The Hydra Monster Read Online Free Page A

before."
The Phantom reached out, took hold of the man's shoulder. "You're more than welcome to join us. I'm sure you can tell me all about Hydra."
The hand snapped out of the coat holding a .38 revolver. "No, no," he said. "That's really not a safe topic for anybody to talk about. I'm really sorry you . . ."
Devil gave no warning growl. He leaped straight at the gunman, sinking his sharp teeth into the man's wrist.
"Damn it!" The gun fell.
The Phantom caught the weapon in midair, pocketed it. He grabbed the gunman's arm, twisted it around behind. "Okay, now get inside the cab and we'll have our chat."
"I don't . . ."
From out of the fog two shots came sizzling. They struck the young man in the chest and he slumped out of the Phantom's grip.
The Phantom jerked the cab door open. "Get him to a hospital quick." He picked the wounded man up and eased him into the back seat. "I'll go after the other one."
"Hey, isn't this thing ever going to end?" Mac roared away from the curb.
The Phantom, Devil at his heels, ran after the other gunman. "They'd rather kill their own than risk having them talk," he said to himself. "That sounds like Hydra all right."
Up ahead, in the fog, a car door slammed. Then a motor came to life with a growl.
Sprinting, the Phantom got around the corner in time to see a dark sedan go barrelling away.
He stood watching the tail lights blur and vanish in the mist. "Let's hope the one we sent to the hospital pulls through," he said. "Right; now he's my only link to the Hydra."
CHAPTER FIVE
The fog pressed against the glass walls of the sidewalk booth, enclosing the Phantom in grey- ness. He dialed the Harbor Emergency Hospital number. Devil was standing in front of the booth, like a sentry.
When the hospital desk answered, the Phantom said, "I'm inquiring about a man who was brought in earlier this evening. A taxi driver delivered him to you, I believe. Gunshot wounds, a young man."
There was a noticeable inhalation of breath on the other end of the line. "Oh, yes," said the girl. "And your name is . . ?"
     

     
"I'm a friend of the family."
I see," said the girl. "Well, can you hold on for just a moment, sir, and I'll . . . I'll let you talk to Dr. Wollter."
I n thirty seconds a phone was picked up, and an Instant after that, much more cautiously, a second plione. The Phantom frowned.
"Dr. Wollter," said a deep, young voice. "Who am I speaking to, please?"
The Phantom glanced out at his waiting wolf. "Mr. Devlin," he said. "I'm interested in finding out about the young man who was shot."
"You're a friend of the family, you say?"
"My family has known his crowd for ages," replied the Phantom. "How is he do . . . ?"
"Perhaps you can tell me his name, Mr. Devlin?"
"I'm not sure what name he's using at the moment."
There was a silence.
Out on the Bay, somewhere, a fog horn mournfully bellowed.
"Mr. Devlin, all I can tell you is that this . . . this is a very unusual case," said the young doctor. "I really can't discuss it further over the phone, but if you can come to the hospital, I'd be glad to see you. Where are you now, by the way?"
"Yes, perhaps, I will come over there," said the Phantom, ignoring his question. "Goodbye."
Scratching his chin, he stepped out onto the misty street. "Something's not quite right," he mused. "And I wonder who was listening in. We'd better take a look at the hospital, Devil. Let's go."
There were two police cars, empty and double parked in front of the small, side street hospital. The Phan tom, Devil at his side, stood across the way and watched. "Maybe it's not unusual to see police at an emergency hospital," he said to himself. "And yet . . ."
He and the large, grey wolf walked on through the fog. When the Phantom was beyond the hospital building, he cut across the street. There was an alley running alongside the place. Stepping into it, he told Devil, "Wait here."
In another minute the powerful Phantom was up the fire escape and standing next to a corridor window. He eased the