"Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 011 - Double Z" - читать интересную книгу автора (Grant Maxwell)

A voice spoke behind him.

"Yes, judge," it said. "A little more black dye is necessary. The gray is showing through. Perhaps it is
coming back. That would be unfortunate."

The man before the mirror stood petrified. He no longer studied his own reflection. His eyes had turned
at an angle. They were focused on another figure that also showed in the looking-glass.

He was intently watching the man who had come up behind him, a short, stocky fellow clad in an old
coat and soft brown hat. The stranger's face was not unfriendly, but it bore a look that was both
sophisticated and challenging.

The tall man suddenly recovered himself. He swung quickly and faced his visitor. His hands went toward
his coat pockets, but stopped on the way. He noticed that the other man's hands were hidden. Any
intention he might have had to draw a gun faded instantly.

"Who are you?" he demanded in a hoarse voice. "How did you come in here?"

"My name is Caulkins," said the short man, in an affable tone. "I'm the fellow they call the 'Wise Owl'."

"The Wise Owl?"

"Yes. With the New York Classic. I'm the chap who gives the low-down on unsolved mysteries. That's
why I'm here to-night."

"YouтАФyou -" The man with the pointed chin began to splutter, but suddenly controlled himself. "Just
what," he asked, with sudden dignity, "is the purpose of your visit? I never knew that newspaper
reporters had the privilege of making forcible entry to a man's home."

"It wasn't exactly a forcible entry," declared Caulkins, with an agreeable smile. "I came in from the
hallway when you left the door open."

THE middle-aged man was studying his visitor closely. He had betrayed signs of nervousness at first;
now he felt sure that the speaker was telling the truth.

"Well," he said quietly, "we'll forget this intrusion. I might call the police"тАФhe waved his hand toward a
telephoneтАФ"but I hardly think it's necessary. If you are really a wise owl, Mr. Caulkins, you will leave
here immediately."

"Not until I have interviewed you," came the firm reply.

"Interviewed me?" queried the tall man, with feigned surprise. "Why should you interview me? Perhaps
you have mistaken me for some one else. My name is Joseph DoddтАФJoseph T. Dodd -"

"That's the name over the bell in the vestibule," interrupted Caulkins, "but it isn't your name. You've
changed your appearance since I last saw you. That was more than a year ago, just before you
disappearedтАФJustice Tolland!"

The older man did not reply. He stared at his visitor, wondering whether to order the reporter to leave or
to engage in a discussion with him. Then anger gave way to an expression of cunning on the thin man's