mg.dictatorofcrime-第24章
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his motions。
When the last of Murk's guns had disappeared； The Shadow placed both automatics on the table and turned to the council members。
〃You have the words of El Piojo。〃 Speaking in fluent Spanish； The Shadow was referring to Castenago by the official title which the dictator had assumed as supreme ruler of Centralba。 〃I now call upon you to bear witness that I have accepted his terms。 Disarmed； I surrender to this council； not to El Piojo。 I am ready to abide by your decision in my case。〃
A strong stroke on The Shadow's part。 He had definitely curbed the menace of hidden guns。 Castenago couldn't recall Murk and the other crooks if he wanted。 Even in Centralba there were distinctions between law and murder。
It was through the nicety of those distinctions that Castenago held the support of this council。 Though he could have eliminated them individually； by mere snaps of his fingers； taken altogether； they were too strong a bundle to break。
Professor Peridor； himself； had assured The Shadow on that point； therefore； The Shadow was acting on a friend's advice。 But Peridor had added a strong warning； one that The Shadow had evidently forgotten； much to the old professor's horror。
Very definitely； Peridor had stated that Castenago； so long as he operated by stated regulations； could sway the council to any decision that he desired。
Thus； The Shadow； in removing a menace that Peridor hadn't seen； had placed himself in the pathway of another that Peridor recognized only too well。
Watching Castenago； Peridor saw the big…jawed dictator take The Shadow's guns and toss them carelessly into a table drawer； as a symbol of good faith that wasn't in Castenago's mind。 The broad smile on Castenago's lips gave real evidence as to his sentiments。
It was no longer a duel between Castenago and The Shadow。 The game had reached another； inner stage。 This game was fixed the way Castenago liked it。
Stepping from behind the table； Castenago spoke in cunning style； first gesturing to Peridor and Mariquita as he addressed the council。
〃THESE worthy friends of ours；〃 he said； 〃are still with us only because they escaped a bomb planted in the patio of their home。 That bomb caused the death of two gatomontes。 I； your leader； El Piojo； have sworn that I shall find the man responsible； and bring him to trial for his crime before this council。〃
The approval of the council was unanimous。 They rose to their feet to express it。 Peridor and Mariquita knew what was ing next。 Their words drowned out by the council's chorus； they sprang to The Shadow's side to clutch his folded arms； hoping to turn him toward the elevator。
It was then too late。 The door was sliding open。 Castenago had pressed a button before leaving his chair。 Four palace guards strode into the council room； at Castenago's mand； two of them drew Peridor and his daughter away； while the other pair gripped The Shadow。
〃I have kept my promise！〃 boomed Castenago to the councilors。 〃Every witness who saw the bombing at Peridor's has borne testimony to the presence of a single stranger； monly regarded as the culprit。 I refer to this prisoner； who calls himself 'La Sombra。' It is right that he should be the first man to e to trial！〃
Peridor and Mariquita heard the final words as two guards led them into the elevator。 As the silent door slid shut； they heard an answer to Castenago's accusation。
It was a strangely whispered laugh； that mocked the pretense that was known as justice in this realm where Castenago stood supreme。 A challenge to the dictator and his power； that mirth that was The Shadow's。
A futile laugh； it seemed； ing from a man on trial for his life before a tribunal governed by a human fiend who could force his dupes to echo the one word： 〃Guilty！〃
CHAPTER XVII
BEFORE DAWN
THE Shadow's trial was worse than a travesty on justice。 It was so filled with precedent and citations of existing laws； that the average prisoner would have believed himself guilty。
It made The Shadow understand why so many Centralbans had accepted the yoke of Castenago。 For the dictator； in every word and deed； declared himself an upholder of right。
He was using the old； time…honored laws of his country in this trial； not recent regulations of his own device。 Castenago knew those laws by heart； evidently he'd spent months going through the statutes； picking out every legal oddity that would benefit his iron…handed regime。
By Centralban law； a prisoner was considered guilty until he proved himself innocent。 This； Castenago argued； was much preferable to the reverse system established by English law。 It meant that the judge； himself； became an advocate in behalf of the prisoner； which Castenago promptly proceeded to do。
He suggested that La Sombra might have an alibi； if not； that he might be able to accuse some other person of the bombing。 When The Shadow offered no help along these lines； Castenago obligingly tried other ways to help out the prisoner。
Always； Castenago used the title： 〃La Sombra。〃 He did so for a reason that he tactfully did not mention： namely； if The Shadow proved himself other than a citizen of Centralba； he could demand an appeal to the consul of his own country； which would automatically postpone the trial。
Castenago didn't want that to happen。 Hence he talked of La Sombra as an established fixture in Libertad。
Castenago almost struck a snag when one of the councilors suggested that La Sombra remove his hat and reveal his features； on the chance that someone would recognize them。 Castenago rode over that one by citing a law which stated that all prisoners must be tried under their chosen names。
The thing went back almost to the time of the Spanish conquest； when the Indians had objected to having their names reduced to pronounceable form。
Nevertheless the law still stood； and it settled the entire problem。
Should The Shadow unmask； he would no longer be La Sombra； which was unquestionably his chosen name。 Thus did Castenago prevent the council from identifying The Shadow as Allard； a man whom most of them had met。 In turn； it further prevented them from learning that he was an American。
As usual； Castenago was working subtly。
He had The Shadow in a dilemma。 To reveal himself as Allard； in defiance of Castenago's legal interpretation； he would be disclosing the true identity of The Shadow； thereby rendering it useless in the future。 Contrarily； by keeping his identity concealed； The Shadow was placing himself beyond redress from local law。
Either way； Castenago would win。
He could order Allard's deportation； he could demand the execution of La Sombra。 From Castenago's viewpoint； it was unfortunate that two paths were open to the prisoner； for he would prefer to dispose of The Shadow for all time。
But Castenago； in his own neat way； was working to close the first path； that of banishment； and make death the positive verdict。
Since The Shadow offered no defense； Castenago decided to call in the witnesses。 In accordance with a law dating from the eighteenth century； this was never done in the presence of the accused。 So Castenago summoned more guards and manded them to take La Sombra to the presidio。
〃You will be detained there；〃 Castenago told The Shadow； 〃until the trial is ended。 I shall deem it my especial privilege to inform you of the verdict。〃
EVERY member of the palace guard was along The Shadow's route to the presidio。 The fancy soldiers totaled more than fifty； and nearly a score of gatomontes supplemented them。 Castenago was taking no chances on The Shadow performing another whirlwind escape。
Crossing the cement courtyard； The Shadow was marched into a cell block and placed in immediate confinement。
The cell chosen for him was the strongest in the block。 Its barred door was so heavy that it took two soldiers to swing it shut； and it had three strong locks。
Having incarcerated the prisoner； the guard captain took the keys personally。 He put four men on duty at each end of the cell block； but left none near the cell itself。
Castenago not only feared the guard
