mg.dictatorofcrime-第20章

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　　It　wasn't　until　noon　that　Castenago　settled　down。　Rewards；　no　matter　how　great　their　promise；　wouldn't　bring　results。　Having　gone　beyond　a　reasonable　limit；　Castenago　thought　it　over。
　　He　issued　a　new　proclamation。　It　was　addressed　to　Kent　Allard。　It　stated　that　he　was　exonerated　of　all　blame　in　the　escape　of　The　Shadow；　but　that　he　was　advised　to　leave　Centralba　within　the　next　twenty…four　hours。　His　plane　was　waiting　at　the　airport；　fully　gassed；　and　nothing　would　be　done　to　impede　his　departure。
　　Word　of　that　order　passed　among　Allard's　friends。　Following　their　afternoon　siesta；　they　gathered　to　discuss　it。　Apparently；　they　were　free　to　leave　Libertad　whenever　they　chose；　either　in　Allard's　plane；　or　in　some　other　manner。
　　Most　of　them　preferred　to　leave　with　Allard；　if　he　could　be　found。　Since　he　hadn't　shown　himself；　it　seemed　more　sensible　to　take　the　night　train　to　the　coast。　So　they　packed；　with　one　exception。
　　The　exception　was　Margo　Lane。　She　was　in　an　absolute　dilemma。　Castenago's　proclamation；　very　oddly；　backed　her　own　opinion　that　Allard　couldn't　be　The　Shadow。　She　knew；　however；　that　The　Shadow　was　the　main　cause　of　the　confusion；　so　she　naturally　stuck　to　her　theory　that　Lamont　Cranston　was　in　Libertad。
　　She　even　had　the　idea　that　the　missing　marimba　player　might　be　Cranston；　rather　than　Nayre。　On　that　account；　Margo　dined　early　at　the　hotel；　and　stayed　around　the　extensive　lobby；　hoping　that　The　Shadow　would　appear。　Naturally；　Margo　roamed　at　large；　looking　for　marimba　players。
　　She　was　gazing　hopefully　from　a　corner　of　the　veranda；　when　she　saw　a　strolling　cluster　of　mariachis；　with　their　oddly　shaped　guitars。
　　One　musician　paused　to　serenade　the　American　senorita。　Finishing　a　short　tune；　he　looked　about；　then　undertoned　in　English：
　　〃Hello；　Miss　Lane。　Remember　me…Colin　Nayre？〃
　　Margo　gave　a　gasp；　recovering；　she　leaned　across　the　veranda　rail。
　　〃Then　you　weren't　the　marimba　player！〃　she　exclaimed。　〃The　one　that　Castenago　seeks。〃
　　〃Unfortunately；　I　was。〃
　　〃But〃…Margo　faltered…〃but　what　about　The　Shadow？　Who。。。　where　is　he？〃
　　〃I　don't　know；〃　confessed　Nayre。　〃He　wrote　a　note；　and　gave　me　a　piece　of　it　when　he　tore　it　up　and　threw　the　rest　away。　He　passed　it　to　me　along　with　some　money。　Here　it　is。〃
　　The　note　consisted　of　three　words。　It　said：　〃See　John　Smith。〃　Margo　showed　it　to　Nayre；　who　smiled。
　　〃You　won't　find　many　John　Smiths　in　Libertad；〃　he　said。　〃I'd　advise　looking　in　the　telephone　book。〃
　　Margo　went　back　into　the　lobby　and　consulted　the　thin　directory。　She　found　but　one　John　Smith。　His　address　was　near　the　center　of　the　town。
　　She　rejoined　Nayre　and　told　him　about　it。　He　suggested　that　she　go　ahead；　that　he　would　follow；　quite　safely；　in　his　disguise　of　a　mariachi。
　　〃It's　after　dark；〃　declared　Nayre；　〃so　everything　is　safe；　unless　Castenago　suspects。　If　you　run　into　trouble；　signal　me　and　I'll　help　you　out。〃
　　
　　
　　TROUBLE　threatened　as　soon　as　Margo　reached　the　address　given　in　the　note。
　　It　wasn't　a　residence；　it　was　a　store；　though　the　floors　above　might　be　apartments。
　　The　store　itself　was　a　Japanese　shop；　which　worried　Margo　all　the　more；　for　she　knew　how　Japanese　had　infiltrated　into　Caribbean　countries。
　　Nevertheless；　Margo　entered。　Behind　the　counter　she　saw　the　bowing　Japanese　proprietor；　who　gave　her　an　inquiring　gaze。　No　one　else　was　in　the　place；　but　through　the　front　window　Margo　could　see　Nayre；　in　his　mariachi　disguise。　He　was　already　ing　across　the　street；　suspicious　of　the　shop　that　Margo　had　entered。
