A girl screamed from a window of the palace。 The voice was Mariquita's。
She and her father had been awaiting the announcement of the verdict； not knowing that Castenago intended it to be the shots of a firing squad。
Instead； a huge blast had told of Castenago's treachery； but in looking for the cause； Mariquita saw only the fleeing marimba player。
She recognized him； which wasn't at all surprising； for she loved him。 The fleeing man was Colin Nayre！
Before pursuers could overtake the fugitive； The Shadow's rifle crackled。
Its shots spilled gatomontes as fast as they grabbed for Nayre； but the others dived for shelter where The Shadow couldn't reach them。
By then； more shots were unnecessary。 Nayre was on the cart； which was starting away。 He was plucking gourds from his marimba； like grapes off a bunch； and tossing them behind him。
Each gourd exploded as it struck； taking a vast chunk from the street。
Nayre was quite close to the gatomontes when he chucked the first few gourds。
After that； he didn't have to worry。 The disguised bombs had abolished the nearest foemen； and the rest were climbing for the palace windows； hoping they'd be safe inside。
Dragged by a pair of ardently galloping mules； the cart vanished around the corner of the palace。
Tossing away the rifle； the Shadow turned the other way。 The thick green foliage of a plaza offered all the cover that he needed。 Like Nayre； The Shadow was gone when guards began streaming from the courtyard。
FROM dawn on； that day became the most exciting in the whole regime of Luis Castenago。 The dictator sent Peridor and his daughter back to their mansion； shipped the councilors from the palace； and began issuing manifestoes by the dozen。 The national currency went up in value； because the printing presses were busy turning out proclamations。
Rewards were offered for the capture of The Shadow and a marimba player who might be Colin Nayre。 As fast as the gatomontes posted one batch of bills； another was ready； offering a higher price。
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