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

"No lights, my oily friend!"
The snarl came from a spot beyond the dais. Even after MahalТs eyes became
accustomed to the incense-drenched gloom, the speaker remained totally unseen.
He was behind a curtainЧand the voice was obviously a disguised one.
Mahal knew who was talkingЧknew him by name only. He had never seen the
individualТs face. All of his contacts with the person had been over the
telephone, or by interviews during which the other remained out of sight.
The unseen speakerТs mouselike, squeaking tones were such an excellent disguise
that Mahal was not even sure whether the other was a man or not.
The mysterious one used the name of Stroam.
"You are being unnecessarily cautious, Stroam," Mahal suggested.
"Possibly," Stroam squeaked in agreement. "But it is best that I keep completely
under cover. What information concerning Doc Savage have you secured for me
today, my friend?"
Mahal seemed to be well entrenched in the confidences of this enigmatic person
whose countenance he had never seen. To a certain extent, he knew what it was
all about. But he desired to know more.
"You think Ben Lane may be here in New York, hunting you?" he asked, instead of
answering StroamТs query.
"Ben Lane is in the Canadian wilderness," replied the hidden one. His squeak
sounded impatient.
"Then why fear him?"
"It is not a question of fear!" the other retorted sharply. "It is a matter of
caution. Ben Lane is not a dumb man. He may be having me watched."
Mahal was a born showman. He habitually assumed a trance-like attitude when in
conversation. He now seated himself beside the crystal ball and looked as if he
were communing with a, higher plane. As a matter of truth, he was slyly pumping
his mysterious employer. Any information he gained, he might later use to his
own profitЧhe hoped.
"But where could Ben Lane have put watchers on your trail?" he asked.
"I had trouble with Ben Lane," replied Stroam. "That was in the Canadian
wilderness, far north in the snow country. But all that, I have told you before.
I will dispose of Ben Lane. And there must be no outside interference."
"Such as Doc Savage entering the affair, eh, sahib?"
"
Doc Savage must never hear a word of Ben Lane!" shrilled Stroam. "And I am here
to prevent it!"

THAT Stroam was in New York to prevent Doc Savage from going to the assistance
of Ben Lane, Mahal had known. But there were many other things he did not know.
Thus he continued his angling for information.
"You think Ben Lane may have had someone follow you to New York?"
"Lane is not a fool!" squeaked Stroam. "Now, about the information concerning
Doc Savage which you have been gatheringЧ"
"Who are you, actually?" Mahal interrupted. "I like to know something about the
people I work for."
"That need not concern you too greatly, my friend. I am powerful, and
mysterious. I have a knowledge of things occult, a learning beyond that of other
men."
"That sounds as if you might have come from the Orient, like myself?"