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it。〃
〃And then the fight began？〃
〃That's it。 He heard the shots； then he saw his cab roll away。 That's all he told us。〃
The telephone bell rang。 Medbrook answered it。 He spoke briefly。
〃Came in； you say？〃 inquired Medbrook。 〃I see。。。 Checked out right afterward。。。 Gone to New York。。。 All right。。。 No； never mind。。。 That's all I need to know。。。〃
The gambler smiled as he hung up the receiver。
〃Just checking on a customer；〃 he remarked。 〃A stranger we didn't know enough about。 He looks all right； though。 No； he wasn't one that we thought might be Cyro〃…Medbrook shook his head as he saw Cardona about to interrupt； 〃we were afraid this fellow was a professional gambler； getting a line on the way we run things。〃
This statement ended； Royal Medbrook tapped the desk in meditation； then looked at Wayson。
〃There've been tough birds around lately；〃 he declared。 〃But I don't think they amount to much。 They've kept their noses out of our business； and I guess they're wise enough to stay outside the city limits； too。 They were probably after some fellow in the cab； but I can't figure who he was。 A lot of customers went out of here tonight。〃
Wayson seemed satisfied with the explanation。 He arose； motioned to Cardona and the two departed。
OUTSIDE the Club Caprice they entered a coupe that belonged to Wayson and headed cityward。
〃We'll take a stroll down toward Frenchtown；〃 decided Wayson。 〃Just to look around tonight； but tomorrow we can make some inquiries about this chap Cyro。 Seems to me I heard some talk about him when I was in Jamaica； a few years ago。〃
〃You were on service there？〃 asked Cardona。
〃Yes；〃 laughed Wayson。 〃Jamaica； the Philippines； Hawaii； Algeria； China …
I've been everywhere。 Old pals of mine are always dropping in to see me。 I show them the high spots of New Orleans。 Unofficially。〃
〃You think Cyro might be in the Latin Quarter？〃
〃Possibly。 Let me explain how things are down there； Cardona。 To begin with； there are a lot of places that look tough to people who don't know them。
Up North； they would be mobster hangouts。 But they aren't down here。〃
〃Why not？〃
〃Gangs find the New Orleans climate unhealthy。 Medbrook brought out that fact when we talked to him。 Gangsters keep quiet inside our city limits。 Mobs follow rackets…and a racketeer can't get to first base in New Orleans。 The town has its riffraff； but they move openly。 We watch the places where they go； and we keep an eye on them。
〃If a local rowdy decided he'd bee a big shot； we'd step on him as soon as he began to organize。 If a big shot blows in from another city； he finds himself up against it when he tries to organize a crew。 If he tries to import his own gorillas； we can spot them like daisies in a wheat field。〃
〃Then gangsters stay clear of New Orleans？〃
〃No。 A lot of them visit here。 But they mind their business。 The layout doesn't look right。 That's all。 There are too many people belonging here who can't see the idea of outsiders starting trouble with the cops。〃
〃Then the French Quarter stays quiet？〃
〃Not all the time。 In a sense； it's never quiet。 Anything may happen there。 Same way along the water front。 Look at it this way； Cardona。 The Hudson River is pretty big at New York； isn't it？〃
〃More than a mile wide。〃
〃Well； suppose it began to rise…twenty or thirty feet。 It would be tough for Manhattan； wouldn't it？〃
Cardona nodded。
〃Well； out there〃…Wayson pointed toward the foot of Canal Street； along which they were riding…〃we've got the Mississippi and it rises。 But it doesn't wash us out because we have the levees。 Higher than the level of the streets。
〃We handle crime something like the river。 We know it's due for rises。 And when it's low； there's liable to be an influx from outside。 That's when the levees show how useful they can be。 We have them built。 They are ready when we need them。〃
Cardona made no ment。 He caught the angle of Wayson's rough simile。
Where New York had seething crime that kept a constant level； smaller cities frequently encountered an intide of crooks who saw a happy hunting ground awaiting them。 New Orleans had met this difficulty； according to Wayson。
Before Cardona could ask for further details； the lieutenant returned to his original statement。
〃I said we would inquire about con men；〃 remarked Wayson。 〃We will。 I'll
talk to people that I know。 They don't want customers who may make trouble for them。 They'll pass the word along。 The rats won't know anything about it。
〃But if you came down here with a detective； making his rounds； some of the small fry might wonder who you were。 They'd figure you for an out…of…town detective。 They'd pass the word； not to help you； but to help any of their kind that might be in bad。 Your man might wise to it。〃
THE coupe had reached the center of the city。 Wayson parked； he and Cardona alighted。 A traffic cop delivered a friendly salute as they crossed the broad avenue with its four rows of streetcar tracks in the center。
〃Same as Market Street in Frisco；〃 remarked Wayson； pointing to the tracks。 〃Four abreast。〃 Then； to a cop who was taking the number of a parked car： 〃Give him a break； Stevie。 You won't get the towing car for half an hour。
It was heading up Claiborne when we passed it。〃
The policeman grinned and waved。 Wayson nudged his thumb to indicate the other side of Canal Street； the one from which they had e。
〃That's uptown；〃 he explained to Joe。 〃On that side of Canal Street。 On this side is downtown。 That's the way we distinguish them。 Different from most cities。 First thing we strike in the downtown side is the French Quarter。
〃We turn through here to begin with〃…they were walking along Canal Street as he spoke…〃and we're going along the wettest alley in the world …
Exchange Street。 Grog shops。 Keep your eye peeled。〃
Night had brought illumination to Canal Street。 Both sides of the broad thoroughfare were resplendent with circular globes above their stout metal lamp…posts。 Exchange Street； however； presented a more garish spectacle。
Bars with open fronts； indoor cafes； amid a blaze of light。 A scattering crowd threaded back and forth across the thoroughfare。 Automobiles rolled slowly； honking their horns continuously。
Wayson was eyeing all about him。 So was Cardona。 All the while； the lieutenant acted as though pointing out the sights to a friend。 A genial； baldheaded man gave a greeting。 Wayson spoke to him。 The fellow nodded。
The same thing happened further on。 Whenever Wayson paused to chat； he kept his keen eyes roving。 He was studying the medley of humanity； looking for men worth watching。
At the end of Exchange Street； Wayson turned about。 He glanced at his watch； then shrugged his shoulders。 His gesture signified that it was too late to begin operations。
〃Tomorrow night…at eight；〃 decided the police lieutenant。 〃I'll meet you at your hotel。 We'll head down this way； Cardona。 We lost too much time with that useless trip out to the Club Caprice。〃
A WELL…DRESSED man was standing near the corner。 He had overheard Wayson's words。 Cardo