mg.dictatorofcrime-第16章

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！


　　The　Shadow　saw　their　faces；　those　of　Murk　Wessel　and　kindred　rats；　before　they　could　duck　away。　However；　he　ignored　them；　turning　at　Treban's　shouts；　he　was　in　time　to　score　again。
　　Treban　was　trying　to　shoo　the　phony　workmen　toward　the　casino。　He　stopped　when　Allard　looked　his　way。　Hurrying　up；　Treban　inquired：
　　〃You　saw　someone；　senor？〃
　　〃I　thought　I　saw　Miss　Lane。〃　The　Shadow　glanced　about。　〃Yes；　there　she　is。〃
　　He'd　timed　things　neatly。　Margo　had　actually　arrived　in　the　garden。
　　Hurrying　to　greet　her；　The　Shadow　was　there　ahead　of　Treban。　In　an　undertone　that　suited　Allard；　he　said：
　　〃Keep　watching　those　workmen；　but　don't　let　Treban　notice。　Try　to　see　where　they　go。〃
　　Treban　joined　them；　and　kept　watching　Allard　to　make　sure　he　didn't　look　the　wrong　way…which　made　it　easy　for　Margo。　Suggesting　that　Margo　might　like　to　see　the　flowers；　Treban　conducted　them　on　another　short　tour　through　the　finished　part　of　the　gardens。
　　Finally；　they　arrived　back　in　the　office。　Treban　left　them　in　order　to　reserve　a　dinner　table。
　　Allard's　gesture　stopped　a　question　that　was　on　Margo's　lips。　The　Shadow　knew　that　the　entire　office　might　be　wired　to　pick　up　conversation　there。　He　proffered　a　cigarette；　then　lighted　his　own。　He　strolled　to　the　wall　and　examined　a　framed　floor　plan　of　the　casino。　He'd　finished　when　Treban　returned　to　conduct　them　to　a　secluded　table　on　the　terrace。
　　There；　Allard's　nod　assured　Margo　that　she　could　speak。
　　〃They　went　into　a　little　door　at　the　inner　corner　of　the　wing；〃　said　Margo。　〃But　they　didn't　look　like　natives。　They　reminded　me　of　American　mobsters。　Are　they？〃
　　〃Very　probably。　Some　ugly　customers　followed　me　when　I　left　the　casino　last　night。　That's　why　I　wanted　to　check　among　the　workmen。〃
　　〃But　what　would　foreign　crooks　be　doing　here？〃
　　〃That's　what　I'm　going　to　find　out。〃
　　
　　
　　THE　waiter　had　arrived　to　take　the　order。　The　Shadow　gave　him　a　steady　look　and　decided　he　was　all　right。　Probably　Treban　was　playing　safe；　hoping　to　lull　any　suspicions。
　　Margo　saw　Allard　draw　a　gold　piece　from　his　pocket　and　drop　it　on　the　table。　The　coin　flipped　over；　it　had　two　heads。　That　was　the　way　with　all　gold　coins　in　Centralba。　Castenago's　image　was　stamped　on　both　sides。
　　〃If　I　like　the　dinner；　this　goes　double。〃　Apparently；　Allard　thought　the　waiter　had　stepped　away。　〃What's　more；　we'll　dine　here　again　tomorrow　night；　and　call　for　the　same　waiter；　if　he　proves　a　good　one。　I　like　discreet　waiters：
　　the　kind　who　never　remember　what　they　see　or　hear。〃
　　Margo　caught　the　idea　and　helped　by　giving　an　embarrassed　gesture。　Allard　looked　up　to　see　the　waiter。　Pocketing　the　gold　piece；　as　if　for　future　reference；　Allard　let　it　clink　against　another　in　his　pocket　and　exchanged　smiles　with　Margo。
　　The　waiter　bowed　in　a　manner　that　indicated　he　would　be　utterly　discreet。
　　He　went　away　as　soon　as　the　order　was　given。
　　〃That　fellow　won't　say　a　word　to　Treban；〃　assured　Allard。　〃But　keep　an　eye　out　while　I'm　gone。〃
　　〃You're　going　to　look　for　those　crooks？〃
　　〃I'm　going　to　find　them！〃　Allard's　manner　was　emphatic。　〃From　what　I　saw　of　the　floor　plan；　I　won't　have　any　trouble　getting　to　the　place　where　you　saw　them　go。〃
　　The　Shadow　had　no　trouble；　despite　the　fact　that　he　was　making　his　excursion　as　Allard；　not　as　a　figure　cloaked　in　black。
　　It　was　dark　outside　and　the　gloom　had　pervaded　the　casino；　except　where　brilliant　chandeliers　shone　upon　the　gaming　tables。　Moreover；　the　coolness　that　always　came　from　nightfall　had　brought　a　great　many　more　players　to　the　place。
