earlderrbiggers.thehousewithoutakey-第14部分

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　Hallet　nodded。　〃Well；　you　left　at　eight…thirty。　Now　tell　us　where　you　went　and　when　you　got　back。　And　all　about　the　wrist　watch。〃
　Miss　Minerva　rapidly　sketched　her　evening　at　the　luau。　She　described　her　return　to　Dan's　living…room；　her　adventure　in　the　dark　…　the　luminous　dial　that　waited　for　her　to　pass。
　〃I　wish　you'd　seen　more；〃　Hallet　plained。　〃Too　many　people　wear　wrist　watches。〃
　〃Probably　not　many；〃　said　Miss　Minerva；　〃wear　a　wrist　watch　like　that　one。〃
　〃Oh。　It　had　some　distinguishing　mark？〃
　〃It　certainly　did。　The　numerals　were　illuminated；　and　stood　out　clearly　…　with　an　exception。　The　figure　2　was　very　dim　…　practically　obliterated。〃
　He　looked　at　her　admiringly。　〃Well；　you　certainly　had　your　wits　about　you。〃
　〃That's　a　habit　I　formed　early　in　life；〃　replied　Miss　Minerva。　〃And　old　habits　are　hard　to　break。〃
　He　smiled；　and　asked　her　to　continue。　She　told　of　rousing　the　two　servants　and；　finally；　of　the　gruesome　discovery　on　the　lanai。
　〃But　it　was　Mr。　Amos；〃　Hallet　said；　〃who　called　the　station。〃
　〃Yes。　I　telephoned　him　at　once；　and　he　offered　to　attend　to　that。〃
　Hallet　turned　to　Amos。　〃How　long　did　it　take　you　to　reach　here；　Mr。　Winterslip？〃　he　inquired。
　〃Not　more　than　ten　minutes；〃　said　Amos。
　〃You　could　dress　and　get　here　in　that　time？〃
　Amos　hesitated。　〃I　…　I　did　not　need　to　dress；〃　he　explained。　〃I　hadn't　gone　to　bed。〃
　Hallet　regarded　him　with　a　new　interest。　〃Half　past　one　…　and　you　were　still　up？〃
　〃I　…　I　don't　sleep　very　well；〃　said　Amos。　〃I'm　up　till　all　hours。〃
　〃I　see。　You　weren't　on　friendly　terms　with　your　brother？　An　old　quarrel　between　you？〃
　〃No　particular　quarrel。　I　didn't　approve　of　his　manner　of　living；　and　we　went　separate　ways。〃
　〃And　stopped　speaking　to　each　other；　eh？〃
　〃Yes。　That　was　the　situation；〃　Amos　admitted。
　〃Humph。〃　For　a　moment　the　captain　stared　at　Amos；　and　Miss　Minerva　stared　at　him　too。　Amos！　It　flashed　through　her　mind　that　Amos　had　been　a　long　time　alone　out　there　on　the　lanai　before　the　arrival　of　the　police。
　〃Those　two　servants　who　came　down…stairs　with　you；　Miss　Winterslip；〃　Hallet　said。　〃I'll　see　them　now。　The　others　can　go　over　until　morning。〃
　Haku　and　Kamaikui　appeared；　frightened　and　wide…eyed。　Haku　had　nothing　to　tell；　he　had　been　sleeping　soundly　from　nine　until　the　moment　Miss　Minerva　knocked　on　his　door。　He　swore　it。　But　Kamaikui　had　something　to　contribute。
　〃I　e　here　with　fruit。〃　She　pointed　to　a　basket　on　the　table。　〃On　lanai　out　there　are　talking　…　Mr。　Dan；　a　man；　a　woman。　Oh；　very　much　angry。〃
　〃What　time　was　that？〃　Hallet　asked。
　〃Ten　o'clock　I　think。〃
　〃Did　you　recognize　any　voice　except　your　master's？〃
　Miss　Minerva　thought　the　woman　hesitated　a　second。　〃No。　I　do　not。〃
　〃Anything　else？〃
　〃Yes。　Maybe　eleven　o'clock。　I　am　sitting　close　to　window　up…stairs。　More　talking　on　lanai。　Mr。　Dan　and　other　man。　Not　so　much　angry　this　time。〃
　〃At　eleven；　eh？　Do　you　know　Mr。　Jim　Egan？〃
　〃I　have　seen　him。〃
　〃Could　you　say　if　it　was　his　voice？〃
　〃I　could　not　say。〃
