mg.dictatorofcrime-第21章

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he　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　Nayre　had　gone　outside；　Murk　turned　to　his　crew。
　　Shrewdly；　Murk　had　guessed　that　his　hold　on　his　outfit　was　slipping。　He　had　a　way　to　tighten　it。
　　〃It　figures　this　way；〃　stated　Murk。　〃We're　going　to　get　ours…double！　We　go　to　the　palace　with　Nayre　and　put　the　heat　on　Big　Chin　Face。　We'll　get　our　dough；　and　so　will　Nayre。　But　when　Nayre　lams　along　with　us；　we'll　rub　him　out　and　keep　his　gravy；　too。
　　〃Don't　worry　about　the　getaway。〃　Murk　was　waving　his　hands　to　silence　questions。　〃Remember　that　proclamation　telling　that　flier；　Allard；　to　get　out　of　Centralba？　If　Castenago　thinks　Allard　is　The　Shadow；　it　fits　right　with　what　Nayre　said。　Castenago　wants　The　Shadow　to　knock　us　off；　and　call　it　quits。
　　〃The　Shadow　isn't　going　to　find　us　here；　because　we'll　be　at　the　palace。
　　Before　he　wises　to　what's　happened；　we'll　get　to　the　airport　and　take　that　plane　ourselves。　All　tuned　up　and　gassed；　that　ship；　just　waiting　for　us　to　take　it。　We　can　buy　up　a　banana　republic　for　ourselves；　with　our　dough　and　Nayre's。〃
　　Murk　Wessel　was　turning　toward　the　sliding　door。　It　had　gone　tight　shut。
　　Outside；　a　swift…gliding　figure　reached　the　courtyard；　where　Nayre　was　waiting　alone。　Briefly；　The　Shadow　told　Nayre　what　he　had　overheard。　It　fitted　even　further　with　The　Shadow's　well…laid　plan。
　　The　counterthrust　was　on　its　way；　directed　by　The　Shadow！
　　
　　
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　　CASTENAGO'S　palace　was　ablaze　with　light　when　Nayre　and　his　new　panions　circled　it。　The　dictator　had　declared　a　special　fiesta　in　honor　of　Francisco　Peridor；　but；　as　usual；　there　was　a　catch。
　　Citizens；　stationed　around　the　palace　steps；　had　greeted　Peridor's　arrival　rather　coldly；　then　had　turned　themselves　into　a　clique　favoring　Castenago。
　　It　would　spread　all　through　Libertad　that　Castenago　was　honored　and　Peridor　disowned。　Within　a　few　days；　no　one　would　be　shocked　to　learn　that　Peridor　had　died。　If　he　didn't　accept　the　invitation　to　suicide；　Castenago　would　take　a　hand。
　　Very　easily；　in　Peridor's　case。　Probably；　the　system　would　be　another　bomb　blast；　that　no　one　would　ever　attribute　to　Peridor's　protector；　Luis　Castenago。
　　Meanwhile；　Castenago；　with　Peridor　seated　at　his　right；　was　doing　everything　to　honor　his　esteemed　guest。　Having　called　for　the　best　of　wine；　Castenago　sampled　the　bottle　that　arrived。　For　the　first　time；　his　face　registered　disapproval。　He　turned　to　the　shaky　servant　who　had　brought　the　wine。
　　〃This　is　not　the　best！〃　stormed　Castenago。　〃Fool！　Why　didn't　you　bring　what　I　ordered？〃
　　〃He　would　not　let　me。〃　The　servant's　quivering　tone　was　low。　〃He　said　that　he　must　speak　to　you；　alone。　El　capitan；　the　former　one。　He　is　in　the　wine　cellar。〃
　　Castenago　smiled　at　the　reference　to　Colin　Nayre。　He　excused　himself　from　the　table　and　stepped　through　a　curtained　doorway；　where　he　found　two　gatomontes。　He　told　them　to　follow　him；　and　on　the　way　to　the　cellar；　Castenago　beckoned　to　another　pair。　They　would　be　sufficient　to　handle　Nayre。
