earlderrbiggers.thehousewithoutakey-第30部分

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　〃Most　warm　congratulations。　You　are　number　one　detective　yourself。　Should　my　self…starter　not　indulge　in　stubborn　spasm；　I　will　make　immediate　connection　with　you。〃
　John　Quincy　returned　to　the　desk；　smiling。　〃Charlie's　flying　to　us　in　his　Ford。　Begins　to　look　as　though　we　were　getting　somewhere　now。　But　about　this　bill。　Mrs。　Brade's　board　and　room　I　make　sixteen　dollars。　The　charge　against　Mr。　Brade　…　one　week's　board　and　room　minus　four　days'　board　…　totals　nine　dollars　and　sixty…two　cents。〃
　〃How　can　I　ever　thank　you？〃　said　the　girl。
　〃By　telling　me　again　about　your　childhood　on　this　beach。〃　A　shadow　crossed　her　face。　〃Oh；　I'm　sorry　I've　made　you　unhappy。〃
　〃Oh；　no　…　you　couldn't。〃　She　shook　her　head。　〃I've　never　been　…　so　very　happy。　Always　an　'if'　in　it；　as　I　told　you　before。　That　morning　on　the　ferry　I　think　I　was　nearest　to　real　happiness。　I　seemed　to　have　escaped　from　life　for　a　moment。〃
　〃I　remember　how　you　laughed　at　my　hat。〃
　〃Oh　…　I　hope　you've　forgiven　me。〃
　〃Nonsense。　I'm　mighty　glad　I　was　able　to　make　you　laugh　like　that。〃　Her　great　eyes　stared　into　the　future；　and　John　Quincy　pitied　her。　He　had　known　others　like　her；　others　who　loved　their　fathers；　built　high　hopes　for　them；　then　saw　them　drift　into　a　baffled　old　age。　One　of　the　girl's　slender；　tanned　hands　lay　on　the　desk；　John　Quincy　put　his　own　upon　it。　〃Don't　be　unhappy；〃　he　urged。　〃It's　such　a　wonderful　night。　The　moon　…　you're　a　what…you…may…call…it　…　a　kamaaina；　I　know；　but　I'll　bet　you　never　saw　the　moon　looking　so　well　before。　It's　like　a　thousand…dollar　gold　piece；　pale　but　negotiable。　Shall　we　go　out　and　spend　it？〃
　Gently　she　drew　her　hand　away。　〃There　were　seven　bottles　of　charged　water　sent　to　the　room。　Thirty…five　cents　each　…〃
　〃What？　Oh；　the　Brades'　bill。　Yes；　that　means　two　forty…five　more。　I'd　like　to　mention　the　stars　too。　Isn't　it　odd　how　close　the　stars　seem　in　the　tropics　…〃
　She　smiled。　〃We　mustn't　forget　the　trunks　and　bags。　Three　dollars　for　bringing　them　up　from　the　dock。〃
　〃Say　…　that's　rather　steep。　Well；　it　goes　down　on　the　record。　Have　I　ever　told　you　that　all　this　natural　beauty　out　here　has　left　its　imprint　on　your　face？　In　the　midst　of　so　much　loveliness；　one　couldn't　be　anything　but　…〃
　〃Mrs。　Brade　had　three　trays　to　the　room。　That's　seventy…five　cents　more。〃
　〃Extravagant　lady！　Brade　will　be　sorry　he　came　back；　for　more　reasons　than　one。　Well；　I've　got　that。　Anything　else？〃
　〃Just　the　laundry。　Ninety…seven　cents。〃
　〃Fair　enough。　Adding　it　all　up；　I　get　thirty…two　dollars　and　sixty…nine　cents。　Let's　call　it　an　even　thirty…three。〃
　She　laughed。　〃Oh；　no。　We　can't　do　that。〃
　Mrs。　Brade　came　slowly　into　the　lobby　from　the　lanai。　She　paused　at　the　desk。　〃Has　there　been　a　message？〃　she　inquired。
　〃No；　Mrs。　Brade；〃　the　girl　answered。　She　handed　over　the　slip　of　paper。　〃Your　bill。〃
　〃Ah；　yes。　Mr。　Brade　will　attend　to　this　the　moment　he　returns。〃
　〃You　expect　him　soon？〃
　〃I　really　can't　say。〃　The　Englishwoman　moved　on　into　the　corridor　leading　to　nineteen。
　〃Full　of　information；　as　usual；〃　smiled　John　Quincy。　〃Why；　here's　Charlie　now。〃
　Chan　came　briskly　to　the　desk；　followed　by　another　policeman；　also　in　plain　clothes。
　〃Automobile　act　noble；〃　he　announced；　〃having　fondly　feeling　for　night　air。〃　He　nodded　toward　his　panion。　〃Introducing　Mr。　Spencer。　Now；　what　are　the　situation？　Humbly　hinting　you　speak　fast。〃
　John　Quincy　told　him　Kaohla　was　waiting　on　the　lanai；　and　mentioned　the　unwieldy　package　carried　by　the　boy。　Chan　nodded。
