"015 (B069) - The Mystery on the Snow (1934-05) - Lester Dent (b)" - читать интересную книгу автора (Robeson Kenneth)

"Renny seems to have become embroiled in a predicament," Johnny remarked.
"Predicament!" Long Tom abandoned his sour attitude. "That means trouble. Why
didnТt you say so?"
Trouble was the one thing which would draw Long Tom away from his electrical
experiments.

THE two men rushed from the office, locking the door behind them. They entered a
private elevator, in which Johnny had come up. This was used only by Doc Savage
and his associates.
Down, and out on the street, they entered JohnnyТs carЧa coupщ inexpensive
enough to attract no attention. Johnny maneuvered the machine into traffic.
Long Tom stamped his feet on the floorboards. His shoes were shiny, new.
"I donТt think a lot of these new shoes," he complained. "TheyТre stiff."
Johnny eyed his own pedal extremities. These also were shod in new footgear.
"You should lament," he said dryly. "The foot vestments cost you exactly
nothing."
"Doc furnished them," Long Tom agreed. "He had special shoes made for the whole
gang, including himself."
"An enigma," Johnny commented.
"A what? Oh, you mean you donТt savvy why he did that. Neither do I. But he
probably had a reason."
"Sagacity usually motivates DocТs operations," Johnny agreed.
"TheyТre good shoes." Long Tom eyed his feet. "But I like old cases for my
dogs."
The car was now negotiating almost deserted streets. The district was not
prosperous. Buildings, shabby and old, were of the walk-up type. Dirty,
uncurtained windows advertised many vacancies.
"We are nearing the designated locale," said Johnny, who never used a small word
where a larger one would do.
Long Tom squinted at house numbers, then said, "ItТs the next block. Drive past
and weТll look the joint over."
The coupщ rolled slowly, swaying in sympathy with pavement irregularities. The
engine was quiet. They could hear traffic sound on a near-by boulevard, and the
rumbling of a more distant elevated train.
The entrance of MahalТs building was grimy. No one could be seen near it.
"Gloomy dump," Long Tom offered.
The coupщ went on and swerved around a corner.
Then suddenly Johnny boomed, "ThereТs RennyТs taxi!" and leveled a bony arm.

THEY parked near the taxi, got out and inspected it.
"ItТs the bus Renny was driving, all right," Long Tom asserted. "But whereТs the
pride of the engineering world?"
They were sure about the cab; it belonged to Doc. The bronze man kept the
vehicle for exactly such use as Renny had been making of it.
Long Tom shook his head, and said, "No sign of Renny."
"A fact of ominous portent," added Johnny.
"I understand Renny got into the basement to install his dictograph. He may be
there."
It was Johnny who located the sidewalk hatch giving admittance to the basement.
They entered, and saw no trace of the engineer.