085 - The Spotted Man

THE SPOTTED MEN
A Doc Savage Adventure by Kenneth Robeson

Originally published in DOC SAVAGE Magazine March 1940
A Complete Book-length Novel
by KENNETH ROBESON
A human fiend gambles the minds and
bodies of men—to amass a vast fortune!
Chapter I he had been lying down. But Tink O’Neil

THE RED SPOTS wasn’t lying down. His long, lanky form
looked as if he were trying to get it beneath
THE midget racing car was about as the raised hood of the car. His tow head was
long as the tow-headed young man, provided practically out of sight.
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Then the upper half of Tink O’Neil J. Henry Mason got down from the
came out from beneath the hood, and he fence. For a large man, he moved with quick,
straightened. His tanned, nice-looking efficient steps. He added:
features were grease-smeared. Tink O’Neil “Only a couple times around, Tink.
looked more like a garage “grease monkey” Don’t forget, I have an appointment to meet
than a clever young fellow who knew a whole Molly and that girl Pat Savage. They’re trying
lot about engineering, steel and midget cars. out Molly’s new plane this morning. It’s got
Tink O’Neil turned to the man sitting that new T.3 steel in the wing construction.
on the track fence, grinned and announced, So I haven’t much time.”
“Well, she’s all set for a speed trial, Mr. Tink O’Neil nodded. He gunned the
Mason. And you just watch; it’s going to be motor, and the soft purr became a roar.
pretty.” There was the smell of castor oil, some of
Later, Tink O’Neil was going to which is used in all racing cars. Dust kicked
wonder why he ever made that statement. out behind the small car.
He was going to regret, almost, that he ever Tink started up, eased through the
climbed behind the wheel of the fast-looking speeds and jogged along at about fifty
little racer. around the half-mile dirt track.
Tink O’Neil fastened down the hood. J. Henry Mason watched with a half
The motor of the small car was already smile on his features. Some lad—he thought.
turning over with a sweet pur. Smart as a whip, and slated to get to the top.
The man on the fence said, “I’ll clock He saw Tink around the two far curves, and
you around once, then open her up when you then the young man was coming into the
pass me.” straightaway. He opened the car up wide.
Tink O’Neil grinned. “Hope you see The car came down the home stretch
me when I go by!” like a flashing yellow comet. J. Henry Mason
The man on the fence looked like stood ready with his stop watch. As Tink
somebody of importance. He was somewhat streaked past, he clocked him.
stout, well dressed, with steel-gray hair and Dust blanketed over the steel king.
good features. He was probably one of the He blinked, squinted, finally managed to see
richest men in America. He was president, at the car roaring into the first turn. Tink O’Neil
least, of one of America’s largest steel was taking it wide at the start, cutting across
companies. the arc and hitting the dangerous curve on
He was J. Henry Mason, a man the inside rail as he got half way around.
known throughout the United States. Mason nodded approvingly. That
The steel millionaire said now, “Be was the way to take them, he knew.
careful, Tink. Remember, this is really a test Then Tink was in the back stretch,
of that new steel in the brake drums and the wide open, easing out in order to take the far
rear axle—not a race in which you are curve. He went into it in a cloud of dust and
supposed to break your neck.” spewing small stones. Almost instantly, he
The tone of J. Henry Mason’s voice was out of it and hammering down the home
said that he liked this young man a good stretch. Mason held his stop watch ready to
deal. For Tink O’Neil was trouble-shooter at catch the time.
one of the great steel plants of the But something happened.
millionaire. He was a valued employee. And
he was always tinkering around with cars and
engines. THE car seemed to be out of control.
It just happened that his hobby was It was swaying.
midget racing cars. And then J. Henry Mason gasped as
Tink was climbing beneath the he saw what was the trouble.
wheel. He had a time tucking his long, lanky The back left wheel was coming off!
legs beneath the cowling of the small car. He Attached to the wheel was part of the
pulled goggles down over his eyes. rear axle. The thing came suddenly loose,
crashed the wooden guard rail of the fence,
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx THE SPOTTED MEN xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 3
tearing down a dozen feet of the heavy From beneath the car, Tink O’Neil
wood. said, “What did you say, sir?”
The car zoomed around in a crazy There was no answer. Tink frowned,
circle. It made two complete turns, half of because the steel king’s words had broken
another, shot backward along the dirt track. off abruptly.
J. Henry Mason cried out in horror He asked again, “What did you say?”
and leaped clear. The next moment, he There was still no answer. And from
figured, it would go over and Tink O’Neil where he was, Tink could not see the giant of
would be ground to a pulp. For in these a man who had stepped from the tall bushes
midget cars there was no room for the driver near the track rail and seized J. Henry
to get his whole body ducked down beneath Mason.
the protective cowling of the machine.
But, miraculously, the car did not turn
over. It ended up, instead, against the railing AT first, not getting any reply from
with a crash. Oil smoke and dust temporarily Mason, Tink O’Neil figured that the steel
veiled it. J. Henry Mason held his breath. millionaire had most likely walked back down
Perhaps— to the dirt track in order to inspect the broken
Then the cloud drifted away and he axle attached to the wheel, which had come
saw Tink O’Neil climbing from the small car. off.
Tink’s goggles were pushed back from his So Tink went on prying at the broken
dust-smeared face, and where his eyes had piece of brake drum which he had found as
been covered they appeared like white small he slid beneath the racing car. The brake
saucers surrounded by grime and dirt. drum had cracked, and now he had a piece
Tink O’Neil said grimly, “Look, Mr. of it almost free. He was quite anxious to
Mason, this T.3—our new steel is supposed inspect it and to learn what had happened to
to be tougher and stronger than any known T.3.
steel—was used in the axles and brake As J. Henry Mason had mentioned,
drums, wasn’t it?” T.3 was the latest invention of his vast steel
Mason nodded. “Certainly, because I mills. It was a formula that was going to
supervised the job myself.” cause a lot of changes in airplanes,
“I know,” said Tink. “But do you know armaments and ships. Because it was the
what happened?” toughest and strongest steel known—and
“What?” the millionaire wanted to also the lightest in weight.
know. Mason had mentioned something
“That rear axle crystallized. I heard about his pretty daughter Molly trying out a
the whine as it let go. It snapped right in two.” new plane, alone with someone named Pat
“But—” Savage. Tink recalled hearing something
“And these brake drums. They did about this from Mollie herself.
the same. Wait, I’ll show you—” Tink was For Tink O’Neil knew Molly Mason
already on the ground, sliding under a part of pretty well. He thought she was just about
the midget car that was clear of the track. tops. He even had hopes that some day—
He continued: “I can’t understand it, Well, anyway, he saw a lot of her.
Mr. Mason. Every brake drum is split wide And Molly Mason had told Tink
open, and I had barely started to use the O’Neil about her new plane, which was to be
brakes when I felt that rear wheel going. ready today. A girl named Pat Savage was
They’ve cracked open just as though they going to go up with her. It seemed Molly had
were made out of tin.” met this other girl at an exclusive beauty
Mason looked as if he was going to salon in New York. Pat Savage owned and
choke. He exclaimed, “But T.3 is the greatest operated the beauty establishment. But Pat
steel ever produced! It’s going to Savage, according to Molly, was the kind of
revolutionize the steel industry. It’s going girl who would rather be flying planes and
to—” getting into some sort of adventure, instead
of staying in New York.
MEET THE CHARACTERS IN "THE SPOTTED MEN"
DOC SAVAGE One of the most famous and unusual men in the wide world. He's tops
mentally, physically, morally. He rights wrongs, and is the Nemesis of evildoers. He is skilled in
many things, but particularly in several branches of science.
RENNY A giant of a man physically, and one of the country's outstanding engineers. His
correct name is Colonel John Renwick. And can he fight!
MONK Another fighter—a tough brawler. His mail is addressed "Andrew Blodgett Mayfair"—
but you'd never guess it from his appearance. He looks not unlike a gorilla. Yet he's a most
accomplished chemist.
HAM Brigadier General Theodore Marley Brooks, if you want to be formal and snooty about it.
Like Renny and Monk, he's an associate of Doc Savage. He's a clever lawyer, a vicious
fighter—and incidentally one of the half-dozen best-dressed men in the U. S. A.
PAT SAVAGE Doc's cousin. She's considerable of a girl, and she's got more than just looks
and figure. She has brains and courage, and likes to co-operate with Doc in his various adven-
tures.
J. HENRY MASON A millionaire owner of a steel pant.
MOLLY MASON His daughter. She's a pal of Par Savage—and this got her in something of a
jam.
WALTER MASON Molly's fat cousin. He seems sleepy and lazy, but don't get him wrong!
LEIDENBERG Manager of J. Henry Mason's steel plant—and with a few private activities on
the side.
WILLIE WATT Superintendent of the same plant. A fellow who seemed meek—but you know
that kind!
TINK O'NEIL A trouble-shooter—and he shot so much trouble this time that it took Doc
Savage and his pals to straighten out things.
These things flashed through Tink He stopped, staring around for the
O’Neil’s mind as he crawled from beneath his millionaire steel king. He looked back down
small racing car. They suddenly took on a to the track, in order to call out the startling
terrible significance. information to J. Henry Mason.
Because Tink was staring at the But Mason was nowhere in sight.
broken brake drum which he held in his That was odd, Tink O’Neil thought.
hand, and at the steel which composed that Because the dirt track was a small, private
brake drum. The same kind of steel that was proving grounds that only Tink and the steel
in the wings of Molly Mason’s new speed king ever used. It was deserted. There was
plane. an empty, small grandstand and a judges’
The tow-headed young tower across the way, inside the rail. It would
troubleshooter’s mouth fell open, and he be mighty easy to see anyone out there on
started to exclaim, “Good grief, this is—” the stretch of straightaway.
But there was no millionaire, no Savage. Tink, from time to time, had heard
sound. Only the quietude of early morning details about Doc Savage.
and the soft rustling of birds in the trees He remembered that Doc Savage—
located inside the inner fence of the oval. they called him the Man of Bronze—was
Puzzled, Tink O’Neil called the supposed to be a mental giant, a scientific
millionaire’s name. He put down the heavy genius of some sort. Perhaps Doc Savage
piece of brake drum and started looking could get in touch with this girl Pat Savage—
around. And he came upon the footprints in Tink O’Neil reached the phone
the dust not far from where his car had booth, found a nickel in his grease-smeared
cracked up. jumper and finally got hold of Long Distance.
One set of prints was much larger He recalled that Doc Savage had his
than the other, as though they might have headquarters in New York. But he had no
been made by a man with huge feet. Tink idea just how he was ever going to explain
instantly knew that J. Henry Mason’s shoes how to reach him.
were nowhere as near as large as these. He He said, “Look, I haven’t any change
frowned. here, operator. But it’s urgent that I reach a
The footprints made a crooked trail person named Doc Savage, in New York.
inside the rail, disappeared beneath thick You’ll have to reverse the charges if you can.
foliage which grew almost up to the Maybe the New York end can help you find
protective guard rail of the track. the address of Doc Savage. Or perhaps—”
Tink ducked beneath the bushes, The operator’s words shocked Tink
prowled around for fifteen minutes and O’Neil. For she said, “Oh, it’s no trouble at
found—nothing! all. I can get Doc Savage for you in a
Suddenly, it came to him that there moment. Just hold the line.”
was something awfully queer about Tink gasped. Apparently this fellow
happenings during the past half hour. First, Doc Savage was well known to the telephone
his narrow escape from death. And now the company. He must get a lot of phone calls,
sudden disappearance of the millionaire steel the tow-headed young man thought—
magnate. He heard the connection being
Again Tink O’Neil thought of J. Henry made, and the operator talking to a man who
Mason’s statement about Molly’s new plane, said this was the headquarters of Doc
and the tryout which was taking place this Savage. The man wanted to know who was
morning. Horror leaped over Tink. T.3 was in calling. Operator relayed the question.
that new plane—and now Molly was headed “Tell him it’s James O’Neil,” Tink said
toward death. excitedly. “But that won’t mean a thing to
With panic seizing him, Tink O’Neil him.” He thought quickly. “Look, inform him
abruptly made off across the dust of the that it’s about his cousin Pat Savage. Tell
track. He changed into a fast sprint. He him it’s terribly urgent, a matter of life or—”
recalled that there was a phone booth Abruptly, Tink paused. He listened in
beneath the grandstand. From there he could partial awe to the voice which came clearly
call Molly and warn her— and yet quietly over the wires. The voice held
And then he remembered that he a strange, compelling quality, and had the
had no slightest idea as to just where the clearness of a deep-toned bell despite the
plane tryout was to take place. There was no fact that it was miles away.
way he could reach the girl! The unusual voice said, “This is Doc
And yet there was! Savage speaking. What is it you wish to say
about Pat Savage?”
Breathlessly, Tink O’Neil told what
IT came to Tink in a flash. He he knew about Molly Mason’s appointment to
recalled that this girl Pat Savage, who was to fly a new plane with Pat Savage. He tried to
fly with Molly this morning, was a cousin or tell something about what had happened
something like that of a person named Doc here at the track, but he was so excited he
got incoherent. And so he switched back to But even this wasn’t half as dreadful
the girls, and yelled: as the fellow’s insane regard. He made a
“Look, Mr. Savage, I’ve heard of movement toward Tink.
those short-wave radios and some of the The receiver still in his hand, Tink
gadgets you use in your work. Well, you’ve O’Neil yelled into the mouthpiece, “He’s
got to reach them—somehow. Get hold of crazy! He’s crazy as a loon. And he’s
them and stop them from going up in that covered with red spots. I—”
new plane!” Tink O’Neil’s words ended in a
“Why?” The question, some strange gurgle as the giant figure seized him, slapped
quality of the tone, partially calmed Tink a hand over his mouth and dragged him from
O’Neil. the phone booth.
“Because,” Tink went on, “they’re in The telephone receiver swayed back
terrible danger. You see, it’s about T.3, and forth on its short length of cord.
and—”
Abruptly, Tink O’Neil stopped. And
stared. Gawked in wide-eyed astonishment Chapter II
at the figure standing just outside the phone- THE MADMEN
booth door.
It was a man of giant size. He must TINK O’NEIL was not a coward. And
have been close to seven feet tall. From the for all his lankiness, he was as hard as the
waist up, he was naked. steel which had been his business for several
For just an instant, recognition years past.
flashed across Tink’s face. This giant fellow And it is quite likely that he would not
was Jeff Hanson, one of the steel workers have stood a chance against the giant of a
from Open-hearth Shop No. 5, located only a half-naked man except for one thing. The
mile from here. menacing red spots.
And then, in the next moment, Tink Sight of the spots drove Tink O’Neil a
gasped, “No! It can’t be!” little berserk. They scared him. And so he
For Big Jeff Hanson, for all his fought like fury.
muscular hulk, was a quiet, plodding worker He broke free of the giant figure’s
who never as much as raised his voice or grasp, ducked low, and butted the grinning
showed the slightest anger. He was a brute lunatic with his head. Tink O’Neil put all the
of a man as gentle as an ox. steam he had into the flying dive.
But this man here— It felt as though he had smacked up
Tink drew back in fear. The man’s against a brick wall. The giant figure stood on
left eye was closed, squinted shut in a spread feet, and his eye kept squinting and
peculiar manner that gave his whole face the he merely grinned foolishly. He made some
silly expression of a lunatic. He was giggling sort of sound like a giggle, and launched out
softly, and at the same time watching Tink at the young trouble-shooter again.
O’Neil. Startled, Tink O’Neil side-stepped,
And this was only a half of the horror spun away from the groping, huge arms. He
of the man’s appearance. shuddered at sight of the hairy torso covered
For from the waist up, where he was with the red spots. He took out at a gallop in
naked, his body was covered with livid red a direction away from the giant figure.
spots, like blotches of inflamed red pimples. But the madman ran after him,
The red spots were on the face as well, and gobbling up distance as his massive feet
added to the closed, squinting eye, they slapped the ground. Tink managed to get
made the giant look like a painted clown. clear of the grandstand, reached the dirt
A clown that was stark mad! track again and went sprinting back toward
One word flashed through Tink where his wrecked racing car was against
O’Neil’s whirling brain. Smallpox! The red the fence.
marks made him think of the dreaded
disease.
He gulped in chunks of air as the the man leaped toward the brush and
giant fellow closed in behind him. Tink undergrowth just inside the inner rail.
O’Neil’s gray eyes were wide in his dirt-and- He disappeared.
grease-smeared face. He had to hold out But Tink O’Neil was able to follow the
another moment, because back near the loud sounds of his crashing feet. Tink’s
midget racer there was something— progress, however, was slower.
The giant, giggling man was almost He finally emerged on the far side of
on top of him when Tink reached the pile of the oval, and saw—some distance away—
stuff near the fence. The objects were tools the giant fellow streaking across to a
which the sandy-haired young man had roadway that wound through woods beyond
brought along when he drove the racer to the the testing grounds. Tink followed.
small track. In the pile was a heavy wrench. And ten minutes later it dawned on
Tink scooped up the wrench, whirled Tink where the giant was headed. For ahead,
around and took a swing at his assailant. He the great line of mammoth smokestacks had
missed the giant figure by a fraction of an loomed up in the air. There was the black
inch. smoke, the smell of the great steel mills. It
And the fellow merely stood there, was the big Open-hearth Shop No.5.
grinning, one eye squinting crazily. They were approaching the plant
Tink was aghast. He knew that if he from the rear, and the road snaked in and out
had connected with the heavy wrench, that of the trees. Ahead, Tink still heard the
he probably would have brained the crazed crashing of the giant figure’s feet, though he
man. only caught glimpses of the spotted man
Then, oddly, the giant fellow stared from time to time.
queerly at Tink. He seemed to be turning Finally, Tink arrived at the gate in the
something over in his mind, if you could say high steel fence that surrounded the big
that he was capable of concentration. shops. No one was around, but he saw the
On a sudden impulse, he jerked marks of the giant’s shoes in the dusty road.
around and started running like mad in the Tink put on a burst of speed, raced into the
opposite direction. long storage yard surrounding the huge
towering, smoke-blackened buildings.
And a dozen yards ahead, a freight
FOR an instant, Tink O’Neil merely train—it consisted of five or six open cars
stared. Then he took out after the giant loaded with pig iron—backed into the yard
figure. For as long as this fellow with the red and cut off the young trouble-shooter’s
spots had not actually seized him, Tink progress.
O’Neil was not so scared. He was
determined to learn more of this crazy
mystery. BY the time the slow-moving train
Mystery of a wrecked racing car, of had gone past, Tink’s quarry had
the disappearance of millionaire J. Henry disappeared. He saw no signs of the giant
Mason—and the appearance of a madman man.
with red spots. But what he did see was the excited
Tink was certain that the giant man group of steelworkers headed for the huge
was a steelworker. He most certainly looked entrance doors of the open-hearth shop. Tink
like a man Tink knew at the open-hearth ran up to them.
shop. And yet— He caught the excited talking, the
Tink abruptly yelled, “Hey!” shouts of dismay that came from the throats
Because the giant he was chasing of the husky steelworkers. Like the giant
had made suddenly for the wrecked car. In crazed man had been, they wore only thick-
passing the machine, the fellow dived down soled work-shoes and trousers. From the
and jerked up the piece of broken brake waist up, they were naked and grimy and
drum that Tink had, a little earlier, been sweat-smeared. Obviously, the men had just
inspecting. With the drum in his huge hands, come running out of another of the shops,
and were headed toward the vast, vaulted TINK O’NEIL, like the others near
length of No. 5. him, stared in horror. The man was Johnson,
Tink asked, “What’s wrong?” a worker with a long and efficient record.
The workmen knew the young, tow- Johnson had never been known to lose his
headed engineer. Tink had devised a number temper. He got along well with his fellow
of improvements around the various steel men. He had a wife and four kids, and he
shops. He was favored by the men. never missed a day at the shops.
“Wrong?” exclaimed one of the But now the man was stark mad.
workers. “Hell, Tink, plenty’s wrong! Come Tink, with a start, noted that one of Johnson’s
along.” eyes was closed in a squint much like that of
Tink joined the excited group of men, the giant who had attacked him. And there
and another said to him, “Say, maybe you were the unsightly red spots—the pimply,
can talk to him!” gruesome spots that had likewise been on
“Talk to whom?” Tink asked. the bared torso and face of the first crazed
“Johnson.” man.
“What about Johnson?” The madman stopped his prowling
“He’s cracked up! The heat’s got along the platform, gripped an iron guard rail,
him, Tink. He’s in No. 5 here and they say as and leered down at his fellow men. It was
how he’s stark mad!” then that Tink stepped forward.
Shock ran through lanky Tink O’Neil. A gasp went up behind him as Tink
What was this damnable mystery that had so cupped his hands around his lips and
abruptly hit the steel plant? A worker shouted, “Johnson! You come down here!”
attacking himself. And now another gone In emergencies, Tink O’Neil had
berserk! commandeered men before. And there was a
He led the group of steel workers tone in his words now that caused the
inside the vast space of the foundry. Heat— grinning, red-spotted man to turn his head
heat that was well over a hundred degrees— and look at the tow-headed trouble-shooter.
