"Kenneth Robeson - Doc Savage 104 - Birds of Death" - читать интересную книгу автора (Robeson Kenneth)

"The net is all messed up," he said. "I’ll buy you some more."

"You needn’t mind."

Benjamin Boot thrust a hand in his robe pocket, then looked crestfallen. "Gosh, I haven’t any money with
me. I was going to offer you a reward."
"Oh, no, no, we couldn’t think of that," said Mr. Manley.

"Nah, we couldn’t," echoed Abner, rather reluctantly.

Benjamin Boot showed a great deal of concern.

"Mercy me, you gentlemen just have to let me do something for you to show my gratitude," he said.

"You don’t owe us a thing," insisted Manley.

"Oh, but I insist, I really do. Would you—ah—accept a drink and some cigars in my apartment?"

Mr. Manley melted somewhat. "Well, now," he said, hesitating, "I might do that. How about you, Mr.—"


"Jones," said Abner. "Yeah, I might stand a snifter of whiskey."

"Oh, my, I’m afraid I don’t have anything that strong," said Benjamin Boot, abashed.

"O. K., I’ll go along and take the cigars, then," said Abner hastily.

They moved toward the apartment house.

Benjamin Boot, showing exquisite delight over the recovery of Elmo, walked ahead, cooing to the canary
and petting the bird.

Mr. Manley and Abner dropped behind.

Abner whispered from the side of his mouth, "This guy is a pantywaist. Hell, he’s silly over the damned
bird!"

Mr. Manley nodded. "Fine, fine. Our plan of bribing Julian to release the canary was excellent. It is
getting us invited into Boot’s apartment."

Abner asked, "When we get this milk-toast in his apartment, what do we do?"

Mr. Manley eyed Abner appraisingly. "You have your knife, Abner?"

"Yeah."

"Do you think you can get it in Benjamin Boot’s back without too much fuss?"

"Just watch me!" Abner’s face became uneasy. "What about the servant, Julian?"