Part 4 (1/2)
”Goodness!” said Vida Carlaw, eyes roving over the place. ”I am beginning to comprehend why you have such a fabulous reputation!”
Doc undoubtedly heard this compliment, but his sh.e.l.l of calm disinterest did not crack, a fact that piqued pretty Vida Carlaw somewhat. She had decided to try a little flattery and see what would happen.
Vida hadn't been able to make the bronze man out yet. She wasn't sure he approved of her; certainly he was not following the example of his three aids, who were giving her the gallant attention which a ravis.h.i.+ng beauty deserved.
Doc Savage, leaving them in the reception room, entered the library. New York City has several telephone directories, among them one with a red cover which is known as the ”red book” and which lists under proper headings, the names of persons and firms following the various professions.Doc Savage took this directory to the telephone. The manner in which he seated himself and adjusted the light indicated he was tackling a lengthy job.
In the reception room, his three men talked with their pretty guest. Vida, as the conversation continued, was agreeably surprised when it dawned on her that the men were remarkably clever fellows. It was at this point that she got an inkling of the truth-each of Doc Savage's aids was something of a wizard in his particular profession.
WHILE they were talking, Monk's attractive secretary arrived from his penthouse chemical laboratory near Wall Street. This pretty young woman-Monk claimed he had the snappiest secretary in New York-was escorting a remarkable-looking pig.
The pig had ears made for flying, legs for running, a snout for inquiry, and a scrawny body. The pig gave evidence of careful grooming. There was about him the aroma of expensive perfume.
Monk's secretary left immediately after delivering the pig.
”This is Habeas Corpus, my pet,” Monk told Vida Carlaw.
The young woman studied the unique-looking porker.
Ham said loudly, ”That insect should be exterminated!”
Ham went to another telephone-there were several-and called his exclusive club.
”Bring my Chemistry down in the morning,” Ham directed.
After hanging up, Ham listened, and could hear Doc Savage talking over the other telephone, making one call after another. Ham could not distinguish the bronze man's words.
Monk was asking Vida Carlaw, ”Do you believe a mysterious jellylike creature did any killing?”
The girl hesitated, nipping at her lips. ”You probably think I'm foolish, but, after all, no one really knows what is in the depths of the earth. Of course, scientists have a general idea, but there may be-things-down there that they don't know anything about.”
Monk agreed. ”I've run up against enough queer stuff in my time to learn never to be too surprised.”
”Our oil well is deep,” said the pretty girl. ”It might have happened-”
Doc Savage came in from the library.
”Everything possible to locate your would-be kidnapper, has been done,” he said. ”Only thing now is to wait.
And it might be advisable for all of you to get some sleep in the meantime.”
Chapter V. HE WANTED TO HELP.
WINDOWS of Doc Savage's skysc.r.a.per headquarters were of unusual type. The gla.s.s, perfected by the bronze man himself, was of a new variety which permitted occupants of the office to look out with ease, but which prevented any one outside looking in. The special gla.s.s admitted a rather diffused light.
Morning sun had the reception room full of gentle light when a tapping on the door awakened homely Monk from sleep in a chair near the inlaid table.
Before he started for the door, Monk felt in a trousers pocket to make sure a certain coin was still there.
Ostensibly, this coin was a half dollar; actually it was made of a radioactive metal which worked upon a hidden relay and electroscope combination which opened and closed the door. The device opened the door as Monk neared it.A neat-looking fellow stood outside. He had ruddy cheeks and a distinctly English manner. Monk knew he was from Ham's club.
The flunky was leading an animal which was almost an exact replica of Monk himself. Whether this creature was ape, chimpanzee, monkey, or some other variety of anthropoid, would be difficult to tell. In truth, experts had disagreed on that point.
”Take that blankety-blankety-blankety-blatherskite of a thing over to the river and tie a rock to it!” Monk yelled.
Ham got out of the chair where he had been sleeping.
”That's my pet Chemistry!” he shouted indignantly.
”Bless me!” Monk said, gloomily. ”Don't you think I know it?”
The messenger departed.
Bony Johnny, still apparently sound asleep, said without opening his eyes, ”An ichorous enigma of lobelia pigmentation!”
”Blazes!” said Monk. ”It's a wonder he don't choke on them words! Anybody know what he just said in his sleep?”
”He's muttering about the red monster out of the ground,” Ham said.
From the library, Vida Carlaw called, ”May I come in?”
They said she could, and she did. She looked radiant.
The telephone rang. Doc Savage, standing near the window, scooped it up and said, ”Yes. . . . Requested immediate duplication, eh? . . . when will he return? . . .Yes. That earns the reward for you.”
The bronze man hung up.
”We now have a line on the man who tried to kill Miss Carlaw,” he said. ”We will try to trap him and induce him to tell us what is behind this mystery.”
”Don't see how you worked it, Doc,” Monk said.
The bronze man made no explanation. Monk, after he had waited for a reply until he was sure he was not going to get it, pa.s.sed it off with a humorous suggestion that, ”Somebody get a hammer, so we can awaken Johnny.”
THE See-Well Optical Co. was not an elaborate establishment, which probably accounted for the proprietor having opened his doors an hour earlier than was customary for such firms. He was a round, bald man.
Doc Savage asked, ”The man said he would be back when?”
”In about twenty minutes,” replied the rotund proprietor.
Doc said, ”It is not necessary for you to do anything about him. Just give him what he comes for.”
”That's swell!” gasped the fat man. ”I was afraid I was gonna mix up in something!”