earlderrbiggers.thehousewithoutakey-第42部分

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rming　panion；　her　spirits　had　revived　and　she　chatted　vivaciously。　Not　about　Shaw　and　the　art　galleries；　true　enough；　but　bright　human　talk　that　John　Quincy　liked　to　hear。
　He　persuaded　her　to　go　to　the　city　for　a　maidenly　ice…cream　soda；　and　it　was　ten　o'clock　when　they　returned　to　the　beach。　They　left　the　trolley　at　a　stop　some　distance　down　the　avenue　from　the　Reef　and　Palm；　and　strolled　slowly　toward　the　hotel。　The　sidewalk　was　lined　to　their　right　by　dense　foliage；　almost　impenetrable。　The　night　was　calm；　the　street　lamps　shone　brightly；　the　paved　street　gleamed　white　in　the　moonlight。　John　Quincy　was　talking　of　Boston。
　〃I　think　you'd　like　it　there。　It's　old　and　settled；　but　…〃
　From　the　foliage　beside　them　came　the　flash　of　a　pistol；　and　John　Quincy　heard　a　bullet　sing　close　to　his　head。　Another　flash；　another　bullet。　The　girl　gave　a　startled　little　cry。
　John　Quincy　circled　round　her　and　plunged　into　the　bushes。　Angry　branches　stung　his　cheek。　He　stopped；　he　couldn't　leave　the　girl　alone。　He　returned　to　her　side。
　〃What　did　that　mean？〃　he　asked；　amazed。　He　stared　in　wonder　at　the　peaceful　scene　before　him。
　〃I　…　I　don't　know。〃　She　took　his　arm。　〃e　…　hurry！〃
　〃Don't　be　afraid；〃　he　said　reassuringly。
　〃Not　for　myself；〃　she　answered。
　They　went　on　to　the　hotel；　greatly　puzzled。　But　when　they　entered　the　lobby；　they　had　something　else　to　think　about。　Captain　Arthur　Temple　Cope　was　standing　by　the　desk；　and　he　came　at　once　to　meet　them。
　〃This　is　Miss　Egan；　I　believe。　Ah；　Winterslip；　how　are　you？〃　He　turned　again　to　the　girl；　〃I've　taken　a　room　here；　if　you　don't　mind。〃
　〃Why；　not　at　all；〃　she　gasped。
　〃I　talked　with　your　father　this　morning。　I　didn't　know　about　his　trouble　until　I　had　boarded　a　ship　for　the　Fanning　Islands。　I　came　back　as　quickly　as　I　could。〃
　〃You　came　back　…〃　She　stared　at　him。
　〃Yes。　I　came　back　to　help　him。〃
　〃That's　very　kind　of　you；〃　the　girl　said。　〃But　I'm　afraid　I　don't　understand　…〃
　〃Oh；　no；　you　don't　understand。　Naturally。〃　The　captain　smiled　down　at　her。　〃You　see；　Jim's　my　young　brother。　You're　my　niece；　and　your　name　is　Carlota　Maria　Cope。　I　fancy　I've　persuaded　old　Jim　to　own　up　to　us　at　last。〃
　The　girl's　dark　eyes　were　wide。　〃I　…　I　think　you're　a　very　nice　uncle；〃　she　said　at　last。
　〃Do　you　really？〃　The　captain　bowed。　〃I　aim　to　be；〃　he　added。
　John　Quincy　stepped　forward。　〃Pardon　me；〃　he　said。　〃I'm　afraid　I'm　intruding。　Good　night；　Captain。〃
　〃Good　night；　my　boy；〃　Cope　answered。
　The　girl　went　with　John　Quincy　to　the　balcony。　〃I　…　I　don't　know　what　to　make　of　it；〃　she　said。
　〃Things　are　ing　rather　fast；〃　John　Quincy　admitted。　He　remembered　the　Corsican　cigarette。　〃I　wouldn't　trust　him　too　far；〃　he　admonished。
