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n and spoke quite mildly：
〃You forget； Senor Peridor； that my policy is to be lenient。 I was forced to show strength only because our government was weak。 Having established my regime； I seek to balance power with justice。 I assure you； I shall remend clemency in the case of La Sombra。〃
Peridor； himself； was surprised； half inclined to believe。 He remembered Castenago's promise with Durez； only to recall that it had meant murder outside of Centralba； according to The Shadow。
Still； there might be facts in Castenago's favor； and Peridor couldn't disregard the point that Durez； in his own underhand style； had given a false promise to Castenago。
〃I swear by the name of Castenago；〃 purred the heavy…browed dictator； 〃that you will hear the final verdict before you leave here； Senor Peridor； also； that you will see justice given。〃
When Castenago backed a pledge with his own name； it counted。 The dictator of Centralba was too egotistical to let himself down。 When Castenago bowed himself from the room； Peridor actually felt at ease； and so did Mariquita。
Neither had caught the full interpretation that Castenago had put into his words。
MORE hours passed。 Dawn was near when Castenago again left the council chamber。 This time； he did not stop to speak to Peridor； but went directly to the presidio。 He entered the cell block and stopped at the door which barred The Shadow's escape。
Castenago smiled when he saw the uprooted stones that told of The Shadow's futile efforts。 Then the dictator's face went solemn。
〃The council found La Sombra guilty；〃 he declared。 〃I asked for clemency； pleading for another trial at least。 Unfortunately； I was outvoted。 You have only one hope： I can still reprieve the sentence。 I might do so； if it would lead to the permanent removal of certain enemies who are a threat to myself and my country。〃
Castenago was fishing for the offer that would save him a million dollars。
The Shadow did not accept the bait。
〃Centralba has only one enemy；〃 spoke The Shadow。 〃His name is Luis Castenago！ If you give me my freedom； I shall allow you one privilege； Castenago…that of suicide for the honor of the country that was never yours。〃
Calmly； The Shadow was banking upon one policy of Castenago's。 The dictator loved to display false friendship to his victims before their executions。 It was almost a certainty that he would follow the rule in The Shadow's case。 With a solemn bow； Castenago proved that he was acting true to form。
〃You shall die at dawn；〃 said Castenago； 〃but； meanwhile； I shall not forget that you are my guest。 I have ordered caviar and champagne to be served here in this cell。〃
〃Thoughtful of you；〃 returned The Shadow。 〃But what are food and drink without music？ I shall miss it。〃
Distant； the tones of a marimba floated through the bars of the cell。
Castenago smiled as he said：
〃La Sombra shall have music。〃
The marimba player arrived with the guards； who were bringing buckets of champagne and a tray of caviar sandwiches。 The Shadow invited them to join him in the feast； which they did； since there were too many to begin an individual chat with The Shadow。
The marimba player plodded through a tune； then took time out for a drink of champagne。
By then； The Shadow was interested in the marimba。
〃Those gourds of yours；〃 he said； in a dialect that the musician would understand。 〃How long do they take to ripen； if planted？〃
The marimba player tilted his head and laughed。 The jest seemed to please him。
〃As long as you wish；〃 he replied。 〃Certain of them。〃 He moved his hand along the lines of hanging ovals and stopped at the larger end。 〃These； for instance。〃
One of the guards guffawed。
〃Give La Sombra one that will grow in half an hour；〃 the guard suggested。
〃It must be one that blossoms in the darkness； if he wishes to see it bloom。 It will be dawn in half an hour； and then La Sombra dies。〃
With another laugh； the marimba player continued the jest by plucking one of the larger gourds from beneath the keyboard。 He fingered it； then passed it through the bars。 As The Shadow received the gourd； the laughter of the guards increased。
Not to be outdone； The Shadow decided to plant the gourd。 He set it in the useless hole that he had dug。 Then； to the continued amusement of the onlookers； he pushed the loose stones back in place； wedging them more tightly than he had found them。
The guards admired The Shadow's sang…froid； and declared that Castenago would have appreciated it。 They promised to relate the incident to the dictator。 So they had another round of champagne； while the marimba player banged out more music； unhampered by the missing key。
Faint streaks of dawn were showing through the window。 The Shadow drew a slip of paper from beneath his cloak and wrote a brief message。 With a headshake； he tore it up and let fragments fall to the floor。
From his pocket； he produced some gold coins and reached through the bars； pressing them into the marimba player's hand as payment for the music。
The clank of a saber announced the captain of the guard。 The soldiers came to attention while the door of the cell was being unlocked。 The time for The Shadow's execution had arrived。 There was only a few minutes more of the final half hour。
Marching toward the courtyard； between the ranks of riflemen； The Shadow glanced behind him and saw the marimba player following； with his bulky instrument。 As they reached the door； they turned toward the courtyard； where the firing squad awaited。
Dawn and death。 Odd that the bination should have brought a whispered laugh from The Shadow's lips！
CHAPTER XVIII
DEATH BY DAYLIGHT
CEREMONY was brief when they reached the courtyard。 Guards were everywhere； with gatomontes in reserve。 Faces showed at windows of the palace …
those of Castenago and his council…but neither Peridor nor Mariquita were witnesses of the ing scene。
The Shadow's only approach to a friend was the marimba player； who stopped beneath an archway and set down the marimba while he rested。
It might be that he was only curious about the execution。 Many enemies of Castenago had met death in this courtyard； but seldom were members of the outside public allowed to witness such events。
The captain of the guard was very polite。 He marched The Shadow to a wall； and offered him a blindfold。 The Shadow shook his head； he didn't want it。
Looking toward Castenago's window； he saw the dictator acknowledge his glance with a bow。 Castenago was always pleased when men were brave enough to face a death squad without their eyes being covered。
All the while； The Shadow was mentally counting the minutes。 He still had nearly two to go before the half hour was plete。 He could see the edge of the sun above the low wall； and it fitted perfectly with the next phase of his plan。
Turning to the guard captain； The Shadow transcended all tradition。 He had refused the blindfold； which helped the show； but he wanted to add an unprecedented touch。
〃The sun is shining in the eyes of the firing squad；〃 he declared。 〃They should no