earlderrbiggers.thehousewithoutakey-第33部分

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in　white；　she　was　slim　and　wistful　and　beautiful；　and　considering　the　events　of　the　immediate　past；　the　dinner　was　a　cheerful　one。
　They　had　coffee　on　the　lanai。　Presently　Jennison　rose　and　stood　by　Barbara's　chair。　〃We've　something　to　tell　you；〃　he　announced。　He　looked　down　at　the　girl。　〃Is　that　right；　my　dear？〃
　Barbara　nodded。
　〃Your　cousin　and　I〃　…　the　lawyer　turned　to　the　two　from　Boston　…　〃have　been　fond　of　each　other　for　a　long　time。　We　shall　be　married　very　quietly　in　a　week　or　so　…〃
　〃Oh；　Harry　…　not　a　week；〃　said　Barbara。
　〃Well；　as　you　wish。　But　very　soon。〃
　〃Yes；　very　soon；〃　she　repeated。
　〃And　leave　Honolulu　for　a　time；〃　Jennison　continued。　〃Naturally；　Barbara　feels　she　can　not　stay　here　for　the　present　…　so　many　memories　…　you　both　understand。　She　has　authorized　me　to　put　this　house　up　for　sale　…〃
　〃But；　Harry；〃　Barbara　protested；　〃you　make　me　sound　so　inhospitable。　Telling　my　guests　that　the　house　is　for　sale　and　I　am　leaving　…〃
　〃Nonsense；　my　dear；〃　said　Aunt　Minerva。　〃John　Quincy　and　I　understand；　quite。　I　sympathize　with　your　desire　to　get　away。〃　She　rose。
　〃I'm　sorry；〃　said　Jennison。　〃I　did　sound　a　little　abrupt。　But　I'm　naturally　eager　to　take　care　of　her　now。〃
　〃Of　course；〃　John　Quincy　agreed。
　Miss　Minerva　bent　over　and　kissed　the　girl。　〃If　your　mother　were　here；　dear　child；〃　she　said；　〃she　couldn't　wish　for　your　happiness　any　more　keenly　than　I　do。〃　Barbara　reached　up　impulsively　and　put　her　arms　about　the　older　woman。
　John　Quincy　shook　Jennison's　hand。　〃You're　mighty　lucky。〃
　〃I　think　so；〃　Jennison　answered。
　The　boy　went　over　to　Barbara。　〃All　…　all　good　wishes；〃　he　said。　She　nodded；　but　did　not　reply。　He　saw　there　were　tears　in　her　eyes。
　Presently　Miss　Minerva　withdrew　to　the　living…room；　and　John　Quincy；　feeling　like　a　fifth　wheel；　made　haste　to　leave　the　two　together。　He　went　out　on　the　beach。　The　pale　moon　rode　high　amid　the　golden　stars；　romance　whispered　through　the　cocoanut　palms。　He　thought　of　the　scene　he　had　witnessed　that　breathless　night　on　the　President　Tyler　…　only　two　in　the　world；　love　quick　and　overwhelming　…　well；　this　was　the　setting　for　it。　Here　on　this　beach　they　had　walked　two　and　two　since　the　beginning　of　time；　whispering　the　same　vows；　making　the　same　promises；　whatever　their　color　and　creed。　Suddenly　the　boy　felt　lonely。
　Barbara　was　a　Winterslip；　and　not　for　him。　Why　then　did　he　feel　again　that　frustrated　pang　in　his　heart？　She　had　chosen　and　her　choice　was　fitting；　what　affair　was　it　of　his？