hit them in the faces like a blast of air from a The man’s mouth opened and a
furnace. sound like a grunt came from his throat. He
There was the misty, thick was trying to speak, to say something
atmosphere of molten steel and the blast coherent. The onlookers could tell that from
furnaces, and the roar of air being forced into the strained expression on Johnson’s face.
the bottom of the towering cupolas. A huge Tink O’Neil called, “It’s all right,
crucible of molten steel hung from an Johnson. Come down. No one’s going to
overhead crane, but the crane operator was bother you!”
sitting in shocked wonder, unable to lower The red-spotted big man seemed to
the molten steel because of the confusion on gather a little something of Tink O’Neil’s
the dirt floor beneath him. words. He gave a half nod, then moved
Half a hundred husky steelworkers toward an iron ladder that led down from the
were lined up on that floor, staring in platform.
amazement at one who was on the runway Others moved back in fear as the
above them. perspiring, massive worker approached Tink
The runway was a platform in front of O’Neil. Someone said guardedly, “Don’t be a
the line of giant furnaces. It was from here chump, Tink. The guy is nuts!”
that the furnaces were “tapped” and the But Tink O’Neil stood where he was.
white-hot metal drawn off into the great Johnson came close up to him,
crucibles. But there was no work going on watching Tink carefully as he moved slowly
now. across the big floor of the shop. Then he
The single workman was moving paused, his one eye half squinting, the ugly
along the platform, his eyes glazed, a sound red spots gleaming beneath the sweat of his
like giggling coming from his slack mouth. bared body.
Tink said quietly, “What is it, fella?
What happened to you?”
The man kept staring. The other For even though Tink had put
workers had moved far back against a wall. through a call to Doc Savage, he doubted
Their eyes were wide. that the remarkable bronze man could do any
Suddenly, without warning, big good. He was too far away, to begin with.
Johnson let out an unholy yell and leaped Tink drove madly. The millionaire’s
past Tink O’Neil. One workman had been palatial residence was on the main highway
slower than his partners in moving back from leading into Buffalo. Luckily for Tink O’Neil,
the spot. he did not have to get into the traffic of the
The man was seized by wild-eyed large city. The estate was well on the
Johnson, hefted like a small child above the outskirts, and only a short drive from the big
crazed man’s head, and raced down the long steel plant.
length of the shop floor. The grounds bordered the highway
A man screamed. Tink O’Neil leaped itself, but the rambling stone house was set
to race after the madman, but even as he far back beneath enshrouding trees and
moved he knew he was too late. carefully-tended shrubs. Tink slammed his
A dozen feet from the suspended, small car up the circling drive, jammed on his
overhead crucible of molten steel, big brakes before a long veranda and leaped
Johnson paused, then hurled the man he out. He had already seen the man on the
held as though the poor fellow might have front porch.
been a toy. It was Molly’s cousin, Walter Mason.
He hurled him up into the mammoth Even sounds of Tink O’Neil’s noisy
caldron of molten steel. arrival had not aroused the fat young man
from a peaceful slumber in a reclining chair.
Walter Mason was more than fat. He
LATER, the madman escaped. After bulged. His various chins bulged, his
his blood-chilling act, he continued his plunge stomach bulged past his chest and his thick
through the long foundry and out a doorway lips puffed out as he snored contentedly. He
at the far end. Some of the more courageous had thin, scraggly blond hair and his big head
workmen followed. They searched the appeared to bulge out beneath that hair.
extensive yards of the steel plant. Five Tink O’Neil shook Walter Mason and
hundred men joined in, and many had clubs cried, “For Heaven’s sake, man, wake up!”
and weapons. Walter Mason stirred. Or rather,
But they found no trace of red- some of him moved and the rest just
spotted Johnson. trembled like jelly. He opened his eyes.
Tink reported the disappearance of He had round, bright eyes in a round,
J. Henry Mason. He did not tell this to the fat face.
men in the shops. Instead, he went to a He murmured, “Huh?”
phone in a small office at one end of the big Then he recognized Tink O’Neil and
foundry. He called the front office and told sat up with an effort. He said, puzzled, “What
the plant manager of the mystery. the devil’s wrong with you? Look like you’ve
He wasted little time in explanations. seen a ghost, Tink.”
There was no time for that now. He had to “Look!” Tink O’Neil gasped. “You’ve
reach Molly, who was going to take up a got to tell me where I can find Molly. It’s
plane in which there was some of the famous awful. It’s terrible. We’ve got to tell her about
T.3. He had to save her life! T.3 and that her plane might crash, and—”
Tink, avoiding the others, hurried Fat Walter Mason made no further
from the open-hearth shop and quickly attempt to get up. That would have been too
reached his small coupé, parked not far much of an effort, and the lazy young man
inside the gates of the vast plant. It was only never exerted himself unless absolutely
a ten-minute ride to the big home of J. Henry necessary.
Mason. Perhaps someone there could tell He said with a sigh, “For the love of
him exactly where the girl and Pat Savage Pete, will you sit down and stop that
had gone.
shouting? Here, I’ll order you a drink. You are Tink O’Neill nodded. “And now,
a sight. You look like you need one—” about Molly—”
The fat man was reaching toward a But Walter was already headed
button attached to a cord near the head of toward a phone in the spacious center
his chair. He kept pawing around with his hallway. He said, “Gosh, Doc Savage knows
flabby hand, attempting to locate the cord J. Henry. I’m going to make certain he’s
without raising up. going to help us.”
“Listen,” rapped Tink O’Neil. “I guess Tink watched the fat young man.
I’ll have to take time to tell you—” Walter was not worried about lovely Molly.
Briefly, he told about the crack-up of Instead, his fear was for the millionaire. Tink
the racing car, of the strange disappearance could understand that. J. Henry Mason kept
of J. Henry Mason. Also of the mad workmen up a small trust fund for Walter. And now the
at the steel plant. He ended with: fat, lazy fellow was worried about the source
“Don’t ask me what it is. Don’t think of that income. A day’s work would probably
I’m wacky. It’s something terrible that’s kill Walter, Tink knew.
happening and . . . and we’ve got to reach In a few moments, Walter was
Molly. Her life’s in danger, man!” connected with Doc Savage’s headquarters
At last, as Tink talked, Walter in New York. Tink waited until Walter had
showed interest, and then worry. He sat up. hung up, then asked, “Well?”
The chair creaked beneath him. But his “One of Doc Savage’s aids
bright, alert eyes were now sharp. answered,” supplied Walter. “He said that
“Grief!” he exclaimed. “Then we’ll two men named Monk Mayfair and Ham
have to do something.” Brooks are seeking the girls in their plane. It
Tink O’Neil sighed. “That’s what I’ve seems they’ve already been in touch with
been trying to tell you! Well, where can we them, and—”
locate her?” Tink’s eyes brightened hopefully.
Walter Mason tugged at one of his “Where are they?” he prodded.
chins. “Let me see,” he said musingly. “She “They took off from that private field
was out long before I got up this morning. out near Lake Erie, outside Buffalo. And
And I was just catching a little nap now. I they—”
haven’t the slightest idea—” He snapped his But Tink was already headed back
fat fingers. “But perhaps the servants will toward the veranda. He called back, “Then
know.” I’m going to that airport, too. Maybe I can
rent a plane and locate them!”
Walter Mason sighed and wiped
WALTER waddled off into the big perspiration from his chins and sat down in
house. Tink followed. And five minutes later, the nearest chair. He looked all worn out.
after questioning half a dozen servants, they Tink O’Neil was back in his car in a
knew no more than they had to start. moment and racing out of the winding drive.
Apparently pretty Molly Mason had told no He was unaware of his disheveled
one where she was going to try out the new appearance. His straw-colored hair was
plane. rumpled; his white jumper smeared with
But fat Walter seemed more worried grease and dirt of the racetrack. But his
about J. Henry Mason himself. He said. “But pleasant gray eyes were bright.
what’s happened to him? Gracious, we So Doc Savage had two of his aids
simply must call the police or do something!” in touch with the girls in the plane? Perhaps
Tink ordered, “Wait!” they had already told Molly and Pat Savage
“But—” about the danger of T.3.
“I’ve already called on a man who Tink felt suddenly elated. These aids
can do more than the police. I’ve got in touch of Doc Savage were said to be good. They
with Doc Savage!” did things in a big way, and in a hurry.
Walter Mason looked at Tink. “You Tink eased on his brakes for the
mean, the Doc Savage?” sharp turn into the highway that would take
him to the airport. Perhaps he would meet them—really very good pals—were on the
these two aids of Doc Savage, be in time to verge of a squabble right now.
help them— However, crackling of a small loud-
But, just then, it looked as if he speaker in the cockpit caused both aids to
wasn’t going to be in time to help anyone. stop their argument and listen.
Because the half-naked giant of a man Shortly a pleasant voice said, “Ham,
stepped out from the nearby trees and are you still on the way out here to this
leaped on the car’s running board. airport?”
Tink drew back in horror. The man Monk jumped. “That’s Pat!” he said.
had the unsightly red spots. His left eye was He referred to Pat Savage, the lovely
closed in that peculiar grinning squint. And cousin of Doc Savage.
the man himself was giggling a little. Ham leaped forward and lifted a
It was the giant of a fellow who had small hand microphone from a nearby hook.
attacked him at the dirt track. This was the second time this morning they
had been in contact with Pat Savage via
short-wave radio.
Chapter III Ham said, “Yes, Pat, we’ll be there
THE BLACK PLANE shortly. And you girls wait right there at the
airport, as Doc ordered.”
HAD young Tink O’Neil, at the The lawyer had to bat Monk’s hand
moment, seen the two aids of Doc Savage away as the hairy fellow tried to grab the
who were in the plane on the way from New mike.
York, he might not have been so certain that Pat’s voice came back on the
the two men were going to be of any help. speaker. “See here,” she said crisply, “Molly
Both men acted as though they were Mason and I have figured out Doc’s purpose.
more interested in slaughtering one another He hates to see me go up in planes. That
than going to the aid of two pretty girls. was just a stunt to stop me. So we’re taking
One of the two was seated at the off immediately.”
controls of the streamlined, fast plane. He Ham looked as if he had swallowed
was an individual made to stop traffic at busy something containing tacks. He got white.
street corners. He often had. Monk exclaimed, “Goshamighty! Doc
As wide, almost, as he was tall, all said they might get killed!”
visible parts of him were covered with bristly Frantic, Ham clutched the hand
red hair that looked like small rusted nails. mike. He yelled, “Listen, Pat, wings of that
His head was flat, and he had little bright plane you’re going up in—”
eyes sunk deep in his face. He looked not And then he paused, for the loud-
unlike a gorilla in shabby clothing. speaker near him had stopped its crackling.
It was exactly because of this Pat had switched off.
appearance that Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Monk groaned. The lawyer’s hand
Blodgett Mayfair got his nickname of “Monk.” was trembling. All thoughts of the argument
The tall, slender man who stood in which had just taken place between the two
the control cockpit of the plane, glowering was abruptly forgotten.
down at Monk, was in startling contrast to the For both realized how much lovely
apelike fellow. Pat meant to the Man of Bronze. Besides,
One word described him. Dapper. He they were both crazy about Pat Savage.
wore the smartest in daytime attire. He Monk settled down to getting all the
carried a polished black cane. He was dark speed possible out of the plane. He said,
and not unhandsome, with sharply defined “Blazes! We’ve got to stop them!”
features. He was Brigadier General For once, dapper Ham agreed with
Theodore Marley Brooks, but everyone his apelike partner.
called him Ham. His pet pastime was “Yes,” Ham breathed, and it was
squabbling with Monk; in fact, the pair of almost a prayer.
Both men were grimly silent as the Ham yelled, “It’s a trick! Pull out of
fast plane streaked through the sky. this stuff!” He glanced quickly at the
A half hour later Monk, still at the altimeter. “Don’t dive. We’ve only two
controls of the speedy plane, picked up the thousand feet. Go up!”
hazy outline of Lake Erie in the distance. He Monk yanked back on the stick and
was soon skirting Buffalo and seeking the they shot upward through the inky substance.
small airport which Pat, in her first contact That is, from the angle of the plane they
with the two aids, had said they were using. could tell that they were climbing steeply.
It was a clear morning, warm and And then, suddenly, Monk’s brow
cloudless, and Monk had no trouble in soon was furrowed and he was pulling excitedly at
locating the airfield. He turned to his dapper the gas-control arm.
partner and said, “We’ll be there in a minute. “What’s wrong now?” demanded
Blazes, I hope those girls didn’t—” Ham.
Monk paused, looking at Ham. For “The motor’s choked! She’s going
the lawyer, instead of listening to his partner, dead on us. She’s gonna stall!”
was staring overhead through a window Ham, the lawyer, could think swiftly
above them. in emergencies. Monk was still fooling
Abruptly Ham commented, “That around with the gas throttle, swearing
buzzard—or whatever it is—is sure moving because the ship’s motor sputtered and the
fast!” plane refused to climb out of the surrounding
Monk twisted his head upward and black cloud.
looked also. His little bright eyes squinted. Ham ordered sharply, “We’ll go into a
Suddenly he let out a yip. spin, you blasted idiot! Dive! Dive as far as
“Buzzard, hell!” he squeaked. “That’s you can, and maybe we’ll clear this stuff.”
a plane! And the blasted thing’s diving right Monk reacted mechanically. He
at us!” threw the ship into a sudden plunge, opened
Monk was correct. the gas throttle wide. The motor kept
For the black spot that looked like a sputtering, threatening to stop at any
large bird suddenly took on more form and moment.
became a black plane of latest design. It was Ham was shouting, “Something in
diving with the rush of a plummet, directly the exhaust from that plane choked our
over their heads. engine. Try to keep it going, and maybe we’ll
Monk let out a howl, sent their own hit clear air again.”
ship into a dizzy sideslip as he tried Next, both aids were abruptly tugging
frantically to get out of the way of the diving at their collars. Their faces reddened. A part
plane. of the black cloud had seeped into the plane
A moment later, the black plane cockpit, and apparently the stuff contained no
skimmed past their nose and shot on ahead. oxygen, for they found it hard to breathe.
It must have been going better than three Behind them, the two pets were
hundred miles an hour. gasping also.
Monk let out his breath. “The blasted Monk was the chemist in Doc
fool!” he piped. “Must be one of them crazy Savage’s organization. And despite his
test pilots. Guess he didn’t see us.” apelike appearance, he was a good chemist.
But there was no relief in Ham’s He was one of the best.
voice as he exclaimed, “Maybe he planned Hairy Monk, between gasps for fresh
on missing us. Look!” air, was sniffing now. He announced, “Smell
And almost before he had pointed of that black stuff tells me it is a form . . . of
ahead, they swept into the black cloud. The chemical they use . . . in planes . . . fighting
thick, inky smoke that had poured out from forest fires. It . . . it chokes off oxygen!”
the exhaust of the plane ahead. The other Ham’s eyes were bleared. But he
plane itself had disappeared, and Monk was staring at the altimeter. He suddenly
found himself flying blindly through the stuff pointed a finger at the instrument and choked
that was thicker than fog.
out, “Look out! We’ve only got three hundred microphone, so he could answer in case it
feet!” was Pat Savage.
Even as he said this, they cleared And it was.
the black fog and shot out into bright daylight Pat’s voice came breathlessly over
again. They had plunged another two the speaker: “Ham! Monk! We’re in trouble!
hundred feet while Ham was speaking. Are you listening?”
And both men saw the choppy water The lawyer quickly tuned in on Pat’s
beneath them. Lake Erie! A moment more, wave length. He said worriedly, “What’s
and they would have plunged into it! wrong, Pat?”
But Monk leveled off, the plane Doc Savage’s lovely cousin
motor picked up again as its carburetor continued: “We took up this new plane. I . . . I
sucked in fresh air, and they again zoomed guess Doc was right after all. Ham, there’s
upward. something wrong with one of the steering
Both aids stared upward at the control cables!”
floating black cloud. Monk’s little eyes fairly popped. “Ask
Monk snorted, “Blazes! I’m gonna her where they are!” he said shrilly.
find that black plane and chase that danged Ham did, and Pat’s voice came back:
pilot to hell and gone! Just wait until I—” “A small airport five miles south of Buffalo.
Ham was straightening his collar. He Ham, the cable—”
was breathing better again, and he had been There was a short silence, then Pat’s
watching the sky around them. frantic voice again: “We . . . we’ve gone into
He said, “That cloud has dispersed a nose dive. We can’t pull out of it!”
enough so that you can see. You aren’t going The speaker went silent. Both aids
to catch anyone, if you ask me.” stared.
It was true. The black plane had
disappeared.
Chapter IV
THE SKINNY MEN
BUT both men were puzzled about
the mysterious attack. As Monk said: THE plane was a cabin job with a
“What connection did that guy have single metal wing. Interior of the cabin was
with the girls? Why did he want to stop us?” decorated in soft-toned blue, and the leather
Ham shrugged. “Only thing I know is seats were of the same pale hue.
that Doc got a request from some man The faces of the two girls in the
named Tink O’Neil, telling him about Pat cockpit of the streamlined ship were also
going up in a plane with a girl named Molly about the same color.
Mason. We were to stop them, because it The tall, well-formed girl at the
has something to do with a thing called T.3.” controls had red-gold hair, blue eyes and a
Monk nodded. Doc had told them nice mouth. Except for one fact, she would
something of the urgent phone call received have appeared startlingly beautiful. But this
early this morning from Tink O’Neil. beauty was now dimmed by contrast with the
“And,” the hairy chemist added, “this second girl, seated beside her.
crazy guy who phoned yelled something The one at the controls was Molly
about a giant with red spots. He musta been Mason, one of the wealthiest girls in the
nuts!” United States.
Ham’s features, however, looked The second, more beautiful one was
worried. “We’d better hurry up and locate that Pat Savage, cousin of the remarkable Man of
airport again,” he suggested. “It’s damned Bronze.
queer why that black plane tried to put us out Pat had the bronze-gold hair, the
of business.” golden-hued skin coloring of her famous
Abruptly, the radio loud-speaker cousin. She was also tall, slender and with
crackled again. Ham jumped to grab the the kind of figure that belongs behind
footlights. Her eyes were also of an unusual This is the place where I told father to meet
gold shade. us. Careful, Pat!”
Pat had just dropped the radio But Pat didn’t have to be warned.
microphone. Her eyes were wide and She had managed to get partial control of the
frightened as she stared at her companion, plane, and now each manipulation she made
Molly Mason. was done with infinite caution.
Pat Savage cried, “Good heavens, They dropped lower and lower in the
what shall we do?” long spiral, and soon the small airfield was
It could be seen that the girl at the just beneath them. It was scarcely more than
controls was frantically trying to work a a large clearing in surrounding woods. There
rudder of the plane. The plane itself was was a single old hangar, and obviously the
headed downward toward the earth at terrific field was seldom in use. No one appeared on
speed. the ground below them.
Molly Mason gasped, “It’s . . . it’s But as Pat carefully straightened the
jammed. I can’t work the rudder. We’ll crash!” plane out for a pancake landing, Molly Mason
Pat was clinging to a support. She exclaimed: “There—just off to the side of the
leaned over, motioned the other golden- field! Father’s sedan. He must be waiting for
haired girl out of the seat and said, “Here, let us!”
me try it.” Pat was too busy to look. The field
Pat Savage knew how to fly planes. was flying up at them now. She tensed, gave
Often, unknown to her cousin Doc, she had a little prayer and brought the ship down.
received expert instruction from various of They bounced wildly once, settled,
the bronze man’s aids. then remained on the ground and rolled
The terrific plunge of the plane had furiously toward the trees bordering the edge
Molly Mason weak and trembling. She of the small field. For a moment, it looked as
flopped into the adjoining seat and stared in though they were going to crash the big
terror. She managed to cry, “That new limousine parked right at the border line of
steel—T.3—was used in the rudder wires. It’s trees.
the strongest thing known. But now”—she At the last moment, however, Pat
pointed with a shaking hand out the window sent the plane in a sliding half circle and
near her—”it . . . it’s snapped! We can’t work brought it to an abrupt stop in a cloud of
that one control!” kicking dust. They came to a stop with a wing
Pat Savage was the calmer of the tip not six feet away from the waiting car,
two. Her lips set grimly and she worked with now half concealed in the dust cloud.
the controls. Suddenly, she threw the plane Molly Mason gave a quick cry of
over and sent it into a sideslip. Air hammered relief and jumped toward the cabin door. Her
past the cabin of the hurtling ship. Pat tall, graceful figure had lost its tenseness,
wiggled the plane back and forth. and she said, “Pat, you’re wonderful! I never
And abruptly the ship leveled off and could have done that!”
went streaking ahead in a flat plane. Right behind the wealthy girl, Pat
Momentarily, its terrible plunge had been gave a relieved sigh and commented, “Gosh,
stopped. this ground sure looks swell again!”
Tense, Pat gripped the controls, and But as they jumped out to the ground
she scarcely breathed as she slowly worked both drew back in terror. For the assorted
the fast plane around to an easy, falling thugs who closed in on them from the sedan
spiral. looked far more menacing than the earth at
She said tightly, “I think we can bring four thousand feet.
it down this way. Air pressure kicked the
rudder around. If nothing happens—”
Molly Mason nodded, her slim body
taut. She glanced out a side window,
exclaimed, “We’re practically over the field.
The trio menacing them looked like hungry undertakers viewing the Fountain of Eternal Youth!
off, baby. Your old man ain’t within fifty miles

