"Kenneth Robeson - Doc Savage 148 - The Terrible Stork" - читать интересную книгу автора (Robeson Kenneth)

Monk Mayfair. “You fool!” Ham was dumfounded.

“You haven't got five thousand and two dollars!”

“Huh? Gosh, I haven't, have I?”

“Why'd you bid?” Ham demanded.
“The suspense got me,” Monk muttered. “I guess I became hypnotized or something.”

“What do you want with that thing?” Ham asked angrily.

“I don't want it.” Monk became alarmed. “My God, do you reckon I'll get it?”

Ham looked at him bitterly. “I hope you do,” he said. “I would like to see what you would do with a
five-thousand-and-two-dollar tin stork.”

“You think it's tin?”

“How the hell do I know what it's made of!” Ham was irritated with his friend. “If you think you're going
to borrow a single thin dime off me to pay—”

“Ten thousand and three dollars,” bid the bell-voiced young man.

“Whoosh!” Monk subsided gratefully. “Saved by the bell,” he said. Sweat had popped out on his narrow
forehead. “What'd I bid on the thing for?”

Doc Savage's flake-gold eyes were alert, interested. He said, “Ham, that thing can't be worth ten
thousand.” His size, which was considerable, was deceptive until one was close to him. “The intrinsic
value of the statuette cannot possibly be ten thousand,” he added.

“How about platinum?” Ham was doubtful. “Would it be worth that kind of money if it were platinum?”

“Very doubtful.”

Monk had an idea. “Maybe it's got diamonds and rubies in it.” He became enthused. “I'm gonna bid
again!”

Doc and Ham eyed him in alarm.

“Ten thousand on something you don't know what it is!” The usually punctilious Ham was getting mixed
up.

“Ten thousand and four dollars,” Monk explained. “That's what I think I'll—”

“Fifteen thousand dollars!” bid the fat man. He seemed angry. His smile was beatific.

Monk swallowed.

“Go ahead, bid,” Ham sneered at him. “You didn't have five thousand, so it won't hurt you to bid fifteen.”