rn gaze assured The Shadow that no ten…second argument could save him。
Perhaps the girl expected a voluble plea in Spanish； she was certainly steeled to ignore it。 Nevertheless； The Shadow spoke。
His words were in English。 That made no difference。 A plea in any language would be useless。 However； The Shadow did not plead。
〃Good evening； Senorita Peridor；〃 he said。 〃I mistook your servants for Castenago's men。 I bring a message from a certain friend。〃
The Shadow took just ten seconds for that speech； and his emphasis upon the word 〃friend〃 carried just the needed touch。 The widening of the girl's eyes； the slight parting of her lips； told that her gun hand had relaxed。
Already； the servants were beginning a new lunge； there wasn't time for time girl to call to them； even had she chosen。 It was The Shadow who supplied the needed action。
He jabbed his left hand for the girl's gun； caught it； hand and all； finishing with a twist as he lurched her through the curtains。 The revolver clattered away and The Shadow's speeding grip slid to the senorita's wrist； whirling her full about。
The Shadow had her safety in mind； along with his own； for in turning her as a human shield； he carried her beyond the reach of the driving machetes。
The servants tried to flank The Shadow…too late； for he was through the doorway； where they couldn't reach him except by tearing the girl from his grasp。 They never went through with such a plan； for by then； their attack was fully balked。 The Shadow's right hand had pulled a gun from beneath his cloak。
He hadn't actually drawn the automatic； he'd done something even swifter。
The holstered gun was pointed toward the hallway at the time of his grab； and he wheeled his body away from it。
Practically where it was； the 。45 was pointing across the shoulder of the dark…eyed senorita； whose efforts to break from The Shadow's grasp were nudging the weapon from left to right； so that it confronted each of the servants in successive turn！
〃From a certain friend；〃 repeated The Shadow； in the girl's ear； 〃named Colin Nayre。〃
〃You've seen Colin？〃
〃Yes。 He is still alive…〃
As The Shadow paused； his eyes still on the servants； he had to move the gun of his own accord。 The girl's struggle had bee a tremble； which ended only when The Shadow added：
〃And safe。〃
The girl's happy sigh was drowned by the clash of machetes against the tile。 The servants had recognized the futility of further struggle against The Shadow。
Relaxing his hold upon the girl； The Shadow let her turn to speak to them。
They bowed when she used the term 〃amigo〃 to define The Shadow as being a friend。
Then； before the girl could question him further； The Shadow announced：
〃My message is for Professor Peridor。〃
The girl turned and led the way to her father's room。 When she knocked at the door； her tap was recognized。 A kindly voice inquired in Spanish：
〃What is it； Mariquita？〃
〃I must see you； father；〃 the girl replied。 〃A friend is here； bringing word from Colin Nayre。〃
THE door opened； instantly； and Mariquita ushered The Shadow into a room where Professor Peridor stood ready to greet him。
Dark eyes； as kindly as the voice that acpanied them； peered with amazement from a mild； white bearded face。 Then； recovering from his surprise； Peridor spoke：
〃La Sombra！〃
Peridor had heard of The Shadow by that title from times when the black…cloaked stranger had visited other Caribbean countries； in the interests of justice。
Mariquita's lovely face became more and more bewildered when she saw her father and The Shadow seat themselves beside a table and begin an immediate conference。 For the things that Professor Peridor broached were his true opinion of Luis Castenago； expressions which would mean death in Centralba； should they reach the wrong ears！
〃I was a fool to believe Castenago；〃 Peridor's tone carried bitter sorrow。
〃All my efforts to better conditions in Centralba have been twisted to justify Castenago's evil deeds。 Instead of improving matters； I have placed myself in a predicament where I am helpless； and my country totally unable to shake off a tyrant's misrule！〃
Finding The Shadow's interest plete； the elderly professor gave a brief summary of events in Centralba； valuable； because it was the first…hand story of a sincere man。 Peridor had undergone the ordeal met by all right…minded persons who have sought； by ordinary measures； to restrain a dictator's rise。
