Doc Savage 2 -The Land of Terror

1 -- The Smoking Death

There were no chemists working for the Mammoth Manufacturing Company who could foretell future events. So as they watched white-haired, distinguished Jerome Coffern don hat and topcoat after the usual Friday conference, none knew they were never to see the famous chemist alive again.

Not one dreamed that a gruesome right hand and a right forearm were all of Jerome Coffern's body that would ever be found.

Jerome Coffern was chief chemist for the Mammoth concern. He was also considered one of the most learned industrial scientists in the World.

The Mammoth Manufacturing Company paid Jerome Coffern a larger salary than was received by the president of the corporation. It was Jerome Coffern's great brain which gave the Mammoth concern the jump on all its competitors.

Jerome Coffern plucked back a sleeve to eye a watch on his right wrist. This watch was later to identify the grisly right hand and forearm as Coffern's.

"I wonder how many of you gentlemen have heard of Clark Savage?" he inquired.

Surprise kept the other chemists silent a moment. Then one spoke up.

"I recall that a man by the name of 'Clark Savage' recently did some remarkable work along lines of ultimate organic analysis," he said. "His findings were so advanced in part as to be somewhat bewildering. Some points about Chemistry that had been generally accepted as facts were proven wrong by Clark Savage."

Jerome Coffern nodded delightedly, rubbing his rather bony hands.

"That is correct," he declared. "I am proud to point to myself as one of the few chemists to realize Doc Savage's findings are possibly the most important of our generation."

At this juncture, another chemist gave an appreciable start.

"Doc Savage!" he ejaculated. "Say, isn't that the man who some weeks ago turned over to the surgical profession a new and vastly improved method of performing delicate brain operations?"

"That is the same Doc Savage, although his birth name was Clark." Jerome Coffern's none-too-ample chest seemed about to burst with pride.

"Whew!" exploded another man. "It is highly unusual for one man to be among the World's greatest experts in 2 lines so widely different as Chemistry and Surgery."

Jerome Coffern chuckled. "You would be more astounded were you to know Doc Savage fully. The man is a mental marvel! And he has contributed new discoveries to more than just Surgery and Chemistry. Electricity, Archaeology, Geology and other fields have received the benefit of his marvelous brain. He has a most amazing method of working!"

Pausing, Jerome Coffern gazed steadily at the assembled men. He wanted them to understand he was not exaggerating.

"As I say, Doc Savage has a most amazing method of working," he continued. "At intervals, Savage vanishes. No one knows where he goes. He simply disappears as completely as though he had left the Earth. And when he returns, he nearly always has one or more new and incredible scientific discoveries to give to the World.

"It is obvious that Doc Savage has a wonderful laboratory at some secret spot where he can work in solitude. Nobody can even guess where it is. But any scientific man would give half a lifetime to inspect that laboratory, so remarkable must it be!"

The eminent chemist smiled from ear-to-ear.

"And I will add more. You will, perhaps, find it hard to believe. I have already said that Doc Savage is a mental marvel. Well, he is also a muscular marvel as well. He has a body as amazing as his brain!

"His strength and agility are incredible. Why, it is child's play for Doc Savage to twist horseshoes, bend silver half-dollars between thumb and forefinger, or tear a New York telephone directory in half!

"Were Doc Savage to become a professional athlete, there is no doubt in my mind but that he would be the wonder of all time. But he will not employ his astounding strength to earn money. He is one of those very rare persons -- a genuinely modest man. Publicity and worldwide fame do not interest him at all."

Jerome Coffern halted abruptly, realizing his enthusiasm was getting away with his dignity. He reddened.

"I could not resist the temptation to tell you of this remarkable man," he said proudly. "Doc Savage studied under me many years ago. He quickly learned all I knew. Now his knowledge is vastly beyond mine!"

He tugged back his right sleeve to display the watch.

"This timepiece was presented to me by Doc Savage at that time as a token of gratitude," he smiled. "I am proud to say he is still my friend."