　　It　was　easy　for　Allard　to　sidle　through　the　edges　of　the　throng　and　reach　the　pillars　that　supported　the　surrounding　balcony。　There　were　promenades　behind　those　pillars；　dimly　lighted　and　deserted。　Easing　along；　The　Shadow　paused　briefly　at　each　pillar；　until　he　reached　the　door　he　wanted。
　　It　led　to　a　passage；　where　The　Shadow　reached　a　side　stairs。　Going　down；　he　picked　his　way　about；　through　the　passages　and　rooms　on　the　floor　below；　using　his　tiny　flashlight　in　the　probe。　He　was　narrowing　the　quest　to　a　room　shown　on　the　floor　plan；　which　had　been　marked　〃respiradero　de　mina；〃
　　signifying　an　air　shaft。
　　Much　too　large　for　an　air　shaft；　the　marked　room　had　struck　The　Shadow　as　a　likely　hide…out　for　Murk　Wessel　and　the　other　fake　workmen。
　　Halfway　across　a　storeroom；　The　Shadow　halted；　then　took　a　swift　turn　toward　a　cloth…covered　bulk　in　the　corner。　The　thing　was　a　shrouded　roulette　table；　reserve　equipment　for　the　gambling　hall　upstairs。
　　Crouching；　The　Shadow　was　gone　from　sight　when　a　metal　partition　slid　open　at　the　end　of　the　room。　Pierre　Treban　stepped　into　sight；　plain　against　the　light　behind　him。　He　was　ing　from　the　so…called　air　chamber。
　　Letting　Treban　go　by；　The　Shadow　approached　the　partition　and　slid　it　open；　just　a　crack。　Through　the　space　he　saw　Murk　Wessel　and　the　other　crooks；　sitting　on　the　edge　of　cots　under　a　hanging　lamp。　They'd　just　begun　to　discuss　the　news　that　Treban　had　brought　them。
　　〃So　Castenago　wants　to　see　us；〃　Murk　was　saying。　〃I　told　you　we'd　be　hearing　from　him　soon　enough。〃
　　〃Yeah；〃　put　in　a　crook。　〃But　he　didn't　say　anything　about　giving　us　the　cut　we　asked　for。〃
　　〃Why　should　he？〃　demanded　Murk。　〃Treban　is　only　the　go…between。　Castenago　is　going　to　talk　to　us；　personal。　Don't　worry　about　us　getting　ours。　I'll　make　him　boost　the　ante；　if　anything。〃
　　〃How'll　you　do　that；　Murk？〃
　　〃By　playing　up　this　Shadow　business。　Maybe　His　Nibs　is　worried。　Those　monkeys　of　his　met　up　with　The　Shadow　last　night；　and　didn't　do　a　thing　about　it。　We're　the　guys　Castenago　needs。〃
　　There　were　mutters　of　doubt。　Murk's　followers　hadn't　forgotten　what　happened　to　their　pals　in　Miami　Beach。　They　were　figuring　that　Murk　was　playing　into　Castenago's　probable　argument　that　less　money　would　be　satisfactory；　if　each　man　received　a　larger　share。　Maybe　there　would　be　larger　shares；　if　thugs　met　up　with　The　Shadow。　Larger；　for　those　who　survived。　Understanding　the　grumbles；　Murk　silenced　them。
　　〃That's　only　the　line　I'm　going　to　hand　Castenago；〃　he　assured。　〃What　we　asked　for；　with　a　bonus　later；　when　we　nick　The　Shadow。　When　we　get　the　dough；　we　can　forget　the　bonus。〃
　　
　　
　　IN　the　pleased　responses；　The　Shadow　caught　references　to　〃a　million　bucks；〃　which　indicated　that　Castenago　had　promised　a　straight　ten　percent　to　Murk　for　knocking　off　Durez　and　bringing　the　funds　back　to　the　dictator's　treasury。
　　It　wasn't　surprising　that　Murk　had　settled　for　so　little。　A　million　dollars　was　probably　far　beyond　any　of　his　crooked　dreams。　Besides；　ten　millions　wouldn't　have　been　worth　ten　cents；　had　he　stayed　in　the　United　States　after　his　crime；　or　even　fled　to　any　country　other　than　Centralba。　Murk　was　marked；　safe　only　through　Castenago's　aid。
　　〃Get　ready；　guys；〃　declared　Murk。　〃We're　due　at　the　palace　soon。　We'll
　　sneak　out　and　give　a　flash　to　Treban。　He'll　flash　back　from　his　office　when　everything's　ready。　The　gatomontes　will　be　along　the　route；　signaling　if　its　clear。
　　〃Treban　says　we'll　have　an　hour　before　the　council　meeting。　Castenago　wants　to　have　a　session　with　us　first；　and　let　his　regular　stooges　wait。　An　hour's　enough。　It　won't　take　us　long　to　sell　our　idea　to　Big　Chin　Face。　I'm
　　telling　you；　Castenago　is　worried！〃
　　The　partition　had　closed。　The　Shadow　was　returning　upstairs。　Margo　had　finished　her　first　course；　and　the　next　was　waiting；　so　Allard　told　the　waiter　to　serve　it　and　bring　the　rest　along。　As　soon　as　the　waiter　had　hurried　away；　The　Shadow　said　to　Margo：
