mg.cyro-第14章

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adow　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　couple　of　nights　ago；　but　I　didn't　want　to　bother　you。〃
　　〃Considerate　of　you；〃　remarked　Royal；　with　a　slight　tone　of　sarcasm。
　　〃Don't　mind　about　bothering　me　in　the　future。　That　is；　when　you　have　dough。〃
　　〃I　don't　have　it　yet。　But　it's　in　the　bag。〃
　　〃That's　what　you　told　me　a　month　ago。〃
　　〃Listen；　Royal。　I　told　you…〃
　　〃You've　told　me　a　great　many　stories；　Luke。　They　don't　always　jibe。　That's　the　trouble。〃
　　〃I'm　not　trying　to　bluff　you；　Royal。〃
　　Medbrook　made　no　reply。　His　eyes；　however；　held　a　doubtful　look。　Luke's　voice　became　almost　pleading。
　　〃Listen　to　me；　Royal；〃　he　persisted。　〃I'll　go　back　to　the　beginning。
　　You'll　see　I　haven't　changed　my　story。　About　a　month　ago；　I　owed　you　ten　thousand　dollars；　didn't　I？〃
　　〃Nine　thousand　eight　hundred　and　fifty；〃　returned　Medbrook；　looking　at　one　of　the　slips　on　his　desk。
　　〃You　wanted　your　money；　Royal。　I　told　you　I'd　try　to　borrow　it　from　Dunwood　Marr；　who　was　ing　to　see　us。　Then　I　heard　the　governor　say　something　to　old　Professor　Babcock…about　selling　the　Nautilus　to　Marr。　The　gov　and　Babcock　went　into　the　office　for　a　conference　with　Captain　Emory。　I　listened　in。　That's　how　I　found　out　that　the　yacht　was　going　after　Spanish　treasure。〃
　　〃To　be　brought　back　within　a　month。〃
　　〃Yes。　That's　what　I　told　you。　Marr　bought　the　yacht；　but　didn't　call　for　immediate　delivery。　That　financed　the　trip；　like　I　told　you。　You　said　you'd　hold　off　collecting　my　debt。　You　promised　me　more　credit。〃
　　〃Which　I　gave　you。〃
　　〃Yes。　Now　I'm　in　a　hole　for　about　fifteen　thousand。〃
　　〃Not　quite。　It　was　fifteen　thousand　eight　hundred。　Deducting　your　twelve　hundred　gain　tonight　reduces　it　to　fourteen　thousand　six　hundred。　But　the　month　is　about　up；　Luke。〃
　　〃I　know　it。　And　the　treasure　is　on　the　Nautilus。〃
　　
　　ROYAL　MEDBROOK　stared　steadily　at　Luke。　He　saw　an　expression　of　real　satisfaction　upon　the　young　man's　face。　It　was　plain　that　Luke　had　learned　something。　As　Royal　watched　him；　Luke　decided　to　explain。
　　〃Marr　came　to　town　a　few　days　ago；〃　asserted　Luke。　〃He　talked　with　the　governor　and　I　listened　in。　The　old　man　told　him　the　good　news。　Wireless　from　Emory。　They　were　raising　the　treasure。〃
　　〃Wait　a　moment；　Luke。〃　Medbrook　spoke　steadily。　〃That　doesn't　fit　with　your　previous　story。　Marr　wasn't　in　on　the　know。〃
　　〃He　is　now。　The　governor　had　to　tell　him…on　account　of　the　Nautilus　being　delayed。〃
　　〃I　see。　What　was　Marr's　reaction？〃
　　〃Tickled　silly。　Glad　to　see　the　governor　ing　through　with　a　big　haul。
　　The　gov　promised　Marr　the　Nautilus　as　a　present；　because　of　the　aid　he　had　given　without　knowing　it。〃
　　〃And　Marr　accepted？〃
　　〃Only　if　the　haul　es　to　more　than　two　million。　Marr　doesn't　need　money。
　　He　gets　his　from　those　Mexican　mines。〃
　　〃Then　you　expect　the　Nautilus…〃
　　〃Early　next　week。　And　you　know　how　liberal　the　governor　is　with　me　…
　　provided　he　has　the　money。　Well；　he'll　have　it；　Royal；　and…〃
　　〃He　won't　have　it　if　he　talks　too　much。〃
　　〃Marr　is　the　only　person　he　talked　to。　Outside　of　old　Babcock；　who's　on　the　cruise。〃
　　〃What　about　this　young　chap；　Exeter？　The　one　who　is　staying　at　your　house？〃
　　〃I'm　watching　him。　He　hasn't　made　a　move。　Has　a　crush　on　Alicia。　That's　why　he's　around。　The　governor's　keeping　mum；　Royal。〃
　　〃And　are　you？〃
　　〃Positively；　Royal！　I　see　what　you're　getting　at。　Making　friends　like　Lence　and　Cranston　might　worry　you。　Well；　don't　let　it。　I'm　staking　everything　on　this　treasure。　I　only　told　you　because　I　didn't　want　the　governor　to　know　that　I'd　gone　over　my　depth。〃
　　〃You　told　me　because　you　needed　money；〃　announced　Medbrook；　steadily。　〃I　postponed　your　debt　payment。　I　gave　you　further　credit　because　I　figured　the　more　you　were　around　here；　the　less　chance　there　would　be　of　your　blabbing。
　　〃But　I　have　no　proof　that　you　have　not　tried　the　same　story　with　others。
　　It　sounds　good　enough…the　way　you've　told　it…to　get　a　few　thousand　from　a　man　who　has　cash　to　spare。　There　are　plenty　of　such　fellows　out　here；　Luke。〃
　　〃I'm　giving　yo