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

Mahal tugged the valve strings. A spray of ether poured from the ceiling. It
covered the entire reception room.
Long Tom and Johnny attempted to open the doors, or to cut through the walls,
using their rapid-firers. But they gave that up quickly. Both knew enough about
ether to realize the vapor was violently explosive.
After a while, they went to sleep from the fumes.
Mahal let himself into the inner sanctum by a rear doorway. He smirked at Renny
and the girl, who were being held in a corner. RennyТs shirt was open. Across
his huge chest were several deep cuts, evidence of torture.
"What happened?" squeaked Stroam from behind his curtain.
Mahal explained about the steel panels and the ether trap.
"I am not such a dumb one, eh, sahib?" he finished.
Then he started for the curtain. He intended to take advantage of his triumphant
moment and get a look at Stroam.
"Back!" Stroam ordered hurriedly. "No one sees my face."
Mahal stuttered, "But IЧ"
"No talk! You are going to be a valuable man to me. You have brainsЧand brains
command a high price in my organization."
Mahal grinned, no little mollified.
"The noise of their guns may have been heard," Stroam declared. "Moreover, Doc
Savage seems to be well acquainted with this place. It will never do for the
bodies to be found here."
"No," echoed Mahal, and shivered. "It would point suspicion at me."
Stroam gave orders. MahalТs reception room was opened. Johnny and Long Tom,
senseless, were carried out, and, together with Renny and the girl, were dumped
in the corridor.
They were on the point of being hauled outside, when there was an interruption.
One of MahalТs gang had evidently gone out to scout the vicinity for more
enemies. He returned, no little excited.
"A hack! She is parked arounТ ze corner," he gulped. "Me, I look in him. She got
funny thing under dashboard."
Stroam had not come from behind his curtain in the inner room.
"What is this?" he called loudly.
"A taxi with something under the dashboard," Mahal relayed.
"Go down and look at it," Stroam directed, not showing himself.
Mahal departed.

WITHIN a very few minutes, Mahal was back. He, too, was perturbed.
"ThereТs a radio in the cab, sahib," he declared. "Parked near it is another
carЧa coupщ. That also contains a radio."
"Many cars have radios in this modern day," said Stroam disgustedly.
"These machines are not only fitted with receivers," Mahal told him. "There are
transmitters, too."
Shrill profanity came from StroamТs lurking place. "Obviously, it is with these
radios that the bronze man maintains contact with his associates," he cried.
"That suggests an idea!"
MahalТs slant eyes squinted. "What?" he asked.
Stroam laughed. "Have that fellow with the big fists get on the radio and tell
Doc Savage he is safe, and that everything is all right."
Eyeing Renny, Mahal stated, "You will do as commanded."