ow they had been duped。 Murk and his tribe had dropped off； swag and all； to take a water route； sending the police along on a blind chase！
Only The Shadow had guessed the ruse。 Alone； he was returning in the cab that he had mandeered to hunt down Murk's band of murderers。 Why The Shadow had undertaken that quest single…handed； was soon to be proven。
Recalling the most likely spot where mobsters could have disembarked from the armored truck； The Shadow was guiding the cab driver to it。 They reached a park； where the moonlight glimmered on the waters of a curving canal…one of those serpentine waterways where aquaplaners frequently disported for the benefit of newsreel photographers。
Neither aquaplanes nor cameramen were in sight。 Through the fringing palms； The Shadow saw the hulk of a low…lying boat； which might belong to Murk and his panions。 Stealthily； The Shadow skirted toward a better vantage point。 He was planning to reach an ornamental bridge and make a quick drop into the craft that carried the crooks； before it could really get under way。
Then came the thing The Shadow didn't want to hear。
It was the wail of an approaching siren； the same whistly trill that every police car had used while on the chase。 The sound proved that the police had learned their error and were ing back； making an even greater mistake by proclaiming their return。 The give…away howl of those sirens was the very reason why The Shadow had sent the patrols in the other direction。
Crooks heard the sirens； too。 A motor coughed； and the lurking craft was off。 Low； beneath the level of the palm…lined shore； it was where The Shadow couldn't reach it with bullets。 The boat was roaring beneath the bridge as The Shadow reached the scene on foot。
Springing to the center of the short bridge； he stabbed shots after the fugitives； and they fired back。 Palms that obscured the moonlight made the speedy boat no more than a low…lying streak of black； which The Shadow took as a general target。
In their return； Murk's gunners were shooting only at the stone rail of the bridge； from which a weird； taunting laugh acpanied the gun bursts。 Then a turn in the canal carried the swift boat from sight； as well as gun range。 The roar of a powerful motor echoed back along the wave…washed waterway； while sirens； rising in their pitch； howled a rapid approach。
HIS own ruse spoiled； The Shadow hurried back to the cab； to find that it had no driver。 The fellow was blocks away by this time。 He hadn't even waited to snatch the keys from the ignition lock； so The Shadow used the cab for his own departure。
He was around a bend in the road that swung through the park； when he heard the sirens halting； back where he had been。
Any chase along this driveway would be futile； for by this time； the fugitive speedboat had reached the broad waters of Biscayne Bay。 The laugh that The Shadow gave was grim； signifying a ing problem which he could definitely foresee because the police had overlooked it。 It was something that credited Murk Wessel with a high degree of shrewdness。
The very system by which the police had confined the crooks to Miami Beach was now aiding the getaway！
That system involved the drawbridges。 They had been lifted to prevent an escape by road。 But the criminals had taken to water； instead； and the draws were still lifted。 Therefore； instead of being boxed between causeways； the fugitive craft would find whatever outlet it required！
No use to call headquarters and explain that situation。 Before anything could be done about it； the crook…manned boat would have passed the hazards。
The Shadow had gauged the speed of the craft。 Murk Wessel wasn't risking ten million dollars on an old hulk。 The getaway was actually acplished。
The police would realize it； soon enough； and order a hunt； by boat； across the entire expanse of Biscayne Bay。 They would probably carry it to a greater extent； searching everywhere from ocean to Everglades。
Having spoiled The Shadow's chance to stop the flight before it actually began； the police were wele to all the bother that a widespread hunt would produce。 They had more means toward such a quest than did The Shadow。
Besides； there was something else that the police had either overlooked； or forgotten； but which was quite important in The Shadow's estimate。 Something that he might still have time to trace； as he had hunted down Murk's outfit after their transfer from armored truck to speedboat。
