"Kenneth Robeson - Doc Savage 012 - The Man Who Shook the Earth" - читать интересную книгу автора (Robeson Kenneth)

Monk retreated, chuckling. The fact that there was a mystery underfoot, and that a man had just been
kidnaped downstairs, had not kept him from flinging a dig at Ham. Even the stress of trouble could not stop
his good-natured baiting of Ham.

HamтАЩs black cane looked innocent enough. Actually, it housed a blade of fine steel. It was a very efficient
sword cane.

Doc explained what had occurredтАФthe visit of Velvet to the office, the decoying of John Acre to the Midas
Club, and the kidnaping. He ended with: "Know anything about it, Ham?"

"Not a thing," Ham declared.

"But why did they use this address?" Monk demanded.

"It was clever on the fake newspaper reporterтАЩs part," Doc decided aloud. "He gave HamтАЩs address, in case
the man he was deceiving might check up. I often visit Ham here. It was logical to suppose I might wish to
meet him here."

Monk scratched his jaw, his head, and ended up by putting the tip of his little finger through the bullet hole in
his ear.

"How in blazes are we going to find out what this is all about?"

"ThereтАЩs the steamship Junio," Doc said. "John Acre arrived on it tonight. Apparently he sent the messages
from on board."

Doc went to the telephone and dialed a number. He spoke into the instrument for some seconds. His voice
was so low that Monk and Ham did not catch the words. Then he hung up.

"I got in touch with the captain of the Junio ," he explained. "HereтАЩs a strange one: The JunioтАЩs radio operator
is a fellow named Coils. He disappeared a few minutes after the steamer docked. They canтАЩt find him
anywhere."

"Where is the Junio from?" Ham inquired.

"From ports on the west coast of South America," Doc explained.

Ham twirled his sword cane absently. His eyes roved. They came to a rest on the door. It gaped open a
crack.

"Who left that door open?" he growled.

He started forward as if to close the panel. The door was ajar hardly more than an inch, but the crack
widened suddenly. A businesslike pistol muzzle shoved through.
"IтАЩd hate to muss up that pretty suit," a womanтАЩs voice said



HAM wrenched to a stop, his sword cane extended rigidly. He turtled his head forward as if to see who was
behind the door.