Anthony Melville Rud

“ Cube explained and demonstrated, and then the two approached the section of wall in which the door to the secret passage was located. Lacey realized that perhaps his greatest danger now would come from the weapon in his companion’s hands, yet between himself and Krahn lay an unexpressed kinship of liking for unusual adventure which possesses an etiquette of silence all its own. Men will risk serious injury or even death itself for it, rather than take the obvious and commonsense course of obviating risk to which they have committed themselves. ”

“ The botanist obeyed with alacrity, slamming the door of the elevator hastily when he glimpsed Cube hand one of his automatics to Krahn. “Know how to use it?” asked Lacey.
“Never fired one in my life, but I’m glad to get hold of it!” replied the chemist pluckily. “This little dew-dad is the safety catch, isn’t it? Do you have to pull the trigger for every shot, or does merely keeping it down make the darned thing work?” ”

“ Luckily, the corridor beyond proved to be empty. It ran straight for a distance of sixty feet, then angled to the right to end in another door of masonry. The latter was equipped with a heavy iron handle on the inside, which manipulated the lock. ”