"Kenneth Robeson - Doc Savage 018 - The Squeaking Goblin" - читать интересную книгу автора (Robeson Kenneth)

"Look, Tige," he suggested. "See where the bullet struck."

Tige examined the head. "Plumb swack a-tween the eyes."

"Amazing shooting."

"Right peart," Tige agreed. "‘Tain’t nohow unusual fer thot varmint, though."

Chelton Raymond ran the tip of his tongue under his waxed, blond mustache, keeping his eyes fixed
unblinkingly on the gaunt, knobby mountaineer.

"You ever see it before, Tige?" he asked abruptly.

Tige moved over to the porthole, stood to one side of it and expectorated a noisy, slanting stream of brown
fluid through the port, which was open.

"Kain’t say as I have," he muttered. "Thot ain’t to say as how I’m a stranger to the varmint, ‘cause I been
a-seein’ a lot a’ his work back in my mountains."

"I saw something about it in the newspapers," Chelton Raymond said, nodding slowly.

"Them thar level-land newspapers hain’t been a-hearin’ the half a’ it."

"Tige," the other said slowly, "I want your honest opinion."

"You be my cousin. I wouldn’t go fer tellin’ you no lies."

Chelton Raymond made a grim mouth. "Do you think this fellow in the coonskin cap is actually a ghost? Do
you really think he is the Squeaking Goblin?"

"Squeakin’ Goblin been dead nigh eighty years or thar’bouts," Tige said slowly.

"I know."
Tige pulled a sigh from deep in his chest. "Tige Raymond Eller ain’t never been one to believe in hants,
anyhow not a hant of a cuss that’s been a-layin’ in the grave fer eighty year."

"Don’t beat around the bush, Tige," Chelton Raymond said dryly. "Do you think the man in the coonskin cap
was human?"

Tige was silent a moment, then took a deep breath and spoke loudly and rapidly, as if desperately resolved to
get the words out.

"Thot varmint wur a hant!" he exclaimed. "I’m a-tellin’ you it wur a spook, ‘cause I shot right at it and thar
warn’t no sign a’ the bullet hittin’ nothin’."



SOME moments of silence followed Tige’s earnest declaration, both men keeping faces long and sober, as if
engaged with thoughts that were gloomy.