mg.dictatorofcrime-第25部分

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　had　〃sent　back〃　to　a　shop　just　before　they　had　started　to　Castenago's　banquet。
　　Actually；　that　package　had　contained　The　Shadow's　hat　and　cloak；　with　a　coded　note　to　John　Smith；　requesting　him　to　have　the　garb　available。
　　Of　course；　The　Shadow　didn't　mention　that　point。　Instead；　he　stated　that　John　Smith　had　found　any　Japanese　menace　entirely　absent　from　Centralba。
　　Nevertheless；　he　had　stayed　because　of　Luis　Castenago。　The　dictator　was　the　sort　who　would　sell　out　wholesale；　if　the　bid　came　high　enough；　therefore；　Centralba　might　at　any　time　be　turned　into　a　cat's…paw　for　some　un…American　power。
　　While　that　possibility　remained　John　Smith　would　have　to　stay；　which　meant；　in　so　many　words；　that　he　would　be　in　Libertad　so　long　as　Castenago　retained　power。
　　〃That　will　not　be　for　long；〃　declared　The　Shadow　in　a　strange；　prophetic　whisper。　〃The　rule　of　Castenago　shall　end；　this　night！〃
　　The　announcement　brought　amazed　looks　from　all　the　listeners。　The　Shadow　turned　to　Colin　Nayre。
　　〃I　should　have　contacted　you　last　night；　when　I　first　saw　you　outside　the　palace；〃　said　The　Shadow。　〃I　had　recognized　you　at　Peridor's；　and　understood　that　you　were　there　to　protect　the　girl　you　love。　I　saw　the　gourd　e　over　the　gate；　and　knew　that　only　the　marimba　player　could　have　thrown　it。　When　it　turned　into　a　bomb；　I　knew　that　the　marimba　player　must　be　you；　Nayre。〃
　　The　direct　analysis　brought　an　understanding　nod　from　Nayre。　He'd　been　wondering　how　The　Shadow　had　identified　him。
　　〃You　were　outside　the　palace　last　night；〃　continued　The　Shadow；　〃and　the　fact　should　have　told　me　that　Mariquita　and　her　father　had　been　summoned　there　by　Castenago。　It　happened；　however；　that　I　had　dropped　all　other　matters　for　a　decisive　stroke　at　Castenago。　I　therefore　credited　you　with　the　same　idea。
　　〃When　Castenago　trapped　me；　I　remembered　you；　Nayre。　I　played　into　Castenago's　hands　to　remove　his　hidden　threat：　Murk　Wessel　and　the　crew　of　killers。　When　they　were　gone；　it　was　my　turn　to　produce　the　unknown　factor。
　　〃I　was　sure　that　Castenago　would　grant　me　the　privilege　of　hearing　marimba　music　before　I　died。　Your　gourd　blossomed　very　gloriously；　Nayre。〃
　　
　　
　　BY　this　time；　The　Shadow's　urge　for　a　counterthrust　at　Castenago　was　inspiring　the　listeners；　particularly　Nayre。　However；　intrepid　though　he　was；　Nayre　shook　his　head。　It　was　no　longer　safe　for　him　to　travel　as　a　marimba　player；　therefore；　he　was　handicapped　in　the　matter　of　bombs。
　　Furthermore；　The　Shadow　had　made　it　plain　that　he　wanted　to　trap　Castenago　and　Wessel　together；　as　evidence　of　the　dictator's　double　dealing。　Such　would　require　a　policy　of　waiting；　for　a　few　days；　at　least。
　　〃A　few　days　will　be　too　long；〃　declared　The　Shadow。　〃It　must　be　done　tonight。　I　have　learned　something　not　stated　in　any　of　Castenago's　manifestoes。
　　This　evening；　Castenago　is　giving　a　banquet　in　honor　of　Professor　Peridor　and　his　daughter；　Mariquita。　A　twelve…course　banquet；　Nayre！〃