　　〃I'll　stay　about　twenty　minutes。　After　that；　if　anyone　asks　you；　just　say　that　I'm　still　around。　I　found　those　fellows；　and　they're　going　to　the　presidential　palace。　Somebody　has　to　do　something　about　it。〃
　　Margo　gained　the　impression　that　〃somebody〃　was　The　Shadow；　and　that　Allard　intended　to　inform　him　of　the　brewing　trouble。　She　still　believed　that　Lamont　Cranston　had　e　to　Libertad　and　had　established　contact　with　Kent　Allard。
　　Twenty　minutes　later；　Allard　was　on　his　way　and　Margo　was　finishing　her　desert　alone。　As　she　left　the　table；　she　saw　Treban　approaching；　and　walked　straight　past　him；　looking　toward　the　roulette　players　as　though　expecting　to　see　Allard　among　them。
　　Treban　cocked　his　head；　looked　at　the　table　that　Margo　had　left；　and　promptly　went　back　to　his　office。　Margo　hoped　he　wasn't　going　to　call　Castenago。　Allard　hadn't　had　much　time　yet　to　contact　Cranston。
　　Margo　wouldn't　have　worried　had　she　been　able；　at　that　moment；　to　see　them　both…Allard　and　Cranston；　rolled　into　one　personality：　The　Shadow。　He　was　in　the　back　room　of　the　little　shop　which　he　used　as　headquarters；　and　had　just　finished　putting　on　his　cloak　and　hat。
　　Something　rolled　from　the　shelf；　and　The　Shadow　caught　it　before　it　fell；　to　turn　his　flashlight　on　it。　The　thing　was　a　hollow　wooden　egg；　that　broke　open　slightly；　to　show　a　smaller　egg　within　it。
　　A　novelty　of　Japanese　manufacture；　popular　years　ago　in　America；　and　probably　something　new　today　in　Centralba。　The　Shadow　laughed　softly　as　he　replaced　the　wooden　egg　upon　the　shelf。
　　It　made　him　think　of　the　ing　situation：　a　game　within　a　game。　Perhaps　it　would　have　been　better　had　The　Shadow　let　the　wooden　egg　fall　to　the　floor。
　　He'd　have　remembered；　then；　that　there　were　still　more　eggs　within　it；　a　whole　nest　of　them；　that　would　have　cracked　apart；　down　to　the　smallest　egg　that　formed　the　tiny　core。
　　When　Luis　Castenago　played　a　game　with　a　game；　there　were　apt　to　be　games　inside　that　game；　and　many　of　them。
　　The　Shadow　was　to　learn！
　　
　　
　　　CHAPTER　XVI　
　　　WELE…THE　SHADOW！
　　
　　IT　was　a　very　swift　and　easy　trip　to　the　presidential　palace；　for　The　Shadow　took　short　cuts；　through　narrow　passages　between　buildings　and　even　across　plazas。
　　Last　night；　there　had　been　gatomontes　lurking　among　the　buildings；　and　merrymakers　thronging　the　plazas；　making　both　courses　difficult。
　　This　evening；　the　gatomontes　were　watching　the　streets；　to　make　sure　that　a　certain　car　ing　from　the　casino　was　neither　followed　nor　intercepted；　while　the　plazas　were　deserted　because　there　was　no　fiesta。　In　fact；　The　Shadow　didn't　have　the　slightest　bother；　until　he　reached　the　palace　itself。
　　There　were　soldiers；　palace　guards；　around　the　fountains　above　the　great　marble　steps。　They　had　hired　a　strolling　marimba　player　to　entertain　with　his　music；　and　the　mellow　notes　of　the　instrument　were　blending　with　the　tinkle　of　the　illuminated　fountains。
　　There　was　too　much　light　for　entry　by　that　route；　but　the　presence　of　so　many　soldiers　pleased　The　Shadow。　It　meant　that　there　would　be　less　inside　the　palace；　and　probably　none　around　their　own　headquarters；　the　presidio。　So　The　Shadow　skirted　the　palace；　scaled　the　low　roof　of　the　rear　building；　and　took　a　look　at　a　large　courtyard　within。
　　The　yard　was　a　cement　parade　ground；　very　dim　in　the　darkness　behind　the　palace。　Footsteps　would　clatter　a　warning　if　they　arrived　there；　so　The　Shadow　calmly　stretched　to　the　nearest　window　of　the　palace　and　gradually　worked　it　open。
　　Once　inside；　he　worked　his　way　through　darkness；　with　the　occasional　use　of　his　tiny　flashlight。　He　took　a　look　from　a