"Kenneth Robeson - Doc Savage 046 - The Vanisher" - читать интересную книгу автора (Robeson Kenneth)

The marauder seemed interested in those cards dealing with only certain prisoners.

A drawing of the prison hung on the wall. The prowler consulted this for some moments; cells holding the
selected prisoners were being located.

The shadowy, humpbacked one produced a cane from inside darksome garments. It was a dark cane which
looked heavy. Exactly similar canes were commonly carried by guards within the prison. The guards were not
permitted to carry guns; the canes were their only weapon.

The humpbacked one eased soundlessly out of the offices, haunted shadows under the walls, and a few
minutes later approached the guard in front of the huge cell house which contained the bad ones. The
approach was made boldly.

The guard was alert. He frowned at the newcomer, noted the regulation cane the fellow carried, and must
have believed the strange person was a guard. The light was not good.

"IтАЩm a guard of the day shift," said the humpback. "Making an inspection round. Is everything all right?"

"Yep," said the guard.

He did not notice that the other had stopped so that the end of the cane was thrust forward almost below the
guardтАЩs face. Nor did the guard notice a grayish vapor which was now pouring from the end of the cane. The
vapor arose, and the guard unwittingly inhaled it.

The guard fell over on his face, unconscious almost at once, and began to grovel and kick. In time he became
limp, absolutely senseless.

The guard carried keys to the cell block. These were appropriated by the humpbacked one and employed to
unlock the grilled door.

From the central interior court, the door of every cell could be seen. Ordinarily, only a single guard was on
duty inside the cell blocks at night, but since this was the building housing some bad actors, two guards
were on duty.

The humpbacked marauder acted with heartless rapidity. The anaesthetic fumes from the cane accounted for
both guards while they stood in front of the strange intruder and asked suspicious questions.



THE humpbacked prowler now secured the cell keys, moved to the barred door of a cell which housed one of
the selected prisoners, opened the door, crept in and shook the inmate.

The cell occupant aroused, took one look at his visitor and acted as if confronted by a genuine witch.

"A woman!" he exploded.

"Sh-h-h-h!"
warned the other. "DonтАЩt make wild guesses! Are you Jules R. McGinnis?"
"YesтАФyes," gulped the prisoner. "What in blazes is going on here?"