“We’ll meet a block away and you two amble along behind me,” he instructed. “In that way we’ll be ready for any attack.”
The arrival was timed accurately and Tom’s every move was covered precisely according to plan. There were no attempts on Tom during the walk to the York Hotel. He entered the lobby through a revolving door and reached the room-clerk’s desk without being stopped.
Bud and Radnor followed him up a stairway to Marco’s room but remained in the corridor. The
160 TOM SWIFT AND HIS GIANT ROBOT
security officer held the toe of one shoe against the door to keep it open a crack.
The guard was in tears and almost cringed as he began the tale of his misdeeds.
“He mesmerized me, that’s what he did. Talked on and on in a low voice till he had me in a trance. I couldn’t help carrying out his commands. When I started obeying him I couldn’t stop. Till now, that is. I’m through with him.”
“Who was this person?” Tom asked.
“Raymond Turnbull.”
The escaped mental patient!
Marco continued, “He was waiting outside my house one night when I got home. I live alone, you know. He came every night after that and we talked. I’d get sleepier and sleepier.
“Somehow I fell under his power. Turnbull made me bring him the model of the Flying Lab, and he put the recording machine in it. Every night I’d change the tape. Sometimes I’d bring it to a boardinghouse. Other times I’d mail it to a box number. When Mr. Billing called you about locating the shack, I overheard him and phoned Raymond at the boardinghouse.”
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