THERE were three men of varying of here!”
sizes. One was very short and thin, another Molly Mason’s softly curved lips
medium and also thin, and the third a parted in horror. “But,” she gasped, “he was
beanpole of a fellow even skinnier than the to meet us here!”
other two. The one holding her said gloomily,
But the most unusual thing about all “He ain’t meeting anyone, toots.”
three was the gloomy expression of their Molly Mason forced back a sob. She
bony faces. Each was dressed in severe kicked, squirmed, tore at her captor’s form.
black, and along with the gloomy expression, But the man—and it was the little skinny
the trio looked like hungry undertakers one—must have been built of whipcord and
viewing the Fountain of Eternal Youth. wire. He handled the tall, slender girl easily,
Pretty Molly Mason screamed. She started dragging her toward the big car.
stared toward the big limousine and called, It took the other two to manage Pat
“Father!” Savage.
One of the skinny men grabbed her. Pat jerked free of the beanpole-
He said without expression, “Yell your head looking fellow, cuffed him across the face,
neatly tripped his partner and spun back
toward the open plane door. Pat’s dress THE first man—the tallest one—had
swirled around her trim legs. She reached managed to reach through the broken glass
the cabin door, slammed it behind her and and unhook the door. He was inside now,
threw the catch in place—all before the spluttering and weaving around as the liquid
stunned men could again grab her. hit him in the face.
It appeared that Pat was leaving her He grated, “You danged fool! Drop
pretty friend to face the music alone. that thing!”
But this was not Pat’s idea at all. She Pat backed away and kept pumping
knew, instinctively, that they had no chance the hand extinguisher.
against the skinny men. There was It was the medium-sized thin man
something about the hard, gloomy who made use of his taller partner’s form. He
expressions on the men’s faces that told Pat ducked behind his partner, waited until they
these fellows got what they went after. were close to Pat, then spun clear and
Pat was simply trying to keep them grabbed Pat’s wrist.
out of the plane long enough to give her time His steellike grip twisted the
to leave a message for Doc Savage! extinguisher free of Pat’s grasp. Pressure on
The two outside were hammering on the girl’s arm caused her to wince with pain.
the door. Pat found her purse, kept down low For all their thinness, these fellows were just
enough so that the men could not see what about the toughest individuals Pat had ever
she was doing. Perhaps Doc would never run up against.
find her appeal for help. But it was worth the She was quickly subdued, dragged
try. Doc had uncovered lesser clues in the out of the cabin and thrown into the car.
past. Next, the two girls were bound hand and foot
On a small piece of paper from her and placed on the floor. Two of the men
purse, she scribbled frantically: stood looking gloomily down at them from the
open car door. The third had momentarily
Doc—Three skinny men have disappeared.
captured us. Obviously they know something Molly Mason, frantic about her father,
about J. Henry Mason, who was to meet us cried, “What is the meaning of this? Where is
here at airfield five miles south of Buffalo. my father? Where’s Tink O’Neil?”
Help. The little skinny fellow looked sad.
“My, my!” he commented. “How you go on!”
Pat Savage folded the note once and “If this is a kidnaping,” Molly Mason
tucked it down behind a seat in the plane screamed, “and my father is also missing,
cabin. She doubted that these men would then how do you expect to collect—”
take the plane. Doubtless they had observed “It ain’t no kidnaping, lady,” said the
the trouble Pat had experienced in landing little thin man in his flat voice. “Not that kind,
the ship, and knew that something was anyway.”
wrong with it. “Then what—” Molly started.
But if Doc found the plane later, he “Shuddup!” said the little man.
would naturally search it minutely for trace of Pat had been quiet, listening. Now
the missing girls. He would most likely find she rolled close to the other bound girl,
the message. whispered close to her ear, “I’ve left a
Pat next whirled back to where a fire message for Doc in the plane.”
extinguisher was hooked to one wall of the Molly Mason subsided then. She had
cabin. This was just at the moment one of the heard a lot of the bronze man named Doc
skinny men smashed the cabin window. Pat Savage. Perhaps Doc would soon reach
started pumping fire-extinguishing liquid into them.
the arrival’s face. The third man abruptly returned. He
She hoped that the men would figure climbed in behind the wheel of the big sedan.
she had been after the extinguisher. The other two got in the back. Gags were
placed in the girls’ mouths. They were left on
the floor of the car, and the two sat on the
rear seat in order to see that Pat and Molly was of the same rich color, only a shade
remained where they were. darker.
The car started up, bumped over the Doc Savage’s eyes were the most
field and reached a back road through the remarkable of all. They were a rich flake
woods. Apparently the little skinny man was gold, and in their depths was a continual
the boss, for the other two addressed him restless stirring. They were compelling,
respectfully from time to time. almost hypnotic eyes.
The driver said suddenly, “You know, Any other person would have found it
Wart, that one dame thought she was smart.” necessary to stand on something in order to
Apparently Wart was the name of the reach into the open cabin door for the cases.
skinny little boss. But Doc hauled them out without even rising
“Smart, eh?” he queried dully. to his toes. His giant size was deceptive, and
“How?” only noticeable when he was standing beside
The driver passed something back other men. This was because of the perfect
over the seat. Pat Savage, by twisting a little, symmetry of his scientifically developed
was able to see the piece of paper. Dismay body.
swept over her taut, slender body. Each of the cases weighed well over
The driver finished: “She left this a hundred pounds. Yet the bronze man lifted
note for Doc Savage.” all three easily, swung them beneath his
The leader named Wart glanced at arms and started out toward the woods
the note. For the first time, something that surrounding the deserted field.
resembled a grin touched his gloomy Doc Savage moved silently through
features. He said: the woods until he came to a point that gave
“I sorta figured Doc Savage would be him a view of the great steel mill. He saw
interested in this thing. So now we’ll take dozens of steelworkers sitting around the big
care of him!” yards, lunch pails beside them. It was the
noon lunch hour.
Most of the men were divided into
Chapter V groups, and apparently they were discussing
DEATH IN STEEL something important. Doc Savage had an
idea what that conversation was about. For a
THE skinny little thug named Wart phone call from this very plant had informed
was correct in a part of his statement. Doc him of the mystery of the spotted, crazed
Savage was interested. At noon that same worker.
day he set down his speed plane in a The call had come through to Doc
deserted field not far from where Tink O’Neil Savage sometime after the disappearance of
had cracked up in his midget car. J. Henry Mason. The informer had not given
The field was about half a mile from his name, but he had also mentioned the fact
the high wire fence that surrounded the long, that the millionaire steel king had
smoke-blackened buildings of Open-hearth mysteriously disappeared, and under strange
Shop No. 5. circumstances.
The bronze man stepped from the No mention had been made of the
plane, then reached back and pulled out new steel formula, T.3. And yet the Man of
several large equipment cases. Bronze knew something about it. Only
Doc Savage, standing alone, did not recently had J. Henry Mason consulted Doc
look unusually big. But his appearance was Savage. He had sought advice from the
striking. bronze man in regard to a part of the formula.
His skin was a gold hue, as though Doc Savage was known as a
he might have been exposed for long periods scientific genius. He had often been called in
of time to tropical suns. His hair, which lay as consultant by leading engineers and
like a close-fitting skullcap against his head, chemists. Therefore it was not unusual that
he had been in contact with such a wealthy
man as Mason in the past.
Doc Savage considered the steel had died. It was thought unlikely that the
king enough of a friend to investigate his others would live.
disappearance. Of course he had been Doc Savage, his body bathed in
somewhat worried about Pat. Pat was always sweat now, his nostrils full of the choking
getting into adventurous escapades. But he heat and dust of the huge shop, worked
had assigned Monk and Ham to look after his beside a burly fellow who had charge of
cousin. tapping one of the mammoth furnaces.
The bronze man, naturally, did not An overhead crane moved a ladle up
know that the two girls had been seized by to the furnace opening. The “ladle” was twice
the thin men. At the moment, he was as high as Doc Savage and ten feet across.
interested in learning something of the It probably weighed ten tons.
mystery of the madmen with red spots, and Doc’s job was to loosen the plug
of the disappearance of J. Henry Mason. which held back the molten, white-hot steel in
The bronze man now did a peculiar the towering furnace. The plug was at the
thing. He started taking off his clothes. end of a long rod, which Doc gripped in his
But a few moments later it was sinewed hands.
apparent why Doc Savage had done this. As the steel flowed out into the ladle,
Working with materials from one of the heavy sparks and heat came with it. They cascaded
cases, he was soon dressed as one of the out over Doc’s head, sputtered out onto the
half-stripped steelworkers. floor around him. A tiny piece seared through
Special thin eye caps covered the the flesh of his shoulder.
unusual flake gold of the bronze man’s Doc worked silently through the
magnetic eyes. Now they appeared as the terrific heat and the choking atmosphere of
bloodshot eyes of a man from the open- the shop. He heard everything that was said
hearth shops. around him.
His body, from the waist up, was There was unrest among the
dark with what looked like the grimy black of workers. There was talk of walking off the
the shops. Shoes and trousers looked job. Many had seen the significant red spots
somewhat the same. Even Doc’s hair was on the bodies of the crazed men, and they
now dark. Anyone would think that he was a feared smallpox.
be-smudged worker who had just come out But a number of these steelworkers
of the big foundry. were married, with families to support. They
Doc concealed the equipment cases could not afford a layoff. They were the ones
in the woods, moved forward and was soon who talked the others into sticking to their
strolling casually through the entrance gates jobs.
to the vast steel plant. He might have been At two that afternoon, a powerfully
any of a dozen other men just returning from built steelworker moved close to Doc Savage
their lunch hour. and whispered, “Want to see you.” He
At one o’clock, when the whistle motioned to a spot away from where the
blew, he was working on the long floor of others were working.
Open-hearth Shop No. 5. Doc followed the man. It was hard to
New men had already been put on at tell much about the coloring of the man’s skin
the shop in order to replace several who had or his hair. He was black with grime.
been stricken with the strange madness. The man led the way out of the shop,
Thus Doc passed practically unnoticed cut across toward a foundry that was almost
among the workers. All were strapping big as vast as the first shop.
men, and Doc was merely considered one of Just outside the entrance to the
them. second foundry, Doc paused and said, “You
The bronze man listened sharply to might explain what this is all about?”
conversation among the perspiring men, as The big, perspiring steelworker
they worked. It seemed that several more looked steadily at the bronze man.
men in the open-hearth had cracked up. “You’re Doc Savage,” he stated.
They had been rushed to hospitals. One man
Doc remained silent. No surprise single fact that might explain all this damned
showed on his features. He had suspected trouble. Also—”
someone might recognize him, regardless of “You might explain,” suggested Doc.
his attire. Too, he had the feeling that “First,” continued the worker, “let me
someone knew he had been on the way show you something—” He broke off,
here. stooped down to indicate a spot near the
“Well,” continued the man, “I can base of the thick armor plate.
show you something about T.3.” Doc bent to see what the man was
Doc’s features did not change. “T.3?” indicating.
The man nodded. “T.3 is the new Somewhere near them a man yelled
steel,” he explained. “This damned trouble wildly, “Look out!”
started right after the first batch was run off. I But already the huge pieces of armor
think maybe I can help you.” plate was toppling over above them.
Apparently the man thought Doc
Savage was only here to find out the mystery
of T.3, and why workers were going mad. No NOISE in the big foundry had
mention had been made of the strange covered the man’s yell. The high, vaulted
disappearance of J. Henry Mason. As yet, roof above them picked up sounds and sent
men in the shops had not been told of the them crashing back as heavy machinery
millionaire’s sudden disappearance. operated. This accounted for the man with
“What is it you have to reveal?” Doc Savage not hearing the cry.
queried Doc quietly. But the bronze man had senses
“Come along.” trained by years of scientific exercises. He
They moved into the foundry ahead. could even detect motion before it was
Over their heads, giant cranes moved back observed by others.
and forth, rumbling along on their solid And so, in that last split second, he
tracks. Men shouted and cursed the heat. had caught the slow, practically invisible
Massive rolling machines gobbled up motion of the mammoth steel sheet as it first
sections of white-hot steel, passed it through started to topple.
a series of rollers that squeezed down like Doc leaped up. Already the piece of
massive hands, and sent the sheets of steel, armor plate had moved far enough so that its
now thinner, out the other end of the long great weight was sending it downward with
machines. swift, silent speed.
It was toward one of these that the The bronze man cleared the giant
man with Doc Savage headed. piece of steel a fraction of a second before it
Beyond one machine, a huge sheet struck the floor. There had been no time to
of steel stood upended, supported by a hook grab the other man. Doc had missed death
from a motionless overhead crane. The sheet by a scant heartbeat of time.
was about ten inches thick and ten feet Crash of the tons of sheet steel
square. shook the whole foundry. The floor quivered
“Armor plate,” explained Doc’s and trembled beneath the bronze man’s feet.
informer. “They say no shell will ever be able And a man lay beneath that piece of armor
to pierce it.” plate, crushed so flat that not even an inch of
Doc nodded. He knew something clearance was between the huge steel plate
about the manufacture of the heavy plate for and the floor.
battleships. He judged that this single section Doc’s face was grim and strained.
weighed about ten or fifteen tons. He had just seen a man flattened to death, a
They stood behind the massive piece man who had been going to tell him
of steel, and the man with Doc went on: something.
“First, I want to tell you about something I Doc’s eyes traveled to the big hook
found out just two hours ago. It’s got nothing that hung down from the overhead crane, the
to do with T.3, and yet it also has. It’s a hook that had held the armor plate upright.
He saw that tension on the steel cable that
held the hook had been slackened. The hook Then, abruptly, the man went limp in
had been lowered a good three feet! Doc’s grasp. His twisted face turned toward
The bronze man whipped around, Doc’s own, and he muttered half
glanced toward the control cab of the incoherently, “They fooled you. They fooled
movable crane. And he saw the workman you. They . . . the skinny ones caught the
just climbing out of the cab, escaping along a girls! They . . . they fooled that Monk and
catwalk that paralleled the runway tracks of Ham!”
the big crane. The man went more limp in Doc’s
Someone on the floor of the foundry arms. Effect of the madness seemed to have
pointed and yelled. “Look! It’s another mad left him weak and spent.
guy with red spots!” Doc stared. Announcement of the
A cry of horror and dismay went up capture of Pat Savage and Molly Mason
from two dozen throats. Men started running came as a distinct shock. He had figured that
out of the foundry. All feared the one who his aids, Monk and Ham, had met the girls.
leered down at them from the crane runway Also, sudden collapse of the
above. captive’s superhuman strength took the
For a moment, no one saw the bronze man off guard.
actions of the giant bronze man. Doc, with For in the next instant, the big fellow
the ease of long training, leaped and caught let out an insane yell and broke free. He
the hook which still dangled at the end of the made a mighty swing with a closed fist at
cable. With smooth, swift motion, he pulled Doc’s head.
himself upward hand over hand. Doc was knocked backward, to trip
He reached the crane’s crossbeam, and slip from the narrow walk. But his
swung up to his feet, then ran across the powerful hands whipped out, caught an edge
beam to where it met the supporting runway of the catwalk and held. Tendons in his
track. sinewed hands bulged as he slowly drew
Fifty feet ahead of him, the crazed himself back to safety again.
worker turned and started giggling inanely. But the crazed man’s swing had
Doc Savage saw the gruesome red spots on thrown him off balance. He toppled
the man’s half-naked body. He caught the backward, completely cleared the narrow
peculiar squint of one eye. steel walk and plunged fifty feet to the floor
The fellow leaped back in the below.
direction of Doc! Wet with perspiration, Doc Savage
From below, on the shop floor, a stared downward. The man had landed on
man screamed, “Look out, you fool! That nut his neck. The twisted position of the man’s
will kill you!” head said that his neck was broken.
But Doc Savage leaped forward to Workmen yelled and slowly moved in on the
meet the attack of the crazed man. His broken form.
powerful hands caught the flailing arm; he Doc Savage felt only pity for this
pulled the wild-eyed man from his feet, lifted poor devil who had been stark mad. Perhaps
him into his arms and started carrying him it was just as well that the fellow was past
along the narrow catwalk. suffering.
The madman twisted and clawed And yet, in that moment of temporary
and fought. It seemed obvious that both men exhaustion, the man had muttered something
would be plunged from the narrow beam to about the girls being captured, about a trick
their deaths. that had been worked on Monk and Ham.
The man’s sweaty body squirmed in And the bronze man suddenly knew
the arms of Doc Savage. The crazed fellow that he had to go to their aid. The safety of
had superhuman strength, and the muscles Pat Savage meant more to him than any
of the bronze man’s arms bulged like knotted solution of the mystery of T.3, or of men who,
cords as he fought to keep the maniac from without apparent reason, went mad.
throwing them both to destruction on the floor
far below.
During the excitement below, Doc followed the two girls. Perhaps he had forced
climbed down from the crane runway and them to send the message about their plane
slipped from the plant building. being out of control. Monk was willing to bet
that it was all a trick.
The footprints faded out in loose
Chapter VI gravel that bordered the hangar. Monk
MAN IN THE MASK circled the building once, noting that the large
doors in the front were locked. But a smaller
MONK and Ham had landed at the door around to the side of the building was
private airfield near the shore of Lake Erie. unlocked. He went inside.
There were no other planes out on the field. Within the hangar he saw an old
Likewise, there was no trace of the two girls. crate that had gone out of flying style ten
Monk was manipulating dials on a years ago. But there was space for two or
radio direction-finder in their plane. He glared three more planes, and the spaces were
at his well-dressed partner. empty. It was quite possible that the girl’s
“Doggonit!” the hairy chemist plane had been here.
exploded. “This dingus says there’s no plane Monk strolled around the old plane,
flying anywhere near here. Thought you said looking it over carefully. If Pat and Molly
this was the field the girls were over?” Mason had been in trouble, leave it to Pat
Ham glared. “It was!” he rapped. “But Savage to place some sort of clue.
that’s not saying they haven’t cracked up The chemist peered beneath the
some place.” wings, looked for any marks that might be on
Neither aid knew, naturally, that the “prop.” He got up on a wing and stuck his
Molly and Pat Savage had landed at a field homely face inside the cockpit of the open-
five miles south of this point. type plane.
The lawyer climbed out of the plane, Folds of a silk parachute came out of
commenting, “We might look around. Maybe the cockpit, made a sack over the homely
we’ll find someone who saw them.” chemist’s head and he was knocked back to
Monk, giving up trying to pick up the cement floor.
anything on the direction-finder, followed Someone kicked Monk in the face.
Ham out to the landing field.
It was then that he saw the footprints
on the ground. MONK couldn’t see. He tried to get
There were two sets of prints. Neat untangled from inside the many folds of
impressions of girls’ shoes. There had been parachute. But the more he struggled, the
a heavy dew the previous night, and the more tangled he became.
impressions were still distinct in the half- Every time he gained his feet, the
damp earth. man kicked him down again. The fellow
The chemist’s little eyes brightened. wasn’t particular where he kicked. Face,
For here was proof that Molly and Pat had stomach, ribs, however, seemed to be the
been at this field. Monk, with his waddling, most favored spots.
short-legged gait, started following the Enraged, Monk got his hairy hands
footprints. gripped in the tough silk, yanked, and the
The tracks led toward a hangar to stuff split like the cheapest cheesecloth. For
one side of the field. Twenty feet from the big the first time, the chemist got a look at the
metal building, Monk stared more intently at long young man with the sandy hair.
the earth. Another pair of footprints had He took hold of the young man,
joined those of the girls; or rather, they whacked him against the floor, picked him up
appeared coming in at an angle and and bounced him several times off a wing of
apparently had followed along. the old plane. Wind exploded from the tall
The hairy chemist’s brain leaped to man’s lungs. His face got purple. When the
one conclusion: Someone—a man—had man fell back exhausted against the fuselage
of the plane, Monk gave a snort of disgust Clever Ham took over the
and commented, “Shucks!” questioning.
For the apelike fellow liked nothing “What’s this business about
better than a good fight. But he decided to something known as T.3?” he prodded.
give the young man one more bounce on the “That,” informed Tink O’Neil, “is the
floor. He leaped forward. classification of a new steel which has
The tow-headed young man gasped, recently been perfected at the plant. It’s
“Wait! There’s been a mistake.” going to cause a whole lot of changes in the
Monk growled, “Only mistake is that steel business. It’s the greatest stuff ever
you’re gonna need an ambulance!” invented. But something terrible’s happened
“Look!” the other got in swiftly. to T.3. And take those workers going mad,
“There’s only one person like you in the with the red spots on them—”
world. You must be the one they call Monk. The young trouble-shooter made a
Well, I’m Tink O’Neil. I’m the one who called helpless gesture. “I can’t understand it.”
Doc Savage.” “What about the girls? An’ what were
That was enough to bring the you doing here?” Monk put in.
chemist up short. He squinted at the lean, Tink O’Neil, it appeared, could
somewhat grease-smeared features of young explain his presence at this private field. He
Tink O’Neil. said, “This is where they left from. I just got
