mg.dictatorofcrime-第19章
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new find produced a new excitement。
Barely escaping the sweep of lights； The Shadow was weaving out through the patio。 He was near the gate before he revealed his presence； with a challenging laugh that brought a quiver even from the crinkly palm branches just above his head。 Lights swung wildly； when one beam caught The Shadow； the others copied it。
IN the focused glare； a score of men saw The Shadow； half turned toward the gate； as though he had given up all thought of entering Peridor's mansion。
He turned and backed his challenge by prompt stabs from a pair of guns。
Those shots picked flashlights from the hands that held them。 Other lights went flying through the air； flung by their owners。
There wasn't a shot in return。 Police and soldiers were diving for shelter before taking chances with The Shadow。
The echo of the strident laugh was fading from the courtyard； for a few seconds； the only sound was the hollow； plunking tune of the marimba outside the gates。 Then came the crack of many guns from all about the patio。
Castenago's uniformed men were gunning for The Shadow； only to be taunted by the laugh that they couldn't find。 He was cutting through the patio while they were aiming back where he had been。
As he sped； The Shadow delivered quick spurts from his guns； clipping foemen who huddled in the shrubbery。 Their return shots were badly wide； for The Shadow's mirth persisted。
Officers were howling orders； and by luck； someone struck upon the right one。 Deep in the patio； The Shadow's only outlet was the balcony。 An officer yelled to seize him when he reached the steps； and men were on hand when The Shadow arrived； but they hadn't bargained for the fight he gave them。
Changing tactics； The Shadow flung himself into the cluster of uniforms； slugging right and left。
Through the sprawling group； he reached the steps。 Soldiers found their feet and stumbled after him。 Along the balcony； The Shadow's path was clear； or would have been if two police hadn't popped out suddenly from within the house itself。
Slugging one； The Shadow met the other in a grapple and flung him toward the steps。 Spinning like a toy top； the man in uniform lost his balance and floundered downward； spilling the stumblers who were ing up。
With The Shadow on the run； men in the patio took new chances with their flashlights。 Spreading beams showed The Shadow at the far end of the balcony。
He was on the rail； reaching for the roof above。 The flashlights followed him； but guns were late。 The Shadow had reached the roof； where he was protected from those who aimed from below。
From the roof； his next goal was to be the wall。 Men at the patio gate were shooting wildly； while others yelled The Shadow's destination。 Two men heard it； they were the gatomontes； ing up the steps to the balcony； thrusting the bewildered soldiers aside。
Real sharpshooters； the gatomontes were following the balcony； sure that they could clip The Shadow in midair when he sprang from roof 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
