Slade's eyes opened. The Shadow was gone! Exultant, hopeful, Martin Slade started to arise from his chair. A terrific pain gripped him. He slumped back in agony.
Thomas Telford's old clock on the bookcase ticked off seven solemn minutes, while a man writhed and moaned in torture. At the end of seven minutes, the room was silent.
Martin Slade, sprawled over the desk, was dead.
A silent, black-clad form reentered the room. The Shadow laid the dead man's confession on the desk beside the body. A black-gloved finger rested on the final paragraph — words which Slade had not read. There appeared this statement:
Because my crimes will be known, I have taken my own life.
Underneath the sentence appeared the signature of Martin Slade.
Chapter XX–Iman Singh Prepares
Rajah Brahman was seated in his sanctum. Imam Singh was beside him, listening to final instructions. The rajah, despite his Oriental appearance, was talking in the shrewd tones of Bert Clutten.
"You know how we're working tonight, Tony," he said. "I'm going to work this materialization strong. A long talk, spirit guides and all that — before the fireworks.
"Get going as soon as we set the cabinet. I'll do the rest. Take plenty of time with the make-up. You've got to do the part right."