〃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！
CHAPTER XX
PAID IN FULL
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 see none。〃
He was indicating that he wanted the gatomontes to trail from a distance； keeping strictly out of sight。 Turning into another passage； Castenago went down a flight of stairs。 At the bottom； Murk told him to wait。
Deep in another section of the palace cellar； Castenago paused in front of a wall formed by great stone blocks。 He probed a crack so thin it was scarcely visible； and his fingernails found the hidden catch。
The wall opened； it was a great； irregular door that operated upon smooth； noiseless hinges； so perfectly balanced that mere finger pressure could have swung the barrier。
Below； an automatic light had turned on； revealing Castenago's treasure vault。 Huge piles of American currency lined the shelves； gold coins were present in dozens of high； glittering stacks。 There was silver in the form of bars； along with gold bullion。
Murk's men did exactly what Castenago expected。 They forgot their prisoner and plunged into the vault； to see if the wealth could actually be real。
Only Murk hesitated； then； seeing that Nayre was covering Castenago； Murk succumbed to the lure。 He started into the vault； too； only to halt as he heard Castenago's cold tone：
〃This vault needs guardians。 Dead men are the best！ Mere mention of their presence will frighten away the living！〃
Murk caught the meaning too late。 He heard a clatter as he wheeled； acpanied by a wild gunshot。 Castenago had swung upon Nayre； driving his revolver wide。
Powerful as a bull； Castenago was hurling Nayre straight toward the vault door。 If the strugglers merely grazed it； the smooth…hinged barrier would clamp upon Murk and his panions。
They were to be the dead men who would serve as guardians of Castenago's wealth！
Only one thing could stop the fatal finish。 It came： the laugh of The Shadow！
Involuntarily； Castenago wheeled； and Nayre wrenched from his clutch。 At the entry where the gatomontes should have appeared； Castenago saw The Shadow； dominating the square cellar room outside the vault of doom。
From that very vault； other men were lunging： Murk Wessel and his crew。
Apparently； The Shadow considered them more dangerous than Castenago； for he was driving toward them。 The entry cleared； Castenago darted toward it； howling for his gatomontes。 He didn't stop to see what happened behind him。
Nayre had hurled himself upon The Shadow； taking the cloaked fighter from the flank。 Bowled backward； The Shadow was stabbing wild shots； that only spurred Castenago。
As he ran； the dictator heard The Shadow's laugh as well； trailing to an abrupt halt。 The sudden finish meant nothing to Castenago； but it did to Murk and his crew。
The laugh stopped as Nayre made a hard swing with his revolver。 Blackness collapsed in Nayre's clutch。 Half crouched above The Shadow； Nayre turned and gestured with his gun； to hurry Murk's crowd after Castenago。
〃I've handled The Shadow！〃 voiced Nayre。 〃Leave it to me to fill him full of bull