The Land of Terror (ds-2) by Kenneth Robeson

Author:Kenneth Robeson [Robeson, Kenneth]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: det_action

THE others stared at Ham, not comprehending what he was driving at.

"Scat!" rumbled Monk. "If you don’t wanta see action, get out of the way of somebody who does! You can stay and guard Bittman. He still ain’t got no gun."

"Shut up!" Ham rapped. "Come out of there! All of you!"

"But what — "

"Come out and I’ll show you what I suspect!"

The conversation had occurred rapidly. Renny, Monk, Long Tom, and Johnny erupted from the elevator door as tumultuously as they had entered.

Reaching into the cage gingerly, using his sword cane for a prod, Ham threw the lift control lever to the point marked, "Down."

Nothing happened.

Ham let the doors slide shut, closing the master circuit of the hoist machinery. Ordinarily, the cage would have departed with a gentle acceleration.

But this time it fell!

The dull report of a blast echoed from high overhead. An explosive had been placed in the lift mechanism!

"Aw — " Monk muttered. He was not affected as much by the narrow escape from death as by the thought he would have to thank his roasting mate, Ham, for saving his life.

Ham’s quick thinking had saved them from Kar’s death trap!

"We’ll use Doc’s scooter!" Renny barked.

They ran down the battery of elevators. The metal-paneled last door was shut. Apparently no cage stood there.

Renny’s monster hand found a secret button and pushed it. The doors cracked open. A waiting cage was revealed.

This was Doc Savage’s private lift, to be used in reaching the street in moments of emergency. Doc’s friends called it his "scooter." It operated at a far greater speed than any other cage in the huge skyscraper. It always waited here on the eighty-sixth floor for Doc’s use.

Oliver Wording Bittman now came dashing out of the office. He had apparently reconciled himself to going into action without a gun.

"Wait for me! I want in on this!" he called.

He sprang into the elevator with the others, Monk hit the control lever. The cage floor seemed to hop out from under their feet. So swift was the descent that the sensation of falling persisted for some seventy stories. And the stopping piled them down on all fours.

"Golly!" grinned Monk. "I always get a wallop out of ridin’ in this thing!"

They hurried out to the street.

"There he goes!" declared Long Tom.

Their skulking visitor stood beside the curb half a block distant. Parked at this point was a cream-colored taxi. The man drew a taxi driver’s uniform cap from the cab, donned it. Evidently this was his masquerade.

Suddenly he discovered Doc’s men.

He bounded into the cab. The machine jumped from the curb, turned in the street like a dog chasing its own tail, and hooted away.

Fortunately, Renny had his own car parked near. It was a tiny sedan, ill befitting Renny’s immense bulk. Into it, Doc’s men piled.

The chase was on!

* * *

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