earlderrbiggers.thehousewithoutakey-第26部分

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　rush　of　blood　to　the　head；　that　quick　surge　of　anger；　he　had　experienced　in　Dan　Winterslip's　hall。　Aunt　Minerva　had　predicted　he　couldn't　handle　a　woman　of　this　type。　Well；　he'd　show　her　…　he'd　show　the　world。　〃Give　me　that　brooch；〃　he　said　coldly。
　〃It's　mine；〃　answered　the　woman　stubbornly。
　John　Quincy　wasted　no　words；　he　seized　the　woman's　wrist。　She　screamed。　A　door　opened　behind　them。
　〃What's　going　on　here？〃　inquired　Mr。　Leatherbee。
　〃Oh；　I　thought　you'd　left　us；〃　said　John　Quincy。
　〃Steve！　Don't　let　him　have　it；〃　cried　the　woman。　Steve　moved　militantly　nearer；　but　there　was　a　trace　of　caution　in　his　attitude。
　John　Quincy　laughed。　〃You　stay　where　you　are；　Steve；〃　he　advised。　〃Or　I'll　smash　that　sallow　face　of　yours。〃　Strange　talk　for　a　Winterslip。　〃Your　friend　here　is　trying　to　hang　on　to　an　important　bit　of　evidence　in　the　murder　up　the　beach；　and　with　the　utmost　reluctance　I　am　forced　to　use　strong…arm　methods。〃　The　brooch　dropped　to　the　floor；　he　stooped　and　picked　it　up。　〃Well；　I　guess　that's　about　all；〃　he　added。　〃I'm　sorry　if　you've　been　homesick；　Mrs。　pton；　but　speaking　as　a　Bostonian；　I　don't　believe　Broadway　is　as　glamourous　as　you　picture　it。　Distance　has　lent　enchantment。　Good　night。〃
　He　let　himself　out；　and　found　his　way　to　Kalakaua　Avenue。　He　had　settled　one　thing　to　his　own　satisfaction；　Chan　must　know　about　the　brooch；　and　at　once。　Mrs。　pton's　story　might　be　true　or　not；　it　certainly　needed　further　investigation　by　some　responsible　person。
　John　Quincy　had　approached　the　cottage　by　way　of　Kalia　Road；　he　was　planning　to　return　to　Dan's　house　along　the　better　lighted　avenue。　Having　reached　that　broad　expanse　of　asphalt；　however；　he　realized　that　the　Reef　and　Palm　Hotel　was　near　at　hand。　There　was　his　promise　to　Carlota　Egan　…　he　had　said　he　would　look　in　on　her　again　to…day。　As　for　Chan；　he　could　telephone　him　from　the　hotel。　He　turned　in　the　direction　of　the　Reef　and　Palm。
　Stumbling　through　the　dark　garden；　he　saw　finally　the　gaunt　old　hulk　of　the　hotel。　Lights　of　low　candle　power　burned　at　infrequent　intervals　on　the　double…decked　veranda。　In　the　huge　lobby　a　few　rather　shabby…looking　guests　took　their　ease。　Behind　the　desk　stood　…　nobody　but　the　Japanese　clerk。
　John　Quincy　was　directed　to　a　telephone　booth；　and　his　keen　Bostonian　mind　required　Nipponese　aid　in　mastering　the　dial　system　favored　by　the　Honolulu　telephone　pany。　At　length　he　got　the　police　station。　Chan　was　out；　but　the　answering　voice　promised　that　he　would　be　told　to　get　in　touch　with　Mr。　Winterslip　immediately　on　his　return。
　〃How　much　do　I　owe　you？〃　inquired　John　Quincy　of　the　clerk。
　〃Not　a　penny；〃　said　a　voice；　and　he　turned　to　find　Carlota　Egan　at　his　elbow。　He　smiled。　This　was　more　like　it。
　〃But　I　say　…　you　know　…　I've　used　your　telephone　…〃
　〃It's　free；〃　she　said。　〃Too　many　things　are　free　out　here。　That's　why　we　don't　get　rich。　It　was　so　kind　of　you　to　e　again。〃
　〃Not　at　all；〃　he　protested。　He　looked　about　the　room。　〃Your　father　…〃
　She　glanced　at　the　clerk；　and　led　the　way　out　to　the　lanai　at　the　side。　They　went　to　the　far　end　of　it；　where　they　could　see　the　light　on　Diamond　Head；　and　the　silvery　waters　of　the　Pacific　sweeping　in　to　disappear　at　last　beneath　the　old　Reef　and　Palm。
　〃I'm　afraid　poor　dad's　having　a　bad　time　of　it；〃　she　said；　and　her　voice　broke　slightly。　〃I　haven't　been　able　to　see　him。　They're　holding　him　down　there　…　as　a　witness；　I　believe。　There　was　some　talk　of　bail；　but　I　didn't　listen。　We　haven't　any　money　…　at　least；　I　didn't　think　we　had。〃
　〃You　didn't　think　…〃　he　began；　puzzled。
　She　produced　a　small　bit　of　paper；　and　put　it　in　his　hand。　〃I　want　to　ask　your　advice。　I've　been　cleaning　up　dad's　office；　and　just　before　you　came　I　ran　across　that　in　his　desk。〃
　John　Quincy　stared　down　at　the　little　pink　slip　she　had　given　him。　By　the　light　of　one　of　the　small　lamps　he　saw　that　it　was　a　check　for　five　thousand　dollars；　made　out　to　〃Bearer〃　and　signed　by　Dan　Winterslip。　The　date　was　that　of　the　day　before。