　〃But　he's　so　wonderful　…〃
　〃Oh；　he's　all　right；　probably。　But　looks　are　often　deceptive。　I'll　go　along　now　and　let　you　talk　with　him。〃
　She　laid　one　slim　tanned　hand　on　his　white…clad　arm。　〃Do　be　careful！〃
　〃Oh；　I'm　all　right；〃　he　told　her。
　〃But　some　one　shot　at　you。〃
　〃Yes；　and　a　very　poor　aim　he　had；　too。　Don't　worry　about　me。〃　She　was　very　close；　her　eyes　glowing　in　the　dark。　〃You　said　you　weren't　afraid　for　yourself；〃　he　added。　〃Did　you　mean　…〃
　〃I　meant　…　I　was　afraid　…　for　you。〃
　The　moon；　of　course；　was　shining。　The　cocoa…palms　turned　their　heads　away　at　the　suggestion　of　the　trades。　The　warm　waters　of　Waikiki　murmured　near　by。　John　Quincy　Winterslip；　from　Boston　and　immune；　drew　the　girl　to　him　and　kissed　her。　Not　a　cousinly　kiss；　either　…　but　why　should　it　have　been？　She　wasn't　his　cousin。
　〃Thank　you；　my　dear；〃　he　said。　He　seemed　to　be　floating　dizzily　in　space。　It　came　to　him　that　he　might　reach　out　and　pluck　her　a　handful　of　stars。
　It　came　to　him　a　second　later　that；　despite　his　firm　resolve；　he　had　done　it　again。　Kissed　another　girl。
　Three　…　that　made　three　with　whom　he　was　sort　of　entangled。
　〃Good　night；〃　he　said　huskily；　and　leaping　over　the　rail；　fled　hastily　through　the　garden。
　Three　girls　now　…　but　he　hadn't　a　single　regret。　He　was　living　at　last。　As　he　hurried　through　the　dark　along　the　beach；　his　heart　was　light。　Once　he　fancied　he　was　being　followed；　but　he　gave　it　little　thought。　What　of　it？
　On　the　bureau　in　his　room　he　found　an　envelope　with　his　name　typewritten　on　the　outside。　The　note　within　was　typewritten　too。　He　read：　
　〃You　are　too　busy　out　here。　Hawaii　can　manage　her　affairs　without　the　interference　of　a　malihini。
　Boats　sail　almost　daily。　If　you　are　still　here　forty…eight　hours　after　you　get　this　…　look　out！　To…night's　shots　were　fired　into　the　air。　The　aim　will　quickly　improve！〃　
　Delighted；　John　Quincy　tossed　the　note　aside。
　Threatening　him；　eh？　His　activities　as　a　detective　were　bearing　fruit。　He　recalled　the　glowering　face　of　Kaohla　when　he　said：　〃You　did　this。　I　don't　forget。〃　And　a　remark　of　Dan　Winterslip's　his　aunt　had　quoted：　〃Civilized　…　yes。　But　far　underneath　there　are　deep　dark　waters　flowing　still。〃
　Boats　were　sailing　almost　daily；　were　they？　Well；　let　them　sail。　He　would　be　on　one　some　day　…　but　not　until　he　had　brought　Dan　Winterslip's　murderer　to　justice。
　Life　had　a　new　glamour　now。　Look　out？　He'd　be　looking　…　and　enjoying　it；　too。　He　smiled　happily　to　himself　as　he　took　off　his　coat。　This　was　better　than　selling　bonds　in　Boston。
　
　CHAPTER　XVIII　
　A　Cable　From　The　Mainland
　
