earlderrbiggers.thehousewithoutakey-第45部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　〃That's　a　pretty　weak　explanation；〃　remarked　John　Quincy　severely。　〃You've　been　responsible　for　a　lot　of　wasted　time。〃
　〃It　…　it　wasn't　my　only　reason；〃　said　Miss　Minerva　softly。
　〃Oh　…　I'm　glad　to　hear　that。　Go　on。〃
　〃Somehow；　I　couldn't　bring　myself　to　link　up　that　call　of　Captain　Cope's　with　…　a　murder　mystery。〃
　Another　silence。　And　suddenly　…　he　was　never　dense　…　John　Quincy　understood。
　〃He　told　me　you　were　very　beautiful　in　the　'eighties；〃　said　the　boy　gently。　〃The　captain；　I　mean。　When　I　met　him　in　that　San　Francisco　club。〃
　Miss　Minerva　laid　her　own　hand　on　the　boy's。　When　she　spoke　her　voice；　which　he　had　always　thought　firm　and　sharp；　trembled　a　little。　〃On　this　beach　in　my　girlhood；〃　she　said；　〃happiness　was　within　my　grasp。　I　had　only　to　reach　out　and　take　it。　But　somehow　…　Boston　…　Boston　held　me　back。　I　let　my　happiness　slip　away。〃
　〃Not　too　late　yet；〃　suggested　John　Quincy。
　She　shook　her　head。　〃So　he　tried　to　tell　me　that　Monday　afternoon。　But　there　was　something　in　his　tone　…　I　may　be　in　Hawaii；　but　I'm　not　quite　mad。　Youth；　John　Quincy；　youth　doesn't　return；　whatever　they　may　say　out　here。〃　She　pressed　his　hand；　and　stood。　〃If　your　chance　es；　dear　boy；〃　she　added；　〃don't　be　such　a　fool。〃
　She　moved　hastily　away　through　the　garden；　and　John　Quincy　looked　after　her　with　a　new　affection　in　his　eyes。
　Presently　he　saw　the　yellow　glare　of　a　match　beyond　the　wire。　Amos　again；　still　loitering　under　his　algaroba　tree。　John　Quincy　rose　and　strolled　over　to　him。
　〃Hello；　Cousin　Amos；〃　he　said。　〃When　are　you　going　to　take　down　this　fence？〃
　〃Oh；　I'll　get　round　to　it　some　time；〃　Amos　answered。　〃By　the　way；　I　wanted　to　ask　you。　Any　new　developments？〃
　〃Several；〃　John　Quincy　told　him。　〃But　nothing　that　gets　us　anywhere。　So　far　as　I　can　see；　the　case　has　blown　up　pletely。〃
　〃Well；　I've　been　thinking　it　over；〃　Amos　said。　〃Maybe　that　would　be　the　best　oute；　after　all。　Suppose　they　do　discover　who　did　for　Dan　…　it　may　only　reveal　a　new　scandal；　worse　than　any　of　the　others。〃
　〃I'll　take　a　chance　on　that；〃　replied　John　Quincy。　〃For　my　part；　I　intend　to　see　this　thing　through　…〃
　Haku　came　briskly　through　the　garden。　〃Cable　message　for　Mr。　John　Quincy　Winterslip。　Boy　say　collect。　Requests　money。〃
　John　Quincy　followed　quickly　to　the　front　door。　A　bored　small　boy　awaited　him。　He　paid　the　sum　due　and　tore　open　the　cable。　It　was　signed　by　the　postmaster　at　Des　Moines；　and　it　read：
　〃No　one　named　Saladine　ever　heard　of　here。〃
　John　Quincy　dashed　to　the　telephone。　Some　one　on　duty　at　the　station　informed　him　that　Chan　had　gone　home；　and　gave　him　an　address　on　Punchbowl　Hill。　He　got　out　the　roadster；　and　in　five　minutes　more　was　speeding　toward　the　city。
　
　CHAPTER　XIX　
　〃Good…By；　Pete！〃
　
　CHARLIE　CHAN　lived　in　a　bungalow　that　clung　precariously　to　the　side　of　Punchbowl　Hill。　Pausing　a　moment　at　the　gate；　John　Quincy　looked　down　on　Honolulu；　one　great　gorgeous　garden　set　in　an　amphitheater　of　mountains。　A　beautiful　picture；　but　he　had　no　time　for　beauty　now。　He　hurried　up　the　brief　walk　that　lay　in　the　shadow　of　the　palm　trees。
　A　Chinese　woman　…　a　servant；　she　seemed　…　ushered　him　into　Chan's　dimly…lighted　living…room。　The　detective　was　seated　at　a　table　playing　chess；　he　rose　with　dignity　when　he　saw　his　visitor。　In　this；　his　hour　of　ease；　he　wore　a　long　loose　robe　of　dark　purple　silk；　which　fitted　closely　at　the　neck　and　had　wide　sleeves。　Beneath　it　showed　wide　trousers　of　the　same　material；　and　on　his　feet　were　shoes　of　silk；　with　thick　felt　soles。　He　was　all　Oriental　now；　suave　and　ingratiating　but　remote；　and　for　the　first　time　John　Quincy　was　really　conscious　of　the　great　gulf　across　which　he　and　Chan　shook　hands。
　〃You　do　my　lowly　house　immense　honor；〃　Charlie　said。　〃This　proud　moment　are　made　still　more　proud　by　opportunity　to　introduce　my　eldest　son。〃　He　motioned　for　his　opponent　at　chess　to　step　forward；　a　slim　sallow　boy　with　amber　eyes　…　Chan　himself　before　he　put　on　weight。　〃Mr。　John　Quincy　Winterslip；　of　Boston；　kindly　condescend　to　notice　Henry　Chan。　When　you　appear　I　am　giving　him　lesson　at　chess　so　he　may　play　in　such　manner　as　not　to　tarnish　honored　name。〃