Monk asked suspiciously, “When did here when I saw you two land. I thought
you call Doc Savage?” maybe you had something to do with this
“Early this morning.” mystery, and hid here in this old plane to see
“What about?” what you did.”
“I informed Doc Savage about the Tink started out of the hangar.
predicament of Molly Mason and his cousin “Come on,” he suggested. “There’s another
Pat.” landing field south of here, nearer where
The chemist grinned. “Maybe you Molly lives. I have a hunch they might have
shoulda told me you were Tink O’Neil in the landed there.”
first place.” Apparently Monk was satisfied Outside, on the field again, they met
that the sandy-haired young man was the the giant of a fellow who was running toward
one who had called Doc Savage early today. the hangar.
Ham had come quietly into the
hangar while Monk was questioning Tink
O’Neil. He was without the pets. Apparently THE man was a steelworker, still in
they had evaded him, and were off in the his begrimed work clothes and with only an
woods continuing their fight. old, half-open sweater covering his massive
To Tink O’Neil, Monk explained, “In chest. He hailed Tink O’Neil.
an unguarded moment, this ambulance- “Been looking all over for you, Tink,”
chaser”—and the chemist indicated smartly the husky fellow explained. “I saw Walter
attired Ham—”got into the organization of Mason, and that fat lummox told me you
Doc Savage. He’s a shyster lawyer that came here looking for the girls. I was here
represents husbands who kick their wives earlier, but must have missed you.”
downstairs.” Tink explained his delay in reaching
Tink O’Neil smiled, although he was the airfield. “A crazed worker attacked me as
massaging a bruised jaw. But the smile I was leaving Mason’s estate,” he said. “He
turned to a look of worry as clever Ham got away.”
started questioning the young man about the Tink explained to Doc’s two aids who
strange disappearance of the two girls. the man was. He was a foreman from one of
The young steel-plant trouble- the steel shops. They were all walking toward
shooter briefly explained about the accident the plane which Monk had landed here.
to his midget racing car at the track. He told The young trouble-shooter looked
about the mysterious and sudden quickly at the man. “How’s things at No. 5?”
disappearance of J. Henry Mason. he asked.
The big, strapping steelworker shook steelworker himself was dripping with
his head. “Bad,” he said. “Some more men perspiration. He appeared to be struggling
went screwy. And they had them red spots with some terrible force that had taken
on them. One almost killed Doc Savage—” control of him.
Monk jumped. Ham grabbed the As everyone stared, the man’s
speaker’s arm. features twisted up in a half grin that left one
“Doc Savage was there at the eye closed in a squint. He started giggling
shops?” the lawyer asked quickly. softly, inanely.
Their informant nodded. “Yeah. But More of the hideous red spots came
he disappeared right after tangling with one out on his exposed chest and broad features.
of them mad guys.” He let out a mad yell and lunged at the
“Maybe Doc’s in trouble!” hairy Monk apelike chemist. But Monk took hold of the
exploded. “Maybe—” crazed steelworker and tried to throw him to
They were interrupted by a sound the ground. Monk could usually hurl half a
which came from the plane, beside which dozen men flat, if need be.
they now stood. Monk gave a shout. But the man spilled Monk first,
“That’s the radio!” he yelled. “Betcha picked him up and showed signs of dashing
maybe it’s the girls!” the chemist’s brains out in the next moment.
He leaped inside the plane while the Ham shouted, and something appeared from
others waited outside. And Monk learned that his black cane.
it wasn’t the short-wave speaker, but the The object was a sword of thin,
direction-finder which had sputtered. He tough steel. The tip of the sword blade was
worked a control that picked up location of treated with an anaesthetic chemical that at a
the sound. slight prick, left its victims temporarily
The sound became louder in the unconscious.
instrument with which he was fooling. Ham tried to get a jab at the powerful
Monk also tried the short-wave radio man struggling with Monk. Madness had
again, in the hope that he might pick up a given the fellow superhuman strength, and
message from the two girls, or perhaps from surprise showed on Monk’s homely features
Doc Savage. But he got nothing. when he could not knock the worker out.
He listened a moment longer to Tink O’Neil was also trying to help,
sound in the finder, hurried back to the others jumping around looking for a chance to lay
and said excitedly, “Picked up a plane. It’s his hands on the fighting madman.
headed this way!” But suddenly the man broke free,
Ham asked, “You try to reach Doc?” shaking Monk off as though he might be a
Monk started to say, “Yep. But I toy fox terrier. With a shrill giggle, the
couldn’t get a danged—” towering steelworker went galloping down
And then he paused, staring. Tink the length of the field.
O’Neil and Ham followed the hairy chemist’s Monk was first after him, Ham and
gaze. Tink O’Neil following. They had gone
Monk was watching the powerful, perhaps a hundred yards when the sharp-
sweat-smeared steelworker who had arrived eyed lawyer suddenly called, “Look! There’s
from the open-hearth shop known at No. 5. the plane!”
The fellow had been saying, “Listen, Tink, I Monk remembered the plane sound
wanted to tell you about them girls. You see, he had picked up in the instrument inside the
they were grabbed by—” cockpit of their own ship. He paused. To both
Monk exploded, “Gollywockus!” He Monk and Ham, the fate of the two girls was
was still watching the big man. more important than catching the crazed
man.
They watched the speck in the sky
RED spots were appearing on the grow larger, rapidly approach the field and
husky fellow’s face. Though it was hot, and swoop down for a landing.
everyone was somewhat warm, the
But it was dapper Ham who suddenly landed—though there was no plane—and a
exclaimed, “Hey. It’s that black plane again!” loaded hayrack off at the edge of the small
He referred to the mysterious black private field. The wagon piled with hay
plane that had laid down the choking smoke obviously belonged to a farmer who owned a
screen near Lake Erie. large field adjoining that of the airport.
Monk took one frantic look at the Doc Savage brought his plane down
running madman, one glimpse of the low enough to make certain that no one was
approaching, low-flying plane, then squealed, around on the field.
“Goshamighty! Look out!” Next, he located the other landing
He indicated the black snout sticking field five miles south, the one situated near
over the cockpit of the speeding plane. The the palatial home of Molly Mason. From the
roar of the motor was loud in their ears now. air, in the distance, you could see Buffalo.
Mixed with it was the firecracker Also, off to the right, the almost mile-long
sound that bullets made coming from the string of shops that belonged to the big steel
black-snouted machine gun—the gun that plant of J. Henry Mason. From stacks of the
was manned by a flier in goggles and black mills, smoke came—at this distance—like
mask. tiny threads of black string.
The second landing field was also
deserted. Doc, of course, did not know that
Chapter VII Molly Mason and Pat had landed here, that
DOC DISCOVERED they had been grabbed at this second field
by the three thin and gloomy-looking men.
WHEN Doc Savage hurried, unseen, Neither could he have known that
from the open-hearth shop where a madman their plane should still be here, since the
had just died, he returned to the hiding place girls’ captors had departed in a car.
in the woods where he had left his equipment Doc flew around the countryside
cases. He quickly changed back into his looking for some signs of his two aids and
regular clothes. the girls, or of those who might have grabbed
He was just picking up the three them.
heavy cases to return them to the plane He was again high over the first field
when he paused, looking at one of them near the lake when he saw the three tiny
closely. specks bobbing around on the field far below
His trained eye had noted that one him. The bronze man put his ship into a dive
case had been moved a bare fraction of an and came down for a fast landing. He noted,
inch. And so Doc quickly went through all the even as he did this, that the three specks—
equipment cases. he now saw that they were human forms—
He found no single thing disturbed. scurried madly for the hayrack which he had
Doc lifted the bags, returned to the observed near the field earlier. The figures
plane. But a few moments later, he returned disappeared beneath the hayrack.
with one of the cases again. That is, a case But as Doc’s plane wheels touched
that looked like one of the others. Oddly, the ground, the three men came out from
though, it was empty. He left the case at the beneath the load of hay and raced back
hiding place in the woods. toward the bronze man’s plane.
Later, Doc Savage spent two hours
scouring the vicinity in his fast speed plane.
He located both small flying fields. The first THEY were hairy Monk, Ham and
was the one near Lake Erie where Monk and tow-headed Tink O’Neil. As Doc climbed
Ham had met Tink O’Neil and a steelworker from his ship, it was Monk who gave a big
who suddenly went crazy. sigh and exclaimed:
All Doc Savage saw as he flew over “Wow! Doc, we thought you was that
the field was the old metal hangar, tracks that masked guy returning again in that black
had been made by a plane which had plane!”
“The masked man?”
Ham told about the mysterious black he had taken to the water, thus obliterating
plane, with the machine-gunner pilot who had his trail.
almost riddled them to shreds. “A plane was wheeled along through
“Lucky we reached that hayrack in here.”
time,” explained the well-dressed lawyer. It was Doc who spoke. The bronze
“We got underneath it and it was packed full man had moved on ahead, beyond the
enough with hay to stop penetration of those brook, at which point the woods ended. He
bullets.” had discovered double tire marks in the long
Doc was introduced to young Tink grass growing between woods and landing
O’Neil, the friend of J. Henry Mason. field. Doc studied the tracks a moment before
Questioned about the disappearance of the making his announcement.
steel king and the girls, Tink repeated the They followed the new tracks, to
same things he had told the bronze man’s learn that they ended before an old, sagging
two aids. He could offer no explanation of the barn set a quarter of a mile away from the
mystery. field. The barn was located on deserted farm
They told Doc Savage about the mill land, and obviously had been in disuse for
foreman who had come seeking Tink, and years.
who had suddenly broken out in the weird The girls’ plane had been hidden
red spots and gone crazy. inside the barn.
Monk added: “And that feller musta It was Tink O’Neil who gasped, “This
escaped when the black plane tried to gun us is the new plane Molly was to try out with Pat
down. We couldn’t find him afterward.” today!”
It seemed that Monk and Ham had Doc Savage was already inspecting
tried to find trace of the crazed mill foreman the modern-looking ship. He located the
after the black plane pilot had left them for disabled rudder-wire in a moment. He
dead. Not finding him, they had returned to showed it to Tink O’Neil.
store their own plane in the hangar nearby, The young trouble-shooter knew
where it was now. steel. He examined the wire closely as Doc
Doc listened quietly, then suggested, asked: “Does this contain the new T.3?”
“We might try finding that maniac again.” Tink O’Neil nodded quickly. “Yes. In
First, Doc got a couple of objects fact, I watched some of this very stuff being
from one of his equipment cases in his own made. It’s identical to one of the new T.3
plane. One was a portable light-scanning formula products. It’s supposed to be the
device employing an infrared-ray principle of toughest thing known.”
the bronze man’s own invention. At night, the “And yet it broke,” was the bronze
device would pick up foot tracks that were man’s comment.
invisible to the naked eye. Tink O’Neil had no explanation for
It was already growing dusk. In the that. He too was puzzled.
nearby woods through which Ham said the From a special equipment vest that
madman had disappeared, it was dark. With the bronze giant always wore beneath his
the light-scanner, Doc Savage soon picked coat, Doc took out a pair of sharp pliers and
up the trail of the mad mill hand. cut off a short length of the cable and stored
The trail led directly to the small it away in his pocket.
landing field where Pat Savage and Molly Then they all searched the plane for
Mason had been seized by the three thin any note or clue that might have been left by
men. Pat or Molly Mason. They found nothing that
might tell what had happened to the two girls.
Naturally there was plenty of evidence that
AT the small airfield, the trail of the the girls had been in the plane, but little
man with the red spots ended. This was further.
because there was a small brook that passed Doc suggested that they might go
along one edge of the field. It was at this back to the plane field itself.
point that the man’s trail stopped. Apparently
There, with the light-scanning device, The bronze man returned to the steel
Doc had soon located footprints made by the mill, landed just outside the small town that
two girls and the three thin men. The bronze had been built beyond the railroad tracks
man ordered everyone to stand back. He leading into the long plant.
himself bent down and went over the ground He was in time to observe the small
inch by inch. riot taking place in the streets of the mill
Finally he stated: “Pat and the other town.
girl were seized by three men of varying
sizes. One would be fairly small, another
medium, the third taller than all but not UNOBSERVED, Doc Savage later
heavily built.” walked through the main street of the mill
The bronze man had figured this out town. Before leaving the plane, Doc had
from impressions made by the men’s shoes, switched back to the blackened old clothes of
and from the sizes of those shoes. The one a steelworker. His hair was black, and his
set of prints showed very large, very long features and hands lacked their usual
shoes. This would indicate that the wearer metallic coloring.
was tall. But Doc knew that the man was not There was just the single main street
heavy or stout because impressions of the of the town. It was perhaps a mile long, and
large shoes were little deeper in the earth divided the plant property from the rows of
than the others. similar, smoke-darkened houses of the mill-
Next, the bronze man scrutinized the workers’ families.
automobile tire tracks. Style and size of the Though the fight was taking place
tire treads told Doc that the machine had halfway down the length of the street, the
been a large one. The bronze man, in his vast mills were still in operation. Orders for
many scientific experiments had studied products made of the famous new T.3
thousands of types of impressions made by formula had been pouring into the plant. The
all sorts of things. He also measured the bosses, therefore, were running three shifts
wheelbase of the car, then again carefully of men each twenty-four hours.
went over impressions made by the front But now some of those men had
wheels. walked off the job because of the terror of the
To Monk and Ham, he explained, red spots and the sudden madness that
“Deeper impressions made by the forward struck their fellow workers.
wheels show that it was a front-wheel drive Blast furnaces sent their fiery red
type. There are only two or three makes of glow into the night sky. Smoke and drifting
that kind of car on the market. But only one soot were everywhere. It accounted for the
of this wheelbase.” dismal-looking, drab homes of the mill hands.
Doc named a high-priced make of Doc reached the general store where
automobile. He repeated his comment that the men were arguing and fighting. One
he thought the girls’ captors were three men husky mill hand had climbed up on the steps
of varying sizes. He suggested: of the store, vainly trying to make a speech.
“That ought to give you enough to A few stopped fighting in order to listen to the
pick up their trail. It might be a good idea if man. Others booed, or went on fighting with
Tink O’Neil went with you, since he knows those they were trying to stop from going to
Molly Mason.” work at the various shops.
First, all returned to the original Bricks flew. Some of the powerful
landing field, where Monk and Ham rolled foundry workers held clubs and sticks. A
their plane from the hangar. small coupé rolled down the street, parked,
Doc took off a moment later, ordering and two uniformed men leaped out.
them to keep looking for the girls and the big, Apparently this was the “police force” of the
front-wheel-drive car until they had some sort small town.
of lead. Doc stated that he would get in touch The car was quickly upset; the
with them later. policemen were stripped of their clubs and
guns, and the crowd merely jeered at them.
Doc Savage was concealed in a man who has arrived in town that can stop
doorway of a closed shoe-repair shop across this madness menace. He can help us. He—”
from the struggling crowd. He was Someone guffawed. “Yah! What
unobserved as he watched the husky fellow good did our doctors do? They can’t even
who was trying to speak. The man looked figure what this sickness is!”
sincere in what he was attempting to do; The men all started talking and
likewise, he appeared like an intelligent sort arguing again. The speaker on the steps saw
of person. He was striving to bring order out that he was going to lose control of them a
of chaos. second time. Frantic, he yelled:
On an impulse, Doc spoke. His voice “Look here. This man I’m telling you
carried over the heads of the fighting mob. about was seen in No. 5 today. He can help
Strangely, it was impossible for anyone to us. He is Doc Savage!”
locate the exact source of that commanding,
clear-carrying voice.
The bronze giant had used A HUSH abruptly swept over the
ventriloquism, at which he was adept. His men.
words brought the struggling men to abrupt The men started talking quickly.
silence. They stood in awe of the deep-toned Abruptly, someone asked loudly, “All right.
words. Where is this Doc Savage? Let’s see him!”
“Let your leader speak,” Doc Doc Savage himself was still pressed
suggested. “It is more wise to reason this back in the doorway of the darkened shoe-
trouble out than to fight. Give him at least a repair shop. He reacted instantly to the
chance.” questioner’s words. His agile mind saw a
The speaker on the store steps had picture, a gruesome picture of disorder and
no idea from where the voice had come. But grief.
it did give him the break he needed, and he Men walking out of the mills. The
immediately seized his cue. plant itself closing down because of the
He said seriously, “Men, we’re trouble. Women and children going hungry.
cutting our own throats if we continue to walk These mill hands had only one source of
off the job. It’s the only living we have. Do income. Steel!
you all want to starve?” And yet there was the other menace
Someone shouted. “Of course not! of the red-spot sickness, the terrible
But neither do we want to die like mad dogs! madness that had already hit various
Like those others did when the sickness got workers. Naturally, these men were thinking
them!” of their families, of this terror that might find
A second man yelled approval. its way into their very homes. Obviously, no
“Yeah! Maybe that red-spot sickness will hit one was safe; it was impossible to tell just
all of us—our families—and then where’ll we where the menace would strike again.
be? We’ll all die!” Doc Savage decided that he should
Yells went up from the listening reveal himself. His hands worked quickly with
crowd. a soft substance that he took from one
“Sure!” said one man. “Lookit Hank pocket. The stuff was puttylike material that
Miller, and Steve Clancy, an’ poor Jim would remove the grime and soot-black from
Daniels! They all got the grinning madness, his metallic features. He prepared to step
an’ now they’re dead! The hell with the plant. from the doorway and address the men
I say let’s leave town before this madness himself.
gets worse!” But just then the darkened door
More shouts of agreement went up. against which he was pressed back, opened
But the speaker on the general store with a jerk and hands that were like steel
steps held up his hand. His face was strained talons sank into the bronze man’s shoulders.
and grim. Other powerful hands gripped various parts
“Listen!” he called out. “There’s of the bronze man’s body. Something that
something you don’t know about. There’s a smelled like a chloroform-soaked rag was
slapped over his mouth and nose. He was The men quieted down and stood
dragged inside the store by at least a dozen grouped around the bronze man’s sprawled
silently moving big figures. form, wary lest Doc Savage show the least
The door was closed quietly. Doc sign of coming out of the chloroform sleep.
was quickly hauled into a smaller, rear room. One big fellow squinted down at Doc,
The windows of the second room were studied the powerful form a long moment.
covered with old rags nailed to the frames. “Criminy!” he exploded. “I think the guy’s
There was a small light burning overhead. dead. He ain’t even breathin’!”
The little thin man with the gloomy- Others took a closer look. It certainly
looking face was standing to one side, appeared that the speaker’s words were true.
watching as the bronze giant was dragged Doc Savage showed no indication of life
into the room. He spoke in a flat, whatsoever.
expressionless voice. Little Wart allowed a brief smirk to
“Nice going,” he said. “Now a couple cross his gloomy features. “Swell,” he said.
of you guys get out there, start a fight “This is going to save us a lot of headaches.
somewhere else and get that crowd away That guy sure can be hell on wheels when
from here.” he’s on his feet.”
They were interrupted by return of
the two men who had been sent out to start a
Chapter VIII fight elsewhere in order to draw the mill
QUESTIONS crowd away from this locality. One of the
arrivals announced:
DOC SAVAGE lay silently on the “The van’s outside, boss.” He jerked
bare floor of the small room. What little his chin at Doc’s motionless form. “All set?”
furniture had been in the place, the men had Thin little Wart nodded. “Pile him in
swept to one side. the van,” he ordered.
The wedge-shouldered man who had Doc was picked up by half a dozen
been holding the chloroform-soaked rag over of the thugs and carried out a rear door of the
the bronze man’s face, abruptly stood up and small room. The rear doors of the large van
dropped the cloth in a can, tightly closing it had been opened, a tailgate lowered, and
up. He said with a grin: “He’s out cold, Wart. then the truck had been backed right up to
Soon as the boys get that mob away from out the door. The bronze man was carried inside
front, we can move this bronze guy.” and placed on the floor. Had anyone been
Wart nodded, his gloomy face watching, it would have been impossible to
expressionless. He was the same man who see exactly what was going on.
had taken charge of the capture of Pat and Apparently the vehicle was a large
Molly Mason. His two skinny assistants, van for hauling horses. But stalls had been
however, were not with him now. knocked out and now the inside was just one
All the thugs standing over Doc large space with some straw left on the floor.
Savage were burly, big men with hard jaws On either side of the van were windows with
and grim eyes. It could be seen that several iron bars across. The apertures were for
were dressed in the work clothes of mill ventilation when horses were being
hands, though they looked like the type who transported.
had hardly ever done an honest day’s work in Just before the rear doors were
their lives. closed up again, little wiry Wart gave crisp
They started complimenting one orders.
another on what a cinch it had been to “Half you guys go in the sedan,” he
capture this fellow Doc Savage. suggested. “I’ll be right with you. Six ought to
But little Wart spoke up. “It won’t be be enough to watch this bronze fellow. We’ll
so funny if the bronze guy wakes up. Keep meet at the usual place.”
your eyes on him, dopes!” So saying, Wart climbed out of the
truck and the rear doors were bolted from
outside. Someone outside climbed up into
the driver’s compartment—the driver’s cab Doc now demonstrated a little of