　　〃You　buy　something；　senorita？〃
　　At　the　Jap's　question；　Margo　turned。　She　nodded；　at　the　same　time　giving　the　signal　that　she　knew　would　bring　Nayre。　Holding　the　Jap's　attention；　Margo　stated：
　　〃I　would　like　to　see　John　Smith。〃
　　Before　the　Japanese　could　answer；　Nayre　was　springing　through　the　doorway。
　　He　wasn't　carrying　his　guitar；　he　had　left　it　across　the　street。　Instead；　he　was　aiming　a　very　sizable　revolver。
　　The　Jap　saw　it；　but　wasn't　startled。　Reaching　across　the　counter；　he　took　Nayre's　arm　and　turned　his　dive　into　a　headlong　sprawl。
　　Not　only　did　Nayre　somersault　across　the　counter；　to　sprawl　behind　it；　he　left　the　revolver　in　the　hand　of　the　Japanese。
　　It　was　all　so　sudden　that　Margo　hadn't　time　to　even　shrink　away。　She　was　under　the　muzzle　of　the　gun；　without　a　chance　for　life；　should　the　Jap　pull　the　trigger。　Instead；　he　merely　laid　the　gun　behind　the　counter　and　gave　another　bow。
　　〃I　am　John　Smith；〃　he　said　in　perfect　English。　〃I　presume；　however；　that　you　really　wish　to　meet　a　friend　of　mine。　I　shall　call　him。〃
　　Margo　simply　stood　astonished；　while　the　Japanese　stepped　to　a　door　at　the　rear　of　the　shop。　He　opened　it　and　spoke　to　someone　in　the　darkness　beyond。
　　Still　staring；　Margo　saw　the　storekeeper　step　aside；　smiling；　as　he　still　looked　toward　the　inner　room。
　　Blackness　took　form。　It　became　a　cloaked　shape　that　moved　into　the　light。
　　Burning　eyes　met　Margo's　amazed　gaze；　and　a　whispery　laugh　gave　wele…from　The　Shadow！
　　
　　
　　　CHAPTER　XIX　
　　　THE　COUNTER…STROKE　
　　COLIN　NAYRE　looked　up。　He　reached　for　the　bandanna　handkerchief　that　should　have　been　around　his　head　to　conceal　his　light…hued　hair。　It　was　gone；　and　Nayre　could　feel　a　lump　where　his　head　had　struck　something。
　　Still　somewhat　dazed；　he　thought　that　he　had　been　captured；　his　disguise　penetrated。　He　thought　the　voices　in　the　dull　light　around　him　belonged　to　Castenago's　men；　until　he　heard　a　whispered　laugh。
　　Staring　at　moving　blackness；　Nayre　recognized　The　Shadow；　then；　as　his　swimming　senses　steadied；　he　saw　Margo　Lane　beside　the　figure　in　black。
　　They'd　taken　Nayre　into　the　back　room　of　the　shop；　to　revive　him；　but　Nayre　was　really　puzzled　when　he　saw　a　panion　with　them。　The　man　was　the　very　Japanese　who　had　overthrown　Nayre's　attack！
　　The　Shadow　introduced　John　Smith。
　　He　looked　like　a　Japanese；　but　he　was　actually　an　American；　for　his　family　had　lived　in　the　United　States　through　four　generations。　His　great…grandfather　had　e　to　America　nearly　a　hundred　years　ago；　soon　after　modore　Perry　established　the　〃open　door〃　trade　treaty　with　Japan。
　　The　family　had　changed　their　name　to　the　English　equivalent；　and　with　each　succeeding　generation；　one　or　more　members　had　studied　international　law；　in　order　to　assist　American　trade　policies　in　the　Orient。
　　John　Smith　was　the　current　example；　and　he　smiled；　in　broad　American　style；　when　The　Shadow　told　Nayre　why　John　was　in　Centralba。
　　There　bad　been　so　much　talk　of　Japanese　military　penetration　under　the　guise　of　business；　that　Washington　officials　had　sent　John　Smith　to　the　Caribbean　to　report　what　was　really　happening　there。
　　He'd　opened　a　Nipponese　shop　of　his　own；　and　lived　in　an　apartment　above　it。　He　had　the　phone　upstairs；　and　no　one　linked　the　apartment　dweller　with　the　proprietor　of　the　store　below。
　　No　one；　except　The　Shadow。　He　had　known　all　about　John　Smith。　So　Margo　took　it　for　granted　that　The　Shadow　had　been　staying　here；　as　Cranston。　She　didn't　recall　the　package　that　Allard　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　shr