earlderrbiggers.thehousewithoutakey-第57部分

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　when　he　answered　I　could　have　it。〃
　Bowker　turned　to　John　Quincy。　〃I　don't　know　what　you'll　think　of　me。　I　don't　know　what　Tim　would　think。　I'm　not　a　crook　by　nature。　But　I　was　fed　up　and　choking　over　that　steward　job。　I　wanted　a　little　newspaper　of　my　own；　and　up　to　that　minute　I　couldn't　see　myself　getting　it。　And　you　must　remember　that　I　didn't　know　then　what　was　in　the　air　…　murder。　Later；　when　I　did　find　out；　I　was　scared　to　breathe。　I　didn't　know　what　they　could　do　to　me。〃　He　turned　to　Greene。　〃That's　all　fixed；〃　he　said。
　〃I've　promised　you　immunity；〃　the　prosecutor　answered。　〃I'll　keep　my　word。　Go　on　…　you　agreed　to　accept　the　ten　thousand？〃
　〃I　did。　I　went　to　his　office　at　twelve。　One　of　the　conditions　was　that　I　could　stay　on　the　President　Tyler　until　she　got　back　to　San　Francisco；　and　after　that　I　was　never　to　show　my　face　out　this　way　again。　It　suited　me。　Mr。　Jennison　introduced　me　to　this　Cabrera；　who　was　to　chaperon　me　the　rest　of　that　day。　I'll　say　he　did。　When　I　went　aboard　the　ship；　he　handed　me　a　thousand　dollars　in　an　envelope。
　〃When　I　came　back　this　time；　I　was　to　spend　the　day　with　Cabrera　and　get　the　other　nine　grand　when　I　sailed。　This　morning　when　we　tied　up　I　saw　the　Spaniard　on　the　dock；　but　by　the　time　I'd　landed　he　had　disappeared。　I　met　this　Willie　Chan　and　we　had　a　large　day。　This　fusel　oil　they　sell　out　here　loosened　my　tongue；　but　I'm　not　sorry。　Of　course；　the　rosy　dream　has　faded；　and　it's　my　flat　feet　on　the　deck　from　now　to　the　end　of　time。　But　the　shore　isn't　so　much　any　more；　with　all　the　bar…rooms　under　cover；　and　this　sea　life　keeps　a　man　out　in　the　open　air。　As　I　say；　I'm　not　sorry　I　talked。　I　can　look　any　man　in　the　eye　again　and　tell　him　to　go　to　…〃　He　glanced　at　Miss　Minerva。　〃Madam；　I　will　not　name　the　precise　locality。〃
　Greene　stood。　〃Well；　Jennison；　there's　my　case。　I've　tipped　it　all　off　to　you；　but　I　wanted　you　to　see　for　yourself　how　air…tight　it　is。　There　are　two　courses　open　to　you　…　you　can　let　this　go　to　trial　with　a　plea　of　not　guilty。　A　long　humiliating　ordeal　for　you。　Or　you　can　confess　here　and　now　and　throw　yourself　on　the　mercy　of　the　court。　If　you're　the　sensible　man　I　think　you　are；　that's　what　you'll　do。〃
　Jennison　did　not　answer；　did　not　even　look　at　the　prosecutor。　〃It　was　a　very　neat　idea；〃　Greene　went　on。　〃I'll　grant　you　that。　Only　one　thing　puzzles　me　…　did　it　e　as　the　inspiration　of　the　moment　or　did　you　plan　it　all　out　in　advance？　You've　been　over　to　the　mainland　rather　often　of　late　…　were　you　waiting　your　chance？　Anyhow；　it　came；　didn't　it　…　it　came　at　last。　And　for　a　swimmer　like　you；　child's　play。　You　didn't　need　that　ladder　when　you　left　the　vessel　…　perhaps　you　went　overboard　while　the　President　Tyler　was　still　moving。　A　quick　silent　dive；　a　little　way　under　water　in　case　any　one　was　watching　from　the　deck；　and　then　a　long　but　easy　swim　ashore。　And　there　you　were；　on　the　beach　at　Waikiki。　Not　far　away　Dan　Winterslip　was　asleep　on　his　lanai；　with　not　so　much　as　a　locked　door　between　you。　Dan　Winterslip；　who　stood　between　you　and　what　you　wanted。　A　little　struggle　…　a　quick　thrust　of　your　knife。　e　on；　Jennison；　don't　be　a　fool。　It's　the　best　way　out　for　you　now。　A　full　confession。〃
　Jennison　leaped　to　his　feet；　his　eyes　flashing。　〃I'll　see　you　in　hell　first！〃　he　cried。
　〃Very　well　…　if　you　feel　that　way　about　it　…〃　Greene　turned　his　back　upon　him　and　began　a　low…toned　conversation　with　Hallet。　Jennison　and　Charlie　Chan　were　together　on　one　side　of　the　desk。　Chan　took　out　a　pencil　and　accidentally　dropped　it　on　the　floor。　He　stooped　to　pick　it　up。
　John　Quincy　saw　that　the　butt　of　a　pistol　carried　in　Chan's　hip　pocket　protruded　from　under　his　coat。　He　saw　Jennison　spring　forward　and　snatch　the　gun。　With　a　cry　John　Quincy　moved　nearer；　but　Greene　seized　his　arm　and　held　him。　Charlie　Chan　seemed　unaccountably　oblivious　to　what　was　going　on。
　Jennison　put　the　muzzle　of　the　pistol　to　his　forehead　and　pulled　the　trigger。　A　sharp　click　…　and　that　was　all。　The　pistol　fell　from　his　hand。
