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

"Newspaper correspondent," replied the ex-reporter tersely. "Thought I might be able to send out some
dope on this Wilkinson murder. Say! Could you let me see that note and those letters that Chatham
wroteтАФ"

"Can't let you see the originals," replied Lang, "but we've got photostats. All the police reporters have
seen them. You're one of the crowd. You can have a look at them."

He conducted the two men into the office, and produced the photostats.

He pointed out the fact that Horace Chatham's note was dated on the twenty-third, indicating that it might
have been written after midnight. He also made a brief comparison between the signatures on the letters
and that on the note.

Burke passed the photostats to George Clarendon. The latter looked at them, nodded, and returned
them. He was evidently satisfied.

"Thanks, Steve," said Burke. "I just wanted to make sure about the letters. The newspapers reported
them correctly; just a couple of friendly letters written by Chatham when he was in Florida."

"That's all," replied the detective. "They don't mean nothing, except that the two guys corresponded a
bit."

Clarendon and Burke rode back uptown.

"I'll drop you at your office," said Clarendon. "Keep on this job until you hear from me again."

"What did you think of the evidence?" questioned Burke.
"Two letters and a promissory note," replied Clarendon thoughtfully.

"Both written by Horace Chatham."

"Burke," said Clarendon thoughtfully, "what would you do if you were on the detective force, and in
possession of those documents?"

"I'd do just as the detectives have done. Consider the promissory note as a business transaction between
Chatham and Wilkinson, the letters, with the same signature, as evidence of friendship between the two
men."

"You would not go further?"

"I don't believe so. It is obvious that Chatham wrote to Wilkinson, and later gave him the note. I only
wonder why Chatham left the note there after the murder."

The cab stopped in front of the building where Burke's office was located. Clarendon placed his hand on
the other man's arm, just as Burke was about to leave the taxi.

"One moment, Burke," Clarendon spoke in a low voice. "You remember that you said you would like to
reject the obvious?"