　　The　Shadow　had　to　block　off　Nayre　before　he　could　reach　the　door。　Frantic；　Nayre's　only　thought　was　to　reach　the　palace　and　have　it　out　with　Castenago。
　　Finally　calming　the　excited　man；　The　Shadow　reached　to　a　shelf　and　plucked　down　a　wooden　egg。　He　opened　it；　to　show　another　egg　within。
　　Casually；　he　reviewed　his　own　moves　and　those　of　Castenago；　illustrating　each　by　opening　another　inner　egg。　He　came　to　the　core　of　the　nest；　a　tiny　solid　oval。
　　〃This　is　ours；〃　he　told　Nayre。　〃The　innermost　of　all　the　games　involving　life　and　death。　The　only　one〃…The　Shadow's　laugh　was　pointed…〃that　cannot　be　cracked！　We　shall　proceed　with　it　at　once！　The　first　move　is　yours；　Nayre。〃
　　Nayre　stared。
　　〃But　how？〃
　　〃You　must　visit　certain　persons；〃　explained　The　Shadow；　〃who　had　unfinished　business　with　Luis　Castenago。　We　have　played　through　every　weakness；　without　success。　This　time；　we　shall　do　the　utterly　unexpected　and　play　through　strength。〃
　　
　　
　　HALF　an　hour　later；　Nayre　and　some　genuine　mariachis　were　strolling　through　the　unfinished　gardens　of　the　Casino　Internacional。
　　From　his　window；　Pierre　Treban　saw　them　and　merely　shrugged。　They　would　soon　give　up　hope　of　gathering　a　crowd　of　music…lovers　in　the　garden。　People　in　the　casino　were　too　intrigued　with　the　melody　of　the　spinning　roulette　wheels。
　　Treban　forgot　certain　persons　quartered　downstairs　in　the　casino。　Murk　Wessel　and　his　crew　had　no　roulette　wheel；　and　they　were　sick　of　playing　poker　with　chips　that　were　based　on　a　million　dollar　I　O　U。　They　recognized　a　tune　that　was　nothing　but　discord　to　the　ears　of　Treban；　who　thought　that　all　music　began　and　ended　with　opera。
　　〃Get　a　load　of　that！〃　exclaimed　Murk　to　the　others。　〃Those　monkeys　are　banging　out　the　'Sidewalks　of　New　York'！　Maybe　some　tourists　taught　it　to　them。
　　Let's　find　out　what　else　they　know。〃
　　Poking　from　the　hide…out；　Murk　gave　a　low　whistle　that　stopped　the　music。
　　Murk　beckoned；　and　a　lone　mariachi　approached；　a　bit　doubtfully。　Murk　didn't　see　the　figure　that　simultaneously　emerged　from　a　car　parked　in　semi…darkness。
　　It　was　the　cloaked　shape　of　The　Shadow。　From　the　car；　Margo　Lane　and　John　Smith　watched　the　black…clad　form　blend　with　the　darkness　of　the　shrubbery。
　　Both　were　pleased。
　　Murk　gestured　the　mariachi　into　the　storeroom；　indicating　that　he　could　bring　in　the　other　musicians。　The　mariachi　saw　the　light　from　the　air　chamber　and　strolled　curiously　toward　it。　Murk　grinned；　deciding　to　let　the　fellow　get　acquainted　with　the　rest　of　his　audience。
　　Stopping　on　the　threshold；　the　mariachi　saw　the　other　crooks　around　the　card　table；　and　turned　questioningly　toward　Murk；　who　told　him　to　step　inside。
　　Murk　followed；　and　slid　the　panel　shut。
　　The　musician's　glance　had　shown　him　vague　blackness　entering　the　outer　door。　Looking　about；　he　noticed　the　panel　move。　A　gun　muzzle　was　ing　through；　indicating　that　The　Shadow　was　reversing　the　trick　of　the　portrait　frames。　This　was　the　signal　for　the　mariachi　to　take　the　all…important　plunge。
　　He　whipped　off　his　bandanna　headgear；　revealing　a　shock　of　straw…hued　hair　above　his　dark…tanned　face。
