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

"But suppose a sudden quarrel occurred?"

"That's just it. Chatham showed great presence of mind when he encountered Wilkinson's servant,
outside the room. The testimony showed that he came out quietly, without haste.

"Therefore, I am wondering why Chatham didn't take time to open the metal box and take out the note
he gave to Wilkinson."

"Have you mentioned that to any one, Burke?"

"No, sir. You impressed me with the fact that I should say nothing regarding any case on which you
desired clippings. That was a reasonable request, and I have abided by it."

"Aside from speculation, Burke," said Clarendon, "what have you found that has not been widely
circulated in the news accounts?"

IN answer, Burke reached for the pile of clippings. He drew out one - evidently an item taken from an
old newspaper. He read it aloud.
"Sapphire changes hands. Lloyd Harriman, wealthy New York clubman, is now the owner of the famous
purple sapphire. He purchased it at auction, for eighteen hundred dollars. Jewel is alleged to be jinxed,
but Harriman says, 'Blah!'"

"Evidently a tabloid account, with a photograph above it."

"That's right," said Burke, grinning. He displayed the clipping, which showed Lloyd Harriman, garbed in
white flannels, holding the gem before the eyes of two admiring young ladies.

"What of the purple sapphire?" questioned Clarendon.

"It's jinxed all right," replied Burke, referring to another pile of clippings. "Sounds like the same old stuff,
though.

"Belonged to King Alphonse of Antaria, at the time he was bounced from the throne. Was sold to an
English noblewoman, who was killed in an airplane accident.

"You know how those stories circulate. But the fact remains that Lloyd Harriman committed suicide
several months after he acquired it."

"What about Harriman's suicide?"

"Well, there's a question in my mind about that. I've got clippings on it.

"It looked like a suicide, right enough, but here's a new theory suggested by a tabloid.

"Since Horace Chatham murdered Seth Wilkinson, maybe he knows something about Lloyd Harriman's
death. It's a wild idea, butтАФ" Burke paused in thought, then added "- but Chatham was in Florida when
Harriman died; and I can't find any trace of that purple sapphire after the time Harriman bought it."

"So you supposeтАФ"