Undaunted, the man scrambled to his knees and made a dive for the man in black. The butt of The Shadow’s automatic landed on the Arab’s skull.
A shout of mingled rage and fury came from behind the steel meshwork, as Doctor Palermo saw the escape of his intended victim. He was unable to make an immediate pursuit. Precious seconds had gone by before he managed to unfasten the screen from the inside.
Once free, he hesitated. He was sure that The Shadow had gone, yet he feared that the man in black might be waiting down below.
The Shadow, however, was no longer in the apartment. Rushing to the anteroom, he summoned the elevator. Then he quickly removed his black robe and hat.
When the operator arrived, he was surprised to see a quiet, solemn-faced man awaiting him. He did not know that Doctor Palermo had been entertaining a visitor.
There was a telephone in the drug store that adjoined the lobby of the Marimba Apartments. There a man entered, hastily consulted a directory, and put in a call. He waited silently until the number was obtained.
“I would like to speak to Mr. Crowthers’ physician,” said the man at the phone.
After a brief pause, a new voice came from the other end of the line.
“I must speak to you regarding Mr. Crowthers’ condition,” said the man at the phone. “It is a matter of life and death—”
An interruption came across the wire. The solemn voice of Crowthers’ physician was tragic as it sounded clearly in the receiver.