Человек-невидимка
The Siege of Kemp’s House
"Poker,"saidKemp,andrushedtothefender. Hehandedthepokerhehadcarriedtothepolicemanandthedining-roomonetotheother. Hesuddenlyflunghimselfbackward.
"Whup!"saidonepoliceman,ducked,andcaughttheaxeonhispoker. ThepistolsnappeditspenultimateshotandrippedavaluableSidneyCooper. Thesecondpolicemanbroughthispokerdownonthelittleweapon,asonemightknockdownawasp,andsentitrattlingtothefloor.
Atthefirstclashthegirlscreamed,stoodscreamingforamomentbythefireplace,andthenrantoopentheshutters—possiblywithanideaofescapingbytheshatteredwindow.
Theaxerecededintothepassage,andfelltoapositionabouttwofeetfromtheground. TheycouldheartheInvisibleManbreathing. "Standaway,youtwo,"hesaid."IwantthatmanKemp."
"Wewantyou,"saidthefirstpoliceman,makingaquickstepforwardandwipingwithhispokerattheVoice. TheInvisibleManmusthavestartedback,andheblunderedintotheumbrellastand.
Then,asthepolicemanstaggeredwiththeswingoftheblowhehadaimed,theInvisibleMancounteredwiththeaxe,thehelmetcrumpledlikepaper,andtheblowsentthemanspinningtothefloorattheheadofthekitchenstairs. Butthesecondpoliceman,aimingbehindtheaxewithhispoker,hitsomethingsoftthatsnapped. Therewasasharpexclamationofpainandthentheaxefelltotheground. Thepolicemanwipedagainatvacancyandhitnothing;heputhisfootontheaxe,andstruckagain. Thenhestood,pokerclubbed,listeningintentfortheslightestmovement.