　He　found　himself　moving　slowly　toward　the　Reef　and　Palm　Hotel。　For　a　chat　with　Carlota　Egan？　But　why　should　he　want　to　talk　with　this　girl；　whose　outlook　was　so　different　from　that　of　the　world　he　knew？　The　girls　at　home　were　on　a　level　with　the　men　in　brains　…　often；　indeed；　they　were　superior；　seemed　to　be　looking　down　from　a　great　height。　They　discussed　that　article　in　the　latest　Atlantic；　Shaw's　grim　philosophy；　the　new　Sargent　at　the　Art　Gallery。　Wasn't　that　the　sort　of　talk　he　should　be　seeking　here？　Or　was　it？　Under　these　palms　on　this　romantic　beach；　with　the　moon　riding　high　over　Diamond　Head？
　Carlota　Egan　was　seated　behind　the　desk　in　the　deserted　lobby　of　the　Reef　and　Palm；　a　worried　frown　on　her　face。
　〃You've　e　at　the　psychological　moment；〃　she　cried；　and　smiled。　〃I'm　having　the　most　awful　struggle。〃
　〃Arithmetic？〃　John　Quincy　inquired。
　〃pound　fractions；　it　seems　to　me。　I'm　making　out　the　Brades'　bill。〃
　He　came　round　the　desk　and　stood　at　her　side。　〃Let　me　help　you。〃
　〃It's　so　fearfully　involved。〃　She　looked　up　at　him；　and　he　wished　they　could　do　their　sums　on　the　beach。　〃Mr。　Brade　has　been　away　since　Tuesday　morning；　and　we　don't　charge　for　any　absence　of　more　than　three　days。　So　that　es　out　of　it。　Maybe　you　can　figure　it　…　I　can't。〃
　〃Charge　him　anyhow；〃　suggested　John　Quincy。
　〃I'd　like　to　…　that　would　simplify　everything。　But　it's　not　dad's　way。〃
　John　Quincy　took　up　a　pencil。　〃What　rate　are　they　paying？〃　he　inquired。　She　told　him；　and　he　began　to　figure。　It　wasn't　a　simple　matter；　even　for　a　bond　expert。　John　Quincy　frowned　too。
　Some　one　entered　the　front　door　of　the　Reef　and　Palm。　Looking　up；　John　Quincy　beheld　the　Hawaiian　boy；　Dick　Kaohla。　He　carried　a　bulky　object；　wrapped　in　newspapers。
　〃Mr。　Brade　here　now？〃　he　asked。
　Carlota　Egan　shook　her　head。　〃No；　he　hasn't　returned。〃
　〃I　will　wait；〃　said　the　boy。
　〃But　we　don't　know　where　he　is；　or　when　he　will　e　back；〃　the　girl　protested。
　〃He　will　be　here　soon；〃　the　Hawaiian　replied。　〃I　wait　on　the　lanai。〃　He　went　out　the　side　door；　still　carrying　his　clumsy　burden。　John　Quincy　and　the　girl　stared　at　each　other。
　〃'We　move；　we　advance！'〃　John　Quincy　quoted　in　a　low　voice。　〃Brade　will　be　here　soon！　Would　you　mind　going　out　on　the　lanai　and　telling　me　where　Kaohla　is　now？〃
　Quickly　the　girl　plied。　She　returned　in　a　few　seconds。　〃He's　taken　a　chair　at　the　far　end。〃
　〃Out　of　earshot？〃
　〃Quite。　You　want　the　telephone　…〃
　But　John　Quincy　was　already　in　the　booth。　Charlie　Chan's　voice　came　back　over　the　wire。
　〃Most　warm　congratulations。　You　are　number　one　detective　yourself。　Should　my　self…starter　not　indulge　in　stubborn　spasm；　I　will　make　immediate　connection　with　you。〃
　John　Quincy　returned　to　the　desk；　smiling。　〃Charlie's　flying　to　us　in　his　Ford。　Begins　to　look　as　though　we　were　getting　somewhere　now。　But　about　this　bill。　Mrs。　Brade's　board　and　room　I　make　sixteen　dollars。　The　charge　against　Mr。　Brade　…　one　week's　board　and　room　minus　four　days'　board　…　totals　nine　dollars　and　sixty…two　cents。〃
