"Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 006 - The Death Tower" - читать интересную книгу автора (Grant Maxwell)

After that, he had returned to the Argo Club; and had been overheard telephoning to Seth Wilkinson.
The only break in the chain of circumstances lay during the interval between Chatham's dinner at the
Argo Club and his arrival at the ticket agency. This period was not accounted for until late in the
afternoon following the murder.

Then the police received a phone call from Doctor Albert Palermo, of the Marimba Apartments. The
physician informed them that Horace Chatham had called upon him before eight o'clock, and had left his
apartment for the theater.

A DETECTIVE from headquarters called upon Doctor Palermo, and found the physician quite willing to
supply the missing link in Chatham's actions.

Doctor Palermo was known as a nerve specialist. He testified that Horace Chatham had come to consult
him. He added that, while it might ordinarily be unethical for a doctor to reveal his patient's troubles, he
was under no restraint in the case of Horace Chatham.

The clubman had simply stated that he was worried over financial problems, and had not stated their
nature. Doctor Palermo had merely advised him to think of other matters for a few days; then, if his
problems still troubled him, to return. Palermo had been under the impression that Chatham was
exaggerating his situation.

It was not an unusual case; many of Palermo's patients had temporary problems that involved money,
and he had found that wealthy persons invariably magnified their financial difficulties.

The detective who visited the Marimba Apartments also interviewed the elevator operator and the
hallman. From them he ascertained almost the exact time of Chatham's arrival and departure.

Thus it was definitely understood that Horace Chatham had been ill at ease during the day before the
murder; that he had worried about money; and that all had led up to his encounter with Seth Wilkinson.

The question that now occupied the front pages was that of Horace Chatham's actions following the
murder.

Had Wilkinson given him thirty thousand dollars in cash? Wilkinson was known to have kept that much
money in his apartment. Perhaps the sight of the money had maddened Chatham.

Yet the police could discover nothing to prove that Chatham was in financial straits. His affairs were
involved, it was true; but he had bank accounts that totaled considerably more than thirty thousand
dollars.

The solution of the mystery obviously lay in tracing Chatham; in bringing him back to New York.

It was believed that he had fled to Canada. The police of Canadian cities were given full information.

A man with thirty thousand dollars in his possession could travel anywhere, yet New York police were
confident that Chatham would soon be discovered, for he possessed none of the attributes found in the
usual criminal, and would, sooner or later, fail in his efforts to keep his identity unknown.

Certain newspapers commented upon the fact that there were now three names of prominent New
Yorkers involved in affairs of homicide.