She touched the hand, and her eyes opened wide. Slowly, thoughtfully, she raised the hand into the light. Upon one finger was the gleaming gem which had burned its way into her memory. Even in this gloomy light, the vivid hues of the girasol glimmered with fantastic, changing colors. The symbol of The Shadow!
This was The Shadow!
He had been wounded, and he was close to death. He had come to her for aid. What could she do?
A sudden thought came to the girl. She realized that The Shadow's intention had been to reach her room, to show her the jewel that she remembered, and tell her how she could help him.
He had come, not as a mysterious form, but in the character of a man with gray hair.
The Shadow was playing a part, and it was probable that he had some sign of identification. The girl reached into the pockets of the man's coat. There she discovered a small card case. She withdrew it and found that it contained a stack of engraved cards, The uppermost card bore the name:
Henry Arnaud
The girl's mind worked swiftly. The housemaid was in the house, on the third floor. She could be called later. The chauffeur was no longer here. This week had ended his term of service.
Today had been his last. Martha knew that she could depend upon the maid-servant. But medical attention was needed. She thought of Doctor Joseph Merritt, the old family physician. He had been away from Middletown at the time of her father's death.
He was one of the few people who had called up to offer her condolences. That had been after his return to Middletown, when Martha was going through the first bitter stages of social ostracism. She had thanked Doctor Merritt for his kindness in phoning; but her pride and bitterness had restrained her from inviting the old family friend to call. Now, however, she felt that she might count on him in this terrible emergency.