Palermo watched The Shadow. He believed he knew exactly what thoughts filled the mind of the man.
To learn if Palermo had spoken true, The Shadow would have to examine the documents in the taboret.
It would not do for him to wait until Palermo had died. The logical plan was to make an immediate inspection.
If The Shadow ordered Palermo to bring out the papers, the criminal might find an opportunity to make a break for freedom. Should The Shadow perform the operation himself—
That was Palermo’s only hope!
PALERMO suppressed a smile that crept automatically to his lips. The Shadow was moving toward the taboret!
Should he turn the knob to the right — Palermo believed that Vincent had done the opposite by some freak accident — it would be The Shadow, not Palermo, who would die.
Still watching his quarry, The Shadow reached the taboret. He turned his back to it as he stooped. From this position, his view was partly toward the image of Chong.
The Shadow turned the knob. The result for which Palermo had hoped did not occur. The Shadow had turned the knob to the left. The door of the taboret opened.
It was then that Palermo acted boldly. He realized that his death would be postponed, if possible, only until The Shadow had examined the documents. With hands still upraised, Palermo began to move to the right, drawing The Shadow’s eyes away from the image of Chong.