Peridor had criticized the Castenago regime from the start； advocating a policy of passive resistance。 Peridor's claim； that right could triumph over might； had even seemed to win the dictator's respect； but it had merely slowed； not halted； the growth of Castenago's tyranny。
At least； it had caused Jose Durez； champion of open revolution； to seek Peridor's support。 Though Durez was by no means unselfish； he promised to improve the government if he came into power。 Since Peridor was opposed to violence； Durez agreed to hold his own strength in the background； as a threat in case Castenago would not accept Peridor's terms of justice without revolution。
〃How cleverly Castenago solved the problem！〃 exclaimed Peridor； facing The Shadow。 〃He showed willingness to promise； if we told him our terms。 Hearing them； he met our separate desires。 He promised me that he would improve the government； while to Durez； he offered wealth。
〃Thus dividing our power； he further specified that I should remain in Centralba； while Durez must leave。 My patriotic sentiments； and Durez's lack of them； produced our separate accessions to his terms。〃
Obviously； Peridor had bee enmeshed in an intrigue which produced a dilemma in his honest mind。 Durez was definitely a case in point。 Peridor had been glad to see him go； yet knew that his own life was safe only so long as Durez might return。 The day after Durez's departure； students had demonstrated against Peridor； alleging that he had helped Durez rob Centralba。
Of course； the demonstration was instigated by Castenago's agents； but it had been sufficient pretext for the dictator to insist that Peridor seek retirement under what Castenago termed 〃protection。〃
A sad travesty on the truth when Castenago； the tyrant who styled himself 〃liberator；〃 could be regarded as the defender of Peridor； the one man most loyal to Centralba！
Hard upon that had e the news of Durez's death。 While alive； and away from Castenago's reach； Durez was a protection to Peridor。 His death meant that Castenago could dispose of Peridor whenever he so chose。
〃Castenago bides his time；〃 declared Peridor； 〃only because he would prefer to see sentiment grow against me before he arranges my assassination。 In a way； it is unfortunate that the student demonstrations have ceased； for it will shorten my life span。 If I perish； the cause for the redemption of my country will be at an end。〃
FROM the door； Mariquita was impatiently waiting for The Shadow's news concerning Colin Nayre。 Catching his daughter's eye； Peridor promptly turned to that subject。
〃One ugly rumor；〃 declared Peridor； 〃is the claim that our good friend Colin Nayre betrayed Jose Durez； in Miami。〃
〃It is more than a rumor；〃 returned The Shadow。 〃The police have proven that Murk Wessel and the other killers were established in the Hotel Equator when Durez and his friends arrived there。 Someone must have sent the word ahead； so suspicion rests on Nayre。〃
〃Then the evidence is all against him？〃
〃Not entirely；〃 interposed The Shadow。 〃I； personally； am sure of Nayre's innocence。 I have e to Libertad to find the real culprit。〃
Peridor mistook the words for an accusation against himself。 Rising； he lifted his right hand。
〃In my daughter's presence；〃 he avowed； 〃I swear that I revealed the plans of Jose Durez to no one！〃
〃Your statement is unnecessary；〃 spoke The Shadow。 〃I have already discovered the traitor。〃
〃Then tell us who the culprit is！〃 exclaimed Peridor； as Mariquita drew closer。 〃I shall find him； wherever he may be； and denounce him to his face！
Name him！〃
〃You will find him in the presidential palace；〃 affirmed The Shadow。 〃His name is Luis Castenago！〃
Peridor and Mariquita couldn't believe their ears。 They knew that Castenago had granted amnesty to Durez； which was why The Shadow's charge seemed at variance with fact。 It wasn't until The Shadow explained the double game； that they began to understand。
Leniency was known to be Castenago's new policy； to display it he had merely banished Durez。 In keeping with his real character； Castenago had designed death for Durez； through the aiding hands of American mobsters。
Even then； The Shadow's listeners doubted。
〃Impossible！〃 exclaimed Peridor。 〃Castenago would never risk the consequences of letting such assassins remain beyond his reach。 If captured by American authorities and forced to tell the truth； their testimony would bring intervention to end Castenago's regime！〃
〃They are not beyond his reach；〃 explained The Shadow。 〃Castenago sent Durez away to find false security。 He had the murderers e here to gain r