earlderrbiggers.thehousewithoutakey-第20部分

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　〃Any　news？〃　inquired　John　Quincy。
　She　sat　down。　〃Nothing　but　the　coroner's　verdict。　The　usual　thing　…　person　or　persons　unknown。　But　as　I　was　reading　the　paper　in　the　car；　I　had　a　sudden　inspiration。〃
　〃Good　for　you。　What　was　it？〃
　Haku　appeared　at　the　door　leading　to　the　living…room。　〃You　ring；　miss？〃　he　said。
　〃I　did。　Haku；　what　bees　of　the　old　newspapers　in　this　house？〃
　〃Take　and　put　in　a　closet　beside　kitchen；〃　the　man　told　her。
　〃See　if　you　can　find　me　…　no；　never　mind。　I'll　look　myself。〃
　She　followed　Haku　into　the　living…room。　In　a　few　minutes　she　returned　alone；　a　newspaper　in　her　hand。
　〃I　have　it；〃　she　announced　triumphantly。　〃The　evening　paper　of　Monday；　June　sixteenth　…　the　one　Dan　was　reading　the　night　he　wrote　that　letter　to　Roger。　And　look；　John　Quincy　…　one　corner　has　been　torn　from　the　shipping　page！〃
　〃Might　have　been　accidental；〃　suggested　John　Quincy　languidly。
　〃Nonsense！〃　she　said　sharply。　〃It's　a　clue；　that's　what　it　is。　The　item　that　disturbed　Dan　was　on　that　missing　corner　of　the　page。〃
　〃Might　have　been；　at　that；〃　he　admitted。　〃What　are　you　going　to　do　…〃
　〃You're　the　one　that's　going　to　do　it；〃　she　cut　in。　〃Pull　yourself　together　and　go　into　town。　It's　two　hours　until　dinner。　Give　this　paper　to　Captain　Hallet　…　or　better　still；　to　Charlie　Chan。　I　am　impressed　by　Mr。　Chan's　intelligence。〃
　John　Quincy　laughed。　〃Damned　clever；　these　Chinese！〃　he　quoted。　〃You　don't　mean　to　say　you've　fallen　for　that　bunk。　They　seem　clever　because　they're　so　different。〃
　〃We'll　see　about　that。　The　chauffeur's　gone　on　an　errand　for　Barbara；　but　there's　a　roadster　in　the　garage　…〃
　〃Trolley's　good　enough　for　me；〃　said　John　Quincy。　〃Here；　give　me　the　paper。〃
　She　explained　to　him　how　he　was　to　reach　the　city；　and　he　got　his　hat　and　went。　Presently　he　was　on　a　trolley…car　surrounded　by　representatives　of　a　dozen　different　races。　The　melting　pot　of　the　Pacific；　Carlota　Egan　had　called　Honolulu；　and　the　appellation　seemed　to　be　correct。　John　Quincy　began　to　feel　a　fresh　energy；　a　new　interest　in　life。
　The　trolley　swept　over　the　low　swampy　land　between　Waikiki　and　Honolulu；　past　rice　fields　where　bent　figures　toiled　patiently　in　water　to　their　knees；　past　taro　patches；　and　finally　turned　on　to　King　Street。　Every　few　moments　it　paused　to　take　aboard　immigrants；　Japanese；　Chinese；　Hawaiians；　Portuguese；　Philippinos；　Koreans；　all　colors　and　all　creeds。　On　it　went。　John　Quincy　saw　great　houses　set　in　blooming　groves；　a　Japanese　theater　flaunting　weird　posters　not　far　from　a　Ford　service　station；　then　a　huge　building　he　recognized　as　the　palace　of　the　monarchy。　Finally　it　entered　a　district　of　modern　office　buildings。
　Mr。　Kipling　was　wrong；　the　boy　reflected；　East　and　West　could　meet。　They　had。
　This　impression　was　confirmed　when　he　left　the　car　at　Fort　Street　and　for　a　moment　walked　about；　a　stranger　in　a　strange　land。　A　dusky　policeman　was　directing　traffic　on　the　corner；　officers　of　the　United　States　army　and　navy　in　spotless　duck　strolled　by；　and　on　the　shady　side　of　the　street　Chinese　girls；　slim　and　immaculate　in　freshly　laundered　trousers　and　jackets；　were　window　shopping　in　the　cool　of　the　evening。