was a closed-off unit separated from the what he knew.
large van part by a steel partition—and then The struggling, swaying group
the truck started up and went rumbling off. became something that sounded like three
Soon it left the single main street of mountain goats involved with a swift-moving
the mill town and made a lot of loud noise panther. There was butting and howling and
bouncing over rough dirt road. cursing.
But Doc Savage came up off the Doc said no word, merely moving
floor of the truck without any noise. with blinding speed. After a moment or two,
bodies started flying away from him in
tangents. Each tangent was a man, and he
DOC grabbed two pairs of legs of kept going in a straight line until he banged a
men leaning against one inside wall of the wall of the van. Then each fell down and
van. Blurred speed followed. dreamed a comet had struck the earth.
The two surprised men were hurled Doc gazed at the six unconscious
to the floor. The bronze man’s crashing fists men piled around him. He recalled the voice
located two jaws. The two thugs collapsed of one thug who had spoken, and so be
before they even had time to yell. moved to the steel partition that separated
But the scuffling sound had been him from the driver’s compartment and
heard by the four others who were also in the started pounding on the wall.
compartment with the Man of Bronze. Just a The racket of the truck bouncing over
little faint night light came in through the the rough road had kept the driver in
grilled openings, and they leaped back ignorance of what was taking place behind
toward Doc Savage, one man growling, “Say, him. Doc had to knock for a while until he got
what the hell’s wrong with you birds?” the man’s attention.
The man had not yet seen Doc Then, imitating closely the voice of
Savage on his feet. the one thug, Doc called, “Stop this jalopy a
Doc hit the fellow once. He turned minute. That bronze guy is gonna wake up,
his attention to the other three while the man and we gotta find us some rope!”
he had just hit was teetering back and forth The van started slowing, its driver
on his heels before falling. unaware of the fate of his partners. He would
The remaining three had a slight be just as surprised as his pals had been
advantage over their pals. They at least knew when he opened the rear doors.
something was terribly wrong. They barged For Doc Savage had not been dazed
in with their fists up and their heads ducked by the chloroform used back at the closed
down for protection. They all slammed into shoe-repair shop. In that first instant of being
the giant bronze fellow. seized by many strong hands, Doc Savage
That was their mistake. They should had held his breath. Practice had enabled
have tried to wear Doc Savage down. Doc to hold his breath longer than any South
From early childhood, the bronze Sea pearl diver. And it had only been a
man, along with his rigid mental training, had couple of moments while the thugs dragged
been taught the art of self-defense. This Doc into the rear room.
included rough-and-tumble fighting as well as Then, after the chloroformed rag had
the more skilled sciences of boxing and been removed, Doc had managed to fill his
wrestling. Even as a young boy, Doc—who lungs once with fresh air. Next he had
even then had a remarkable physique—had assumed the deathlike attitude.
been pitted against two or three lads each So remarkable was muscular control
equal to him in size. An hour every day had of the bronze giant’s trained body, that he
been spent in training Doc Savage how to could appear to be lifeless for short stretches
protect himself. And this had been only a part of time. This included perfect control of chest
of a scientific education that covered both muscles, which made it seem that Doc had
development of his body and his brain. stopped breathing.
Doc had a purpose in mind when he In the meantime, Doc’s fist crashed
let the dozen assorted thugs think he was out. The light was poor and the red-spotted
unconscious—or dead from the drug. He had man did not see the fist until too late. It
hoped to meet the leader of the gang. But knocked him flat on his back again.
now he was convinced that the skinny little Doc Savage had no trouble seeing in
man named Wart was only a stooge working the gloom. Because for long periods of time,
for someone higher up. He hoped to find this the bronze man had undergone exercises to
fact out from the captives he had here in the strengthen his eyes. He could see as well in
big van. darkness as in light.
The truck had rolled to a stop. He swooped down to pick up the big
Doc heard the driver climb down and fellow again.
walk around toward the rear. Disguising his The man might have been crazy, but
voice again, Doc said gruffly, “Hurry it up!” he still retained reason enough to know that
The heavy tailgate of the truck escape was suddenly and urgently
dropped down. The doors swung open. imperative. So he leaped to his feet and
The man standing there was almost ran—ran into the woods surrounding the
the size of Doc Savage. Muscles stuck out lonesome spot where the large van was
on his bared chest and shoulders like blocks stopped in the narrow roadway.
of cement. He was grinning foolishly. He had The surrounding woods was a pit of
the hideous red spots of the madmen. blackness. Even Doc would have some
He leaped into the van after Doc difficulty in trailing the red-spotted man.
Savage. And so he whipped to a small metal
box installed on the cab runningboard of the
truck. The box contained red signal flares
NATURALLY the bronze man had that all trucks carry. Doc got one of the
expected a battle when the van driver sticklike flares, yanked the cap from its end
opened the rear doors and discovered that and red glare suddenly spilled out in the
his burly partners had all been knocked out. darkness. The red brilliance made a lot of
Doc had been ready for a fight. light in the night. Doc saw the huge man’s
But even Doc had not guessed that a form just disappearing in the woods. He took
madman would be the person to appear. after the man.
The fellow was built like a bull. He But fifteen minutes later, he returned
got hold of the bronze man’s shoulders, to the van without his quarry. The man had
locked his fingers like claws of steel and went vanished as though into thin air. It was quite
into a backward fall. He figured, apparently, possible that the man had been met by a car
on carrying Doc Savage outside to the on another roadway that the bronze man
ground, where there would be plenty room to located beyond the stretch of woods. Or
scrap. there might be some secret hiding place near
He made a mistake. He here that would take hours to locate, a place
underestimated the bronze man’s that could be easily concealed in the half-wild
capabilities. The red-spotted man himself, growth. It was more urgent that he get back
instead of Doc, found himself flat on his back to the parked van. For Doc wanted to
out in the dust of the bumpy road. question the six thugs he had captured.
Doc Savage landed on top of the When he returned, and climbed back
man. The action which followed was furious inside the big van, two of the thugs were
and breath-taking. The man, for all his already starting to move around a little. One
powerful build, was whipped around and was groaning.
shaken like a rag doll in a bulldog’s clutch. “Truck must have rolled over into a
When Doc finally let go of him, the ditch!” said the dazed fellow.
big, bare-chested man staggered around and The second thug who was awake
goggled. It took him seconds to figure scratched his head. “Maybe we got stalled on
whether he was on his head or his feet. a railroad crossing,” he suggested.
The bull-like fellow grabbed the bronze man’s

