"Kenneth Robeson - Doc Savage 008 - The Sargasso Ogre" - читать интересную книгу автора (Robeson Kenneth)

Renny popped his big fists together, causing a sound not unlike concrete blocks colliding.

"Dang a mystery! I'd like to get my hands on that now whiskerless Santa Claus!"

Johnny squinted through his peculiar spectacles. "Do you want to bet that it was not the unwhiskered
Santa Claus who searched Doc's suite?"

Renny gave a loud snort. "Some of these days you're gonna offer to bet on something that ain't a sure
thing!"

It was a habit of Johnny's, this offering to wager -- but he never suggested a bet where there was a
chance of losing.

THE Cameronic purser had in his possession a register which had been signed by all the passengers upon
boarding ship. Doc consulted this while the others peered over his shoulder.

"What a mess of frog tracks!" grunted Monk, eyeing the scrawled names.

"You've got a lot to talk about!" Ham choked mirthfully, indicating Monk's signature with the tip of his
sword cane.

Even Johnny, who had learned to read ancient hieroglyphics as a part of his training in archaeology, could
not have translated the convulsive splatter of pen marks which Monk had put down for his name.

"Here we are!" Doc said abruptly.

His companions bent close. But not until he pointed out certain handwriting similarities, could they tell that
a name he was indicating had been written by the same hand which penned the decoy note that had so
nearly led Long Tom to his death.

They read the name: Jacob Black Bruze.

"Hm-m-m!" growled Long Tom. "So a bird named Bruze sent me that note!"

"Does somebody want to bet Bruze is not the guy who killed Pasha Bey and his two helpers?" Johnny
queried hopefully.

Nobody did.

"Let's pay this gentleman a visit!" Long Tom grunted. "He's got Cabin 17 on B deck, this record says."
They lost no time in getting to B deck.

Doc tapped imperatively on No.17.

No answer! The door was unlocked, a test showed. They entered.

The berth was rumpled, indicating it had been occupied during the night.

Long Tom glanced under the berth, into the wardrobe, and jerked out dressing-stand drawers.