　〃That's　it！〃　cried　Greene　triumphantly。　〃That's　my　confession；　and　not　a　word　spoken。　I've　witnesses；　Jennison　…　they　all　saw　you　…　you　couldn't　stand　the　disgrace　a　man　in　your　position　…　you　tried　to　kill　yourself。　With　an　empty　gun。〃　He　went　over　and　patted　Chan　on　the　shoulder。　〃A　great　idea；　Charlie；〃　he　said。　〃Chan　thought　of　it；〃　he　added　to　Jennison。　〃The　Oriental　mind；　Harry。　Rather　subtle；　isn't　it？〃
　But　Jennison　had　dropped　back　into　his　chair　and　buried　his　face　in　his　hands。
　〃I'm　sorry；〃　said　Greene　gently。　〃But　we've　got　you。　Maybe　you'll　talk　now。〃
　Jennison　looked　up　slowly。　The　defiance　was　gone　from　his　face；　it　was　lined　and　old。
　〃Maybe　I　will；〃　he　said　hoarsely。
　
　CHAPTER　XXIII　
　Moonlight　At　The　Crossroads
　
　THEY　filed　out；　leaving　Jennison　with　Greene　and　the　stenographer。　In　the　anteroom　Chan　approached　John　Quincy。
　〃You　go　home　decked　in　the　shining　garments　of　success；〃　he　said。　〃One　thought　is　tantalizing　me。　At　simultaneous　moment　you　arrive　at　same　conclusion　we　do。　To　reach　there　you　must　have　leaped　across　considerable　cavity。〃
　John　Quincy　laughed。　〃I'll　say　I　did。　It　came　to　me　to…night。　First；　some　one　mentioned　a　golf　professional　with　big　wrists　who　drove　a　long　ball。　I　had　a　quick　flash　of　Jennison　on　the　links　here；　and　his　terrific　drives。　Big　wrists；　they　told　me；　meant　that　a　man　was　proficient　in　the　water。　Then　some　one　else　…　a　young　woman　…　spoke　of　a　champion　swimmer　who　left　a　ship　off　Waikiki。　That　was　the　first　time　the　idea　of　such　a　thing　had　occurred　to　me。　I　was　pretty　warm　then；　and　I　felt　Bowker　was　the　man　who　could　verify　my　suspicion。　When　I　rushed　aboard　the　President　Tyler　to　find　him；　I　saw　Jennison　about　to　sail　and　that　confirmed　my　theory。　I　went　after　him。〃
　〃A　brave　performance；〃　mented　Chan。
　〃But　as　you　can　see；　Charlie；　I　didn't　have　an　iota　of　real　evidence。　Just　guesswork。　You　were　the　one　who　furnished　the　proof。〃
　〃Proof　are　essential　in　this　business；〃　Chan　replied。
　〃I'm　tantalized　too；　Charlie。　I　remember　you　in　the　library。　You　were　on　the　crack　long　before　I　was。　How　e？〃
　Chan　grinned。　〃Seated　at　our　ease　in　All　American　Restaurant　that　first　night；　you　will　recall　I　spoke　of　Chinese　people　as　sensitive；　like　camera　film。　A　look；　a　laugh；　a　gesture；　something　go　click。　Bowker　enters　and　hovering　above；　says　with　alcoholic　accent；　'I'm　my　own　mashter；　ain't　I？'　In　my　mind；　the　click。　He　is　not　own　master。　I　follow　to　dock；　behold　when　Spaniard　present　envelope。　But　for　days　I　am　fogged。　I　can　only　learn　Cabrera　and　Jennison　are　very　close。　Clues　continue　to　burst　in　our　countenance。　The　occasion　remains　suspensive。　At　the　Library　I　read　of　Jennison　the　fine　swimmer。　After　that；　the　watch；　and　triumph。〃
　Miss　Minerva　moved　on　toward　the　door。　〃May　I　have　great　honor　to　acpany　you　to　car？〃　asked　Chan。
　Outside；　John　Quincy　directed　the　chauffeur　to　return　alone　to　Waikiki　with　the　limousine。　〃You're　riding　out　with　me；〃　he　told　his　aunt。　〃I　want　to　talk　with　you。〃
　She　turned　to　Charlie　Chan。　〃I　congratulate　you。　You've　got　brains；　and　they　count。〃
　He　bowed　low。　〃From　you　that　pliment　glows　rosy　red。　At　this　moment　of　parting；　my　heart　droops。　My　final　wish　…　the　snowy　chilling　days　of　winter　and　the　scorching　windless　days　of　summer　…　may　they　all　be　the　springtime　for　you。〃
　〃You're　very　kind；〃　she　said　softly。
　John　Quincy　took　his　hand。　〃It's　been　great　fun　knowing　you；　Charlie；〃　he　remarked。
　〃You　will　go　again　to　the　mainland；〃　Chan　said。　〃The　angry　ocean　rolling　between　us。　Still　I　shall　carry　the　memory　of　your　friendship　like　a　flower　in　my　heart。〃　John　Quincy　climbed　into　the　car。　〃And　the　parting　may　not　be　eternal；〃　Chan　added　cheerfully。　〃The　joy　of　travel　may　yet　be　mine。　I　shall　look　forward　to　the　day　when　I　may　call　upon　you　in　your　home　and　shake　a　healthy　hand。〃
　John　Quincy　started　the　car　and　slipping　away；　they　left　Charlie　Chan　standing　like　a　great　Buddha　on　the　curb。
　〃Poor　Barbara；〃　said　Miss　Minerva　presently。　〃I　dread　to　face　her　with　this　news。　But　then；　it's　not　altogether　news　at　that。　She　told　me　she'd　been　conscious　of　something　wrong　between　her　and　Jennison　ever　since　they　landed。　She　didn't　think　he