Chapter V

31

STRANGE FISH

Chapter VI

THEY took a plane to Oklahoma. One of their own. An amphibian. They took off from the river into a south wind, turned left and rode the N−side of the Newark radio beam outward. They picked up the A−side of the Bellefonte beam beyond Allentown, Pennsylvania. Monk handled the ship.

Ham Brooks reported on what he had found out about Johnny Toms.

“A character,” he said. “Manages the Stevens' ranch and keeps a guardian eye on the Stevens' oil wells.”

He had talked to Tulsa and Bartlesville, Oklahoma, about Johnny Toms, he explained. He hadn't found out anything that was really important. Except that Johnny Toms was well−known. He was quite a guy, evidently.

Ham changed from the subject of Johnny Toms to that of Paris Stevens as soon as he could.

“That girl must be as rich as Croesus,” he said. “I hear she doesn't exactly put your eye out, either.”

Doc made no comment on that. He hoped the girl was as homely as a mud fence. Monk and Ham would come nearer keeping their mind on business, if she was.

“You better keep your eye on the ball,” Doc said.

Ham looked uncomfortable.

Doc delivered a lecture.

“We don't know what this is, but we do know that it has some size,” he said seriously. “Johnny Toms, when he called from Oklahoma, said that a fat man—who possibly had some friends helping him—had murdered someone named Porter and framed Toms. Hardly had I hung up the telephone when we got a threat from more of the gang located in New York. That means a large group involved in the affair.”

Ham nodded, but didn't say anything.

Doc became more emphatic. “Those men moved fast. They pulled a smart trick, and pulled it quick. Take that sheep fellow. I doubt if he had time to rehearse the story he told me. But it was a good story. It nearly fooled me. And if we hadn't had some mighty good luck, they would have killed you and Monk before you got started.”

“I wouldn't call it luck,” Ham began. “You were smart enough—”

“It was luck!” Doc said sharply. “I got half a dozen lucky breaks! You can't depend on that sort of luck. From now on, take this thing seriously. It's dangerous. There are several men involved. And they're so excited that they're willing to murder at the drop of a hat. So be careful! Keep your heads cut in!”

“And keep women off our minds,” Ham said dryly. “I get it.”

Doc shut up. He was convinced his lecture hadn't done much good.