"063 (B064) - The Motion Menace (1938-05) - Ryerson Johnson" - читать интересную книгу автора (Robeson Kenneth)

"This is one time you stay out of trouble, young lady. No more backtalk. Go on with your vacation."
"I won't!"
"You will!"
Pat Savage appeared to have been backed into a corner. She grimaced, started to say something two or three times, and finally emitted a dramatic groan.
"Oh, all right!" she snapped. "But I hope I run into a kidnaping or something up in these woods!"
Bang!
went the receiver, and Pat stepped out of the phone booth.
"MISS SAVAGE, I'm here to save you," a voice said at Pat's elbow.
PatЧor Enola Emmel, as she called herselfЧgave a start and eyed the speaker.
"Didn't you stop to think," she snapped, "that I might have a weak heart? And my name is Enola Emmel, not Savage!"
The young man was as tall as any young man should be, and he had blue eyes, blond hair, a pleasantly large mouth. His shirt and the handkerchief peeking from the breast pocket were a shade of light tan; his well-cut suit, tie and shoes, were different shades of brown.
"Your specialty is giving others heart trouble," he said, cheerfully. "And I know you're Pat Savage. I've seen you before. Say, did you know your life was in danger?"
"My lifeЧ" Pat stared at him.
"Well, maybe not that bad. But a man's trailing you. Oh, yes, my name is Halloc. Ky Halloc. I was at the airport when you landed last night. An old man with whiskers was following you. Not to be outdone, I, in turn, followed him. He is now loitering in the street. I'll show you."
"I think you're crazy, or else you're kidding me," Pat said. But nevertheless she followed him.
Out on the street there was no white-whiskered gentleman, and Pat asked, "How did you happen to be at the airport last night?"
Halloc grinned. "Just happened to be passing by and saw the plane land. I recognized you, then saw the old boy follow you. He's around somewhere. We'll take a ride in my car. He'll follow us, and you can see him."
Halloc was no millionaire, judging from his car. It had been washed recently, though, and the chromiumЧwhat there wasЧhad been polished. It was a second-hand car shipped over from the United States. He held the door open.
Getting in, Pat showed him the business end of an enormous, single-action six-shooter.
"Swell!" Halloc grinned. "I always wanted to wed a real old-fashioned sheriff's daughter." He got in.
Pat kept the six-gun in her right hand, and kept her left hand on her left knee. That way, her arm would prevent his grabbing the gun if he felt so inclined.
They drove through narrow streets, scraped some paint off the fenders turning cramped corners, but saw no one. Then Ky Halloc gave Pat a surprise.
"Look here," he said, "what got Doc Savage interested in the Elders?"
Pat took off her colored glasses. Her eyes narrowed at him.
"I have no idea what you're talking about," she said.
"Oh, don't try to beat around the bush. Doc Savage started you investigating because you were least likely to be suspected. Anyway, you knew the man."
It was with some difficulty that Pat managed to look composed.
"They tried to stop you yesterday, and got the China Rocket by mistake," Halloc said. "The two planes looked alike. Instead of killing you, they killed those others by mistake."
"You listened outside the telephone booth!" Pat snapped.
"Nope."
"Then how did youЧwho are you, anyway?"
The young man took in a big breath.
"I'm a new pal of yours. Listen, does the name Viscount Herschel Penroff mean anything to you?"
It didn't. Pat shook her head.
"Ever hear of Captain Cutting Wizer?" Ky Halloc asked.
"Captain Wizer?" Pat's eyes widened. "You mean a nice old gentleman who is a surgeon experimenting with electrical treatments for skin disorders?"
"Captain WizerЧnice old gentleman?" Ky Halloc looked queer.
"A wonderful old fellow," Pat said warmly. "I want to hire him to build skin-beautifying apparatus. Do you know where he is?"
"Did he have a white beard?"
"No." Pat frowned. "Look here, what is this all about?"
The young man shook his head. "Either you're fooling me and don't know what a horrible fellow Captain Wizer is orЧwell, we'd better talk this over. Say, I've got to smoke while I talk. Have you got a cigarette? I'm out of them."
"I don't smoke," Pat said.
Ky Halloc steered his car into the curb at a corner, stopped and shut off the engine. There was a tobacco shop on the corner.
Pat watched him get out and walk quickly into the tobacco store. He had a nice, swinging stride, with his shoulders held back. It was too early yet to tell whether he had any brains or not.
Pat was so interested in speculating about the young man that she did not observe a car until it stopped in the street beside Ky Halloc's machine. She gripped her gun and eyed the newly arrived automobile. It looked harmless enough.
A smallish man, bundled to his ears in a gaberdine coat, was driving. Two persons were in the rear. All three seemed to be engaged in an animated discussion. It was the kind of conference any travelers might hold when puzzled about the road.
Then Pat gave a start. Beards! All three of them had white beards! The sight of so many beards startled Pat. When the car door opened, she thought it was Ky Halloc returning, and neglected to look around.
The next instant, her six-gun was wrenched out of her fingers.
WHEN Pat looked around to see who had snatched her gun, she got one of the surprises of her life. There was not one man. There were two. They both had pistols. One was already starting the car.
They both had white beards!