shoulders and went into a backward fall!
short jab to the jaw. The four remaining thugs

Then they saw Doc, and both men were still out.
groaned again. They started to lie down. To the only man awake, the bronze
Doc Savage picked the more giant said, “And now we’ll hear about this
intelligent-looking of the two and stood him man Wart and where he went.”
up. The other he knocked out again with a
The man who was on his feet glared not mentioned. Doc said: “This madness is
and rubbed at his swollen jaw. “Hell with connected with T.3. Explain that.”
you!” he snapped. Real puzzlement showed in the
Apparently he was not going to fellow’s eyes as he replied frankly, “Listen,
answer any questions, regardless of what I’m keeping away from those mad guys. That
happened to him. There was an expression wasn’t in our agreement, and I don’t know
in the depths of his eyes which said he was what to think. But we did cash in on it!”
afraid to reveal any information. “How do you mean?”
From a pocket of the equipment vest The man laughed. “Some of the
which Doc Savage always wore beneath his boys—our biggest ones—are being fixed up
coat, the bronze man removed a shining, to look like those crackpot steelworkers.”
small “hypo” needle. The instrument A suspicion that had been in the
contained a liquid injection of Doc’s own bronze man’s mind became a fact. He said,
invention. “The driver of this truck was faked to look like
This was a form of truth serum that one of them also, wasn’t he?”
Doc often used on belligerent individuals who “Yeah.”
frequently refused to talk. The truth serum Further questioning illustrated to Doc
was a drug affecting a certain part of the Savage that his captive knew nothing about
brain, so that the subject injected with it was J. Henry Mason’s whereabouts. He even
forced to answer all questions truthfully. tried to learn about the girls, Pat and Molly
Doc administered the serum. Mason, but obviously they had been seized
by some other group working for the
mysterious person who was behind this
AFTER a few moments, the bronze thing.
man asked: “Name?” One last statement came from the
“Slugger McCoy.” fellow who had received the truth serum. He
“Profession?” continued Doc. said, “You know, I think Wart already has that
The man grinned. “I get fifty bucks a formula. I can tell by the way he acted
day for these,” he said, displaying his big tonight.”
fists. “The boss sent all the way to New York Doc said quietly, “Is that so?” And
for us guys.” then, moving with deceptive speed, he
“The boss?” grabbed the man, used a peculiar finger
“Yeah, Wart. He’s a right guy, that pressure on certain nerves in the fellow’s
skinny little runt.” neck. He became immediately unconscious.
Doc’s next question was carefully He would remain that way for some time.
stated. “And who is Wart working for? Who is Doc Savage gave similar treatment
the big shot himself?” to the other five men. Then, locking up rear
The man shrugged. “How the hell do doors of the horse van, he drove his captives
I know? We just take orders from Wart. As into police headquarters in Buffalo, there
long as I get paid, I don’t care if the guy after turning them over to the police with the
that formula is Mickey Mouse!” request that they be held.
Doc’s eyes were thoughtful. For a It was morning when Doc Savage
moment he said nothing. Then, “Where is J. returned to the mill town. At eight o’clock, he
Henry Mason? What happened to him?” went directly to the manager in charge of the
The fellow’s grin spread. “Brother, vast steel plant during J. Henry Mason’s
your guess is as good as mine. That steel strange disappearance. Doc’s mission was in
millionaire might be a crook, too, for all I regard to accidents that were taking place
know. All I know is, Wart is going to get that wherever the new steel formula, T.3, was
formula, an’ we’re gonna scare hell out of a being produced or used.
few guys, too!” Doc’s captive in the van had
Twice the man had referred to the obviously stated the truth when he said that
formula of T.3. But there was something in skinny little Wart perhaps already had that
connection with the formula that this man had formula.
It was quite possible that a alert-looking little man standing in the vault
substitution had been made, and that new with them. “I say we should close up the mills
steel was being made from a formula that until Mr. Mason returns. This madness
was not the real invention of J. Henry Mason. menace is something beyond our control. It’s
But later, after an examination of the liable to hit everybody!”
steel plant’s impenetrable safe located in its The heavy-set plant manager got the
general offices, Doc Savage learned that the last word out with a half shout. He gave a
true formula of T.3 had not been seized. peculiar twist of his neck and shoulder,
obviously a nervous habit when he was
upset.
Chapter IX But the small man he had addressed
DOC’S DISCOVERY was far from being upset. He looked like a
strutty little gamecock in a hard-brimmed
RENNY had arrived in the mill town. straw hat. In shirt sleeves and vest, he
He was with Doc Savage in the general looked like the kind of go-getter who could be
offices of the steel plant when the vault was just about every place at once. And that was
opened, and verification made that the exactly his job.
formula was safe. Doc and Renny had learned that the
In a booming voice, Renny said, alert-looking little man was Willie Watt,
“Holy cow! This formula would be worth superintendent of the plant, and just about as
millions to anybody. It uses a method that no hardboiled and tough as they come. He had
one, to date, has ever thought of for the to be, in such a business as steel.
production of a tougher and stronger steel— Willie Watt snapped, “Close the
and yet one so light in weight in comparison plant, hell! We got a hundred orders to get
to known steels.” out. We got a thousand hands depending
Doc Savage nodded. For Renny was upon those orders for food and clothing for
the engineer in the bronze man’s their kids!” Willie Watt took one of the
organization. He probably knew more about numerous pencils out of his vest pocket and
steel than any single person in the vast shook it beneath the big plant manager’s
organization of wealthy J. Henry Mason. nose. “And listen, Leidenberg, you can’t
Also, Colonel John Renwick— close the shops without J. Henry Mason’s
Renny’s full title—was someone to cause say-so!”
attention. Renny was built along the The big manager’s heavy features
structural lines of one of the many bridges he grew red. He looked as if he might explode.
had designed. A towering giant of a man, he But little Willie Watt kept waving the pencil
stood almost as tall as the bronze man and continued: “Another thing! We’re just
himself. winding up that big order for the new steel
Renny and Doc had been standing in pier near Atlantic City. Job’s practically
the large vault room talking to two officials of completed. And we have three more
the large steel plant. One was a heavy-set, contracts for plates for another fleet of oil
stern-looking man with steely-gray hair. He tankers on the Great Lakes. What the hell is
was manager of the vast plant, and in the matter with you, Leidenberg?”
complete control during the mysterious Renny shot Doc Savage a glance,
disappearance of J. Henry Mason, the for before leaving New York the bronze man
millionaire president. His name was had told the gloomy-faced engineer of his
Leidenberg, Doc had learned. He had one organization something about T.3 and the
outstanding trait—arrogance—and he was great changes it was going to make in certain
demonstrating it now. phases of steel construction work.
“You see,” Leidenberg rapped, “the It was because Renny had been tied
formula of T.3 is quite safe. This nonsense of up as consultant on a new tunnel job beneath
someone trying to steal it is all damned the East River, in New York, that he had not
foolishness.” He waved his hand at a small, been able to leave with Doc Savage. Thus
his late arrival this morning.
Doc spoke up. “Gentlemen, perhaps He did not explain his comment,
we won’t have to close the plant.” The bronze though little Willie Watt looked at him sharply.
man indicated the thick sheaf of valuable The quick-moving little “super” straightened
papers on which the manufacturing formula his battered old straw hat on his head, looked
of T.3 was contained. “Mr. Renwick, here, at Renny and said, “Come on, then.”
would like to study these papers. Later, it
might be a good idea if he worked
temporarily in one of your laboratories. DOC SAVAGE went out of the
Perhaps he will find what is wrong with this building. He proceeded along the single main
mystery of T.3 and the defects that are street of the mill town. He passed the shoe-
cropping up in it.” repair shop where the attack on himself had
“Fine!” Willie Watt rapped. “I’ll bet taken place last night. Windows of the small
you Renwick’s the man can do it!” shop were now boarded up, and the bronze
Both Doc Savage and Renny, the man moved toward a man standing near the
engineer, were well known to the two plant curb.
officials. Both had heard of Doc’s “Has this place closed?” he queried.
acquaintance, too, with J. Henry Mason in The man gave a slight start as he
the past. And Renny’s name as an expert turned and got a look at Doc Savage. A big
had frequently appeared in reports and man himself, he was surprised at the bronze
papers sent out by a society of well-known giant’s size.
American engineers. Doc had already been “Yeah,” the man stated. “It’s up for
informed that he and his aid were to be given sale. The guy who ran the place moved to
any sort of authority in the vast plant. another mill town two days ago.”
Doc now moved toward the large Doc murmured, “Thank you,” and
doorway of the safety vault. He finished, moved on. He understood now why the thugs
“Renny might start right now.” had been able to make use of the shoe-
Leidenberg, the plant manager, repair shop during the night. With the owner
smiled. He tried to pass off the comments of away, no one would have known that people
snappy little Willie Watt, saying, “Well, I was were in the place.
just thinking of the men and this terrible Doc Savage returned to the small
madness thing. Perhaps we can straighten woods outside the smoky mill town. He
everything out quickly.” He sighed. “I hope proceeded directly to the equipment case
so!” which he had left concealed in brush.
Renny said, “I’ll be back here after a For a long moment, the bronze giant
bit.” He looked at Willie Watt. “I’ll start in the stood staring at the large case before
experimental lab first, if you don’t mind.” bending over to open it. His flake-gold eyes
Doc, Renny and the hardboiled little were thoughtful.
superintendent went out through the large Then he flicked open the latch and
offices directly outside the vault, passed opened the case so that it was spread out on
along a corridor and came to the long, glass- the ground. It was the empty case which Doc
inclosed laboratories. Here there was none of had left here in the woods earlier. For an
the smoke and grime that was in the big equipment case that was obviously empty,
rolling mills and open-hearth shops. Behind Doc showed great interest in its interior. A
the glass partitions, bright-looking young men second later, reason for this was revealed.
in rubber aprons worked over test tubes and Doc’s fingers pried beneath a corner
laboratory benches. They were the corps of of the inside lining. There was a slight click,
engineers who were always experimenting in and next the entire bottom of the big case
steel. had flipped outward. A second, identical
Outside a doorway to the laboratory, bottom of the case came into view. The
the bronze man paused and handed a small partition which the bronze man had released
capsule to big Renny. He added, “Just a was false!
precautionary measure.” And concealed beneath the false
bottom and the real one, was a black, small
box about as thick as a sandwich and almost impenetrable. With hatches fastened down, it
as square. is practically impossible to board her. Tink,
A round, tiny glass lens protruded though, thinks the girls are aboard. You
from one side of the object, and when Doc might be able to help.”
picked up the flat object it could be seen that The bronze man asked, “How soon
the lens fitted neatly into a tiny hole made do you figure this tanker will sail? And
through the larger equipment case. perhaps you know its destination?”
The small object, apparently, was a Ham, however, only had an answer
camera; and the heavy equipment case had to the first question.
been so placed by Doc Savage that the “I’d say about dark,” he replied. “And,
camera lens pointed upward at anyone who look, Doc, Tink O’Neil says perhaps you
might have been inquisitive enough to bend ought to see Walter Mason, Molly’s cousin,
down over Doc’s property hidden in the there at the Mason estate near the steel
woods. mills. Walter, Tink tells me, knows something
The bronze man returned next to his about these tankers. Seems Mason owns
plane, where it was still in the field not far some of them, and has been furnishing steel
away. Inside the cabin of the plane, Doc deck plates for others. Walter might know
located the portable, small box that contained where this one is headed. Her name is the
film developer and printing chemicals. He Mary L.”
reached up and pulled down shades that Stating that he would be there before
could be used to shut out light from the cabin dusk, Doc switched Ham off.
windows. The bronze man had heard, from
Fifteen minutes later he was staring one of the officials at the plant, about fat and
at an image revealed in the tiny developed shiftless Walter Mason.
exposure taken from the compact camera. As the official had told Doc Savage,
“The fellow’s no dumbbell, but he’s lazy. Like
the rest of us here at the mills, he’s part of
Chapter X the family. We’re all related, and we all have
TRAILED an interest in this business. We had a
meeting the other night about the question of
SUDDENLY the short-wave radio J. Henry Mason’s disappearance, but Walter
loud-speaker crackled in the pilot’s cockpit, was too tired to even attend it.”
forward. Doc hurried that way and And yet the bronze man thought it
manipulated various dials. might be advisable to see Walter Mason,
Monk’s voice reached him shortly. following Tink O’Neil’s advice. Since Walter
“Doc? Are you all right?” lived at the Mason estate, it was quite likely
Doc Savage stated that he was in he knew more about J. Henry Mason’s
the vicinity of the steel plant. private affairs than any of the relative-officials
“We been tryin’ to reach you, Doc. at the steel plant. He might have some idea
We think we’ve located Pat Savage and about the steel king’s odd disappearance.
Molly Mason. Tink O’Neil says—” But before leaving the plane, Doc
“Where are they?” Doc asked. changed his attire somewhat. He was
Monk mentioned a coast town on the wearing an ordinary suit, but he added a hat
shore of Lake Erie. “We’ve trailed them to an to his dress. Strangely, this simple act greatly
oil-tanker shipping point here,” the chemist changed the bronze giant’s appearance.
went on excitedly. “We’re gonna board one of For Doc Savage never wore a hat.
them danged tankers and blast hell outta—” Wearing one, with his unusual bronze-hued
A calmer voice abruptly cut in on hair concealed, he looked strikingly different.
Monk’s—Ham’s voice. “What we really need And at the moment, Doc had a reason for not
at the moment is your help. We’ve located a being too conspicuous.
new-type oil tanker that is apparently ready The reason was the tiny snapshot
to sail before long. But the thing is almost which he still held in his fingers. It was a print
of the exposure taken by the small high-
priced camera which the bronze man had The man led the way around toward
concealed in the empty equipment case. the rear of the big house and pointed down
Doc Savage knew that he had been along a carefully tended terrace of green
trailed. He knew that someone had lawn. He shrugged, commented:
discovered his identity long before he had “Mister, if J. Henry Mason doesn’t
revealed his presence to just a few officials at return soon, that fat walrus Walter will sleep
the steel mills. himself to death!”
That person, as shown from the Doc moved forward along the lawn.
picture caught of him as he bent over the Walter Mason, the nephew of the
bronze man’s empty equipment case in the missing millionaire, was sprawled out in a
woods, was the man in the black mask. hammock protected by two beach umbrellas.
That much, the snapshot told. The umbrellas had been so placed that the
shifting sun would not glare in the fat man’s
eyes. Beside him, on a glass-topped table,
DOC SAVAGE was trailed as he left was a highball glass imbedded in ice cubes
his plane. Doc did not use his fast ship, for placed in a large bowl.
the simple reason that he wished to make his His stomach and his round, puffed
arrival at the Mason estate as unspectacular face were the first things the bronze man saw
as possible. He did not wish to draw undue as he approached the hammock. Then
attention to himself. As always, Doc disliked Walter Mason’s eyes opened and looked like
publicity. bright buttons stuck in a round pumpkin.
The way Doc was trailed was quite “Oh, hello,” he said lazily.
unique. Walter did not bother to sit up.
It was necessary for the bronze man Doc said, “Perhaps you can answer
to follow a side road that led past scattered a question for me?”
farmhouses. After a while the road Walter yawned, seemed to think the
intersected a paved road which led close to statement over, then replied, “Perhaps.”
the highway passing the large Mason estate. He kept watching Doc from where he
There were more farms, and it was a farmer lay sprawled in the comfortable swing. Doc
driving into Buffalo who gave Doc Savage a was aware that the man’s eyes were alert
lift and stated the way to the Mason place. enough for one so fat. For all the bulk of him,
The rural mail carrier in the old flivver the formation of Walter’s features said that
was the fellow following Doc at a respectable he could have a pretty good brain. Doc
distance. The top of the battered old car was recalled that many fat people are the most
up and the driver’s slouch hat was down. But sharp-witted.
a whole lot of the man was crowded behind Suddenly, Walter Mason gave a
the steering wheel. start; that is, a whole lot of him started
From time to time, the rural mail vibrating as a result of his abrupt movement.
carrier paused before one of the metal boxes He sat up—and the hammock threatened to
fastened atop posts outside the various collapse.
farms which were passed. He apparently “Say!” he exclaimed. “You’re Doc
placed mail in the boxes. Savage! I’ve seen pictures of you!”
What he really stuffed inside the Doc nodded, his face not changing
boxes was editions of old newspapers, a expression. “Now perhaps you can answer
supply of which he carried on the seat beside the question.”
him.
At the entrance of the rambling
Mason place, Doc Savage left the farmer’s “QUESTION?” fat Walter asked,
car and proceeded on foot up the winding puzzled. “What question?”
gravel drive to the house. He passed a “Destination of one of your uncle’s oil
gardener working near the veranda, inquired tankers by the name of the Mary L.” Doc
about Walter Mason. mentioned the dock where Monk had stated
the tanker was tied up. “She’s due to sail for
some point on the Lakes before tonight. the Mason estate, though he apparently
Perhaps you know where?” headed that way as he left the house.
Walter’s small eyes were thoughtful. But beyond a curve in the gravel
He said, “That stuffed shirt, Leidenberg, drive leading up to the mansion, he cut
called me from the main office and told me across more green lawns and reached
about you, Doc Savage. You’re trying to enshrouding trees that dotted a part of the
locate J. Henry Mason, aren’t you?” property. He kept beneath the trees as he cut
Doc nodded. “And the girls,” Doc back toward the rear of the estate again.
added. “Your cousin, Molly Mason, and Pat Doc finally reached a roadway that
Savage.” was obviously a delivery entrance to the
Walter shrugged his fat shoulders. estate. A high stone wall formed the border
“Tell you something,” he said suddenly. “That of the southern edge of the estate. The
crazy Molly is always up to something. Bet roadway was beside the wall, and both
you she and Pat aren’t in any trouble.” wound beneath tall trees.
Doc made no comment on that, but Doc, after studying marks in the road
asked instead, “And your uncle, J. Henry a moment, climbed to the top of the wall and
Mason?” moved quietly along its length. Occasionally
Walter grinned this time. “Look,” he he had to bend down and carefully push
went on, “old Henry is nobody’s chump. I branches out of his way. But all the same, his
understand some crooks are after that movements were silent.
formula for T.3, aren’t they? Well, I happen to Doc was emerging from one stretch
know that J. Henry has a formula down there of branch-shrouded wall when he saw the old
in the vault at the main office for a new, flivver parked just below him. At this point,
improved steel. But it’s not T.3!” the wall was perhaps a dozen feet above the
“You might explain further,” winding roadway.
suggested Doc. The powerfully built man was
“Sure, I will. The real formula for T.3 standing next to a fender of the battered old
is in Uncle Henry’s possession. He trusts it car, as though waiting for something. He
with no one. And I’m thinking he’s just done a wore a slouch hat and the collar of his suit
little disappearing act until these crooks clear coat was turned up about his neck.
out. He’s taking no chances.” Doc crouched silently on the wall top.
“And the oil tanker?” Doc repeated. The man below took off the slouch hat to
“It wouldn’t surprise me none if he wipe at the perspiration on his brow. There
was on that boat. It’s scheduled to sail for was little air here beneath the trees, and it
Chicago tonight.” was hot.
Doc commented, “You don’t seem And as the man removed his hat, a
very worried about this trouble.” part of his features were revealed. He was
Walter spread his fat hands. He was the one who had been dropping papers in the
wearing a magnificent diamond ring on the mail boxes along the rural roads.
fourth finger of his left hand. “The police have Also, his features were covered with
been notified. Federal men will not take any the hideous red spots.
action until someone has proof that J. Henry Doc Savage came up silently from
has been kidnaped or something.” his crouch atop the high wall. Then his
Walter got his feet up on the powerful legs shot out in a plunging arc
hammock again and gave a sigh. “If you ask through the air.
me,” he said, “those damned relatives, those His form hit that of the man’s
executives at the plant, are all a bunch of standing beside the car, carried the
crooks. Maybe they’re trying to get T.3!” powerfully built man to the ground. As the
After a moment, Doc Savage fellow cracked the earth, Doc Savage
departed. Apparently, fat Walter Mason was remarked, “It was quite obvious that
going to be of little help. someone was following me to this estate!”
The bronze man did not return
directly to the main highway which passed
Chapter XI bushes alongside the narrow roadway. His

