mg.cyro-第31章

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　　WAYSON　had　trapped　Luke　Gaudrin　and　Royal　Medbrook　on　their　way　to　the　study　door。
　　Noise　came　from　the　study。　Nearing　Wayson's　voice；　Danforth　Gaudrin　unlocked　the　door。　Wayson　marched　his　prisoners　through　into　the　light。　Joe　Cardona　stared。
　　〃Royal　Medbrook！〃　he　exclaimed。　〃So　you're　the　crook　in　back　of　this！　Grab　him；　Wayson！〃
　　The　police　lieutenant　jabbed　his　gun　into　Medbrook's　ribs。　He　frisked　the　gambler　and　found　a　pocket　revolver。　Danforth　Gaudrin　stared　with　accusing　eyes。
　　〃So　you　are　Cyro；〃　he　accused。
　　A　moment's　silence。　Danforth　Gaudrin；　striding　forward；　looked　ready　to　grip　the　gambler's　throat。　Luke　sprang　between　his　father　and　Medbrook。
　　〃Give　him　a　chance；　governor！〃　pleaded　the　young　man。　〃Royal　is　on　the　level。　Hear　him　out…〃
　　〃He　knew　about　this　treasure？〃　demanded　Gaudrin。
　　〃I　did；〃　acknowledged　Medbrook。
　　Dunwood　Marr　had　joined　Danforth　Gaudrin。　Together；　they　were　ready　to　challenge　any　statement　that　Medbrook　might　make。　Luke；　still　pleading；　forced　them　to　listen。
　　〃I　told　Royal　all　about　the　treasure；〃　he　declared。　〃I　listened　in　when　father　talked　with　the　professor　and　Captain　Emory。　I　had　to　tell　Royal。　I　owed　him　money。〃
　　〃Say　no　more；　Luke；〃　ordered　old　Gaudrin。　〃We　have　found　the　rogue。　Arrest　this　man；　Lieutenant　Wayson。〃
　　Wayson　stepped　forward。　Medbrook　smiled。　He　spoke　in　a　firm　tone。
　　〃You'll　have　to　hear　me　talk　later；〃　he　argued。　〃Better　hear　me　now。
　　You're　on　the　wrong　trail；　I　tell　you。〃
　　〃Hear　him；〃　suggested　Marr；　turning　to　Danforth　Gaudrin。
　　Gaudrin　nodded。　Medbrook；　stepping　back；　pointed　to　Tracy　Lence。
　　〃I　knew　this　fellow　might　be　a　crook；〃　declared　Medbrook。　〃I'll　tell　you　why。　When　you　came　out　to　the　Club　Caprice；　Cardona〃…he　swung　to　the　detective…〃Lence　ducked　out。　He　knew　you。　If　I　had　thought　he　was　Cyro；　I　would　have　tipped　you　then。〃
　　〃But　he　isn't　Cyro；〃　retorted　Joe。
　　〃I　know；〃　declared　Medbrook。　〃I　figured　that。　I　decided　that　he　was　a　guy　who　knew　you；　but　not　the　one　you　wanted。　I'd　have　tipped　you　to　that；　too；　if　things　had　been　different。　But　I　had　money　at　stake。　More　than　fifteen　grand　that　young　Luke　here　owes　me。〃
　　〃Is　that　correct；　Luke？〃　demanded　Danforth　Gaudrin。
　　The　son　nodded。
　　〃Luke　swore　that　he　had　told　no　one　of　the　treasure；〃　resumed　Medbrook。
　　〃No　one　but　myself。　I　didn't　want　any　attention　turned　toward　the　Gaudrin　family　until　I　could　get　the　money　that　was　rightfully　due　me。
　　〃That's　why　I　kept　mum。　I　covered　Lence。　I　figured　he　was　just　an　ordinary　con　man　who　would　drop　Luke　like　a　hot　potato　when　he　found　out　there　was　no　chance　to　swindle　people　who　were　on　the　verge　of　poverty。
