Johnston McCulley

Name: The Spider's Reward — 5. Into a Trap
Author: Johnston McCulley

The Spider's Reward — 5. Into a Trap (1919)

Summary

“The Spider's Reward — 5. Into a Trap”, published in 1919, is a work by Johnston McCulley. It explores elements such as Bertram Blaine, Warwick and switch.

Quotes from The Spider's Reward — 5. Into a Trap (Johnston McCulley)

Johnston McCulley, The Spider's Reward — 5. Into a Trap (1919)

“ Bertram Blaine was sound asleep. His face was turned to the wall. He breathed deeply, regularly, after the manner of a healthy man. Warwick watched and waited.
Blaine was a man of about fifty-five, he judged, a man who always had known prosperity and had lived well. He was a giant in body, and was known to possess an active and keen mind.
Warwick sat down in a chair a dozen feet from the side of the bed, faced the sleeper, held his weapon in readiness—and waited. After a time the consciousness of the lights burning seemed to arouse Bertram Blaine. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Johnston McCulley, The Spider's Reward — 5. Into a Trap (1919)

“ Bertram Blaine slumped forward in the chair, toppled off it, and collapsed on the floor. He was shaking from head to feet, his hands were thrown out and clutched at the rug, he gasped.
John Warwick stood up, thoroughly alarmed. It was not a part of the night's program to have Bertram Blaine expire. The man might have a rotten heart, for all that John Warwick knew; The Spider had not advised him in regard to the state of Blaine's health. Coming from a deep sleep to find the room illuminated and a masked man holding a gun on him was enough to shock a man, of course. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Johnston McCulley, The Spider's Reward — 5. Into a Trap (1919)

“ He did not even look up at Warwick, and he still was trembling. He sat down on the edge of the bed, fell back with his head on a pillow, and closed his eyes for a moment.
“This will be—the death of me,” he muttered. “I can't endure—shocks! Take what you want, and go! There is money—downstairs. I'll tell you where——”
“You just take it easy for a few minutes, and you'll be all right,” Warwick told him. “I couldn't run away and leave a sick man, you understand; it wouldn't be right.”
Never in his life had Warwick watched a man as he watched Bertram Blaine now. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Johnston McCulley, The Spider's Reward — 5. Into a Trap (1919)

“ Warwick sensed immediately how it was arranged. He had fallen into a closet on the floor below. The ceiling of the closet was a clever trapdoor.
The trap did not close. Even as Warwick called himself a clumsy fool, he heard Bertram Blaine spring from the bed, heard his voice.
“So I've got you, my fine friend! That sick gag worked pretty well, didn't it? Waiting for some others, are you? Well, they'll get a hot reception. It'll take me about two seconds to throw that switch and put the electric current in action again.” ”

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Source: Wikisource

Johnston McCulley, The Spider's Reward — 5. Into a Trap (1919)

“ There, The Spider had informed him, there was a space four feet wide upon which a man dare not set foot unless he wished to alarm Bertram Blaine. John Warwick balanced himself against the balustrade, vaulted, and struck the floor of the upper hallway some distance beyond the danger zone. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Johnston McCulley, The Spider's Reward — 5. Into a Trap (1919)

“ From an alcove came the regular, deep breathing of a sleeper. Warwick stepped back to a corner and pressed the button of his torch. The light flashed around the room quickly, and Warwick noted where the articles of furniture were placed, and located the light switch. He moved silently toward the latter.
He returned the torch to his pocket now, grasped the automatic firmly, and reached for the light switch with his left hand. He turned it, and the room and alcove were flooded with light. At the same instant Warwick whirled to face the bed in the alcove, bringing his automatic up. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Johnston McCulley, The Spider's Reward — 5. Into a Trap (1919)

“ Then sit on the edge of the bed!” Warwick commanded.
Blaine obeyed him, never taking his eyes off the two slits in Warwick's mask, through which his eyes glittered. He tossed the covers aside, swung around so that his feet were on the floor, and put his hands above his head again,
Warwick got up and moved toward the wall.
“Into that chair!” he ordered.
Bertram Blaine left the bed and went to the chair Warwick had vacated, and sat down.
“Lower your hands and put them in your lap,” Warwick said. “That is much better. I don't think you'll be very dangerous there.” ”

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Source: Wikisource

Johnston McCulley, The Spider's Reward — 5. Into a Trap (1919)

“ Now he stood against the wall listening intently. He never had been in this room before, and it was so dark that he could see nothing, yet, thanks to the information the supercriminal's people had acquired, he had a mental picture of the chamber. ”

Johnston McCulley

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Quotes from The Spider's Reward — 5. Into a Trap (Johnston McCulley)

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