mg.dictatorofcrime-第7章

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ied　with　the　preliminary　work…that　of　locating　the　man　they　wanted。
　　〃I've　not　only　heard　of　Murk　Wessel；〃　mused　Cranston；　〃I've　met　him；　Margo。　Two　or　three　times；　and　he　was　always　using　an　alias。　I　don't　think　the　chap　liked　me。　I　knew　too　much　about　him。〃
　　〃Why　didn't　you　have　him　arrested？〃
　　Margo　put　the　question　tartly；　hoping　that　Cranston　would　catch　the　deeper　inference。　As　The　Shadow；　Cranston　didn't　usually　meet　known　criminals　three　times。　Once　was　the　usual　rule；　at　which　time　he　generally　terminated　their　careers　without　having　to　call　in　the　law。
　　Therefore；　Margo's　question　really　veiled　another。　She　was　asking　The　Shadow　why　he　hadn't　been　up　to　his　usual　form；　in　Murk's　case。
　　〃Murk　was　a　con　man；　then；〃　observed　Cranston。　〃You　know　how　those　fellows　usually　operate。　They　choose　dupes　who　are　quite　as　greedy　as　themselves。　They　show　the　suckers　how　to　make　some　easy　money；　and　then　trim　them。〃
　　〃Is　that　why　you　let　Murk　go？〃
　　〃Yes。　As　an　object　lesson　to　the　dupes；　whose　money　I　saved。　It　would　not　have　been　just　for　Murk　to　pay　a　penalty；　while　they　went　scot…free。　I　had　Murk　listed；　and　was　waiting　for　him　to　try　to　trim　an　honest　man。〃
　　〃Meanwhile　Murk　turned　murderer。〃
　　〃Something　that　couldn't　be　anticipated；　Margo。　Con　men　of　his　type　seldom　go　in　for　violence。　Besides〃…Cranston's　eyes　steadied　upon　Margo…〃I'm　not　so　sure　that　he　would　have　gone　in　for　murder　in　this　case；　had　the　Durez　crowd　been　an　honest　lot。〃
　　
　　
　　MARGO　tried　to　catch　the　meaning　in　those　eyes：　whether　or　not　Cranston　might　be　expressing　an　actual　opinion。　He　was　certainly　basing　his　statement　on　Margo's　own　testimony；　regarding　Jose　Durez；　which　she　had　learned　through　Colin　Nayre。
　　In　substance；　Nayre　had　said　that　Durez　planned　a　new　revolution　in　Centralba；　at　the　cost　of　many　lives。　It　might　be　fortunate；　therefore；　that　Durez　and　his　fellow　conspirators　had　died。
　　Unless　their　revolt　could　have　broken　the　regime　of　Luis　Castenago　and　restored　Francisco　Peridor　to　the　presidency　of　a　true　republic。　Such　a　result　would　seem　worthwhile；　at　any　sacrifice！
　　Debating　the　question　for　about　the　fortieth　time；　Margo　returned　her　attention　to　the　bay。　She　kept　watching　for　another　mosquito　boat　that　didn't　appear。　Reports　said　that　twelve　left　Miami；　the　night　before；　to　scour　the　coast　for　Murk　Wessel　and　his　batch　of　murderers。
　　Capable　of　sixty　miles　an　hour；　those　ships　would　certainly　have　headed　off　an　average　craft。　Their　failure　to　find　Murk　signified　that　he　must　have　e　ashore　and　continued　the　getaway　by　land。
　　In　fact；　the　roof…garden　radio　was　introducing　a　news　mentator；　who　supported　that　probability。
　　〃The　search　for　Murk　Wessel　has　bee　nation…wide；〃　declared　the　mentator；　〃but　nowhere　is　it　being　handled　more　thoroughly　than　in　New　York。
　　The　Manhattan　police　have　heard　from　several　unnamed　sources；　supposed　to　be　underworld　informants；　that　Murk　Wessel　was　seen　in　the　big　city　shortly　after　noon　today。
　　〃How　he　arrived　from　Miami；　whether　by　plane；　train；　or　automobile；　is　not　the　important　question。　The　police　are　trying　to　learn　whether　he　is　hiding　out；　or　trying　to　create　an　alibi。　Murk　is　alleged　to　have　many　friends　in　crimedom。
　　How　far　their　testimony　can　be　trusted；　is　doubtful。　If　Murk　seeks　an　alibi　in　this　case　of　wholesale　murder；　it　will　have　to　be　a　strong　one。〃
　　Margo　leaned　toward　Cranston。
　　〃Do　you　think　Murk's　alibi；　whatever　it　is；　could　possibly　stand？〃
　　〃It　might；〃　returned　Cranston；　without　a　smile。　〃The　police　believe　a　great　deal；　Margo。　Last　night；　I　understand；　an　officer　at　Miami　Beach　actually　believed　a　young　lady　who　said　she　was　going　for　a　swim　in　the　Equator　pool。〃
