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