　　〃But　when　Luke　told　me　that　Lence　was　ing　here　tonight；　I　thought　I'd　better　be　around。　I　wanted　to　watch　Lence。　Just　in　case　he　wised　to　something。
　　I　dropped　in；　but　I　told　Luke　I　wanted　to　be　sure　the　money　was　in　the　bag。　I　didn't　mention　Lence。
　　〃That's　why　we　were　in　the　passage。　Luke　wanted　me　to　listen；　to　be　sure　that　the　treasure　was　here。　He　said　I'd　hear　the　clink　of　Spanish　doubloons。　I　wanted　to　listen　for　any　signs　of　Lence。　I　was　afraid　he　might　be　butting　in。
　　You　trapped　us；　Wayson；　when　we　were　ing　through。〃
　　
　　〃A　WEAK　alibi；〃　sneered　Danforth　Gaudrin。　〃What　do　you　think；　Marr。　Do　you　agree？〃
　　〃I'm　not　sure；〃　replied　the　millionaire；　with　a　shake　of　his　head。　〃I　must　admit　that　the　story　sounds　weak…〃
　　〃It's　baloney；〃　interjected　Joe　Cardona。
　　〃One　moment。〃　Lieutenant　Wayson　was　speaking。　〃I　am　here　to　vouch　for　Royal　Medbrook。　I　was　surprised　when　I　found　out　who　it　was　that　I　had　trapped。
　　I've　heard　his　story。　I　believe　it。　Let's　hear　young　Gaudrin〃…he　swung　to　Luke…〃and　find　out　if　he　really　kept　what　he　knew　to　himself。〃
　　〃I　did；〃　insisted　Luke。　〃I　told　no　one　except　Royal。　I　knew　he　was　straight。　He　wouldn't　have　talked。　He's　on　the　level。　Somebody　else　pulled　this　crooked　business。〃
　　Pleading　Medbrook's　case；　Luke　gained　a　sudden　inspiration。　He　turned　about　and　stared　straight　toward　Reginald　Exeter。　The　Australian　was　puffing　at　his　pipe。
　　〃There's　the　man！〃　exclaimed　Luke。　〃He　was　here；　at　this　house！　He　could　have　learned　everything！〃
　　〃I　don't　listen　at　keyholes；　Luke；〃　returned　Exeter；　calmly。　〃I　knew　nothing　of　this　treasure。〃
　　〃No？〃　sneered　Luke。　〃Didn't　you　wonder　why　Professor　Babcock　talked　you　out　of　going　on　the　cruise？〃
　　〃I　did　wonder；〃　admitted　Exeter。　〃I　thought　it　was　a　bit　of　eccentricity　on　his　part。　That　was　all。〃
　　An　abrupt　pause。　Then　Joe　Cardona　challenged：
　　〃You're　an　Englishman；　aren't　you；　Exeter？〃
　　〃An　Australian；〃　replied　Exeter。
　　〃Either　one　would　do　for　Cyro；〃　asserted　Joe。　〃He　might　be　an　American；　but　he'd　more　likely　be　an　Englishman。　One　who　has　traveled。〃
　　〃As　Exeter　has；〃　put　in　Luke。　〃He　was　talking　French　like　a　native　tonight。　To　Brilliard。〃
　　〃To　Brilliard；　eh？〃　quizzed　Joe。　〃So　that　was　the　game。　Fixing　your　plans　in　a　lingo　no　one　else　could　get…〃
　　〃Just　a　moment；〃　interposed　Dunwood　Marr。　〃On　behalf　of　Professor　Babcock；　whom　we　know　for　an　honest　man；　I　suggest　that　we　give　Exeter　a　fair　trial。　How　long；　professor；　have　you　known　this　young　man？〃
　　〃He　introduced　himself　to　me　here　in　New　Orleans；〃　cackled　Babcock。　〃Just　a　short　while　after　I　arrived。　He　claims　to　know　friends　of　mine　in　England。〃
　　〃Does　he？〃
　　〃I　do　not　know。〃
