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

Palermo to admit any one, not even a close friend.

"I'll have to tell you the whole story," said Chatham. His words were coming freely now. "It goes back
two monthsтАФwhen I was in Florida. Just before Lloyd Harriman committed suicide. You knew Lloyd
Harriman, didn't you, doctor?"

The doctor nodded. "But not professionally. If I hadтАФ"

"Perhaps he wouldn't have killed himself," supplied Chatham.

"Well, doctor, that's exactly why I came to you. I am experiencing the same ordeal that Harriman went
through.

"I've come close to the brink myself. I've thought of suicideтАФ"

"Stop thinking of it!"

"But the danger that menaces me! It has followed others before. Harriman was not the first victim!"

Chatham paused, and his face was that of a hunted man. He gripped the arms of his chair, and looked
pleadingly toward Doctor Palermo. The calm-faced physician was solemn, yet reassuring.

Chatham moistened his lips. He puffed at his cigar. Then he began his story. A slight quavering of his
voice alone betrayed his secret fear.

"I met Harriman in Florida," he said. "He seemed very morose. Sick and tired. All he wanted to do was
drink and gamble. Borrowed money from me. Lost money to me.

"I began to think the money was bothering himтАФalthough Harriman was supposed to have millions. But,
of course, all his borrowings were at gaming tables, after he had had runs of bad luck and was only out of
cash in pocket."

Chatham stared straight ahead, lost in thought for a moment.

"One night, Harriman asked how much he owed me. I told himтАФ somewhere between three and four
thousand dollars. He laughed.

"He brought out a jewel case, and opened it. The case contained a magnificent sapphireтАФa deep purple
color. He told me that it was worth far more than the money he owed me. He asked if I would take it.

"The jewel fascinated me. I accepted it."

As Horace Chatham paused, a slight expression of surprise flitted over Doctor Palermo's features. His
eyelids flickered for an instant.

Chatham did not notice this. He was too intent on his story.

"Then Harriman came back," said Chatham. "He wanted me to return the purple sapphire. He offered me
twice the amount he had owed me. He seemed insane, the way he pleaded for that cursed stone.