The sound of that eerie voice brought tremors to Denby Chadwick. He stared at the man in black; then looked toward the body on the floor.
"I–I - it was self-defense," he said. "I didn't want to kill him — "
"You will never be accused of this crime," declared The Shadow. "You may remain assured of that." The sinister tone of the words brought new fear to Chadwick. He looked at the figure before him. He saw the glare of The Shadow's eyes, beneath the brim of that turned-down hat. "You — you" — he stammered — "you will not tell — "
"You slew a murderer," declared The Shadow. "This was no evil deed. But you have killed before, Denby Chadwick.
"Once — not long ago — you entered a house and murdered a defenseless old man. Your old uncle — "
"It cannot be proved!" screamed Chadwick. "You cannot prove it! I had an alibi! I was not accused!
Only Delmuth knew. Only Delmuth — and he" — Chadwick paused to survey his handiwork — "he is dead!"
"You are wrong," said The Shadow, in a sinister whisper. "I have learned your crime!"
"What if you have?" challenged Chadwick suddenly. "What if I did kill the old man? He was a beast even if he was my uncle. I owed him money and he hounded me.
"I met Delmuth. He wanted me to get those certificates that Mayo was after. He told me how to get them. So I did.