CHAPTER 5DAM MCGRATH stood motionless in the shabby room, listening to the surgeon’s footsteps rapidly going down the stairs. He said slowly, “Well, I’ll be quadruply damned.”
He turned and looked at Mr. Pinkerton. He was lying there, his eyes open, staring blankly up at the ceiling. Dan went over to him. “Hi, there,” he said gently. “How’re you coming, old-timer?”
“I’m coming all right,” Mr. Pinkerton managed to say. He moved his hand up to his scrawny throat.
“They choke you too?”
Mr. Pinkerton tried to nod his head, but the movement made him wince with pain. He closed his eyes to keep the American from seeing the tears in them as he felt feebly at his forehead.
“Did—did they break my spectacles?” he whispered. “I’m afraid I can’t see without them. I’ve only got the one pair.”
“Hal