　〃How　can　I　ever　thank　you？〃　said　the　girl。
　〃By　telling　me　again　about　your　childhood　on　this　beach。〃　A　shadow　crossed　her　face。　〃Oh；　I'm　sorry　I've　made　you　unhappy。〃
　〃Oh；　no　…　you　couldn't。〃　She　shook　her　head。　〃I've　never　been　…　so　very　happy。　Always　an　'if'　in　it；　as　I　told　you　before。　That　morning　on　the　ferry　I　think　I　was　nearest　to　real　happiness。　I　seemed　to　have　escaped　from　life　for　a　moment。〃
　〃I　remember　how　you　laughed　at　my　hat。〃
　〃Oh　…　I　hope　you've　forgiven　me。〃
　〃Nonsense。　I'm　mighty　glad　I　was　able　to　make　you　laugh　like　that。〃　Her　great　eyes　stared　into　the　future；　and　John　Quincy　pitied　her。　He　had　known　others　like　her；　others　who　loved　their　fathers；　built　high　hopes　for　them；　then　saw　them　drift　into　a　baffled　old　age。　One　of　the　girl's　slender；　tanned　hands　lay　on　the　desk；　John　Quincy　put　his　own　upon　it。　〃Don't　be　unhappy；〃　he　urged。　〃It's　such　a　wonderful　night。　The　moon　…　you're　a　what…you…may…call…it　…　a　kamaaina；　I　know；　but　I'll　bet　you　never　saw　the　moon　looking　so　well　before。　It's　like　a　thousand…dollar　gold　piece；　pale　but　negotiable。　Shall　we　go　out　and　spend　it？〃
　Gently　she　drew　her　hand　away。　〃There　were　seven　bottles　of　charged　water　sent　to　the　room。　Thirty…five　cents　each　…〃
　〃What？　Oh；　the　Brades'　bill。　Yes；　that　means　two　forty…five　more。　I'd　like　to　mention　the　stars　too。　Isn't　it　odd　how　close　the　stars　seem　in　the　tropics　…〃
　She　smiled。　〃We　mustn't　forget　the　trunks　and　bags。　Three　dollars　for　bringing　them　up　from　the　dock。〃
　〃Say　…　that's　rather　steep。　Well；　it　goes　down　on　the　record。　Have　I　ever　told　you　that　all　this　natural　beauty　out　here　has　left　its　imprint　on　your　face？　In　the　midst　of　so　much　loveliness；　one　couldn't　be　anything　but　…〃
　〃Mrs。　Brade　had　three　trays　to　the　room。　That's　seventy…five　cents　more。〃
　〃Extravagant　lady！　Brade　will　be　sorry　he　came　back；　for　more　reasons　than　one。　Well；　I've　got　that。　Anything　else？〃
　〃Just　the　laundry。　Ninety…seven　cents。〃
　〃Fair　enough。　Adding　it　all　up；　I　get　thirty…two　dollars　and　sixty…nine　cents。　Let's　call　it　an　even　thirty…three。〃
　She　laughed。　〃Oh；　no。　We　can't　do　that。〃
　Mrs。　Brade　came　slowly　into　the　lobby　from　the　lanai。　She　paused　at　the　desk。　〃Has　there　been　a　message？〃　she　inquired。
　〃No；　Mrs。　Brade；〃　the　girl　answered。　She　handed　over　the　slip　of　paper。　〃Your　bill。〃
　〃Ah；　yes。　Mr。　Brade　will　attend　to　this　the　moment　he　returns。〃
　〃You　expect　him　soon？〃
　〃I　really　can't　say。〃　The　Englishwoman　moved　on　into　the　corridor　leading　to　nineteen。
　〃Full　of　information；　as　usual；〃　smiled　John　Quincy。　〃Why；　here's　Charlie　now。〃
　Chan　came　briskly　to　the　desk；　followed　by　another　policeman；　also　in　plain　c