　〃I'm　looking　for　the　police　station；〃　John　Quincy　informed　a　big　American　with　a　friendly　face。
　〃Get　back　on　to　King　Street；〃　the　man　said。　〃Go　to　your　right　until　you　e　to　Bethel；　then　turn　makai　…〃
　〃Turn　what？〃
　The　man　smiled。　〃A　malihini；　I　take　it。　Makai　means　toward　the　sea。　The　other　direction　is　mauka　…　toward　the　mountains。　The　police　station　is　at　the　foot　of　Bethel；　in　Kalakaua　Hale。〃
　John　Quincy　thanked　him　and　went　on　his　way。　He　passed　the　post…office　and　was　amazed　to　see　that　all　the　lock　boxes　opened　on　the　street。　After　a　time；　he　reached　the　station。　A　sergeant　lounging　behind　the　desk　told　him　that　Charlie　Chan　was　at　dinner。　He　suggested　the　Alexander　Young　Hotel　or　possibly　the　All　American　Restaurant　on　King　Street。
　The　hotel　sounded　easiest；　so　John　Quincy　went　there　first。　In　the　dim　lobby　a　Chinese　house　boy　wandered　aimlessly　about　with　broom　and　dust　pan；　a　few　guests　were　writing　the　inevitable　post…cards；　a　Chinese　clerk　was　on　duty　at　the　desk。　But　there　was　no　sign　of　Chan；　either　in　the　lobby　or　in　the　dining…room　at　the　left。　As　John　Quincy　turned　from　an　inspection　of　the　latter；　the　elevator　door　opened　and　a　Britisher　in　mufti　came　hurriedly　forth。　He　was　followed　by　a　Cockney　servant　carrying　luggage。
　〃Captain　Cope；〃　called　John　Quincy。
　The　captain　paused。　〃Hello；〃　he　said。　〃Oh　…　Mr。　Winterslip　…　how　are　you？〃　He　turned　to　the　servant。　〃Buy　me　an　evening　paper　and　an　armful　of　the　less　offensive…looking　magazines。〃　The　man　hurried　off；　and　Cope　again　addressed　John　Quincy。　〃Delighted　to　see　you；　but　I'm　in　a　frightful　rush。　Off　to　the　Fanning　Islands　in　twenty　minutes。〃
　〃When　did　you　get　in？〃　inquired　John　Quincy。　Not　that　he　really　cared。
　〃Yesterday　at　noon；〃　said　Captain　Cope。　〃Been　on　the　wing　ever　since。　I　trust　you　are　enjoying　your　stop　here　…　but　I　was　forgetting。　Fearful　news　about　Dan　Winterslip。〃
　〃Yes；〃　said　John　Quincy　coolly。　Judging　by　the　conversation　in　that　San　Francisco　club；　the　blow　had　not　been　a　severe　one　for　Captain　Cope。　The　servant　returned。
　〃Sorry　to　run；〃　continued　the　captain。　〃But　I　must　be　off。　The　service　is　a　stern　taskmaster。　My　regards　to　your　aunt。　Best　of　luck；　my　boy。〃
　He　disappeared　through　the　wide　door；　followed　by　his　man。　John　Quincy　reached　the　street　in　time　to　see　him　rolling　off　in　a　big　car　toward　the　docks。
　Noting　the　cable　office　near　by；　the　boy　entered　and　sent　two　messages；　one　to　his　mother　and　the　other　to　Agatha　Parker。　He　addressed　them　to　Boston；　Mass。　U。S。A。；　and　was　accorded　a　withering　look　by　the　young　woman　in　charge　as　she　crossed　out　the　last　three　letters。　There　were　only　two　words　in　each　message；　but　he　returned　to　the　street　with　the　fortable　feeling　that　his　correspondence　was　now　attended　to　for　some　time　to　e。
　A　few　moments　later　he　encountered　the　All　American　Restaurant　and　going　inside；　found　himself　the　only　American　in　the　place。　Charlie　Chan　was　seated　alone　at　a　table；　and　as　John　Quincy　approached；　he　rose　and　bowed。