　〃All　right。　You　two　can　go　now。〃　He　turned　to　Miss　Minerva　and　Amos。　〃We'll　see　what　Charlie　has　dug　up　out　here；〃　he　said；　and　led　the　way　to　the　lanai。
　The　huge　Chinese　man　knelt；　a　grotesque　figure；　by　a　table。　He　rose　laboriously　as　they　entered。
　〃Find　the　knife；　Charlie？〃　the　captain　asked。
　Chan　shook　his　head。　〃No　knife　are　present　in　neighborhood　of　crime；〃　he　announced。
　〃On　that　table；〃　Miss　Minerva　began；　〃there　was　a　Malay　kris；　used　as　a　paper　cutter　…〃
　The　Chinese　man　nodded；　and　lifted　the　kris　from　the　desk。　〃Same　remains　here　still；〃　he　said；　〃untouched；　unsullied。　Person　who　killed　carried　individual　weapon。〃
　〃How　about　finger…prints？〃　asked　Hallet。
　〃Considering　from　recent　discovery；〃　Chan　replied；　〃search　for　finger…prints　are　hopeless　one。〃　He　held　out　a　pudgy　hand；　in　the　palm　of　which　lay　a　small　pearl　button。　〃Torn　from　kid's　glove；〃　he　elucidated。　〃Aged　trick　of　criminal　mind。　No　finger…prints。〃
　〃Is　that　all　you've　got？〃　asked　his　chief。
　〃Most　sincere　endeavors；〃　said　Chan；　〃have　revealed　not　much。　However；　I　might　mention　this。〃　He　took　up　a　leather…bound　book　from　the　table。　〃Here　are　written　names　of　visitors　who　have　enjoyed　hospitality　of　the　house。　A　guest　book　is；　I　believe；　the　term。　You　will　find　that　one　of　the　earlier　pages　has　been　ruthlessly　torn　out。　When　I　make　discovery　the　volume　are　lying　open　at　that　locality。〃
　Captain　Hallet　took　the　book　in　his　thin　hand。　〃All　right；　Charlie；〃　he　said。　〃This　is　your　case。〃
　The　slant　eyes　blinked　with　pleasure。　〃Most　interesting；〃　murmured　Chan。
　Hallet　tapped　the　note…book　in　his　pocket。　〃I've　got　a　few　facts　here　for　you　…　we'll　run　over　them　later。〃　He　stood　for　a　moment；　staring　about　the　lanai。　〃I　must　say　we　seem　a　little　shy　on　clues。　A　button　torn　from　a　glove；　a　page　ripped　from　a　guest　book。　And　a　wrist　watch　with　an　illuminated　dial　on　which　the　figure　2　was　damaged。〃　Chan's　little　eyes　widened　at　mention　of　that。　〃Not　much；　Charlie；　so　far。〃
　〃Maybe　more　to　e；〃　suggested　Chan。　〃Who　knows　it？〃
　〃We'll　go　along　now；〃　Hallet　continued。　He　turned　to　Miss　Minerva　and　Amos。　〃I　guess　you　folks　would　like　a　little　rest。　We'll　have　to　trouble　you　again　to…morrow。〃
　Miss　Minerva　faced　Chan。　〃The　person　who　did　this　must　be　apprehended；〃　she　said　firmly。
　He　looked　at　her　sleepily。　〃What　is　to　be；　will　be；〃　he　replied　in　a　high；　sing…song　voice。
　〃I　know　…　that's　your　Confucius；〃　she　snapped。　〃But　it's　a　do…nothing　doctrine；　and　I　don't　approve　of　it。〃
　A　faint　smile　flickered　over　Chan's　face。　〃Do　not　fear；〃　he　said。　〃The　fates　are　busy；　and　man　may　do　much　to　assist。　I　promise　you　there　will　be　no　do…nothing　here。〃　He　came　closer。　〃Humbly　asking　pardon　to　mention　it；　I　detect　in　your　eyes　slight　flame　of　hostility。　Quench　it；　if　you　will　be　so　kind。　Friendly　cooperation　are　essential　between　us。〃　Despite　his　girth；　he　managed　a　deep　bow。　〃Wishing　you　good　morning；〃　he　added；　and　followed　Hallet。
　Miss　Minerva　turned　weakly　to　Amos。　〃Well；　of　all　things　…〃
　〃Don't　you　worry　about　Charlie；〃　Amos　said。　〃He　has　a　reputation　for　getting　his　man。　Now　you　go　to　bed。　I'll　stay　here　and　notify　the　…　the　proper　people。〃
