"killersusesewers" - читать интересную книгу автора (Lewis Stafford)

biting odor of the little chlorine which still remained in the manhole. Even in minute
quantities, the gas is unpleasant. It acts by eating on the lungs, causing a cough that
makes the condition worse. The victim must resist the urge to cough, even if he must be
doped by a doctor to do it.

The manhole cover clattered hack in place. In almost pitch darkness, Dave fumbled at
the knots around the girl's ankles. She had to be free, otherwise, she might drown in the
filthy water or be overcome by the gas. Besides, Dave hoped the killers would be careless
and leave too soon; then he could force the manhole cover open. His knowledge of gas gave
them a better chance to live.

All hope of escape that way died when they heard a car start. It stopped with a wheel
resting on the manhole cover!

The girl seemed to realize this. She whimpered and buried her head on Dave's shoulder.
Then, just to make it worse, the water around their feet began gurgling and rising fast.

"We're going to drown!" she screamed.

"No, we're not," Dave said soothingly. "That inflow of water is a break for us. Now,
we have the impulses timed, and the noise will let us climb up out of the worst of the
gas without being heard. Even that car wheel on the cover will help hide us."

The girl had courage. "You don't have to lie to me." she said. "We can't get out!
I've read newspapers telling of men being killed by sewer gas."

"We've got to climb," Dave Sands said. "We won't last long down here with this chlor-
ine. I'll help you get up so you can stand on one of the rungs of this iron ladder. It's
better to take part of the sewer gas up there, than the chlorine down here."

Dave helped the girl brace herself on the ladder with her good feet and had her to
breathe the better air through a slit in the manhole cover. The heavy chlorine was below
them.

To get the girl's mind off her cramped position and the slim chance of their ever get-
ting out of the manhole, Dave asked questions,

"Why were you running so fast, without your shoes or coat, when I first saw you? You
remember, in front of the gate."

"It was the only chance I had to get away from those murderers," the girl explained.
"All, but one man, went off to run down the man who works here nights. They left the one
to watch me. So I saw a blackjack in the man's pocket and waited till he got a bit care-
less. Then I jerked the blackjack out of his pocket and hit him with it. I kicked off my
high-heeled slippers because they're awkward when a girl really wants to run, and I
thought my coat might be clumsy, too."

"So that's why you hit me," Dave said. "You thought I was one of the gang."

"I'm sorry about that," the girl apologized. "But it doesn't matter, now. I don't