MAD MEN OR SANE? gun went flying in an opposite direction.
Doc stepped to where the gun had
WHEN Doc Savage had been in the fallen, dropped it in his pocket. Next he
farmer’s car he had glanced back from time picked up the big man as though he might
to time. It was the bronze man’s habit always have been a big sack filled with straw. He
to check on anyone who might be following dumped the man in the rear seat of the old
him. flivver.
And thus Doc had observed the fake The man’s eyes had opened, but he
rural mail carrier, for at each mailbox the man was too dazed to even move or talk. He
had thoughtlessly paused, to stare ahead at merely goggled at this apparent apparition
the car in which Doc Savage rode with the that he had just shot in the chest at close
farmer. Too, the man had speeded up range.
between stops, in order to keep Doc’s car in The bronze man’s only comment
sight. This slight error, so quickly observed was, “You should have aimed higher!”
by the bronze man’s sharp eyes, was reason
for the fellow’s predicament now.
Doc’s surprise leap had not taken the IN times of danger, Doc Savage
big man completely unawares. But he hardly wore beneath his clothing a chain mail
had sufficient time to jump out of the way of garment made to stop bullets. Hairy Monk
the bronze figure’s diving form. frequently called it the “iron underwear.” But
And so, as he fell, he rolled— it had saved the life of Doc Savage more
scrambled beneath the old flivver with Doc than once.
Savage sliding after him. The man kicked up The bronze giant found an inner tube
enough dust to momentarily blind the bronze lying on the floor of the car. With a penknife,
giant’s eyes. he quickly cut strips of the inner tube and
Then the one with the gruesome, used them for bindings. Doc’s strong hands
red-spotted features came to his feet on the were able to pull the rubber thongs tight
far side of the machine. Doc Savage was enough so that they did not stretch even a
right after him, a scant six feet away. fraction of an inch.
But the gun in the big man’s fist With the big fellow finally helpless on
brought the bronze man up short. His the back seat, Doc himself climbed behind
metallic features grim, he stood like a the wheel of the old car and set off down the
motionless statue in bronze. roadway.
“This,” grinned the red-spotted The route circled through the woods,
fellow, “is gonna get me a nice bonus!” finally emerged on the highway again a little
He fired point-blank at the bronze distance beyond the main entrance to the
man’s chest. Mason estate. Doc followed the highway until
Doc Savage swayed backward, he came to the less traveled route that led
turned a half circle and sank slowly to his back to the vicinity of his plane.
knees, his bronze-hued hands pawing the The big man on the rear seat was
dust around him. He gave a choking cough. groaning. Finally he blurted, “What’s going to
Gun now dangling from his hand, the happen to me?”
big man closed in. He threw back his head “That depends,” said the bronze
and roared. “Damned if that wasn’t the man. As he drove, he was taking a side
easiest kill I ever made!” he gloated. glance at a substance which was on one of
Throwing back his head was the his hands.
man’s error. The helpless man in the rear whined
Because Doc swung up from the a plea. “Lookit,” he asked, “If I didn’t shoot
ground and his great fist crashed out. The you, the boss would have shot me!”
gunman was lifted from his feet, sent in an
ungraceful arc to land in a heap among brier
Doc’s fist sent the gunman toppling back among the bushes!
Doc had set the rear-view mirror so There was just the slightest
that he could keep his eyes on his captive. hesitation before the man in the rear replied.
He glanced now at the mirror and said, “The “Yeah . . . Wart,” he then said
boss? You mean Wart?” quickly.
Doc Savage knew that the man was bits. The others were taken to hospitals, and
lying. But he made no comment. Later, he they’ve all died!”
would administer truth serum to his captive Doc suggested, “You might take a
and learn the real identity of the one who had look at them.”
employed this fellow painted up to look like “It’s too late!” explained Renny.
one of the madmen with the hideous red “They’ve already placed those poor devils in
spots. sealed caskets and removed them for
For paint it was, as Doc Savage saw immediate burial. The whole town fears some
from the substance on his hand. kind of madness epidemic. There’s no gag
Doc continued: “You’re not a about this.”
steelworker. A number of you are merely “I’ll be back soon as possible,”
using this red-spot business to throw a scare finished Doc, hanging up.
into the workers.” But on the way back to the plane, in
The man behind Doc gave a short order to hurry to the aid of those who meant
laugh which sounded as though every part of so much to him, Doc’s flake-gold eyes were
him still ached. “Sure,” he said. “It’s just a grimly thoughtful.
gag.” Crooks had planted phony madmen
Doc Savage said nothing further on around the steel shops. Doc himself had
the trip back to his plane. There, he quickly tangled with a couple of the fakes. And yet
placed his captive in the cabin of his ship, mill hands themselves were going mad. The
tied him more securely and placed a sponge madness was something that hit
gag in his mouth—so that the man could unexpectedly and without discrimination. It
make no outcry. There was no time now for was a thing that could bring stark terror to a
further questioning of the fellow. It was community of hard-working people who
imperative that Doc get to the oil tanker at depended upon steel for a living.
Lake Erie, the one which both Monk and fat Two questions burned in the bronze
Walter Mason had mentioned. man’s thoughts:
But first, locking the door of the plane Why were workmen going mad?
behind him, Doc Savage hurried off to make What person or thing was
a call to big Renny, the engineer. responsible?
There was something urgent which
Renny could take care of.
Doc called from a farmhouse not far Chapter XII
away, finally located Renny in one of the DEAD MEN NEVER SQUEAL!
laboratories of the steel plant.
THE captive in the plane of Doc
Savage might know a part of those answers.
THE bronze man named several Doc found that the man was still safely bound
addresses in New York City. He requested hand and foot upon his return. Later, after he
that several phone calls be put through. The had gone to the assistance of Monk and
tone of his remarkable voice told Renny that Ham, Doc would question the fellow further.
a lot depended upon what was learned in The trip to the port on Lake Erie,
those calls. which hairy Monk had mentioned, took only a
Doc mentioned that he was going to quarter of an hour.
the aid of Monk, Ham and the two girls. From the air, Doc Savage soon
There was need for haste. He spoke briefly picked up the long, dark outlines of the oil
about the phony red-spotted man in his tankers. They were sturdy, block-shaped
plane. vessels which rested low in the water.
Just before hanging up, Renny said There were a number of the tankers
worriedly, “Doc, what’s happening here is no tied up at a wharf along the lake front.
fake. Five more mill hands cracked up this Beyond the wharf loomed huge oil-storage
morning. Crazy mad, they were! One dived tanks. There was also a railroad siding.
into a rolling machine and was mashed to
A city fire ordinance probably intention had not been to ram him. That
prohibited building of the oil docks close to would have spelled disaster for both. For
the town, for the village itself was about a even as Doc pitched upward, the other pilot
mile from the spot. flung his ship downward beneath Doc’s fast
Doc brought his plane down to a ship.
point close over the water, throttled his motor The bronze man’s thoughts raced as
and swung almost soundlessly over the the two ships were momentarily clear of one
tankers. He saw no one. There was no another. Doc had no machine gun. Whatever
indication that any of the vessels was ready weapons he carried would be useless
to sail. against the fast black plane. But he himself,
Also, there was something about obviously, was going to be shot down.
lack of activity along the wharf that made the Thus Doc Savage reached a sudden
bronze man cautious. decision. Setting the controls for a moment,
He knew that Monk’s radio message he whipped back to the cabin and from one
might have been intercepted. Crooks could of the equipment cases, pulled out a
be using a short-wave radio themselves. peculiar-looking object. He was back in the
Perhaps a trap had been set for Doc to enter. pilot’s seat in a moment, fastening the device
Because of the deathlike quietude on.
down beneath him, Doc Savage realized
there might be trouble waiting for him below.
He flew past the spot, banked, THE thing was like a glass bowl
circled and came back for another look. It inverted over Doc’s metallic features.
was then he saw the ship far off on the Transparent, it fitted close against the bronze
horizon, ship apparently headed his way. It man’s shoulders.
was barely visible against outline of water In conjunction with the peculiar
and sky. mask, was a harnesslike pack which
A moment later, Doc’s sharp gaze strapped to the shoulders. The pack was a
flicked to the ship again and discovered that breath-purifier that supplied oxygen to the
what he had seen was not a ship, but a plane bronze man’s lungs.
moving down on him with surprising speed. Doc got the contrivance on just as
In a matter of moments, it was close enough the speedy black plane ripped toward him
for Doc to see that it was a completely black again. The speed of the other ship said that it
plane of speedy design. And apparently the was just about the fastest thing made. There
pilot, whoever he was, was intent on crashing would be little chance of outdistancing it in a
the bronze man’s monoplane! race. And so Doc dived.
Doc Savage’s next movements were Close behind came the black ship, a
smooth and rapid-fast. There was no change stream of tracer-bullets belching from the
in the calm expression of his metallic muzzle of its menacing machine gun. The
features, though death was rushing down at eyes of the pilot behind the black mask were
him with dizzy speed. dark with hate.
The bronze man sent his plane in a Doc flipped his plane around a scant
speedy sharp climb, managed to get above dozen feet above the water and temporarily
the other ship. He got one good look at the confused the trailing pilot. The fellow’s ship
pilot in the open cockpit of the single-winged went streaking past. But the bullets from the
plane. machine gun did not.
It was a man in a black mask. Heavy They ripped along the fuselage of
goggles concealed his eyes. His right, black- Doc’s ship. The bulk of the bronze man’s
gloved hand rested on the solid handle of the plane was of a metal construction made to
machine gun that he was trying to swivel on deflect ordinary bullets. But the ammunition
the bronze man’s own plane. the masked pilot was using apparently was a
Doc saw these things as the two type of armor-piercing shell. Holes appeared
ships passed like zooming plummets. And like black raindrops on various parts of the
the bronze man knew that the other’s bronze man’s ship.
Next, as some distance beyond the reasonable periods of time. He sank deep
masked pilot was circling in preparation for a now.
new attack, Doc Savage hit the water and And above him, as he stared upward
skillfully managed to keep his amphibian through the transparent glass of the
from turning turtle. It settled down and protective bowl, he saw the blurred redness
bounced about on the short, choppy waves that must be his ship afire on the water.
like a mammoth cork. Doc maneuvered quickly to get away
Doc flung back toward the cabin. He from the spot above him. He felt the crashing
had already cut the motor of the amphibian, impact as machine-gun slugs tore into the
lest a machine-gun shell penetrate the gas water somewhere up there. But they were
feed line. immediately deflected and did him no harm.
Moving across the small cabin, Doc Later, perhaps a half hour later, Doc
swooped up another object from an Savage came to the surface somewhere
equipment case and then bent down to slash close to shore. Silence was all that met the
loose his big captive’s bindings. bronze man’s ears as he took off the
For Doc Savage never killed a crook protective glass hood and climbed out on an
needlessly. Though this man was an enemy, old dock. Night was settling over the lake
Doc would make every attempt to save him front.
from the death which was swooping down But out on the water a bit of charred
upon them again from the sky. Already, the wreckage still floated, a part of Doc Savage’s
motor roar of the returning plane was loud in burned and machine-gunned plane.
the cabin. Sprawled across that wreckage in death, was
Doc shoved his hand toward the the big form of the man whom Doc had tried
freed man. What he handed the fellow was a to drag away from the masked pilot’s attack.
diving device made of a mouthpiece, nose The man who had apparently known the sky
clip and chemical purifier. Then Doc swung raider’s identity, and who therefore figured
open the cabin door and indicated the water. himself safe.
He was giving his captive a chance to Doc’s captive might have been able
escape death. to identify the masked pilot. The bronze man
But, without warning, the big fellow had hoped to use truth serum on his captive
hauled off and swung a massive fist at the to find out.
bronze man’s glass bowl-inclosed head. The Perhaps the masked pilot had
knuckles of the big man’s hand bounced off guessed something of the same. But Doc’s
Doc’s protective hood, and the freed man captive had been too confident to see this, or
stared at his bruised hand a second in to let the bronze man save his life.
puzzlement. He could hardly have known Thus he lay sprawled in death, his
that the helmet was a form of shatterproof body torn with the gunner’s slugs and his
glass. features a charred, gruesome mask.
In the next moment, machine-gun The black plane had disappeared.
bullets whined a death dirge as they ripped
through the length of the plane. Doc Savage
leaped out the open cabin door. The gas tank Chapter XIII
of the amphibian took fire and at the same HELLO, SUCKER!
moment leaped into flame.
The freed thug still delayed. He gave THE messages which Monk had left
a shout. “I know that guy. He won’t bother for the Man of Bronze had disappeared, too,
me!” and yet, later that night, Doc Savage found
Doc Savage didn’t wait to find out. the first of them.
He was already in a plunge through the The first message was written hastily
water. Down. Down— on what was left of the broken windshield of
The helmet of glass was also a a big car parked near the long wharf. The
diving apparatus. Using it, the bronze man
could stay beneath the surface for
wharf was one adjoining the old dock where writing was quite clear. Rays from the small
the bronze giant had climbed from the water. spring-generator flashlight that Doc used
What first attracted Doc’s attention to made the words distinguishable.
the large car was its style and make. The Doc Savage left the car and moved
bronze man made a brief examination of quietly along the lengthy wharf. It was quite
tires, wheelbase and other details. The car dark now, and there was, besides the
was the one Doc had suggested Monk, Ham dampness caused by the nearby water, a
and Tink O’Neil try and locate in order to trail hint of rain in the air. A number of long,
the girls. gloomy-looking oil tankers were tied up
Added to this, the machine looked as beside the dock.
though it had been the storm center of a Large round pipes ran along the
furious fight. wharf, and it could be seen that they had
Cushions were upended. Blood was connections for hooking to massive rubber-
on the doors. Besides the broken windshield, hose lines from the tankers. Yet it was
other windows in the car looked as though obvious that many of the boats were in
they had been exposed to various sorts of disuse. The side plates of the vessels were
bricks and anything that could be thrown. rusted and old.
The entire machine seemed to have been in Monk had mentioned a new tanker.
a cyclone. And so Doc Savage kept moving out the long
There was only one person who length of the wharf in his search for the
could create such havoc. Monk! vessel.
Thus it was that Doc Savage looked Silence hung like a shroud over the
for some clue that the battling chemist might water-front spot.
have left behind. It was in the course of his Far out on the end of the big wharf,
examination of the car that Doc looked Doc inspected the last of the string of moored
closely at the remaining piece of broken tankers. Even this last one in line was an old
windshield. vessel, and apparently not in use.
There was nothing visible to the It was on a deck plate of this last
ordinary eye. Yet Doc removed a small box tanker that Doc found the second message
from his equipment vest. The rubber-lined from Monk. This time, the chemist had not
pockets of the vest were waterproof, and the taken time to use the special chalk.
powder which was in the small box was still Obviously he had wanted to be certain that
dry. the bronze man found his words.
Doc Savage sprayed a little of the Written in large, scrawly letters in
powder over the section of remaining window white, visible chalk, they read:
glass. Writing on the windshield became
immediately visible. The message said: Doc—Molly Mason escaped and has
reached us. She knows whereabouts of Pat
Doc—You were right. This was the and that steel king, Mason. She says they
car you said to look for. Those skinny guys are being held on—
and some others got away, but we think
they’ve got the girls. Look for the new tanker. Whatever Molly Mason had said was
left unfinished. Apparently Monk, for some
The message was signed, “Monk.” reason, had been given no time to complete
Often, when the bronze man’s aids the hurried message.
found it imperative to leave messages for
one another—messages that they did not
want to be seen—they wrote the words with BUT Monk had plenty of time, it
a colorless chalk of the bronze man’s seemed, to hear more of the girl’s comments
invention. Writing made with the chalk could now. He was saying with a broad grin,
not even be discerned with a magnifying “Lookit, Molly, I’m gonna take care of them
glass. But when it was sprinkled with the guys who grabbed you and Pat. I’m gonna
chemical powder that Doc had just used, the blast their hides all over—”
The scene was a spot close to the That’s where they’re supposed to be holding
shore of Lake Erie, at a point several miles father and Pat Savage.”
above where Doc Savage was examining the The girl stiffened, pointed. “Why,
old tankers. Information that Molly Mason there! You can see it now. It is an oil tanker
had given to Doc Savage’s aids had brought there at the wharf!”
them here. In the distance, along the stretch She was correct in her statement.
of beach, could be seen the dark outlines of The new-type oil tanker was a city
what might be a wharf for the docking of block long and rested low in the water beside
boats. But the overcast sky made any the wharf. Apparently its holds were full of oil.
observation uncertain. Most of the vessel was a flat expanse of steel
Monk, Ham and Tink O’Neil had deck only a few feet above the water’s edge.
located the girl tied up in a small cabin But at one end of the tanker was a
aboard one of the old oil tankers. This was at superstructure made of more steel. Here
the first wharf where Doc Savage had found were located a small cabin, bridge and
Monk’s message. quarters.
First, Monk had come upon the car, The ship was in darkness. No one
and later had surprised the two skinny men seemed to be around.
returning to it. The chemist had been in the But Molly Mason pointed to a name
midst of a grand battle when other thugs on the side plates, barely clear of the water
closed in. But the men had escaped before line.
Ham or Tink O’Neil could come to the “It’s the Mary L!” she cried. “That’s
chemist’s assistance. the boat they’re holding father and Pat on!”
But they had found Molly Mason, and Monk stuck out his hard jaw and led
the girl had breathlessly told of overhearing a the way aboard from the dock. “What the
conversation that indicated Pat Savage and heck!” he growled. “Then I’m gonna find out!”
Molly’s father were being held aboard the The others followed, lanky Tink
new oil tanker, the Mary L; and that the O’Neil explaining, “This is one of the vessels
vessel had been moved to an obscure wharf for which we furnished steel. It’s a type that
five miles farther down the lake shore. can be quickly converted in time of war.”
The small group was close to that Monk looked at the young steel plant
point now. Monk had paused to talk with troubleshooter. “War?”
lovely Molly. The expression on the apelike Tink O’Neil nodded. He shot Molly
chemist’s homely features said that he could Mason a peculiar glance, but Monk
think of nothing nicer to do—unless, perhaps, disregarded it. Tink went on:
it was getting into a fight. “Yes. These deck plates are made of
Ignoring Ham, Monk went on, “Did the new T.3 formula steel. They’ll withstand
anyone ever tell you, Molly, that your eyes any kind of bombing from the air. One of
are like the sky at dusk, or that your sweet these tankers can be quickly converted to be
mouth is a rainbow of—” used as convoys or even to attack any
Tow-headed Tink O’Neil put in sort of enemy merchant ship in our waters. They are
coolly, “We might get going, Molly. Your practically indistinguishable in the water, and
father is in grave danger—” guns can quickly be mounted on their flat
The girl’s slim fingers flew to her decks. This is one of the first for which we’ve
mouth. She gave a startled little gasp. “Yes!” supplied the heavy armor plate.”
she exclaimed. “I forgot. Let’s hurry!” Monk stared at the deck beneath his
The part of the beach which they feet. It was steel, and looked as solid as that
were traversing made a long sweep out to a of any battleship.
point. It was out near the tip of this point “Gollywhockus!” he exploded.
where the bulky outline of what could be a “Betcha you couldn’t go through this stuff
wharf was located. with a torpedo!”
Molly Mason was saying, “That must They kept prowling around the long,
be it. From what I overheard those terrible dark tanker.
men saying, the Mary L is tied up there.
Cabin and crew’s quarters forward was under way, and how long it had been so
were deserted. But there were indications Monk could not tell.
that men had been recently living aboard. But he did see that a light had been
On deck again, it was Molly Mason turned on in the hold where they had been
who pointed aft and exclaimed, “Look! Back slugged. And revealed by the light were the
there! One of the hatches is open!” various grinning thugs who stood nearby,
The tanker, mostly, was built with looking at their three helpless captives.
pipeline connections that led into sealed Monk muttered something to himself.
holds. But there were a few hatch openings. The size of his small bright eyes in his
At first, it had appeared that most of the homely face was such that these fellows had
hatches were closed and bolted. not realized the hairy chemist was awake.
But now the tall, slender girl was And Monk was a tough fellow. Often
correct. Far aft, in the gloom, could be seen he had been beaten into unconsciousness,
the dim outline of a steel cover that was flung only to soon climb to his feet again and start
back. Monk led the others quickly that way. all over in a fight as though he hadn’t been
When Monk reached the hold touched.
opening, he got down on his hands and He swung up on his feet now and
knees and squinted below into gloom. Then took a hefty poke at the nearest crook. The
he got out a flashlight and took a better look. chemist’s blow would have been perfect,
But before he could use the light, the except that it landed three inches short of the
sound came up out of the hold. It was a man’s jaw. And Monk landed in a heap on
groan, followed by a half-muffled plea. the deck, with the startled thought that his leg
“Help!” had suddenly been seized in a bear trap.
Monk roared. He leaped toward the The trap was a length of heavy chain
hatch opening. “Goshamighty!” he exploded. padlocked to a ring in the deck. Monk’s ankle
“It must be Pat and Molly’s father!” was fastened to the chain.
Molly Mason, her slim hand at her He glared at his captors. There were
throat, pleaded, “Monk! Hurry! Help them!” six of them, four of the six just about as
The drop into the hold was perhaps a tough-looking as they come. They kept
dozen feet. Monk hung by his hands a grinning at Monk, which didn’t help Monk’s
moment from the edge of the hatch, then murderous thoughts.
dropped. Ham and young Tink O’Neil quickly The other two were the medium-
followed. sized and the tall, beanpole-looking skinny
Monk, on his feet in the gloom, said men who had helped seize Pat Savage and
to Ham, “Let’s have that light again. I’m Molly Mason, with the aid of tough little Wart.
gonna—” Monk stared around. He yanked at
What Monk was going to do the heavy chain with his foot, but merely
remained a question. For the piece of pipe succeeded in taking more skin from his
cracked his skull in the next instant. Ham and already bruised ankle. Several feet from him
Tink O’Neil were likewise slugged. he saw the limp forms of Ham and Tink
And as the three got down on their O’Neil. Both men were still unconscious, and
hands and knees and tried not to go to sleep, Ham’s sword-cane was flat on the deck
the terrified cry came from above. beneath him. There was no sign of the pets.
It was Molly’s cry for help. Monk wished he could reach the
cane, but the distance was too great. So he
sat and glowered, reminding himself that
Chapter XIV hereafter he was always going to carry with
TANKER TRAP him a saw made to cut through steel chain.
His captors apparently forgot about
APELIKE MONK was the first to him. Some sort of discussion was taking
wake up. He was immediately aware of the place among the six.
throbbing of the tanker’s Diesels. The vessel One snapped, “Well, I’m tellin’ you
Wart is gonna take things in his own hands. If
you ask me, Wart has been tricked like The lawyer, apparently, was now
nobody’s business.” awake. A moment later, young Tink O’Neil
“What are you gettin’ at?” another stirred and sat up.
prodded. In the half-gloom, Ham and tow-
“That formula Wart was supposed to headed Tink O’Neil were now on their feet.
get. The big shot fooled him, I’m thinkin’. Ham exclaimed, “We’ve got to get out of
From something Wart said today, I betcha he here. There’s no time to lose!”
didn’t get the real formula at all. What he has Monk snorted, “That’s a swell idea.
is a fake!” Only hitch is I’m chained to the deck!”
The men seemed to think about that Ham groaned. He stooped quickly to
for a while. see if he could help his homely partner. After
Then one said, “You mean, Wart is a second’s feeling around at the chain and
gonna walk out on the big shot?” deck ring in the darkness, Ham said
“Yeah! Wouldn’t be surprised if he worriedly, “You couldn’t open this padlock
hasn’t already done it. We’ll probably take with an ax.”
things over ourselves.” Monk ordered, “You two get outta
Monk sat hooked to the length of here. Save your own hides. Or maybe you
chain and listened. He was just on the verge can grab some of them guys up there and
of asking a question when someone spoke get a key!”
from the hatch opening above. Both were reluctant to leave Monk,
“Hey, you guys! There’s a plane flyin’ but finally young Tink O’Neil jumped toward
out to meet us. Guess it’s the big boss the rope ladder. “That’s an idea,” he said.
himself!” It was a good idea, but in the next
Monk squinted up to get a look at the moment the plane swooped down over the oil
man who spoke, but he could not see very tanker again and then another bomb
well. The sky was a little brighter—it must be exploded on the decks. There was a tearing
close to dawn, the chemist figured—but it and rending of steel. The vessel was soon
was still dark enough to make things vague. listing badly. A chunk of metal smashed
And it was raining. The rain came down down into the hold, missing the three by
through the hatch opening and made puddles inches as it crashed against the deck.
near Monk’s feet. Tink O’Neil was forced to leap clear
Monk went to work trying to pull the of the hatch opening.
heavy ring from the deck. Rage filled his Monk commented in disgust, “Them
thoughts, and he decided just what he was sure must be great deck plates, that new
going to do to this crowd when he got loose. armor steel you told us about, Tink! Sounds
He caught the words from the six like it busted to hell and gone!”
men already leaping toward a rope ladder The ship listed farther. Up on deck
that dangled down into the hold. One said: there was yelling and confusion, and mingled
“The boss, eh? Now we’ll settle this business with it was a man’s terrified cry.
once and for all!” Someone rapped, “The dirty devil!
“Yeah,” another agreed. He musta heard about Wart walkin’ out on
They all climbed out. him, and now he’s gonna eliminate any clue
Five minutes later the first bomb hit to who he is!”
the deck plates of the sturdy oil tanker. Just then, someone appeared above
Monk felt the impact that was like a and hurled something down at the three
giant wave smacking the sides of the ship. below. A voice yelled, “We’re giving you a
The vessel heeled over, leveled off again. break, guys. We hate to see you drowned
Light in the hold went out. The Diesels like rats. So now you can swim, instead. It’s
stopped throbbing. only twenty miles to shore!”
In the darkness near Monk, Ham Ham cried, “It must be a key!” and
muttered, “Wh-what happened?” started feeling around in the darkness. Every
moment the vessel was listing more badly,
and the lawyer had a time staying on his feet.
Monk had slid along the smooth deck, his leg on any of the Great Lakes can be worse than
stretched taut at the end of the chain. any at sea.
It was about a half hour later that the
plane appeared out of the sky, circling and
BY the time Ham located the padlock dipping down over them. It passed close over
key, the sound of the plane which had their heads. Monk let out a whoop. “Doc!” he
attacked the tanker had faded out. shouted.
A moment later, Ham had crawled to Doc Savage brought the amphibian
Monk’s side and unlocked the chain. down, landed smoothly and taxied the plane
Movement on the slanted deck was difficult. up close. Shortly the giant bronze man
There was little to hold to. But shortly all stepped out on a wing.
three were climbing the rope ladder to the top He called out to Monk, “Lucky you
deck. All stared at the damaged, listing left this ship near where I found your last
tanker. Already water was pouring in over message!”
one side. It would only be a few moments
until the vessel sank.
It was Tink O’Neil who pointed off Chapter XV
through the rain and said, “Look! They’ve HORROR IN STEEL
escaped in a powerboat!”
It was true. For a quarter of a mile TWO hours later that morning, Doc
away, the small motorboat was fast Savage, with Monk, Ham and young Tink
disappearing in the rain and ground fog that O’Neil were searching the dead man they
hung over the water. The shore line, if any, had found back on the wharf where the string
was invisible. of old tankers were tied up.
Monk suddenly ripped off his shoes First, of course, Doc had rescued the
and coat. He said determinedly, “Hope you three from Lake Erie. Monk and Ham, since
two guys aren’t in a hurry for breakfast.” they always carried extra supplies with them
He dived off the side of the oil tanker in their plane, were able to locate shoes and
that was already dipping beneath the waters dry clothing. They even found some clothes
of Lake Erie. for lanky Tink O’Neil, though the sandy-
Ham and Tink O’Neil, likewise haired young man sort of stuck out either end
coatless and shoeless, followed. The of pants and coat, and the shoes were too
lawyer’s sword-cane, which he was never tight.
without, was tucked beneath his belt. It made Doc had told about his own loss of
swimming, for him, more difficult. his plane, together with much valuable
Up forward on the bridge, there was equipment. They had returned to the original
a chattering and squealing. A second later, wharf where Monk had left the messages, in
the two pets leaped into the water too! the hope that they might find some clue to
The three men swam away from the Molly Mason or the others—Pat Savage and
sinking oil tanker just about as fast as they the millionaire steel king.
could. Ten minutes later there was a great And instead, they found—this dead
gushing of water behind them, as the tanker fellow in a shed on the dock!
went under. The man was fairly well dressed,
Then there was only the rain and the stockily built and with black hair. He had
tendrils of settling fog, and an invisible shore been shot in the back.
line miles away in a direction they could not Doc went through the dead man’s
even guess. clothing. He found a sheaf of papers, read
The three swam without speaking. them over quickly, passed them to the lawyer
All were excellent swimmers. Yet the and Tink O’Neil. Monk, curious, stuck his
grimness of the situation was only too real. homely face past Ham’s shoulder and read
For a slight breeze had sprung up and there also.
was indication of a real storm. And a storm
Doc said, “Apparently they are some are for him, an’ they show that Willie Watt is
sort of reports, and they were written by this danged interested in knowing what everyone
dead man. They describe the exact of the other relatives is doing!”
movements—wherever possible—of anyone Hairy Monk was pointing at
in authority at J. Henry Mason’s steel plants. something else on the papers. “Whoever this
This included all his relatives who are in dead guy was, he signed himself ‘S. E. C.’“
executive positions at the mills.” Doc said, “I think Renny is going to
“Yes,” Tink O’Neil said. “All these have some information about this S. E. C.”
people mentioned have an interest in the Without further explanation, Doc
business. Mr. Mason always has tried to Savage hurried off. A few moments later, the
keep control of the vast plant within his own bronze man’s aids heard the amphibian take
family.” off from a field nearby.
Abruptly, as he looked at another But Doc Savage did not immediately
paper, Tink O’Neil gasped. return to the steel plant south of Lake Erie.
“Look!” the latter exclaimed. “All He brought the plane down in a pasture
these reports are some sort of an outside a small town somewhere west of
investigation made for a single person. And Buffalo and proceeded to the nearest
that person is Willie Watt, superintendent at highway filling station. From here, he put
our plant!” through a call to New York.
Doc nodded. His metallic features Doc called a corporation listed as
were calm. “It appears that way,” he said. Brown & Brown. He identified himself, and
Tink O’Neil, his gray eyes wide, went was immediately connected with an official.
on, “That means Willie Watt must be the The executive said, “Mr. Savage, we
person behind the mystery. He’s seeking were able to get that information for you. The
control of T.3. Why, I . . . I’ll bet he’s the one data that Mr. Renwick asked for.”
responsible for some change in the original For several moments, the man at the
formula that has caused these flaws in the other end of the line talked rapidly.
new steel!” Doc’s eyes stirred with interest as he
The bronze man made no comment. listened. Finally he said, “Thank you. What
Instead, he looked at his two aids. He said, you have done is a fine piece of work.” He
“Ham, you and Monk had better notify the hung up.
nearest police authorities about this Then he put through a call to Renny,
murdered man. Then get in touch with me at whom he had left in a laboratory of the big
the steel plant. Perhaps Renny has learned steel plant. There was a little delay until the
something.” big engineer of Doc’s organization was
Doc explained how he had left located. Then Renny’s voice boomed over
Renny at the plant, then added something the wire.
else of significance. “Doc! There’s hell to pay here. Ten
“It appears,” he said, “that a climax to more mill hands went nuts this morning. Five
this mystery is coming fast. The real villain is of the shops are shut down, and more men
killing off all who might point a finger at are walking out every minute. Willie Watt,
himself. He is going to work quickly from now that superintendent, has disappeared. And
on.” there’s something else!”
Tink O’Neil exclaimed, “You mean “Yes?” Doc Savage said.
Willie Watt?” “I got this thing figured out. I can tell
Doc Savage shook his head. “Willie you who’s behind it and what causes this
Watt is hardly the real brains behind this,” he madness trouble. Just a moment ago I got
said. wise to the set-up. . . .
Monk looked puzzled. He indicated Doc Savage interrupted quickly,
the papers which had been turned over to “Wait until I get there. It might not be
young Tink O’Neil. advisable to mention names over the phone.
“Golly!” the chemist protested, “it The trip should only take about ten or fifteen
must be Willie Watt, Doc. All them reports minutes.”
Doc hung up, hurried back to where far back from that ladle of molten steel
he had left the plane in the pasture. He took watching in horror as a crane operator spilled
off immediately for the small woods outside it over. They jerked still farther back as red-
the mill town. hot steel that was like crawling snakes
Doc arrived, a little while later, at one spread over the floor. Fire and sparks raised
of the many entrances to the mile-long steel in every direction. The heat from the stuff
plant. Much of the smoke that ordinarily was skin-searing.
formed an overhanging dark haze in the sky Then the crane operator worked a
was missing. It was plain that several of the lever that raised the emptied ladle upright
shops were closed down. again. The crane lifted the huge bucket,
But some were in operation, and the carried it well down the length of the shop
bronze man saw smoke coming from the and set it down again. It was once more
furnaces of Open-hearth Shop No. 5. He also turned on its side.
saw something else. Workmen rushed toward the empty
Men running toward the open-hearth ladle with long steel rods, in their hands.
shop. Some were yelling and shouting to They started poking inside the ladle with the
others who joined in and followed along. poles.
The bronze man moved quickly in Doc, by now, had circled the spot
the same direction. He caught up with one of where the molten steel had been spilled. He
the husky mill hands and asked a question. arrived at the emptied ladle and questioned a
“What’s wrong?” man.
“What happened?” asked the bronze
man.
THE big fellow turned and looked at “A guy with the madness dived into
Doc Savage. The man’s face was dripping the ladle!” explained one of the mill hands
with perspiration caused by the intense heat with the long, poking rods. “There ain’t a
of one of the shops still operating. danged thing left of him!”
He stared a moment at the bronze “Wait a minute!” cried another. “Look
man, then exclaimed, “Say, aren’t you Doc at this, will you!”
Savage?” The man had worked something
Doc nodded. from the empty ladle with the long steel rod.
The man looked questionably at He pushed it across the floor.
some of his fellow workers. Then he stared Doc Savage bent down to stare at
back at Doc. the small object. It was a thing that had
“Well, about that man Renwick. He’s withstood the white-hot fire of molten steel. It
a fellow in your organization, I understand. was all that was left of what had once been a
Well, Renwick’s just gone mad. They’ve man.
chased him into No. 5.” It was a peculiarly shaped diamond
For a scant instant, Doc remained from a ring that Renny, the engineer, had
motionless. Perhaps he was thinking of what occasionally worn!
Renny had told him over the phone only a
few minutes ago. That he knew what was
causing the madness! Chapter XVI
The bronze man, without a word, AND NOW YOU DIE!
leaped ahead of the others running toward
the huge open-hearth shop. He arrived inside THROUGHOUT that afternoon, the
the high, steamy, smoke-filled building just as giant bronze man moved through various
a horrible yell went out from many men’s huge buildings of the steel plant in grim
throats. silence. He made no comment about
Through the haze caused by the Renny’s death.
terrific heat, Doc Savage saw a massive, ten- Developments at the plant changed
ton ladle which rested on the floor midway with breath-taking speed.
down the length of the vast room. Men stood
A hundred more men walked off their considered it to his advantage to finally learn
jobs. A rolling mill where a huge order of what was going on.
government armament material was being But it was little, hard-boiled Willie
rushed to completion shut down. There was Watt and the big, steely gray-haired
something wrong with the formula of T.3. The manager, Leidenberg, who did most of the
armament material had proved worthless. arguing. The others only put in a word or two.
Ten more mill hands appeared with Cocky little Willie Watt pounded his
the red spots. There was nothing phony with fist on the table and yelled, “Hell with you!
the men’s twisted, grinning expressions. We’ve got to keep the shops going! The
They were not part of the mob that was trying company will go broke if we don’t!”
to cash in on the terrible sickness. Because Leidenberg, the manager, drew his
the ten men were stark, raving mad! big form up arrogantly. “Sure!” he bellowed.
Before they could be caught, they “And we’ll all die. I say, keep ‘em closed. I’ll
killed two dozen mill hands who tried to stop lose just as much as the rest of you—more,
their mad dash through the single main street perhaps. But that’s better than letting the
of the town. It was only when the crazed madness get us!”
workers were brought down with guns that A quiet little man who had been
the terror temporarily ceased. sitting down near one end of the board table,
But a new form of trouble cropped spoke up. “Me, I’m selling out!” he put in. “I’m
up. This happened when arrogant and taking what I can while I can!”
domineering Leidenberg, the plant manager, “Me, too!” added another
closed the remainder of the mills at six that stockholder.
night. While the heated word battle was
Though hundreds of men had taking place around the table, an office boy
already quit their jobs because of the red- came into the room and stepped quietly to
spotted madness, others still wanted to work. Doc’s side. He said softly: “Phone call for
They were willing to take the chance. They you, Mr. Savage. You can take it outside in
needed the money for support of their the anteroom, in the booth.”
families. The bronze giant moved silently out
And so men fought in the streets and of the room. He stepped into a glass-inclosed
stormed the closed gates of the huge plant. booth in the anteroom, lifted the receiver and
At dusk, crowds roamed through the town said, “Yes?”
carrying flares and clubs. They sought out The booming voice said, “Doc? This
any who might be afflicted with the madness. is Renny.”
Everyone so crazed would be killed. A
desperate, mob-frenzied attempt was being
made to stamp out the terrible menace. STRANGELY, Doc Savage showed
Word reached the town that another no surprise. He merely stated quietly: “I
of J. Henry Mason’s steel plants in figured something like this, Renny.”
Pennsylvania had also shut down. The “Thought you would,” Renny said. “I
madness had somehow reached there, too. noticed this morning, in one of the
This was a plant at which the formula of T.3 laboratories, that my own ring was missing
had also been introduced, and from which from my coat pocket for a while. Later, Doc,
was being made girders for government some guys grabbed me and gave me a shot
bridges. of stuff. They expected me to go mad, and
When darkness fell Doc Savage was when I didn’t they doped a fellow about my
in the general offices of the great plant. A size—then spread the word that I had gone
meeting was being held in the board room, crazy.”
and all the officials and relative-executives of “Yes,” Doc said. Then Doc went on:
J. Henry Mason were there. “That capsule perhaps saved you. The drug
Even fat Walter Mason, the lazy, they are using is a rare one, but the
indifferent cousin of pretty Molly Mason, was counteragent I used was enough to offset it.”
there also. Apparently the fat fellow
“Then you know what the madness until morning. Told him I thought you might
stuff is?” clean up this mystery tonight.”
“Yes.” Doc remained silent a moment,
“But—” making no comment.
Doc went on swiftly. “The showdown Then he asked, “Where would you
in this thing is coming fast. It will be tonight, suggest there might be a hiding place where
because the real villain is now forced to Pat Savage or any of the others might be
cover up as quickly as possible.” The bronze held near here? That is, a place that has
man mentioned the last-known whereabouts been completely overlooked so far?”
of Ham, Monk and Tink O’Neil. He also gave Walter Mason’s small, bright eyes
the location of the plane. “You might try to were thoughtful in his moonlike face.
find them and return here to the plant as Suddenly he snapped his fat fingers.
soon as possible.” “The river!” he exclaimed. “What I
“But why here?” prodded Renny. mean is, on one of the old ore barges tied up
“Because I have reason to believe down there. Down here at the far end of the
that Pat is somewhere in the vicinity of this plant, there’s a stream that winds in from the
steel plant,” finished Doc. lake. It’s been dredged deep enough so that
He hung up, returned quietly to the our supply barges can be brought almost into
board room. Men were just rising from their the plant. We get our scrap and pig iron that
chairs. The meeting had ended with a vote to way. But with the shops closing down, the
close the plant indefinitely. stuff has accumulated and some of those
Ponderous Walter Mason met Doc barges have been tied up a week. It would be
as he came back into the room. He said, “I a logical place that was overlooked.”
have my car outside, Savage. If there is Shortly, Walter Mason had swung
anything I can do—” the big car out through a gate, across the
Doc immediately picked up the fat main street of the mill town, and through
young man’s suggestion. “Yes, there is,” he another street that formed the very end of the
said. He drew Walter Mason to one side. town. He followed a byway that led down to a
“You probably know the layout of this small river. Here, close to shore, a freight
entire plant fairly well?” the bronze man siding swung in from the main line leading
questioned. into the plant proper.
Walter nodded, his fat chins jiggling. They bumped over tracks, passed
“Certainly. I’ve lived around here long darkened storage sheds and red-painted
enough to know every corner of the place.” buildings used for the safekeeping of
“Then you might be able to help,” inflammable paint materials and chemicals.
said Doc. “We might get started.” At last they drew up beside a string
They went out. of wooden barges tied up at a big water-front
unloading platform.
Walter climbed out, puffing because
WALTER’S car was something that of his bulk. He said, “Wait. I’ll go ahead and
was built along the lines of himself. It was see if there is a watchman around.”
massive. But it was also about the fastest Doc waited. In the night, his
thing on wheels. remarkable flake-gold eyes stirred with an
Paved ribbons of cement wound unusual restlessness.
through the spreading property of the now Ten minutes passed. Then Doc
silent steel plant. Off beyond the shops, in moved forward in the direction the fat young
the distance, there was a muttering sound, man had taken. Walter Mason, on leaving,
however, that came through the gloom. A red had gone toward the first of a string of
glow reflected against the sky. darkened barges.
Walter explained as he drove, “More Doc headed that way. And just as he
men fighting. Willie Watt was all for calling in was approaching the unloading dock edge,
the militia tonight, to stop the trouble, but I his foot hit something soft and yielding. The
convinced him it would be advisable to wait bronze man stooped down quickly.
Doc followed the instructions. There