　　〃You　chaps　should　remember　me；〃　he　said　in　English。　〃I'm　Colin　Nayre！　We　met　in　Miami　Beach。〃
　　With　a　loud　growl；　Murk　Wessel　gestured　his　pals　back　to　their　seats；　and　turned　to　the　ex…mariachi。
　　〃What's　the　gag；　Nayre？　Spill　it！〃
　　〃No　gag；〃　returned　Nayre　bluntly。　〃I　just　don't　like　to　be　double…crossed；　any　more　than　you　do。〃
　　〃Yeah？　Who　double…crossed　you？〃
　　Nayre　gave　Murk　an　almost　contemptuous　glance　and　turned　to　the　others；　as　though　seeking　corroboration。　Addressing　the　entire　throng；　he　said　pointedly：
　　〃There's　only　one　double…crosser　in　Centralba。　He'd　get　by　anywhere。　He　gave　me　the　run…around；　and　now　you're　getting　it！〃
　　Murk　snapped　back　into　style。
　　〃You　mean　Castenago　made　a　deal　with　you　to　knock　off　the　Durez　crowd？〃
　　〃What　else？〃　retorted　Nayre。　〃I　was　the　right　man　to　handle　it。　The　trouble　was；　I　knew　Castenago　so　well；　that　I　was　waiting　for　the　cash　first。
　　Finding　that　I　wasn't　a　sucker；　he　called　you　fellows　into　it。　I　came　back　here　to　square　accounts　with　Castenago。　Maybe　I　can　get　him　to　settle　yours；　too。〃
　　The　thing　didn't　entirely　register　with　Murk。
　　〃A　funny　way　to　start　out；〃　he　gruffed；　〃helping　The　Shadow　the　way　you　have。〃
　　Nayre　gave　one　of　his　pleasant　laughs。
　　〃Helping　The　Shadow！　That's　funny！　All　I've　been　doing　is　chucking　bombs　at　The　Shadow；　figuring　that　if　I　get　rid　of　him；　Castenago　will　pay　up　plenty！
　　That's　the　way　I　was　supposed　to　knock　off　Durez　and　his　friends…with　bombs。
　　〃The　trouble　is；　Castenago　thinks　I'll　toss　one　his　way；　so　he　faked　a　story　that　I　helped　The　Shadow　escape。　The　Shadow　never　will；　not　while　I　carry　this！〃
　　Lightly；　Nayre　tapped　his　guitar；　indicating　that　he　had　a　bomb　inside　it。
　　That　touch　convinced　the　crooks。　They　believed　the　very　logical　yarn　that　The　Shadow　had　devised　for　Nayre　to　tell　them。　Murk　put　a　shrewd　question。
　　〃How　about　us　working　together；　Nayre？　Got　any　ideas　about　making　Castenago　e　through　with　the　dough　he　owes　us　both？〃
　　〃That's　what　I　came　here　for；〃　Nayre　answered。　〃I　used　to　be　the　captain　of　the　palace　guard。　I　can　get　into　the　place　without　Castenago　knowing　it。　But　I　can't　demand　a　showdown　all　alone。　Castenago　can　summon　aid　too　easily。
　　〃With　you　chaps；　it's　the　other　way　about。　You　have　the　numbers；　but　you　can't　reach　Castenago。　You　had　your　chance　last　night；　but　he　bluffed　you。　If　you　helped　him　trap　The　Shadow；　he　certainly　didn't　pay　you　for　it。〃
　　〃No；　he　didn't；〃　growled　Murk。　〃He　said　he'd　talk　about　that　later；　on　any　terms　we　wanted。　We're　waiting　to　hear　from　him　after　the　banquet。〃
　　〃You　wouldn't　by　any　chance　be　hearing　from　The　Shadow；　instead？〃　Nayre's　query　was　artful。　〃Castenago　would　be　sure　of　saving　a　million　dollars；　that　way…〃
　　Nayre　didn't　have　to　finish。　The　mobsters　were　on　their　feet；　demanding　that　Murk　line　up　with　Nayre。　Silencing　the　outburst；　Murk　gruffed　a　suggestion。
　　〃Slide　outside；　Nayre；〃　he　said。　〃Get　rid　of　those　mariachis。　We'll　be　along；　and　you　can　show　us　the　way。〃
　　
　　
　　AFTER　he　was　sure　that　N