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

His mysterious companion had vanished like a shadowтАФyet not even a shadow remained to betray his
presence!

CHAPTER V. A STRANGE INTERVIEW
THE elevator reached the fortieth floor of the Marimba Apartments and Clyde Burke was left alone in
the anteroom. He had already been announced. Now the newspaperman studied the door before him
with observant eyes. He was impressed by the massiveness of its construction.

He rang the bell and waited. There was something uncanny in the way the door opened.

Entering, Burke felt a sinking feeling. The dimly-lighted hallway, with its huge bookcases, seemed like the
entrance to a medieval castle.

As the newspaperman walked along the thickly carpeted passage, the door opened at the other end, and
he beheld a robed figure standing there.

The form of the man seemed like some inquisitor, until Burke had approached more closely. Then he
identified the man's garment as a physician's gown, but instead of being the usual white, the gown was a
deep yellow.

"Mr. Burke?"

The question came in a modulated voice. As Burke acknowledged it, he realized that he was in the
presence of a most unusual person, and surmised correctly that it was Doctor Palermo.

The physician ushered Burke into the paneled room, and invited him to take a chair. Burke accepted the
cigar that was offered.

These ceremonies over, Doctor Palermo stood in the center of the room, his hands behind his back, and
waited. There was nothing questioning in his attitude. He merely expected the visitor to state his business.


"I appreciate this reception," began Burke. "It occurred to me, to-day, that you might be willing to grant
me an interviewтАФ"

"On what subject?" came the doctor's interruption.

"On the subject of Horace Chatham," answered Burke frankly.

Doctor Palermo laughed, without changing the steady impression of his lips.

"I have stated all that I know about Chatham," he said, in carefully accented words. "He was here the
afternoon before he visited Seth Wilkinson. You will find my statements in the newspapers. That is all that
I have deemed it necessary to say."

He bowed slightly, as though he wished the interview to be concluded. Burke merely leaned back in his
chair, blew a puff of smoke from his cigar, and eyed the doctor rather curiously.

"There are certain factors in the case of Horace Chatham," he said, "that brought me here to-night. I