That something was Margo's roadster； which she had driven away under the mand of Colin Nayre； a young man who might； at least； disclose some of the underlying clues to the movements of Murk Wessel and his gang of killers。
Those crooks had acted with a prearranged precision； and Nayre might afford some answer to the matter； even though his loyalty was unquestioned in The Shadow's mind。 Having seen Margo's roadster head northward； The Shadow was quite sure that it had sped for the neck of land that led from Miami Beach。
Dropping his cloak from his shoulders and removing his slouch hat； The Shadow picked up a cap that the cabby had neglected to take when he bolted。
Police certainly wouldn't question an empty cab； driven by a man who wore a uniform cap； when it came to the northern barricade。 The Shadow would simply claim that he was answering a call from Golden Beach； a few miles north； along the strip of land that separated the ocean from the bay。
Again； The Shadow laughed； this time in anticipation of a task that might amend the opportunities that freakish luck had turned to crime's advantage。
CHAPTER VI
MARGO TAKES A TRIP
THE roadster was making rapid time along the beach road leading north。
Nayre was insistent upon speed； and Margo wasn't in a mood to disagree； not while the pressure of a cold gun muzzle was so constant。
Nayre had a casual way of easing pressure and applying it again。 Sometimes he shifted the muzzle； so that Margo wouldn't merely imagine that she felt it。
How many miles they'd gone； Margo couldn't guess。 She was just beginning to think about the speedometer； for future reference； when Nayre gave another nudge with the gun。 Coolly； yet with a tone of politeness； he said：
〃Turn in there。〃
By 〃there；〃 Nayre meant a sand road at the left of the highway。 Margo applied the brakes and made the turn。
As she did； she saw a building that looked something like an office； though it was in ramshackle condition。 It was topped by a sign that could be read in the moonlight； even though the painting was faded。 The sign read： FIVE DOLLARS AND UP。
Nayre told Margo to stop the car as they rounded the building。 Obeying； the girl saw another ancient structure； that looked something like an airplane hangar。
Nayre turned off the ignition； but left the key in the lock； though it wasn't any help。 As he opened the door on his side； he beckoned with his revolver and said：
〃e along。〃
At least； the sand was thick underfoot； and therefore soft to her bare feet； as Margo walked to the old office building； Nayre keeping close beside her。 There； Nayre knocked； and the door was opened by a dull…faced man who held a lantern。 Nayre didn't introduce himself。 He merely questioned：
〃Where's Brady？〃
〃Over at his cottage；〃 the man drawled sleepily。 〃Want me to get him？〃
〃Yes。 Hurry。〃
Hanging the lantern on a beam； the dull…faced man took a dim flashlight in its place and departed。 Margo could scarcely see the flashlight's beam in the moonlight。 She was watching the man walk over toward the beach； when Nayre's revolver supplied another reminder。 Again； his order was brief：
〃e inside。〃
The room they entered was an office； as Margo expected。 Nayre motioned her to a cushioned chair； the only one of its sort； and sat down on the desk。
Pocketing the revolver； Nayre eyed Margo quite steadily。
〃If you don't know who I am；〃 he said； 〃my name is Colin Nayre。 I came in with the bunch from Centralba。〃
Margo nodded。 Nayre quizzed：
〃And your name？〃
Margo gave it； wherewith； Nayre furnished a reassuring smile。
〃Sorry I had to inconvenience you； Miss Lane；〃 he declared； 〃but I was in a big hurry。 There was a lot of shooting going on； and the police seemed to think that I'd taken a hand on the wrong side。〃
〃Which side was that？〃 queried Margo。 〃I really don't know very much about it。〃
〃Let me explain what happened；〃 suggested Nayre。 〃A crowd of crooks showed up and grabbed the cash that we'd brought in from Centralba。〃
〃And you sided with your friends； of course。〃
〃Yes； with my friends。〃 Nayre's clear eyes took a meditative expression。
〃If you can call them such。 Anyway； they're all dead； Jose Durez and his friends。 I suppose I'll e in for blame； because they lost their cash before they died。〃
QUITE apparently； Nayre was watching for Margo's reaction。 Inwardly； she was rather shocked to learn that murder had been acplished。 However； Margo was able to feign indifference。
She asked Nayre if he had a cigarette； remarking that she'd left her own in a pocket of her bathing robe。 Nayre produced cigarettes； gave Mar