　　The　brunette　gave　her　head　a　slight　toss　at　hearing　Cranston's　reference　to　her　unusual　adventure。　Cranston's　eyes　were　almost　smiling；　even　though　his　lips　weren't。　Margo　couldn't　keep　up　the　pretense　of　being　angry。
　　〃I　did　take　a　swim；　later；〃　she　said。　〃What's　more；　I　found　out　facts　you　wanted　to　know。　Perhaps；　though；　you'd　have　preferred　for　me　to　go　to　the　Isle　of　Pines。〃
　　〃Not　at　all；〃　assured　Cranston。　〃If　you　had；　you　wouldn't　be　here　to　count　the　mosquito　boats　for　me。　How　many　were　there？　Ah；　yes；　eleven。〃
　　Before　Margo　could　think　of　a　retort；　the　announcer's　voice　came　on　again；　stating　that　the　last　of　the　mosquito　fleet　had　reported　in　at　the　Miami　Yacht　Basin；　with　no　report　of　a　lurking　boat　along　the　coast。　This　was　proof　conclusive　that　Murk　Wessel　must　have　continued　his　flight　by　land；　which；　in　turn；　backed　the　report　that　the　suspected　murderer　had　reached　New　York。
　　〃Yet　the　Isle　of　Pines　is　very　pleasant；〃　Cranston　remarked。　〃You　would　have　enjoyed　it；　Margo。　I'd　have　done　better　to　count　those　mosquito　boats　myself。　I　don't　think　I　would　have　missed　one。　There　were　twelve；　Margo；　not　just　eleven。〃
　　
　　
　　THIS　time；　Margo　was　angry　at　herself。　How　she'd　missed　sight　of　one　ship；　was　a　riddle。　They'd　all　gone　through　the　drawbridge；　which　had　to　rise　when　each　approached。
　　She　expected　Cranston　to　chide　her　further；　but　he　didn't。　His　understanding　of　Margo's　real　emotions　was　quite　as　keen　as　his　recognition　of　her　pretending　moods。　His　casual　way　of　changing　the　subject　softened　Margo's　hurt。
　　〃About　Nayre…〃　Cranston　reflected。　〃Did　he　say　why　he　was　going　back　to　Centralba？〃
　　Margo　shook　her　head。
　　〃They're　still　looking　for　him；〃　Cranston　continued；　〃although　they're　trying　to　find　Murk　first。　From　the　standpoint　of　circumstantial　evidence；　it　looks　quite　bad　for　Nayre；　having　Brady　all　set　to　fly　him　away　from　Miami。〃
　　〃But　Brady　hadn't　expected　Nayre　so　soon…〃
　　〃A　good　point；　Margo；　especially　because　Brady　thought　you　were　a　friend　of　Nayre's。　Let's　take　Nayre　at　his　word。　He　wanted　to　get　away　from　the　Durez　crowd　before　they　dragged　him　into　business　he　didn't　like。　They　were　powerful；　and　he　knew　it　might　be　troublesome；　giving　them　the　slip。　So　he　had　his　friend　Brady　ready。〃
　　Margo　nodded　earnestly。　She　liked　the　theory。　However；　the　most　important　point　remained　unexplained。
　　〃Why　should　Nayre　go　back　to　Centralba？〃　queried　Margo。　〃Any　danger　from　Durez　would　certainly　be　less　than　the　menace　of　Castenago。〃
　　This　time；　Cranston　really　smiled。
　　〃You　said　that　Brady　wasn't　surprised　to　see　you；〃　he　told　Margo。
　　〃Apparently；　he　took　it　for　granted　that　Nayre　would　have　a　girl　helping　him　to　escape。　Even　a　girl　in　a　bathing　costume　didn't　faze　Brady。　Yet　Nayre　would　have　to　be　a　very　persuasive　chap；　to　convince　a　young　lady　to　aid　his　flight　at　such　short　notice。〃
　　〃Why；　yes。　But…〃
　　〃But　Nayre　wasn't　at　all　intrigued　by　the　situation。　You　thought　he　was　woman　proof。　No　wonder！　If　he'd　admired　you；　as　you　deserved；　he　could　have　put　away　his　gun　and　relied　on　his　own　personality；　and　the　moonlight；　to　convince　you　that　you　ought　to　help　him。　Therefore；　paring　the　Nayre　that　Brady　knew　with　the　Nayre　you　met；　we　must　assume…〃
　　〃That　Nayre　is　in　love！〃　exclaimed　Margo；　as　Cranston　purposely　paused。
　　〃Gone　pletely　ga…ga　over　some　girl　in　Centralba！　That　explains　why　he's　gone　back　there！〃
　　There　was　a　nod　from　Cranston。
　　〃Precisely；〃　he　said。　〃Having　settled　the　problem　of　Colin　Nayre；　I　can　now　consider　the　case　of　Murk　Wessel。　Having　met　him　three　times；　I　might　very　well　help　the　hunt　for　him。　Sorry；　Margo。　It　looks　like　New　York　for　me。〃
　　Margo　couldn't　withhold　her　disappointment。