　〃A　very　great　honor；〃　said　Chan。　〃Is　it　possible　that　I　can　prevail　upon　you　to　accept　some　of　this　terrible　provision？〃
　〃No；　thanks；〃　answered　John　Quincy。　〃I'm　to　dine　later　at　the　house。　I'll　sit　down　for　a　moment；　if　I　may。〃
　〃Quite　overwhelmed；〃　bobbed　Charlie。　He　resumed　his　seat　and　scowled　at　something　on　the　plate　before　him。　〃Waiter；〃　he　said。　〃Be　kind　enough　to　summon　the　proprietor　of　this　establishment。〃
　The　proprietor；　a　suave　little　Japanese　man；　came　gliding。　He　bowed　from　the　waist。
　〃Is　it　that　you　serve　here　insanitary　food？〃　inquired　Chan。
　〃Please　deign　to　state　your　plaint；〃　said　the　Jap。
　〃This　piece　of　pie　is　covered　with　finger…marks；〃　rebuked　Chan。　〃The　sight　is　most　disgusting。　Kindly　remove　it　and　bring　me　a　more　hygienic　sector。〃
　The　Japanese　man　picked　up　the　offending　pastry　and　carried　it　away。
　〃Japanese；〃　remarked　Chan；　spreading　his　hands　in　an　eloquent　gesture。　〃Is　it　proper　for　me　to　infer　that　you　e　on　business　connected　with　the　homicide？〃
　John　Quincy　smiled。　〃I　do；〃　he　said。　He　took　the　newspaper　from　his　pocket；　pointed　out　the　date　and　the　missing　corner。　〃My　aunt　felt　it　might　be　important；〃　he　explained。
　〃The　woman　has　a　brain；〃　said　Chan。　〃I　will　procure　an　unmutilated　specimen　of　this　issue　and　pare。　The　import　may　be　vast。〃
　〃You　know；〃　remarked　John　Quincy；　〃I'd　like　to　work　with　you　on　this　case；　if　you'll　let　me。〃
　〃I　have　only　delight；〃　Chan　answered。　〃You　arrive　from　Boston；　a　city　most　cultivated；　where　much　more　English　words　are　put　to　employment　than　are　accustomed　here。　I　thrill　when　you　speak。　Greatest　privilege　for　me；　I　would　say。〃
　〃Have　you　formed　any　theory　about　the　crime？〃　John　Quincy　asked。
　Chan　shook　his　head。　〃Too　early　now。〃
　〃You　have　no　finger…prints　to　go　on；　you　said。〃
　Chan　shrugged　his　shoulders。　〃Does　not　matter。　Finger…prints　and　other　mechanics　good　in　books；　in　real　life　not　so　much　so。　My　experience　tell　me　to　think　deep　about　human　people。　Human　passions。　Back　of　murder　what；　always？　Hate；　revenge；　need　to　make　silent　the　slain　one。　Greed　for　money；　maybe。　Study　human　people　at　all　times。〃
　〃Sounds　reasonable；〃　admitted　John　Quincy。
　〃Mostly　so；〃　Chan　averred。　〃Enumerate　with　me　the　clues　we　must　consider。　A　guest　book　devoid　of　one　page。　A　glove　button。　A　message　on　the　cable。　Story　of　Egan；　partly　told。　Fragment　of　Corsican　cigarette。　This　newspaper　ripped　maybe　in　anger。　Watch　on　living　wrist；　numeral　2　undistinct。〃
　〃Quite　a　little　collection；〃　mented　John　Quincy。
　〃Most　interesting；〃　admitted　Chan。　〃One　by　one；　we　explore。　Some　cause　us　to　arrive　at　nowhere。　One；　maybe　two；　will　not　be　so　unkind。　I　am　believer　in　Scotland　Yard　method　…　follow　only　essential　clue。　But　it　are　not　the　method　here。　I　must　follow　all；　entire。〃
　〃The　essential　clue；〃　repeated　John　Quincy。
　〃Sure。〃　Chan　scowled　at　the　waiter；　for　his　more　hygienic　sector　had　not　appeared。　〃Too　early　to　say　here。　But　I　have　fondness　for　the　guest　book　with　page　omitted。　Watch　also　claims　my　attention。　Odd　enough；　when　we　enumerate　cl