Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 078 by Maxwel l Grant

Author:Maxwel,l Grant
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf

CHAPTER XIII. THE SECOND SKULL

FIVE minutes had passed since Logan's announcement of a visitor. Professor Morth was still behind his desk, busy opening his mail. Across from him was Homer Hothan.

The sallow man was looking curiously about. Logan had gone downstairs again. The door of the study was closed.

After shaking hands with Hothan, Morth had requested the visitor to sit down and wait a few minutes.

Morth wanted to go through his mail before he talked with Hildrew Parchell's ex-secretary. At times, Hothan watched the professor; at other moments, he continued his roving inspection of the study.

The Shadow, in darkness behind the curtain, saw a keen flicker on Hothan's face as the fellow viewed the skull-filled cupboard. Then he saw disappointment reflected in Hothan's gaze. Keenness returned, however, when Hothan spied that squatty cabinet in the corner. The sallow man spotted the glimmer from within the mounted skull.

Professor Morth looked up suddenly as he heard a slight chuckle that Hothan gave unconsciously.

Hothan was quick to look in another direction. His face became dull as he sought to cover up his mistake. Morth laid letters aside and relighted his meerschaum.

"Very well, young man," declared the professor. "I am ready to converse with you. What is the purpose of this visit? You say you were once Hildrew Parchell's secretary?"

"Yes," nodded Hothan, "and at present I am acting in behalf of his estate. I was sent here by Weldon Wingate, Mr. Parchell's attorney."

"Wingate sent you here?"

There was something doubtful in Morth's tone. Hothan was smart enough to know the reason. He had not been idle while watching Morth read his mail.

"I believe," purred Hothan, suavely, "that Mr. Wingate wrote you. He indicated that fact to me. He said that he had expected to hear from you. Because he had not, he suggested that I call here."

"Ah, yes." Morth nodded. "That would explain it. I have just been reading a brief letter from Wingate. He wants me to communicate with him, in reference to Hildrew Parchell. But he stated nothing else."

"He believed that he would hear from you," remarked Hothan. "He told me that when he called me on the telephone tonight. Our conversation was brief; he merely asked me to call here and discuss matters with you."

"What matters?"

"Relating to Hildrew Parchell's estate."

"I know nothing of Hildrew Parchell's affairs."

"You were his friend."

"We had a mutual interest in anthropology. Hildrew used to call here to discuss his theories on evolution.

That was our only connection."

"But correspondence passed between you -"

"Come, come!" Morth was irritable in his interjection. "Why this fol-de-rol, young man? What is this fellow Wingate, a blather-skite? - to send you here on an errand that had no purpose?"

"Let me explain." urged Hothan. "Mr. Wingate intends to settle Hildrew Parchell's estate."

"Certainly. Then let him settle it."

"But in order to do so, he requires more information. Papers in the Parchell files are incomplete. Mr.

Wingate believes that perhaps some friends of Hildrew Parchell could furnish letters that might add information."

"This is understandable," decided Morth, in a mollified tone.

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