Berger’s body began to tremble as The Shadow moved slowly forward and stood before him — tall, black, and ominous — a cloaked form, its face obscured by turned-down broad-brimmed hat.
“Who are you?” gasped Stanley Berger. “Who — “
The words died on his lips. A terrible fear came over the man. Perhaps this black being was a phantom from another world!
Ghostlike it had appeared before him. Now it stood, like a medieval inquisitor, waiting for him to speak words that would betray him.
THE figure became motionless. Stanley Berger still trembled.
“Why are you here?” he asked. “Who are you?”
“I am The Shadow!”
The low, sibilant whisper was more terrifying than the spectral form itself. Berger swayed; then gripped the edge of the table, and steadied himself.
“Sit down.”
A long black arm extended toward the chair. Stanley Berger could not ignore the command. Automatically, he took the chair; but his eyes were still upon the weird being before him.