　JOHN　QUINCY　awoke　at　nine　the　following　morning　and　slipped　from　under　his　mosquito　netting　eager　to　face　the　responsibilities　of　a　new　day。　On　the　floor　near　his　bureau　lay　the　letter　designed　to　speed　the　parting　guest。　He　picked　it　up　and　read　it　again　with　manifest　enjoyment。
　When　he　reached　the　dining…room　Haku　informed　him　that　Miss　Minerva　and　Barbara　had　breakfasted　early　and　gone　to　the　city　on　a　shopping　tour。
　〃Look　here；　Haku；〃　the　boy　said。　〃A　letter　came　for　me　late　last　night？〃
　〃Yes…s；〃　admitted　Haku。
　〃Who　delivered　it？〃
　〃Can　not　say。　It　were　found　on　floor　of　hall　close　by　big　front　door。〃
　〃Who　found　it？〃
　〃Kamaikui。〃
　〃Oh；　yes　…　Kamaikui。〃
　〃I　tell　her　to　put　in　your　sleeping　room。〃
　〃Did　Kamaikui　see　the　person　who　brought　it？〃
　〃Nobody　see　him。　Nobody　on　place。〃
　〃All　right；〃　John　Quincy　said。
　He　spent　a　leisurely　hour　on　the　lanai　with　his　pipe　and　the　morning　paper。　At　about　half　past　ten　he　got　out　the　roadster　and　drove　to　the　police　station。
　Hallet　and　Chan；　he　was　told；　were　in　a　conference　with　the　prosecutor。　He　sat　down　to　wait；　and　in　a　few　moments　word　came　for　him　to　join　them。　Entering　Greene's　office；　he　saw　the　three　men　seated　gloomily　about　the　prosecutor's　desk。
　〃Well；　I　guess　I'm　some　detective；〃　he　announced。
　Greene　looked　up　quickly。　〃Found　anything　new？〃
　〃Not　precisely；〃　John　Quincy　admitted。　〃But　last　night　when　I　was　walking　along　Kalakaua　Avenue　with　a　young　woman；　somebody　took　a　couple　of　wild　shots　at　me　from　the　bushes。　And　when　I　got　home　I　found　this　letter　waiting。〃
　He　handed　the　epistle　to　Hallet；　who　read　it　with　evident　disgust；　then　passed　it　on　to　the　prosecutor。　〃That　doesn't　get　us　anywhere；〃　the　captain　said。
　〃It　may　get　me　somewhere；　if　I'm　not　careful；〃　John　Quincy　replied。　〃However；　I'm　rather　proud　of　it。　Sort　of　goes　to　show　that　my　detective　work　is　hitting　home。〃
　〃Maybe；〃　answered　Hallet；　carelessly。
　Greene　laid　the　letter　on　his　desk。　〃My　advice　to　you；〃　he　said；　〃is　to　carry　a　gun。　That's　unofficial；　of　course。〃
　〃Nonsense；　I'm　not　afraid；〃　John　Quincy　told　him。　〃I've　got　a　pretty　good　idea　who　sent　this　thing。〃
　〃You　have？〃　Greene　said。
　〃Yes。　He's　a　friend　of　Captain　Hallet's。　Dick　Kaohla。〃
　〃What　do　you　mean　he's　a　friend　of　mine？〃　flared　Hallet。
　〃Well；　you　certainly　treated　him　pretty　tenderly　the　other　night。〃
　〃I　knew　what　I　was　doing；〃　said　Hallet　grouchily。
　〃I　hope　you　did。　But　if　he　puts　a　bullet　in　me　some　lovely　evening；　I'm　going　to　be　pretty　annoyed　with　you。〃
　〃Oh；　you're　in　no　danger；〃　Hallet　answered。　〃Only　a　coward　writes　anonymous　letters。〃
　〃Yes；　and　only　a　coward　shoots　from　ambush。　But　that　isn't　saying　he　can't　take　a　good　aim。〃
　Hallet　picked　up　the　letter。　〃I'll　keep　this。　It　may　prove　to　be　evidence。〃
　〃Surely；〃　agreed　John　Quincy。　〃And　you　haven't　got　any　too　much　evidence；　as　I　see　it。〃
　〃Is　that　s