mg.dictatorofcrime-第14章
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With a slight nod that certified Margo's statements； Allard lifted a few chips and placed them on the board。 Margo did the same。 It was good business； showing interest in roulette to hide something else。
When Margo looked again； a few minutes later； Allard was gone！
ACTUALLY； Allard hadn't needed Margo's information； though it was helpful。
Copying the example of other players； he strolled from the side door of the casino and took a walk in the garden。
It was evidently their way of changing bad luck for good； but Allard was using it as a preliminary process。 What he saw…or； rather； did not see …
fitted with well…formed conclusions。
The workers who had been so busily engaged that afternoon； had laid off during the evening。
Strolling back into the casino； Allard observed its many surrounding pillars that supported a balcony； where people could watch the play on the gambling floor。 A good spot for hidden observers； that balcony。
The pillars made good shelter too； especially because of darkened doors beyond them。 The casino was singularly lacking of police and soldiers； nor were any gatomontes in sight。
All of which assured Kent Allard that he was probably being watched。 What Margo Lane had said merely proved the point。 So Allard calmly crossed the floor and went out by the main door。
In the driveway； he beckoned to a taxicab which was at the head of a short line。 Taking the cab； he told the driver to take him to the Imperial Hotel。
From the moment that the cab pulled away； Allard knew that he was being followed。 The car that took up his trail came sliding from darkness on the far side of the casino building。
Allard began making suggestions to his own driver； regarding shorter routes to the hotel。 Sometimes； he told the driver to go slower； at other moments； Allard called for speed。
He ordered more speed as they swung into a narrow street； then； suddenly； he told the driver to take the next turn to the left。 The order came so unexpectedly； that the driver had to jam the brakes as he rounded the corner。
The ancient cab rattled heavily； and with the clatter came the closing of a door； something that the driver did not hear。
Very neatly； Kent Allard had dropped from the cab just as it passed the corner。 His strides across the sidewalk were very rapid； they carried him to a narrow alleyway； which he reached just as the trailing car swung into sight。
Allard didn't have time to observe the car's occupants； but that wasn't important at the moment。 In their turn； they didn't see him at all； which happened to be very important。
As soon as the car had passed； Allard strode deeper into the narrow passage between buildings。 It wasn't an alley in the usual sense； but merely a rift； of slightly more than shoulder width。 The walls flanking the space were white； and couldn't have offered a chance at concealment in the glaring daytime。 But this was night； and the shadows of the buildings rendered the narrow way obscure。
Where the passage widened into a tiny court； Allard tried a door in the wall on the left。 The door opened and he stepped into a small storeroom； lined with shelves of merchandise。
Using a tiny flashlight； Allard recognized the package that he had sent from the hotel； that afternoon。 It was tied just as he had sent it。
Opening the package； he brought out a slouch hat； a black cloak； and a pair of thin gloves。 There were no automatics in the package。 Allard already carried them。 An aviator famed for landing in remote portions of the jungle would be expected to go about armed。
It took but a few moments for Allard to transform himself into The Shadow。
Instead of leaving by the outside passage； he went through the shop itself。
In New York； and other American cities； The Shadow used various retreats where he could change from one guise to another。 The rule still applied to Libertad； the isolated capital of the remote banana republic of Centralba！
SO silent was the shop； that the swish of The Shadow's cloak was audible as he passed through to the front door； which opened on another street； closer to the Imperial Hotel。
Closed for the night； the shop was made to order for The Shadow's purposes； for its interior was pitch…black； but with no obstructions to delay a person passing through it。
Evidently The Shadow knew that such would be the case； for he did not use his flashlight。 Reaching the front door； he found it as expected。 It wasn't bolted； it simply had a heavy burglar…proof latch； which enabled The Shadow to step out and leave the door as he had found it； by simply closing it behind him。
Even outdoors； The Shadow found his favorite habitat： darkness。 The door of the shop was under a projecting balcony； which entirely cut off the glow of the old…fashioned street lamps so prevalent in Libertad。
Keeping to the shelter of balconies； crossing the street at places where the lights were feeble； The Shadow glided past a corner and came upon the Plaza del Libertador； opposite the Imperial Hotel。 There he paused within the last fringe of darkness。
It was a fiesta night in Libertad which accounted for the shops being closed。 The populace had deserted the narrow streets for open spaces such as the great plaza； and the scene was one of life and gaiety。
But The Shadow wasn't interested in the costumery of the merrymakers； who were enjoying pleasures that would cease when the iron hand of Castenago tightened。 He sympathized with them profoundly； and wished that their era of carefree revelry would long continue。
That； in itself； was reason why The Shadow's attention should be centered elsewhere。 Upon what he learned tonight； would hinge his whole campaign toward ending the tyranny of Luis Castenago。
The Shadow looked across the street to the front of the hotel。 He saw the ancient taxicab that he had hired as Allard。 It was the center of much speculation； voiced in voluble Spanish； by hotel employees； police； and even soldiers； all picturesque in their assorted uniforms。
Cabs didn't often roll up to the Imperial Hotel without passengers inside them； unless they had been ordered。 This cab should have had a passenger； the driver was describing him and swearing by the sacred volcano of Lotomoro that he had brought the man in question from the Casino Internacional。
A serious offense on the part of the missing passenger； could the cab driver prove that he really had one； for the Castenago regime was very strict on such matters。
Nevertheless； the chance arrival of an empty cab did not account for all the police and soldiers。 The Shadow laughed softly as he looked up and saw the real reason。
A light blinked off from an upstairs window； the very room which The Shadow occupied as Kent Allard。 The police and military had been finishing the search ordered by Castenago； when the cab arrived。
The last of the searchers came downstairs。 They were a pair of Castenago's sinister gatomontes。 The men in fancier uniforms began reporting to them。 The case had reached the proper hands to bring official results。 The Shadow let his gaze range his own side of the street； and saw what he expected。
A car； parked in the darkness； was getting into motion； its lights dimmed。
It was ing right past The Shadow； the very car that had followed the cab from the casino。
IN swinging the corner； the cab had to pass beneath a street light； so The Shadow watched it closely。 He knew that it wouldn't contain gatomontes； because there had been none of them around the casino。 He was sure that this car was manned by irregulars； in the service of Castenago。 Having lured them into the light； The Shadow wanted to identify them。
A sharp glitter came from the cab。 It was the muzzle of a machine gun； trained directly toward The Shadow； but it didn't begin to mouth deadly flame。
The men behind the rapid…fire weapon failed to see The Shadow in his nest of gloom； even though they were leaning from their car； intent on searching every inch of the route back to the casino。 All they did was put their own faces on display for The Shadow's eaglelike scrutiny。
The Shad