　〃Well；　I　will　lie　down　for　a　little　while；〃　Miss　Minerva　said。　〃I　shall　have　to　go　early　to　the　dock。　Poor　Barbara！　And　there's　John　Quincy　ing　too。〃　A　grim　smile　crossed　her　face。　〃I'm　afraid　John　Quincy　won't　approve　of　this。〃
　She　saw　from　her　bedroom　window　that　the　night　was　breaking；　the　rakish　cocoanut　palms　and　the　hau　tree　were　wrapped　in　a　gray　mist。　Changing　her　dress　for　a　kimono；　she　lay　down　under　the　mosquito　netting　on　the　bed。　She　slept　but　briefly；　however；　and　presently　was　at　her　window　again。　Day　had　e；　the　mist　had　lifted；　and　it　was　a　rose　and　emerald　world　that　sparkled　before　her　tired　eyes。
　The　freshness　of　that　scene　revivified　her。　The　trades　were　blowing　now　…　poor　Dan；　he　had　so　longed　for　their　return。　The　night；　she　saw；　had　worked　its　magic　on　the　blossoms　of　the　hau　tree；　transformed　them　from　yellow　to　a　rich　mahogany；　through　the　morning　they　would　drop　one　by　one　upon　the　sand。　In　a　distant　algaroba　a　flock　of　myna　birds　screamed　at　the　new　day。　A　party　of　swimmers　appeared　from　a　neighboring　cottage　and　plunged　gaily　into　the　surf。
　A　gentle　knock　sounded　on　the　door；　and　Kamaikui　entered。　She　placed　a　small　object　in　Miss　Minerva's　hand。
　Miss　Minerva　looked　down。　She　saw　a　quaint　old　piece　of　jewelry；　a　brooch。　Against　a　background　of　onyx　stood　the　outline　of　a　tree；　with　emeralds　forming　the　leaves；　rubies　the　fruit；　and　a　frost　of　diamonds　over　all。
　〃What　is　this；　Kamaikui？〃　she　asked。
　〃Many；　many　years　Mr。　Dan　have　that。　One　month　ago　he　gives　it　to　a　woman　down　the　beach。〃
　Miss　Minerva's　eyes　narrowed。　〃To　the　woman　they　call　the　Widow　of　Waikiki？〃
　〃To　her；　yes。〃
　〃How　do　you　happen　to　have　it；　Kamaikui？〃
　〃I　pick　it　up　from　floor　of　lanai。　Before　policemen　e。〃
　〃Very　good。〃　Miss　Minerva　nodded。　〃Say　nothing　of　this；　Kamaikui。　I　will　attend　to　the　matter。〃
　〃Yes。　Of　course。〃　The　woman　went　out。
　Miss　Minerva　sat　very　still；　staring　down　at　that　odd　bit　of　jewelry　in　her　hand。　It　must　date　back　to　the　'eighties；　at　least。
　Close　above　the　house　sounded　the　loud　whir　of　an　aeroplane。　Miss　Minerva　turned　again　to　the　window。　A　young　lieutenant　in　the　air　service；　in　love　with　a　sweet　girl　on　the　beach；　was　accustomed　to　serenade　her　thus　every　morning　at　dawn。　His　thoughtfulness　was　not　appreciated　by　many　innocent　bystanders；　but　Miss　Minerva's　eyes　were　sympathetic　as　she　watched　him　sweep　exultantly　out；　far　out；　over　the　harbor。
　Youth　and　love；　the　beginning　of　life。　And　on　that　cot　down　on　the　lanai；　Dan　…　and　the　end。
　
　CHAPTER　VIII　
　Steamer　Day
　
　OUT　in　the　harbor；　by　the　channel　entrance；　the　President　Tyler　stood　motionless　as　Diamond　Head；　and　from　his　post　near　the　rail　outside　his　stateroom；　John　Quincy　Winterslip　took　his　first　look　at　Honolulu。　He　had　no　feeling　of　having　been　here　before；　this　was　an　alien　land。　Several　miles　away　he　saw　the　line　of　piers　and　unlovely　warehouses　that　marked　the　water…front；　beyond　that　lay　a　vast　expanse　of　brilliant　green　pierced　here　and　there　by　the　top　of　a　modest　skyscr