Kenneth Robeson - The Avenger 09 by Tuned For Murder

Author:Tuned For Murder
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2012-02-20T15:08:15+00:00

Smitty had said he was in a closet when he had contacted his chief. A linen closet. He found its confines cramped for his huge body. So he got out of it as fast as he could after whispering into his tiny radio.

The top-floor hall of the hotel building had been furnished like the hall of a private home when Kopell took it over. There were urns along it, and a few big chairs, and a chest or two.

Smitty, looking out the cracked door of the linen closet, had seen that all the men who came here in the time he’d been concealed went to the same door; a portal at the front of the building on the left-hand side. And in front of that door a man lounged all the time, with a toothpick between his yellowed teeth and his coat unbuttoned so that now and then you could see the butt of a gun at his shoulder.

This guarded door was about twenty feet from the door of Smitty’s closet. He wanted very much to get into it?and out of the closet. But the man had to be dealt with first, and dealt with noiselessly.

Smitty’s vast hand went into his pocket and came out with a five-dollar bill. He opened the closet door two inches, wadding up the bill as he did so.

The guard at the door was staring dreamily at the opposite wall. The toothpick bobbled between his lips as he thought of something pleasant?possibly a glass of beer. He scratched his neck contentedly, and turned just a little toward the hall window.

Smitty snapped the wadded-up bill out along the hall as far toward the man as he could, using thumb and forefinger as a boy snaps a marble. The bill stopped about ten feet from the closet door and spread out slightly on the corridor carpet.

The man at the far door turned back from the window, scratched again, looked placidly toward the rear, and saw the green, wadded bit of paper.

Smitty had reasoned well. Even a millionaire will stop to pick up money if he sees it lying loose. When it comes to a gangster and a five-dollar bill?

The man stared with an unbelieving look, then with a look of slyness. Instinctively he gazed around to be sure no one was watching. Then he walked fast to the bill, and stooped down for it.

And Smitty sprang!

For all his bulk, the giant could move like a slim youngster. He was on the man in two soundless, flowing leaps. The fellow looked up in time to see a human avalanche descending on him, but not in time to do anything about it. Not even in time to yell.

Smitty got one hand on the man’s throat, and the other on his right wrist, as his hand clawed for his gun. The hand went almost around the man’s throat, it was so big. It squeezed a little.

After a minute Smitty left the man lying there, and went back to the closet. He returned with sheets and pillow cases.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.