　　〃That　is　unfortunate。　Still；　we　must　not　be　too　hasty。　Exeter；　Luke　Gaudrin　saw　something　suspicious　in　your　conversation　with　Brilliard。　Tell　me：
　　had　you　met　Brilliard　before　tonight？〃
　　
　　〃YES；〃　admitted　Exeter。　He　glanced　toward　Alicia。　〃I　visited　Brilliard's　studio　with　Miss　Gaudrin。〃
　　〃And　talked　with　Brilliard？〃
　　〃Yes。〃
　　〃In　French？〃
　　〃Yes。〃
　　〃Do　you　speak　French；　Alicia？〃
　　The　girl　shook　her　head　as　she　heard　Marr's　question。　The　millionaire　appeared　troubled。
　　〃This　is　unfortunate；　Exeter；〃　he　said。　〃The　mere　fact　that　you　have　remained　here　at　the　Gaudrin　home　is　a　bad　factor。　I　think；　though…〃
　　〃Let's　hear　his　excuse；〃　put　in　Joe　Cardona。
　　〃He　has　no　excuse！〃　cried　Alicia；　suddenly。　〃He　has　every　reason　to　be　here。　Father〃…the　girl　turned　toward　Danforth。　Gaudrin…〃Reggie　and　I　were　ing　in　here　when　you　met　us；　ing　to　tell　you　that　we　intend　to　be　married！〃
　　〃Preposterous！〃　exclaimed　Gaudrin。　〃This　is　proof　of　Exeter's　perfidy！　So　that　was　your　game；　you　rogue？　Using　my　daughter's　trust　as　a　shield　against　this　just　accusation！〃
　　Lieutenant　Wayson　suddenly　thrust　himself　forward　as　Danforth　Gaudrin；　face　purple；　was　about　to　spring　toward　Exeter。　Holding　Gaudrin　back；　Wayson　laid　down　the　law。
　　〃We've　landed　two　crooks；〃　he　announced；　turning　to　Joe　Cardona；　〃Brilliard　and　Lence。　We're　going　to　put　them　behind　bars。　We'll　see　what　Cyro　thinks　of　that。　Over　here；　you　two。〃
　　He　motioned　to　the　wall。　Brilliard　and　Lence　backed　in　that　direction。
　　Wayson　motioned　to　Exeter；　then　to　Medbrook。　They　followed。　Finally；　the　police　lieutenant　added　Luke　Gaudrin。
　　〃We've　got　two　crooks；〃　he　repeated。　〃What's　more；　we　have　the　man　who　might　be　Cyro。　I'm　including　you；　Medbrook；　like　Exeter。　I'm　impartial。　And　young　Luke　here　isn't　above　suspicion。　I　figured　you　on　the　level；　Medbrook；　but　this　chap　Exeter　looks　square；　too。
　　〃I'll　wager　that　we'll　have　Cyro　talking　soon　enough；〃　Wayson　chuckled。
　　〃We're　at　the　end　of　the　trail…〃
　　
　　A　CHUCKLE　came　in　echo　of　Wayson's。　The　police　lieutenant　turned。　So　did　Joe　Cardona。　Those　two　alone　had　guns　in　readiness。　But　they　were　unprepared　for　what　they　faced。　Dunwood　Marr　had　stepped　back　while　the　others　were　watching　Wayson。　The　millionaire　had　drawn　two　revolvers。
　　One　gun　was　aimed　toward　Joe　Cardona。　The　other　covered　Wayson。　While　the　two　stood　dumfounded；　Brilliard　and　Lence　leaped　forward。　One　grabbed　Cardona's　lowered　gun。　The　other　caught　Wayson's　wrist　and　twisted　the　revolver　from　the　police　lieutenant's　grasp。
　　Covered　by　Marr's　revolvers；　the　representatives　of　the　law　could　offer　no　resistance。　Before　Exeter　and　Medbrook　could　spring　forward；　Marr　was　covering　them；　while　Brilliard　and　Lence　were　pointing　their　newly