was little else he could apparently do.
IT was the big bulk of a man. Walter! When his great chest was bared
The fat young man groaned, managed to from the waist up, when the encircling ring of
gasp, “Hurry! They went in that supply shed men could see that Doc held no tricks up his
just beside us. There might be time to—” sleeve, the voice said, “And now, Savage,
Doc straightened, noted the large you meet the boss!”
corrugated metal building close by. He There was a scuffling of feet. Doc
leaped that way. saw several of the men move back a little,
A sliding door was partially open in leaving one side of the circle open.
the side of the big shed. Slipping through Another, much smaller overhead
soundlessly, darkness and the odor of light came on. It was just bright enough to
chemicals and paints met the bronze giant’s reveal the figure seated at the table. The
senses. distance from the bronze man to the figure
Doc went forward carefully, not using behind the table was perhaps two dozen feet.
a light, but depending upon his acute senses Doc noted that he was still carefully covered
to show him the way. He reached a cleared by the dozen or so gunmen.
space in the center of the big supply shed. His gaze went again to the seated
There was the vague, bulking outlines of figure beneath the light. The size of the
steel drums and carboys of chemicals piled person was hard to figure, for the concealing
high near him. cape the man wore was entirely of black. As
Sensing some other presence was the loose hood over his head, the hood
besides these inanimate things, Doc tensed. through which gleamed a pair of intense
And the powerful, overhead eyes.
floodlight, blazed on and splashed blinding, It was the man in the black mask.
brilliant light over the bronze man’s form. The
big light hung low enough so that it cast a
twelve-foot circle of brightness around him. Chapter XVII
Doc Savage was the central point of FIEND IN BLACK!
that revealing circle.
But into the circle’s outer edge JUST about this moment, at the
moved the dozen men with guns. Doc was other end of the mill town, a small group of
carefully covered, and a voice rapped: grim-faced figures were swinging into the
“All right, bronze guy! Start taking off main street. They were Monk, Ham, tow-
your coat and vest. Place them carefully on headed Tink O’Neil and pretty Molly Mason.
the floor. Any tricks, and—” The tall girl was saying to Monk,
The speaker patted his automatic to “Heavens! It’s a good thing I escaped from
end the sentence. those awful men and found you again.
All Doc could see was the men’s Perhaps we’re in time to stop this riot!”
legs, bodies and menacing guns. Faces were Riot it was. Men were fighting in the
invisible where they were just beyond the street, their faces strained and grim in the
circle of light. torchlight glare. Clubs struck heads.
Slowly, he started stripping off coat Brickbats flew. A man went through the glass
and vest. window of a store.
“Careful!” the same harsh voice It was Molly who pointed and
warned. Obviously, these gunmen knew exclaimed, “Look! There’s tough little Willie
something about the gadgets which the Watt. He’s the one behind this!”
bronze man carried in his trick equipment- They saw the small, thin, wiry fellow
vest, and so they were taking no chances on leading a group of perhaps twelve men. Big,
Doc exploding a small gas bomb or powerful fellows with clubs in their fists. But
something. the group was not closing in on the rioting
“Strip to your waist!” the voice
ordered further.
fighters; instead they were coming directly himself had already captured Doc. And the
toward Monk, Ham and the others. other captives are down there now, too. So
Abruptly young Tink O’Neil drew up now we’ll go there.”
short and stared. He grabbed Monk’s “It sure worked swell,” said the
massive arm and explained, “That’s not Willie driver.
Watt the superintendent. It’s a crook named “Listen,” continued Wart, “what we’re
Wart. And those guys with him—” gonna work now is even better. We’re gonna
Monk swung to so inform the girl. grab the big boy, too!”
But tall Molly Mason had “Don’t get you,” the driver mumbled.
disappeared! “Look,” said Wart. “Our organization
In the next moment, Monk, Ham and in New York paid the big guy a million bucks
Tink O’Neil were attacked by Wart and his for the formula, didn’t they?”
mob. Monk let out a howl and jumped into “Sure.”
the wedge of approaching thugs. “And besides, we grabbed the
The big men’s faces were scarred millionaire, and his daughter Molly and that
and hard. Ears were flattened. They looked Pat Savage. We did a whole lot of things to
like a bunch of gorillas from the East Side of help the big boss get what he wanted. We
New York. planted those phony mad guys in the shops,
Monk grabbed the solid arm of the and had others working in the mills jimmy up
nearest man, and bellowed, “Hey! You ain’t different runs of new steel.”
no mill hand!” “Sure, but—”
The big fellow roared, “Brother, you “An’ we were supposed to get that
said a mouthful!” formula for T.3 for all this.”
He started wrapping a heavy piece of “That’s right,” agreed the truck driver.
pipe around Monk’s head. “Well,” rapped Wart, “we didn’t get
Ham whipped his sword from its T.3. We got a phony. That big boy pulled a
slender black sheath. Tink O’Neil started fast one on us for his million fish!”
proving that he knew how to use his fists. The driver whistled.
The swaying, tangled mass of fighters
worked their way across the road.
Skinny little Wart got outside the FACING the masked man—the “big
fighting men and threw the small object. It boy” himself—in the storage shed, Doc
was a glass capsule about the size of an Savage said quietly, “And so you were not so
egg. It quickly broke beneath the men’s feet clever. Your method of creating this madness
and a white, vaporish cloud spread upward. menace has been discovered, and
Men started falling down in their tracks. destroyed.”
It had been a form of knockout gas The man behind the mask chuckled.
that Wart used. “Yes,” he said, “I happen to know that you
Next he motioned to several big men found those tablets mixed with the regular
hovering back in a nearby doorway. He salt tablets in the dispensing machines this
called, “You still got the truck?” afternoon. You ordered every machine
Someone said, “Yeah!” emptied and its contents destroyed.”
“Then start loading these mugs in!” The masked man laughed. “But now
ordered skinny Wart. you are going to die, and other methods will
Later, the truck left there with its load be used to keep up this madness trouble if
of helpless victims. It proceeded through the necessary!”
main street of the town, no one paying Doc stood watching the speaker, his
attention because of the smaller fights that brain sharply alert.
were taking place up and down the What the masked villain referred to
thoroughfare. was the dispensing machines located in the
Wart, seated beside the driver in the various heat-filled open-hearth shops, rolling
cab of the truck, said, “Well, this about cleans mills, wire shops and other buildings of the
up the Doc Savage crowd. The big boy
plant. The machines dispensed a salt tablet A door opened somewhere behind
which the workers used. the group of encircling gunmen and a hard
Salt must be continually used by mill voice rapped, “What the hell!”
hands working under terrific heat, where salt It was the voice of tough little Willie
is fast lost from the body by continual, Watt.
excessive perspiration. Formerly, the men And then a second voice boomed,
had just obtained the salt by scooping up “Doc!”
some from buckets placed in handy spots That was Renny, the big engineer!
around the various shops. In a strange voice, Doc called out
But now the dispensing machines something that was unintelligible to the men
were a modern improvement. It was in these with guns. The sound might merely have
machines that the other tablets containing been a worried yell.
the rare drug had been placed. The drug that But the words Doc spoke were taken
caused madness and which also contained from a long-lost tongue. Mayan! It was a
something that made its victims allergic to language that Doc and his men used in
heat, causing the hideous rash of red spots. moments when they did not wish to be
Doc had suspected something of this understood by others.
at the very beginning. Thus Renny had made What Doc had called to Renny was,
the tests for him, and it was this report that “Shoot the belt!”
Renny had explained in one of his phone And the bronze man whipped the
calls. belt from his waist and flung it into the air.
Renny had not been affected by any Renny fired from somewhere beyond.
drug. The capsule Doc had given the big The explosion that followed was a
engineer was a counter agent devised to blinding glare which left everyone
offset any effects of the drug. momentarily stunned.
Doc, if he lived, planned to use this
counter agent on any other workers who had
been exposed to the menace. RENNY, who had been concealed
If he lived— back in the darkness, had understood what
Doc said, stalling for a moment’s the bronze man meant.
more time, “You didn’t seek the formula of For the lining of Doc Savage’s wide
T.3. You didn’t need the formula. What belt contained a number of small, explosive
you’ve wanted is shutting down the plant. pellets. The pellets could be set off by a
You’ve worked things in such a way that sharp, hard concussion.
stock in the company has plunged to almost And so Renny had used a machine
nothing. And so you’ve been buying it in at pistol, which all the aids of Doc Savage
your own price, later to reopen the plants and carried. Doc, himself, seldom carried a gun.
make a fortune all your own. You were clever But Renny, himself an expert marksman, had
enough to buy the stocks through a fake caught the belt in midair with a fast, sure aim.
corporation, which was yourself—” Thus the explosion had followed.
The masked man brought his fist The force of the explosion broke the
down on the table before him. It made a two overhead lights. Men were struggling
ponderous thud. Even the hands of the about on the floor, climbing back to their feet.
masked one were covered with loose black Momentarily, they could not see. Besides,
gloves. there was the blackness all around them.
He said gratingly, “You’re a clever And so confusion reigned, and
fellow, Doc Savage. It’s too bad you must making use of it the one in the black mask
die. And now—” and cape moved with a fair amount of safety.
Doc was standing with his bronze There was yelling and fighting, as Renny and
hands hooked into the belt at his bared waist. hardboiled little Willie Watt jumped into the
He was tense, ready to— room.
Almost immediately, more voices
shouted and more men piled into the tangle.
These were the ones who had arrived with Carefully, Doc Savage prowled along
little Wart and the truckload of stunned thugs the dock. He spent ten minutes looking for
and Monk, Ham and Tink O’Neil. the masked man.
Over the sound of the confusion, Behind him, the entire storage shed
there was a bellow that might have been had burst into flames. A slight breeze was
made by a bull. It came from inside the truck blowing the fire toward the water—and also
itself. Then there was a crash, rear doors of toward the tugboat that was tied up there.
the truck split wide and Monk came leaping The girl’s muffled cry came from the
out, followed by Ham and Tink O’Neil. tug!
The men had regained Doc Savage leaped from the dock
consciousness, including the thugs who had down to the narrow deck alongside the small
been knocked out also. Skinny little Wart cabin of the sturdy-looking tugboat. Already,
screamed: flames from the burning storage shed were
“Hell with the Doc Savage crowd! working their way across the dry planking
Get that blasted masked guy!” behind him.
Gunfire followed. A shot struck a The bronze man flung past the cabin,
drum of chemical, and a moment later flames jerked open doors of the crew’s quarters
were licking over other supplies in the big strung out along the narrow side deck. He
storage building. Paint stuff and other moved through an open doorway and down a
inflammable material took hold rapidly. A red short iron ladder to the engine room.
glare overspread the confused, fighting mob. Pat Savage, her lovely face pale
And within it, Monk went around from hours of being tied up hand and foot,
joyously cracking skulls. Ham and Tink her mouth covered with a gag, lay on a
O’Neil were at his side. bench in the room.
Ham, swinging his sword-cane, Doc moved swiftly. He got the gag
called worriedly, “Where’s Doc? And where’s from Pat’s mouth. He stood his tall, bronze-
that masked guy I heard somebody gold-haired cousin on her feet and untied her
mention?” bonds. He helped rub circulation back into
But Doc Savage had disappeared. her numbed wrists.
As had the real villain he sought! Pat gasped, “Doc! Walter Mason
found Molly in here just a few moments ago.
He was hurt, but he managed to carry her
Chapter XVIII out. She was gagged like myself, and she
ONE MAN’S FOLLY had no chance to tell him about me!”
Doc said swiftly, “There’s no time for
DOC SAVAGE, moving with blurred words just now!”
speed through the night, left the fighting men He helped his pretty cousin from the
behind him. Through a small window of the boat. Flames were dangerously close. The
storage shed, licking red flames showed. A storage building itself was a ball of red fire,
man came hurtling through the window. parts of it already starting to tumble.
Another followed. There was the sound of Past the building ran men, pulling a
Monk’s gleeful yell from somewhere within small, two-wheeled and portable fire truck.
the building. Perhaps, after a fashion, they could check
Doc, however, followed what was spreading of the fire along the dock.
just a vague glimpse of a hazy, dark shadow. Doc, with Pat at his side, raced
The figure had appeared to head toward a toward the big truck that had been parked
small tugboat tied up near the ore-filled near the building. A man was just leaping in
barges at the river front. behind the wheel.
And then, suddenly, the bronze man “Where are the others?” Doc asked.
realized that he had been deceived by the The big fellow was a steelworker that
black-cloaked figure, and that he had lost it in Doc Savage had seen around one of the
the night. shops. He was not one of Wart’s crooks.
“They got the tip-off that the masked metal within the giant furnaces was still at
guy was headed toward the open-hearth white heat.
shop!” the man said. “The mob’s all gone that Doc’s men and the others were
way, including your men!” standing on the floor looking upward toward
Doc ordered, “Move over!” and got a long catwalk that faced the string of giant
behind the wheel. Pat and the mill worker furnaces. The others who were watching
squeezed into the seat beside him. were mill hands and some of the plant
The bronze man sent the heavy truck officials. Also included were a number of
hurtling up the single main street. They Wart’s mobsters.
passed groups of mill hands running in the Strangely, the thugs no longer fought
same direction they were headed. Doc’s aids. All were intent on watching the
Men were yelling in the streets, “Go cloaked, black-masked form that moved
to No. 5! That masked man went to that along the catwalk in front of the charged blast
shop!” furnaces. A figure that seemed to be flirting
Doc Savage swung in beside the with death itself.
long, towering open-hearth shop several It was Ham who saw Pat Savage
blocks ahead of the running mill hands. and lovely Molly Mason. He leaped toward
Another car had stopped just ahead of Doc’s. the two girls. The lawyer exclaimed:
It was the big machine of fat Walter “Molly! Where did you disappear a
Mason, and the young man was just climbing while ago?”
out. Molly Mason stared at Ham. “I don’t
understand—” she started.
Doc interrupted with, “Monk, take the
HE ran up to Doc Savage and said, far end of that catwalk. Hurry!”
“I’ve found my sister. I’ve got her in the car. The bronze man himself started
But I had to rush here. They say the masked toward the stairs leading upward nearby.
man is in No. 5!” Stairs that ended at the narrow platform and
Walter hurriedly led the way back to walk before the row of great furnaces.
his big machine. Both men lifted a tall, But just then, there was a yell from
slender girl from the seat and went to work behind the crowd watching the masked figure
untying hands and ankles that had been well in the center of the long runway. Someone
bound. The gag was taken from the girl’s called: “That crazy mill mob is almost here.
mouth. They’ll wreck the—”
Molly Mason swayed on her feet a It was Willie Watt, standing with big
moment. It seemed she was going to faint. Renny, who yelled, “Some of you run outside
Her lovely blue eyes, however, focused on and close the doors. Lock them, if necessary.
the bronze man again, and then swung to her We aren’t going to let this masked guy get
friend Pat Savage. away now!”
Molly threw herself in Pat Savage’s Everyone except Doc Savage had
arms and let a sob escape her curved lips. turned as hardboiled little Willie Watt yelled
She was as tall and as slender as Pat out the orders. When they swung back
herself. toward the line of furnaces, a yell of horror
Walter was saying worriedly, “Come went up from men’s throats.
on, Savage!” For it was not the masked figure that
He led the way into the towering Doc Savage was leaping after. It was the fat,
open-hearth shop. The entire length of one huge form of Walter Mason!
side of the building was lined with the
massive blast furnaces. Heat, blinding heat
still came off the rising, hot sides of the FOR one so bulky, Walter Mason
furnaces. had gone up the ladder with surprising
For the plant itself had only been speed. He was running along the catwalk
shut down a matter of hours, and molten ahead of the bronze man.
But even as Doc Savage closed in Carefully, the bronze man worked his
on Walter Mason, the fat man’s hands way toward where fat Walter had fallen. He
reached the first of the control levers to the picked up the hideous corpse and carried it
big blast furnaces. below, where a coat was quickly thrown over
Doc Savage yelled a warning, “Get what had been the man’s moon-like features.
back! Get back, all of you!” There was stark, breathless
But Walter Mason had already silence—until a yell broke the thickness and
yanked a lever. The lever controlled Monk let out a whoop from far down the
openings by which the massive furnaces shop. He came running up with the masked
would be tapped. Steel—white-hot, molten form in his arms. He set the figure down,
steel started flowing down the troughs which ripped back the hooded mask and exclaimed:
ended out in the air high above those below. “Blazes, Doc. Just look what I
Ordinarily, the ten-ton ladles carried caught! It’s a dame, and—”
by the movable cranes would be placed there Suddenly, the chemist paused and
to catch the stream of white-hot metal. But stared from Molly Mason, still at Pat’s side, to
now there was—nothing. the girl he had just unmasked.
Nothing to stop the molten stuff from Molly Mason, too, stared at her
dropping onto the heads of those below, or apparent twin!
else—if they could manage to leap clear—to But the one in Monk’s grasp ripped
splatter on the floor and run off in a hundred her arm free and said in a harsh, nasal voice,
directions, to trap the feet of those locked in “All right, you ape, take your paws off me!”
this open-hearth shop. Doc said, “Perhaps Wart, there, can
Walter, giving a horrible laugh, explain.”
leaped down the runway and toward another As everyone stared at the little crook
series of levers and another furnace. leader, Doc gave young Tink O’Neil and
Already, molten metal running down the Willie Watt a nod. They stooped down and
trough of the first furnace stopped the bronze started dragging away from the group the
man’s advance. For flame and blinding covered figure that had been Walter Mason.
sparks leaped up from the trough, forming a Little Wart was staring at Doc out of
wall of hell-fire. worried eyes. “Look,” he exclaimed quickly,
Doc paused only a moment. Then “I’ll talk—only don’t let that mob in from
his arm flashed in the red glare. An object—a outside!”
piece of foundry casting that the bronze man Sounds of clubs could be heard
had seized as he flung toward the ladder— striking the locked, heavy steel doors of the
smashed through the air. shop. It was the angered mill crowd, intent on
The heavy piece of metal caught fat reaching crooks who had fooled them.
Walter Mason in the back, between the Doc said, “You don’t have to talk. We
shoulders. It sent him forward in a sprawling know what happened.”
heap—to fall into the very trough of running, Monk was scratching his head. “But,
molten metal that he had just released in the Doc,” he protested, “we found that dead guy
next furnace. by the lake, with the reports for Willie Watt.
Walter’s face went down into that And I thought Willie Watt was the one—”
gutterlike trough of white-hot steel. His fat Doc said, “You thought the dead
hands flung outward and beat at his sides for man’s initials were S.E.C.?”
horror-filled moments. And then movement of Monk nodded, remembering the
his bulky body and his hands stopped. statement he had made.
Doc explained, “Those initials stood
for Securities and Exchange Commission.
DOC SAVAGE quickly moved levers The dead man was an investigator out of
that shut off the flow of the molten steel. New York, employed through the insistence
Those below were cringing back against the of Willie Watt into strange manipulations that
far wall of the shop, barely clear of the flesh- were taking place in this company’s steel
eating stuff that had slopped to the floor. stock.”
Doc indicated the limp figure that had features of Molly Mason, as compared with
been dragged to one side of the room. her impostor.
“Walter was buying up that stock at bargain Doc said to Tink, “I think you
prices. He didn’t want the formula of T.3. He suspected this girl was not Molly Mason?”
wanted the plant.” The bronze man’s calm The tow-headed young man nodded.
gaze swung to skinny little Wart again. “And “Yes. But I played along, saying nothing to
you and your crowd were his fall guys. Your Monk or Ham, hoping that I could get some
organization in New York paid Walter a sort of lead to the whereabouts of J. Henry
million—and got a fake formula.” Mason and—”
The bronze man nodded toward the Monk jumped. “Say!” he exploded.
big locked doors, then again spoke to Wart’s “Where is Mason?”
men. “Which do you prefer, arrest or—that?” Doc indicated his lovely cousin Pat.
Wart and the others spread their “Ask her,” he said quietly.
hands hopelessly. Most of them had already Pat looked tired. But she smiled and
had all fight taken out of them by hairy Monk said, “When J. Henry Mason first
and the others. disappeared, he was brought to where Molly
“All right,” Wart said as spokesman. and I were being held. I got a chance to
“We’ll take the rap instead of letting that mob speak to him a moment alone. I told him if he
get at us.” got any chance at all to escape, to go to
Later, Doc Savage spoke to the Doc’s headquarters in New York and stay
angered mill hands outside the open-hearth under cover until Doc got this mystery
shop. He explained briefly and clearly about straightened out. And he did. He managed to
the real mystery of the crazed men. He told get away from them, though we were held!”
about Walter Mason. Doc put in, “I’ve called New York. J.
The tone of the bronze man’s vibrant Henry Mason is safe with Long Tom and
voice calmed the men. They listened. And Johnny.”
they all agreed to follow Doc’s instructions. The two men mentioned by the
Wart’s mobsters were taken out one bronze man were the others in Doc’s small
at a time, to be turned over to police. Later, organization.
the men would be sent to the bronze man’s It was big Renny who put in, “But
criminal “college” in upstate New York. It was holy cow, Doc! I went through those formula
at Doc’s college that crooks underwent papers again up in the vault. They are
delicate brain operations, that removed all phonies. I missed it at first—”
memory of their shady past. In time, they Doc looked at Pat. “Perhaps you can
would become useful citizens again. explain that one, too.”
Pat flushed slightly, put her slender
hand down the front of her rumpled dress
BUT the girl that Monk had on his and pulled out a sheaf of papers. She
hands worried him. He was still holding her handed them to Doc.
when the bronze man returned. Pat explained, “J. Henry Mason
“A very good actress employed by slipped them to me when he was brought to
Wart, to throw you off the trail,” explained the the first hide-out up near the lake. No one
bronze man. Doc indicated the girl’s suspected that I would have the formula of
somewhat harsh features, more distinct T.3.”
beneath the bright lights of the shop. He Everyone but Doc stared. Then
indicated her hair. someone turned and looked toward the
Doc said further, “A little dye and silent, covered body of Walter Mason across
some make-up can do strange things to the room. Other eyes followed, and it was
women!” Ham who asked:
He looked at Tink O’Neil, who stood “Doc, how did you know—”
with his arm around the real Molly Mason’s The bronze man said, “He was first
shoulders. With the girls together, it could be suspected when a picture of him was
seen how much more delicate were the developed. The picture was made by a
special camera installed in one of our empty Doc Savage said quietly, “The only
equipment cases.” mistake we made was in overlooking that
Doc referred to the case he had Walter Mason could move fast, when
planted in the woods. necessary. He almost fooled me, though I
“Walter must have trailed me,” Doc knew his identity in the mask and strung
went on. “He bent over the case, touched it, along until he played his hand tonight.”
and released a trip that took an exposure. I Someone remarked, “Nonetheless,
had a perfect picture of the masked man.” Doc, you stopped him!”
“But if he was masked—” Ham Doc Savage said nothing. He
started to say. stepped toward the one person who meant
Doc finished, “Walter wore a large so much to him. Pat Savage. He led Pat out
diamond ring on the fourth finger of his left of the place, for in Pat’s eyes was an
hand. As he reached toward the planted expression that said she had had enough
equipment case, it was revealed in the excitement for a while.
snapshot taken. Later, it was on his hand at
home.”
Doc looked at Molly Mason. “Walter THE girl in Monk’s grasp started
had a black plane?” clawing and scratching at the homely
The tall, pretty girl nodded quickly. chemist’s face. Monk let out a howl.
“Yes. He kept it about a mile back on the “Ham!” he squalled. “Give me a hand
estate, in a small hangar down there.” here!”
Doc nodded. “At all times, Walter The dapper lawyer stood to one side
was able to practically go and come as he and grinned coolly at his partner.
pleased. No one thought to check up on him. “I thought,” he said icily, “you knew
Thus he made the fast trips out in his plane how to handle women, you flat-footed misfit!”
whenever he saw a chance to eliminate Now that both were out of danger
someone who was in his way.” again, their endless brawl threatened to get
The girl in Monk’s bearlike grasp started in earnest. Holding the struggling,
gave a short, crisp laugh. “The louse!” she clawing girl with one hand, Monk made a
flared. “He got me to wear that mask and swing at his partner with the other.
cape after he escaped from you back there at
the storage shed. Told me he would cut me
in for plenty if I led the rest of you away from THE END
him. But that devil was going to kill all of us!”
"THE EVIL GNOME"

Here is an exciting, thrilling, smashing novel, with every requirement of
action, interest and suspense. Doc Savage and his gang find themselves
up against quite a new problem; one that keeps them baffled for some
time. How can they fight a menace that they cannot find? How can they
conquer over a force that seems to have supernatural powers? You'll
learn how if you make sure of getting "The Evil Gnome," complete in the
next issue of
10 Cents—Everywhere

085 - The Spotted Man

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085 - The Spotted Man

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THE SPOTTED MEN

A Doc Savage Adventure by Kenneth Robeson

A Complete Book-length Novel

Chapter I he had been lying down. But Tink O’Neil

MEET THE CHARACTERS IN "THE SPOTTED MEN"

J. HENRY MASON A millionaire owner of a steel pant.

off, baby. Your old man ain’t within fifty miles

the driver’s compartment—the driver’s cab Doc now demonstrated a little of

The bull-like fellow grabbed the bronze man’s

short jab to the jaw. The four remaining thugs

Chapter XI bushes alongside the narrow roadway. His

Doc followed the instructions. There

"THE EVIL GNOME"

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