　　As　for　The　Shadow；　he　wouldn't　even　be　about。　Castenago　had　two　reasons　for　his　supposition。　First；　The　Shadow　wouldn't　have　allowed　so　crude　a　summons　from　the　wine　cellar。　Again；　The　Shadow　was　banking　on　trapping　Castenago　when　Murk　Wessel　was　present。
　　It　didn't　occur　to　the　dictator　that　Nayre　might　have　arranged　that　latter　point。
　　Pacing　the　wine　cellar；　Nayre　was　listening　to　a　growl　that　came　from　behind　a　big　cask　set　beneath　shelves　of　bottles。　Murk　Wessel　was　arguing　that　the　scheme　wouldn't　work；　and　his　panions；　also　hidden；　were　echoing　his　sentiments。
　　Coolly；　Nayre　responded　that　it　would。　He　reminded　them　that　this　cellar　wasn't　a　trap；　for　they　could　go　out　the　way　they　came　in…by　the　loading　entrance。
　　Castenago　had　neglected　that　means　of　entry　to　the　palace；　because　it　led　only　to　the　wine　cellar；　which　was　always　locked。　He'd　overlooked　the　fact　that　the　rule　didn't　apply　on　banquet　nights；　when　he　sent　a　servant　to　the　cellar　with　the　key。
　　Still　arguing　that　Castenago　would　e；　Nayre　suddenly　motioned　for　silence。　A　door　opened　above　a　short　flight　of　steps　and　Castenago　peered　down　into　the　dim　cellar。　He　saw　Nayre；　costumed　as　a　mariachi；　except　for　the　bandanna　headgear。
　　Without　looking　around；　Castenago　gestured　for　his　gatomontes　to　wait；　pair　by　pair；　in　the　passage　behind　him。　Bluffly；　the　dictator　stepped　down　into　the　wine　cellar。
　　Promptly；　Nayre　produced　a　revolver　and　covered　him。　Castenago　merely　smiled。　If　Nayre　assassinated　him；　nothing　could　block　the　double　death　warrant　that　the　dictator　had　already　signed　for　Peridor　and　Mariquita。　He'd　lull　Nayre；　Castenago　would；　and　then　summon　the　gatomontes　to　capture　the　fool。　Castenago　still　believed　that　Nayre　had　e　alone。
　　He　lost　that　idea；　when　five　men　slid　out　from　behind　the　wine　casks。　Murk　Wessel；　as　mander　of　the　squad；　used　proper　tactics。　He　dispatched　two　gunners　to　cover　the　door　that　Castenago　had　entered；　and　kept　the　other　two　in　reserve。
　　Nayre　turned　to　Murk　and　gestured　for　him　to　do　the　talking。
　　
　　
　　〃WE'VE　e　for　the　dough；〃　declared　Murk。　〃Nayre　for　his；　the　same　as　us。
　　He　told　us　how　you　ditched　him　on　the　Durez　proposition。　Let's　see　the　cash　and　get　this　over　with。〃
　　Real　understanding　spread　across　Castenago's　big…jawed　face。　He　saw　how　Nayre　had　talked　Murk　into　an　alliance；　but　he　still　mistakenly　regarded　the　scheme　as　Nayre's　own　invention；　not　The　Shadow's。
　　Farsighted　enough　to　know　that　Murk　would　double…cross　Nayre　later；　Castenago　cagily　pretended　that　he　owed　Nayre　money；　too。　He　turned　and　indicated　the　stairs。
　　〃This　way；〃　he　said。　〃I　shall　take　you　to　my　private　vault。　There；　you　shall　both　be　paid　in　full。〃
　　Prodded　by　guns；　Castenago　started　up　the　steps。　His　gatomontes　hadn't　shown　themselves；　for　which　he　was　glad。　He　still　wanted　them　to　stay　out　of　sight；　so　he　spoke　to　his　captors　as　he　moved　along。　His　words；　however；　were　addressed　ahead。
　　〃No　one　will　block　the　way；　I　assure　you；〃　declared　Castenago。　〃Look　for　followers；　if　you　wish；　for　you　will