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to wall。
It was a question whether he could plete the leap before the gatomontes could reach the end of the balcony and aim past the inner corner。 The Shadow was depending upon that corner as a delaying element。
If anything； he had the advantage； for he was launching from the roof when the sharpshooters reached the center of the balcony。 It might depend upon his landing when he struck the wall。
The question was never quite settled。
Timed to The Shadow's leap； something came scaling through the air from the direction of the gate。 Briefly； the flashlights caught an elongated object that couldn't be identified before it landed on the balcony。 It struck in front of the gatomontes； who were well ahead of the soldiers。
The thing exploded with a tremendous burst。 It settled the gatomontes permanently； for they disappeared with the explosion； along with a great chunk of the balcony。 The rest of the balcony caved in； sliding a flattened row of soldiers down into the patio； where they landed in a heap； to be showered by a tumble of debris。
STRIKING the wall just as the explosion ripped； The Shadow never paused。
As if the outward concussion gave him impetus； he used the wall as a mere stepping…stone for a further leap beyond it。
So quickly did he travel； that the men in the patio； momentarily numbed by the bomb burst； couldn't believe that it all happened in so short an interval。
To their eyes； The Shadow simply vanished。 The explosion couldn't have harmed him； for the wall where he landed was intact。 But it was quite as incredible to believe that he still existed。 They'd seen him leaping； they'd been dazzled by a great blaze of light； and The Shadow was gone with the blast！
A result quite to The Shadow's liking； for it would back the story that Francisco Peridor would tell。 Dramatic in itself； The Shadow's departure had been intensified by the timely bombshell that might have e from nowhere。
Around the corner from the esplanade； The Shadow paused and peered along the sidewalk。 He could hear a babble from the patio； and its excitement carried out beyond the gates。 The fiesta was over and the few remaining students were scurrying away； as frightened as the pigeons。 The marimba player was packing up his gourds； anxious to get away from this dangerous vicinity。 Very rapidly； the scene was being deserted。
Turning； The Shadow glided away from the wall and blended into darkness。
As he went； he gave a strident laugh that he knew would carry to the patio and increase the bewilderment there。 Such mirth； carried on the still night air； would add to the elusive reputation of La Sombra。
Tomorrow； all that had happened； and more； would be credited to a creature of blackness； with superhuman prowess。 A being who could clear a high wall at a single bound； blasting balconies behind him as he vanished in midair； with a laugh so distant that it could have e from the crater of a smoking volcano miles beyond the city of Libertad。
They believed such things in Centralba； if given enough evidence to stir the native imagination。 The Shadow's own efforts； coupled with the arrival of the mysterious bomb； had supplied evidence in plenty。
Such talk would spread； and grow。 Nothing could stop it； not even if Castenago issued a manifesto saying that such rumors must cease。
The Shadow knew！
CHAPTER XIV
CASTENAGO'S COURTESY
CASTENAGO didn't issue any manifesto the next day； nor did Peridor decide to make his speech。 Each was wise in his way。 Though Castenago's iron make…up was immune to superstition； he had enough of the Indian in him to know the native mind。 He was willing to hear the name 〃La Sombra〃 whispered by awed voices； even among the palace servants。
Out of the maudlin reports that police and soldiers gave him； Castenago heard enough to assure himself that The Shadow was no myth； which was all he wanted to know。
As for Peridor； he saw that his inflammatory speech could be reserved for a later occasion。 The bomb blast had acplished enough for the present。 In Centralba； bombs； no matter who cast them； meant one thing definitely： that the recipient was unpopular。
Since the bomb had gone off in Peridor's patio； it was plain that he had enemies。 No one ever threw bombs at soldiers。 It wasn't customary。 Sniping at them with rifles was a popular pastime during a revolution； and might be applied in peaceful times。 But； bombs…never！
As for the gatomontes； no one ever did anything about them。 They were a parative novelty； and no technique toward their disposal had yet been invented。 Nor was anyone likely to brood over that particular problem； since the gatomontes were the especial pets of Luis Castenago。 They were good to leave alone； hence it was regarded as quite accidental that two of them should have been at the exact place where a bomb exploded。 Too bad for the gatomontes； and even worse for the bomber； if Castenago ever found out who he was。
The guests at the Imperial Hotel heard some of the queer rumors； but only Margo Lane took them seriously。 She knew that 〃La Sombra〃 meant The Shadow； and she asked Kent Allard what he thought about it。
His attitude was one of plete indifference。 He had other matters to worry about； so he said； though he didn't specify what they were。
Margo dropped the hint that Lamont Cranston might be in Centralba； but Allard only shook his head。 He was quite sure that Cranston would have joined the party； had he arrived in Libertad。 There； the subject rested。
Early in the afternoon； Margo had an inkling of what troubled Allard。 An imposing car stopped in front of the hotel and two palace guards came inside。
When they went out； Allard was with them。 Obviously； be had been summoned by Castenago。
Margo decided that it must have something to do with the continuation of the air cruise。 Perhaps Castenago didn't like strangers dropping in from the sky； unannounced。
WHEN The Shadow reached the presidential palace； he was conducted farther than the reception room； which pleased him； because it offered him a chance to check； firsthand； on information supplied by Peridor。
Everything tallied perfectly； even the dimensions of the various apartments which The Shadow saw。 When he was conducted along a side passage in an extensive wing； he knew where they were taking him。 Peridor had specially mentioned this passage。 It led to an elevator that went up to Castenago's private council chamber。
The elevator was of the self…operating type。 The man who guided Allard pressed a button and the car came down； with absolute silence。 Bowed into the elevator； Allard found himself alone； but he didn't have to press a button； because the car went up automatically。 When it stopped； the door slid wide； revealing the council room。
Behind a long council table sat Luis Castenago； alone。 He was busy going over papers； hence his eyes were lowered。 Behind him were murals flooded with his own figure； painted in life size。
One showed Castenago taking the oath of office； another depicted him delivering his inaugural address。 The third was Castenago casting the single ballot that m