"Kenneth Robeson - Doc Savage 042 - The Midas Man" - читать интересную книгу автора (Robeson Kenneth)

William Harper Littlejohn was ordinarily a gentleman of caution. His long association with Doc Savage had
made him so. He was one of a group of five men, each one remarkable in his way, who had associated
themselves with Doc Savage, partially for the sake of the adventure involved, but also because they had an
unbounded admiration for Doc Savage.

William Harper Littlejohn was a bug on archaeology, and highly enthusiastic over this tablet. He had
recognized it as genuine, and had visions of turning up a find of archaeological relics.

His enthusiasm evaporated in an explosion of colored lights inside his skull, a moment after he was seated in
a dark-blue taxi on the street. He did not even see the blackjack blow coming.

By the time he got himself organized, handcuffs were on his ankles and wrists, and a piece of sponge filled
his mouth, strapped there with adhesive tape.

The blue taxicab threaded through city traffic. A lap robe was thrown over William Harper Littlejohn,
concealing his bony form on the floorboards. He struggled, but upon receiving a kick in the ribs, desisted. He
could hear his captors talking.

"That was simple," declared the captor who had played cameraman.

"Brains," said the other. "Brains is what makes the world go тАШround."
 Chapter II. THE MUMMY CASE BUSINESS
THE blue cab went through the Holland Tunnel into New Jersey.

William Harper Littlejohn squirmed, and managed to get hold of the floor carpet. He took a firm grip. Then he
groaned loudly. The groan was to cover the sound of the carpet tearing as he ripped a piece out. He had to
groan three times and strain with all of his might before he was successful. When victory crowned his efforts,
he held a piece of carpet about the size of the palm of his hand.

Thanking his lucky stars for the presence of the enveloping lap robe, William Harper Littlejohn worked with the
bit of carpet.

What he was doing took almost fifteen minutes.

The lank geologistтАЩs apparent inactivity had allayed the caution of his captors only a little. When he reared up
suddenly, violently, they fell upon him. William Harper Littlejohn, however, struggled with great ferocity.

He managed to stand up straight and shove his head hard against the top. It broke through.

In the excitement, the men failed to note the bit of rug being flung from his manacled hands through an open
window.

William Harper Littlejohn was wrestled down and received a booting for the trouble he had caused.

"WeтАЩre gonna lose patience with you!" one of the men gritted.

The last half hour of the journey was through sparsely settled country. The car rolled into what seemed to be
an estate. William Harper Littlejohn was now blindfolded, lifted out and carried across a porch that creaked
into a house. His blindfold was removed and the sponge taken out of his mouth.