〃I've handled The Shadow！〃 voiced Nayre。 〃Leave it to me to fill him full of bullets！ Get Castenago！ Hurry； before he can reach the guards； or we'll have a whole army fighting us！〃
The crooks started after Castenago； and it was well they did。 Had they lingered； they'd have met with instant death。 Nayre's gun was actually covering them； and so were two others： The Shadow's。
He was motionless； but his hands were pointing up from the floor； each with a ready automatic。 Nayre's gun swing had stopped short of The Shadow's head； the black…cloaked fighter's sprawl was just another detail of the pretense。
Giving Murk's band a short start； The Shadow and Nayre followed them。 They could hear Castenago's shouts far ahead； and the bang of futile gunfire supplied by Murk and the other pursuers。 Along the route The Shadow pointed to passages； where Nayre saw gatomontes bound and gagged。
Earlier； The Shadow had silently disposed of Castenago's bodyguards； but he didn't specify whether he had handled them individually； or in pairs。
The trail suddenly became very hot； for it was leading to the place where Castenago expected sure refuge； the banquet hall。
Out of breath； the bulky dictator staggered into sight of the astonished guests； panting for guards to save him。
For the benefit of the guards about the banquet hall； Castenago turned and gestured toward the door； gasping for the guards to hurry and block off his enemies。 He hadn't finished the words before the enemies； themselves； appeared。
Murk and his men saw Castenago； and they also spied the guards； who were grabbing for rifles。 Murk didn't wait for any ceremony。
He fired straight for Castenago； and the other thugs copied the act。 As swiftly as they had murdered Durez； the quick…triggered assassins disposed of Castenago。 They were turning away while the bulky dictator still was swaying on his feet。 A moment later； Castenago toppled； lifeless when he struck the floor。
The crooks were starting back to the treasure vault； hoping to rifle it and get away amid the confusion。 From the very passage that they needed came a challenging laugh； that they thought； at first； was ghostly： the laugh of The Shadow； the fighter that they regarded dead！
AN automatic spoke。 Its stab proved that The Shadow was alive。 The shot felled one of Murk's gunners。 Backing The Shadow's fire came a report from Nayre's revolver； staggering another of Murk's men； who managed； however； to turn with the rest as they fled。
Guards from the banquet hall saw The Shadow and started to aim his way； but he flourished an automatic toward the fleeing crooks and gave the cry：
〃Vengeance…for Castenago！〃
The guards didn't recognize the irony behind the order。 They were Castenago's men； taught to rally at mere mention of his name。 People in Centralba switched factions so often that it wasn't surprising that even La Sombra should do so。
As The Shadow sped for the door where Murk and his henchmen had fled； Nayre acpanied him； and the guards followed。
Outside the palace； Murk and his crew were fighting their way into a car。
Murk saw The Shadow and pointed him out to the guards who were giving the crooks trouble。 Those guards wheeled； to aim for The Shadow； who hooked Nayre's arm and carried him beyond a fountain before the rifle fire could begin。
Leaving the two groups of guards to explain things to each other； The Shadow took a path across a veranda； to another waiting car。
John Smith was at the wheel； with Margo Lane beside him。 The Shadow and Nayre sprang into the rear seat。 They didn't have to tell John where to take them。 There was only one place where Murk and the assassins could have fled： to the airport。
The crooks reached their goal first。 They drove their car right to Allard's plane； and sprang on board it unhampered by anyone； for Castenago had ordered that the plane be allowed to go。
Seeing another car approaching； the airport guards rushed out to block it。
As the car halted； Nayre poked his revolver from the window； but The Shadow reached and drew it back。
〃Our work is acplished；〃 spoke The Shadow。 〃We cannot attack the airport guards。 They have made a mistake； that is all。〃
〃But unless we get through；〃 returned Nayre； 〃Murk and the other killers will escape！〃
〃Let them；〃 decided The Shadow。 〃Perhaps they deserve the opportunity。〃
Lights tilted as the ship's nose lifted from the field。 Another instant； and the plane was gone。 Gone with a blast that scattered chunks of metal hundreds of feet about！
A bomb； more powerful than a whole row of Nayre's marimba gourds； had blasted the plane and its occupants： Murk Wessel and all his tribe； save one。
That one was the wounded man back at the palace。 The Shadow had specially dropped him； knowing that someone would be needed to testify； first…hand； regarding Murk's alliance with Castenago。
The Shadow's laugh denoted no surprise。
〃I suspected something of the sort；〃 he told his panions。 〃Castenago was too generous； offering Allard his chance to leave the country。 It was better that Wessel should have tried the plane； to see if another of Castenago's accidents would happen。〃
BACK at John Smith's shop； they separated。 Margo went to the hotel； where Nayre met her later； no longer in his native disguise。 He was wearing evening clothes。 He had called the palace and found that both he and Margo were expected there。 So they called a cab。
An exciting scene greeted them when they entered the banquet hall。 Behind the main table stood Kent Allard； proposing a toast to Francisco Peridor； president of Centralba。
The council had just held a meeting； and found a law which stated that the office reverted to its former incumbent； since Centralba had no vice…president。
Luis Castenago had never deemed it expedient to provide a successor for himself。
The toast finished； Margo was telling Allard about the plane disaster。 His responding nod indicated that The Shadow had warned him not to accept Castenago's invitation to depart。 It was then that Margo noticed Francisco Peridor and saw the smile that adorned the kindly professor's face。
〃He should be happy；〃 said Margo。 〃He's president again； and they've found the millions that Castenago stole from the treasury。〃
〃I think that Peridor is even happier over something else。〃
At Allard's words； Margo agreed。 She saw the direction of Peridor's gaze； toward the two persons who were happiest of all： Mariquita and Colin Nayre。
They had hoped long for this reunion。 They had obtained it…thanks to The Shadow！
46