　　〃You　talked　of　an　air　cruise　down　to　Rio；　Lamont。　That's　why　I　was　here　in　Miami；　to　begin　with。〃
　　〃I　know。　The　cruise　starts　tomorrow。　You'd　better　take　it；　Margo。　You'll
　　like　the　crowd；　and　the　pilot；　too。　His　name　is　Kent　Allard。　Quite　a　celebrated　flier；　I　forget　what　it　was　that　made　him　famous；　but　he　is。　You'll　hear　from　him。〃
　　
　　
　　CRANSTON　was　gone；　and　Margo；　standing　in　the　gathering　dusk；　felt　very　much　alone。　She　wished　she'd　said　she　wouldn't　take　the　cruise；　but　it　was　too　late；　now；　to　change　her　mind。　By　now；　Lamont　was　speeding　to　the　airport　in　a　cab；　and　Margo　knew　his　ship　was　ready　for　an　immediate　take…off。
　　All　she　could　do　was　stand　and　watch　from　the　rail　of　the　high　roof。
　　Darkness　had　settled；　a　half　hour　later；　when　she　saw　two　lights　rise　to　the　northwest　and　blink　a　signal　from　above　the　airport。　Then　those　lights　were　dwindling　to　the　north。
　　Their　flash　had　been　Lamont's　parting　signal。　He　knew　that　Margo　would　be　watching　for　it。
　　It　hurt；　parting　with　a　friend　like　Cranston。　The　darkened　waters　of　Biscayne　Bay　reflected　the　lights　from　the　Venetian　Way　with　a　dewy　dance；　when　Margo　looked　in　that　direction。　It　couldn't　be　the　waves　that　blurred　the　mirrored　lights；　for　there　were　none。　The　trouble　was　that　Margo's　eyes　were　just　about　as　dry　as　the　bay　itself。
　　From　a　table　secluded　among　the　palms　that　sprinkled　the　hotel　roof；　a　guest　who　had　just　arrived　looked　across　and　saw　Margo　gazing　over　the　rail。
　　His　face　was　different　from　Cranston's；　but　his　lips　phrased　the　same　low　whispered　laugh；　a　tone　that　belonged　to　The　Shadow。
　　Those　blinking　lights　had　marked　the　departure　of　Cranston's　plane；　under　the　control　of　a　hired　pilot。　The　Shadow；　himself；　had　returned；　for　his　future　course　lay　southward；　not　to　the　north。　Margo　Lane　wasn't　going　to　find　herself　without　a　friend　when　she　took　the　air　cruise；　tomorrow。
　　As　happened　often；　The　Shadow's　theory　regarding　the　whereabouts　of　a　missing　criminal　was　as　at　direct　variance　with　that　held　by　the　law。　He　still　intended　to　look　for　Murk　Wessel；　but　in　the　last　place　where　anyone　would　expect　to　find　the　missing　murderer！
　　
　　
　　　CHAPTER　VIII　
　　　FORCED　LANDING　
　　MARGO　LANE　liked　Kent　Allard；　as　did　the　other　members　of　the　cruise　party。　It　didn't　take　her　long　to　find　out　why　the　pilot　of　their　deluxe　plane　was　celebrated。
　　Several　years　ago；　Allard　had　started　on　a　nonstop　flight　to　South　America；　only　to　disappear　from　civilized　ken。　He　had　reappeared　after　a　few　year's　absence；　in　pany　with　some　Guatemalan　Indians　of　the　almost　forgotten　Xinca　tribe。
　　Having　landed　in　their　midst；　Allard　had　bee　the　ruler　of　the　Indians；　and　the　departure　of　their　white　chief　had　been　a　cause　of　sorrow　to　the　entire　tribe。
　　It　didn't　occur　to　Margo　that　Allard　could　have　been　in　America；　particularly　New　York　City；　during　the　years　when　he　had　reputedly　been　among　the　Xincas；　yet　such　was　the　actual　case。　The　reason；　too；　was　as　definite　as　the　fact　itself。
　　Kent　Allard　was　The　Shadow。
　　To　hide　pletely　his　identity　from　crimeland；　he　had　pretended　to　disappear；　before　beginning　open　war　upon　the　rulers　of　the　underworld。　Of　course；　as　The　Shadow；　he　had　found　it　necessary　to　appear　in　public；　so　he　had　adopted　the　guise　of　Lamont　Cranston。
　　Day　in；　day　out；　The　Shadow　posed　as　Cranston；　and　had　almost　e　to　regard　the　name　and　personality　as　part　of　himself。　As　Cranston；　he　could　meet　his　various　secret　agents；　among　them　Margo　Lane；　without　necessarily　hiding　the　fact　that　he　was　also　The　Shadow。
　　Should　they　be　forced；　under　unexpected　pressure；　to　declare　that　Cranston　was　The　Shadow；　he　could　simply　drop　that　personality　forever　and　keep　his　enemies　hunting　him