　The　boy　bowed　low；　evidently　he　was　one　member　of　the　younger　generation　who　had　a　deep　respect　for　his　elders。　John　Quincy　also　bowed。　〃Your　father　is　my　very　good　friend；〃　he　said。　〃And　from　now　on；　you　are　too。〃
　Chan　beamed　with　pleasure。　〃Condescend　to　sit　on　this　atrocious　chair。　Is　it　possible　you　bring　news？〃
　〃It　certainly　is；〃　smiled　John　Quincy。　He　handed　over　the　message　from　the　postmaster　at　Des　Moines。
　〃Most　interesting；〃　said　Chan。　〃Do　I　hear　impressive　chug　of　rich　automobile　engine　in　street？〃
　〃Yes；　I　came　in　the　car；〃　John　Quincy　replied。
　〃Good。　We　will　hasten　at　once　to　home　of　Captain　Hallet；　not　far　away。　I　beg　of　you　to　pardon　my　disappearance　while　I　don　more　appropriate　costume。〃
　Left　alone　with　the　boy；　John　Quincy　sought　a　topic　of　conversation。　〃Play　baseball？〃　he　asked。
　The　boy's　eyes　glowed。　〃Not　very　good；　but　I　hope　to　improve。　My　cousin　Willie　Chan　is　great　expert　at　that　game。　He　has　promised　to　teach　me。〃
　John　Quincy　glanced　about　the　room。　On　the　back　wall　hung　a　scroll　with　felicitations；　the　gift　of　some　friend　of　the　family　at　New　Year's。　Opposite　him；　on　another　wall；　was　a　single　picture；　painted　on　silk；　representing　a　bird　on　an　apple　bough。　Charmed　by　its　simplicity；　he　went　over　to　examine　it。　〃That's　beautiful〃　he　said。
　〃Quoting　old　Chinese　saying；　a　picture　is　a　voiceless　poem；〃　replied　the　boy。
　Beneath　the　picture　stood　a　square　table；　flanked　by　straight；　low…backed　armchairs。　On　other　elaborately　carved　teakwood　stands　distributed　about　the　room　were　blue　and　white　vases；　porcelain　wine　jars；　dwarfed　trees。　Pale　golden　lanterns　hung　from　the　ceiling；　a　soft…toned　rug　lay　on　the　floor。　John　Quincy　felt　again　the　gulf　between　himself　and　Charlie　Chan。
　But　when　the　detective　returned；　he　wore　the　conventional　garb　of　Los　Angeles　or　Detroit；　and　the　gulf　did　not　seem　so　wide。　They　went　out　together　and　entering　the　roadster；　drove　to　Hallet's　house　on　Iolani　Avenue。
　The　captain　lolled　in　pajamas　on　his　lanai。　He　greeted　his　callers　with　interest。
　〃You　boys　are　out　late；〃　he　said。　〃Something　doing？〃
　〃Certainly　is；〃　replied　John　Quincy；　taking　a　proffered　chair。　〃There's　a　man　named　Saladine　…〃
　At　mention　of　the　name；　Hallet　looked　at　him　keenly。　John　Quincy　went　on　to　tell　what　he　knew　of　Saladine；　his　alleged　place　of　residence；　his　business；　the　tragedy　of　the　lost　teeth。
　〃Some　time　ago　we　got　on　to　the　fact　that　every　time　Kaohla　figured　in　the　investigation；　Saladine　was　interested。　He　managed　to　be　at　the　desk　of　the　Reef　and　Palm　the　day　Kaohla　inquired　for　Brade。　On　the　night　Kaohla　was　questioned　by　your　men；　Miss　Egan　saw　Mr。　Saladine　crouching　outside　the　window。　So　Charlie　and　I　thought　it　a　good　scheme　to　send　a　cable　of　inquiry　to　the　postmaster　at　Des　Moines；　where　Saladine　claimed　to　be　in　the　wholesale　grocery　business。〃　He　handed　an　envelope　to　Hallet。　〃That　answer　arrived　to…night；〃　he　added。
　An　odd　smile　had　appeared　on　Hallet's　usually　solemn　face。　He　took　the　cable　and　read　it；　then　slowly　tore　it　into　bits。
　〃Forget　it；　boys；〃　he　said　calmly。
　〃Wha　…　what！〃　gasped　John　Quincy。
　〃I　said　forget　it。　I　like　your　enterprise；　but　you're　on　the　wrong　trail　there。〃
　John　Quincy　was　greatly　annoyed。　〃I　demand　an　explanation；〃　he　cried。
　〃I　can't　give　it　to　you；〃　Hallet　answered。　〃You'll　have　to　take　my　word　for　it。〃
　〃I've　taken　your　word　for　a　good　many　things；〃　said　John　Quincy　hotly。　〃This　begins　to　look　rather　suspicious　to　me。　Are　you　trying　to　shield　somebody？〃
　Hallet　rose　and　laid　his　hand　on　John　Quincy's　shoulder。　〃I've　had　a　hard　day；〃　he　remarked；　〃and　I'm　not　going　to　get　angry　with　you。　I'm　not　trying　to　shield　anybody。　I'm　as　anxious　as　you　are　to　discover　who　killed　Dan　Winterslip。　More　anxious；　perhaps。〃
　〃Yet　when　we　bring　you　evidence　you　tear　it　up　…〃
　〃Bring　me　the　right　evidence；〃　said　Hallet。　〃Bring　me　that　wrist　watch。　I　can　promise　you　action　then。〃
　John　Quincy　was　impressed　by　the　sincerity　in　his　tone。　But　he　was　sadly　puzzled；　too。　〃All　right；〃　he　said；　〃that's