　〃I　say；　that　looks　important；　doesn't　it？〃　John　Quincy　said。　He　handed　it　back　to　her；　and　thought　a　moment。　〃By　gad　…　it　is　important。　It　seems　to　me　it's　pretty　conclusive　evidence　of　your　father's　innocence。　If　he　had　that；　his　business　with　Cousin　Dan　must　have　e　to　a　successful　end；　and　it　isn't　likely　he　would　…　er　…　do　away　with　the　man　who　signed　it　and　plicate　the　cashing　of　it。〃
　The　girl's　eyes　shone。　〃Just　the　way　I　reasoned。　But　I　don't　know　what　to　do　with　it。〃
　〃Your　father　has　engaged　a　lawyer；　of　course。〃
　〃Yes；　but　a　rather　poor　one。　The　only　kind　we　can　afford。　Should　I　turn　this　over　to　him？〃
　〃No　…　wait　a　minute。　Any　chance　of　seeing　your　father　soon？〃
　〃Yes。　It's　been　arranged　I'm　to　visit　him　in　the　morning。〃
　John　Quincy　nodded。　〃Better　talk　with　him　before　you　do　anything；〃　he　advised。　He　had　a　sudden　recollection　of　Egan's　face　when　he　refused　to　explain　his　business　with　Dan　Winterslip。　〃Take　this　check　with　you　and　ask　your　father　what　he　wants　done　with　it。　Point　out　to　him　that　it's　vital　evidence　in　his　favor。〃
　〃Yes；　I　guess　that's　the　best　plan；〃　the　girl　agreed。　〃Will　…　will　you　sit　down　a　moment？〃
　〃Well。〃　John　Quincy　recalled　Miss　Minerva　waiting　impatiently　for　news。　〃Just　a　moment。　I　want　to　know　how　you're　getting　on。　Any　big　arithmetical　problems　e　up　yet？〃
　She　shook　her　head。　〃Not　yet。　It　really　isn't　so　bad；　the　work。　We　haven't　many　guests；　you　know。　I　could　be　quite　happy　…　if　it　weren't　for　poor　dad。〃　She　sighed。　〃Ever　since　I　can　remember；〃　she　added；　〃my　happiness　has　had　an　if　in　it。〃
　He　led　her　on　to　speak　about　herself；　there　in　the　calm　night　by　that　romantic　beach。　Through　her　talk　flashed　little　pictures　of　her　motherless　childhood　on　this　exotic　shore；　of　a　wearing　fight　against　poverty　and　her　father's　bitter　struggle　to　send　her　to　school　on　the　mainland；　to　give　her　what　he　considered　her　proper　place　in　the　world。　Here　was　a　girl　far　different　from　any　he　had　met　on　Beacon　Street；　and　John　Quincy　found　pleasure　in　her　talk。
　Finally　he　forced　himself　to　leave。　As　they　walked　along　the　balcony　they　encountered　one　of　the　guests；　a　meek　little　man　with　stooped　shoulders。　Even　at　that　late　hour　he　wore　a　bathing　suit。
　〃Any　luck；　Mr。　Saladine？〃　the　girl　inquired。
　〃Luck　ith　againth　me；〃　he　lisped；　and　passed　hastily　on。
　Carlota　Egan　laughed　softly。　〃Oh；　I　really　shouldn't；〃　she　repented　at　once。　〃The　poor　man。〃
　〃What's　his　trouble？〃　asked　John　Quincy。
　〃He's　a　tourist　…　a　business　man；〃　she　said。　〃Des　Moines；　or　some　place　like　that。　And　he's　had　the　most　appalling　accident。　He's　lost　his　teeth。〃
　〃His　teeth！〃　repeated　John　Quincy。
　〃Yes。　Like　so　many　things　in　this　world；　they　were　false。　He　got　into　a　battle　with　a　roller　out　by　the　second　raft；　and　they　disappeared。　Since　then　he　spends　all　his　time　out　there；　peering　down　into　the　water　by　day；　and　diving　down　and　feeling　about　by　night。　One　of　the　tragic　figures　of　history；〃　she　added。
　John　Quincy　laughed。
　〃That's　the　most　tragic　part　of　it；〃　the　girl　continued。　〃He's　the　joke　of　the　beach。　But　he　goes　on　hunting；　so　serious。　Of　course；　it　is　serious　for　him。〃
　They　passed　through　the　public　room　to　the　front　door。　Mr。　Saladine's　tragedy　slipped　at　once　from　John　Quincy's　mind。
　〃Good　night；〃　he　said。　〃Don't　forget　about　the　check；　when　you　see　your　father　to…morrow。　I'll　look　in　on　you　during　the　day。〃
　〃It　was　so　good　of　you　to　e；〃　she　said。　Her　hand　was　in　his。　〃It　has　helped　me　along　…　tremendously。〃
　〃Don't　you　worry。　Happy　days　are　not　far　off。　Happy　days　without　an　if。　Hold　the　thought！〃
　〃I'll　hold　it；〃　she　promised。
　〃We'll　both　hold　it。〃　It　came　to　him　that　he　was　also　holding　her　hand。　He　dropped　it　hastily。　〃Good　night；〃　he　repeated；　and　fled　through　the　garden。
　In　the　living…room　of　Dan's　house　he　was　surprised　to　find　Miss　Minerva　and　Charlie　Chan　sitting　together；　solemnly　staring　at　each　other。　Chan　rose　hurriedly　at　his　entrance。
　〃Hello；〃　said　John　Quincy。　〃I　see　you　have　a　caller。〃
　〃Where　in　the　world　have　you　been？〃　snapped　Miss　Minerva。　Evidently　entertaining　Chan　had　got　a　bit　on　her　nerves。
　〃Well　…　I　…〃　John　Quincy　hesitated。
　〃Speak　out；〃　said　Miss　Minerva。　〃Mr。　Chan