he can make another play。〃
〃All right。〃
Tony grinned and departed。 Royal Medbrook extracted a fresh cigar from the box on the desk。 Poker…faced； he sat staring toward the door； waiting for the arrival of Luke Gaudrin。
CHAPTER X
THE SHADOW'S STEALTH
WHEN Joe Cardona went out through the gambling room of the Club Caprice； he failed to observe Lamont Cranston。 Joe； however； did not escape the scrutiny of the tall personage at the roulette table。 The keen eyes of The Shadow watched the detective's exit。
Long hands placed new chips upon the board。 Luke Gaudrin； following The Shadow's move； put an eager question：
〃How long will this system hold out？〃
〃This is my last play；〃 came Cranston's quiet response。 〃But if you follow this bination； you should have luck。 Stop on the sixth spin； whether you win or lose on that particular play。〃
Luke nodded as he heard the odd instructions。 The wheel was stopping； this time it gave an even break。 Lamont Cranston gathered his chips。 He stood by watching while Luke made another play。
Conscious of Cranston's presence； Luke thought that his new acquaintance was standing by。 But as the wheel began its quick revolution； the tall stranger strolled leisurely away。 Luke； his eyes riveted on the wheel； did not observe The Shadow's departure。
Playing the quiet role of Cranston； The Shadow stopped at the faro table。
Though apparently watching the board； his eyes were elsewhere。 The Shadow saw Tony ing from the office。 He had seen the man enter there just after Cardona's departure。
Tony was circling over toward the roulette table。 He stopped near Luke Gaudrin。 Rafferty； back at the door to the second card room； also had his eye on the big bouncer。 The Shadow's keen gaze turned toward Rafferty。 Calmly； The Shadow stepped away from the faro table and edged into the doorway of the card room。
He passed the portal unseen。 The card room； vacant of players； was dimly illuminated by a wall lamp。 Cranston's tall form moved with swift glide。 Beside it stretched a long； mysterious shadow…a blotch of blackness that ended in a hawklike silhouette。
Though still retaining his guise of Cranston； The Shadow had bee a creature of stealth。 His figure became obscure as it reached a doorway that led into the next card room。 The adjoining partment was dark。 The Shadow merged with blackness as he entered。
Silently； across the floor to another door。 A tiny flashlight formed a dollar…sized disk upon the lock。 A blackened pick appeared in a hand upon which gleamed a resplendent gem。 The Shadow probed the lock。
One minute marked this stealthy process。 The slight clicks of the pick were barely audible。 The little tool twisted； the hand withdrew it。 The flashlight was extinguished。
Slowly； The Shadow turned the knob。 Imperceptibly； he opened the door inward until a glare of light came through the crack。 The Shadow paused。 His keen eye looked into the next room。
IT was Royal Medbrook's office。 The gambler was seated at his desk； going over a stack of papers。 As The Shadow watched； Medbrook lay the papers aside。
Rising； the gambler walked into the inner office。
Instantly； the door from the card room opened。 A blackened figure twisted through。 The door closed silently。 A long shape stretched across the floor as The Shadow stepped into the light。 As before； he appeared as Lamont Cranston。
His motions； however； were swift。
The Shadow spied the curtained windows。 He drew aside the velvet drapes。
Beyond the pane was a bolted metal shutter。 The sill between curtain and window offered a broad space。 The Shadow stepped up to the sill。
The curtains closed as by magic just as Royal Medbrook returned。 The gambler did not catch the motion of the heavy drapes。 Closed； they were restored to their original position。 The keenest observer would not have spied the watching eyes that peered from between the meeting edges of the curtains。
Medbrook resumed his seat at the desk。
Four minutes passed。 Then came a rap at the door。 Medbrook spoke； the door from the anteroom opened and Luke Gaudrin stepped into view。 Medbrook pointed to the door。 Luke closed it。 The gambler motioned to a chair。
〃What's up； Royal？〃 questioned Luke； in an anxious tone。
〃I hear you've been making friends here；〃 replied the gambler。
〃Well； yes；〃 admired Luke。 〃I didn't see any reason why I shouldn't。〃
〃Is there any reason why you should？〃
〃Well…yes； I think there is。 On account of the governor's attitude。 He doesn't approve of my associations。 I thought that I ought to make some worthwhile acquaintances here。〃
〃Such as Tracy Lence？〃
〃Yes。 Lence is a mighty decent sort。〃
〃You feel convinced of that？〃
〃I'm positive。〃
Medbrook eyed the sallow young man。 Then； in an elusive tone； the gambler remarked：
〃Lence left rather unexpectedly tonight。〃
〃He had an appointment with some friends。 Going out of town for a few days。 He's going to call me up when he es back。 Honestly； Royal； I didn't try to hit the fellow for a touch。 I promised you I'd quit that business of sponging…〃
〃All right。〃 The gambler smiled and stopped Luke with a wave of his hand。
〃I'm glad to hear that you have reformed。 You came near driving away some good customers。 I just wanted to make sure that you weren't annoying Lence。 By the way； where is he from？〃
〃New York。〃
〃What's his business？〃
〃He didn't say。〃
A pause。 Medbrook settled back in his chair。 Luke decided to resume the talk。
〃I HIT a winning streak； Royal；〃 he declared。 〃Came out about twelve hundred to the good on one of your wheels。 If you want； I can pay something on that account of mine…〃
〃Keep it…in credit。 Maybe you'll have another good run。 Or maybe〃…a smile…〃my total will swell a bit after you have lost tonight's winnings。〃
〃I was following a system；〃 informed Luke。 〃Met a man who was winning with it…〃
〃Another new friend； oh？ What was his name？〃
〃Lamont Cranston。〃
〃A millionaire。 Good man to know。〃
〃I found that out。〃
Medbrook smiled。 He reached for a cigar。 Lighting the panetela； he rested back and stared at the ceiling。 It was his way of bringing up a new subject。
When he spoke； his tone was serious。
〃I've been thinking about you； Luke；〃 he declared。 〃The month is just about up。〃
〃I know that； Royal；〃 returned the young man； quickly。 〃And I've got good news for you。 I could have told you a co