"Curtis Steele - Operator 5 - 3409 - Master of Broken Men" - читать интересную книгу автора (Steele Curtis)

others, were members of the Secret Service.
Yet even these tight-nerved undercover
agents could not dream that this gaiety would turn
to abject fright, that this laughter would give way
to shrieks of horror, and that into this joyful
gathering would sweep merciless, savage death.
A murmur passed through the crowd, and all
eyes turned toward a flag-draped box in the
center of the balcony. A man with snow-white hair
smiled and bowed as a wave of applause swept
through the hall. He nodded his thanks and
seated himself to watch the crowd.
He was the Vice-President of the United
States.
A troubled expression darkened his face as
the dancing continued, as the music swelled. He
glanced about uneasily. Something like fear
shone in his tired, blue eyes as he scanned the
faces of those in the box and in the doorway
behind him. Presently left his chair.
Two Secret Service men, detailed as his
special bodyguards, received a wave of dismissal
from him. They remained in the box while he
stepped toward a young man who was standing
inconspicuously just across the sill. The young
man stiffened to respectful attention as the
worried eyes of the Vice-President studied his
face.
He was in his early twenties, his face was
clean-cut and strong. His bright blue eyes flashed
with the alertness of youth; his forehead was high,
his chin firmly determined. He possessed a poise
that added stature to his years, and obviously he
was American through and through. He stood the
scrutiny of the Vice-President and bowed.
"You are not one of my regular bodyguards.
May I ask, then, why you followed me here? Why
you've kept me in your sight every moment?"
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Operator 5TM MASTER OF BROKEN MEN September, 1934
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www.vintagelibrary.com
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"I am acting under orders, sir."
"Orders from whom?" the Vice-President
demanded.
The young man answered by briskly
removing from his pocket a flat silver case. His