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〃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 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 att