　〃Events　are　turning　over　rapidly；〃　he　said。　He　addressed　the　girl。　〃Please　kindly　relate　to　this　Kaohla　that　Brade　has　arrived　and　would　wish　to　encounter　him　here。〃　She　hesitated。　〃No；　no；〃　added　Chan　hastily；　〃I　forget　nice　heathen　delicacy。　It　is　not　pretty　I　should　ask　a　lady　to　scatter　false　lies　from　ruby　lips。　I　humbly　demand　forgiveness。　Content　yourself　with　a　veiled　pretext　bringing　him　here。〃
　The　girl　smiled　and　went　out。　〃Mr。　Spencer；〃　said　Chan；　〃I　make　bold　to　suggest　you　interrogate　this　Hawaiian。　My　reckless　wanderings　among　words　of　unlimitable　English　language　often　fail　to　penetrate　sort　of　skulls　plentiful　round　here。〃
　Spencer　nodded　and　went　to　the　side　door；　standing　where　he　would　not　be　seen　by　any　one　entering　there。　In　a　moment　Kaohla　appeared；　followed　by　the　girl。　The　Hawaiian　came　in　quickly　but　seeing　Chan；　stopped；　and　a　frightened　look　crossed　his　face。　Spencer　startled　him　further　by　seizing　his　arm。
　〃e　over　here；〃　said　the　detective。　〃We　want　to　talk　to　you。〃　He　led　the　boy　to　a　far　corner　of　the　room。　Chan　and　John　Quincy　followed。　〃Sit　down　…　here；　I'll　take　that。〃　He　removed　the　heavy　package　from　under　the　boy's　arm。　For　a　moment　the　Hawaiian　seemed　about　to　protest；　but　evidently　he　thought　better　of　it。　Spencer　placed　the　package　on　a　table　and　stood　over　Kaohla。
　〃Want　to　see　Brade；　eh？〃　he　began　in　a　threatening　tone。
　〃Yes。〃
　〃What　for？〃
　〃Business　is　private。〃
　〃Well；　I'm　telling　you　to　e　across。　You're　in　bad。　Better　change　your　mind　and　talk。〃
　〃No。〃
　〃All　right。　We'll　see　about　that。　What　have　you　got　in　that　package？〃　The　boy's　eyes　went　to　the　table；　but　he　made　no　answer。
　Chan　took　out　a　pocket　knife。　〃Simple　matter　to　discover；〃　he　said。　He　cut　the　rough　twine；　unwound　several　layers　of　newspapers。　John　Quincy　pressed　close；　he　felt　that　something　important　was　about　to　be　divulged。
　The　last　layer　of　paper　came　off。　〃Hot　dog！〃　cried　Chan。　He　turned　quickly　to　John　Quincy。　〃Oh；　I　am　so　sorry　…　I　pick　up　atrocious　phrase　like　that　from　my　cousin　Mr。　Willie　Chan；　Captain　of　All　Chinese　baseball　team　…〃
　But　John　Quincy　did　not　hear；　his　eyes　were　glued　to　the　object　that　lay　on　the　table。　An　ohia　wood　box；　bound　with　copper　…　the　initials　T。M。B。
　〃We　will　unlatch　it；〃　said　Chan。　He　made　an　examination。　〃No；　locked　most　strongly。　We　will　crash　into　it　at　police　station；　where　you　and　I　and　this　silent　Hawaiian　will　now　hasten。　Mr。　Spencer；　you　will　remain　on　spot　here。　Should　Brade　appear；　you　know　your　duty。〃
　〃I　do；〃　said　Spencer。
　〃Mr。　Kaohla；　do　me　the　honor　to　acpany；〃　continued　Chan。　〃At　police　headquarters　much　talk　will　be　extracted　out　of　you。〃
　They　turned　toward　the　door。　As　they　did　so；　Carlota　Egan　came　up。　〃May　I　speak　to　you　a　moment？〃　she　said　to　John　Quincy。
　〃Surely。〃　He　walked　with　her　to　the　desk。
　〃I　went　to　the　lanai　just　now；〃　she　whispered　breathlessly。　〃Some　one　was　crouching　outside　the　window　near　where　you　were　talking。　I　went　closer　and　it　was　…　Mr。　Saladine！〃
　〃Aha；〃　said　John　Quincy。　〃Mr。　Saladine　had　better　drop　that　sort　of　thing；　or　he'll　get　himself　in　trouble。〃
　〃Should　we　tell　Chan？〃
　〃Not　yet。　You　and　I　will　do　a　little　investigating　ourselves　first。　Chan　has　other　things　to　think　about。　And　we　don't　want　any　of　our　guests　to　leave　unless　it's　absolutely　necessary。〃
　〃We　certainly　don't；〃　she　smiled。　〃I'm　glad　you've　got　the　interests　of　the　house　at　heart。〃
　〃That's　just　where　I've　got　them　…〃　John　Quincy　began；　but　Chan　cut　in。
　〃Humbly　begging　pardon；〃　he　said；　〃we　must　speed。　Captain　Hallet　will　have　high　delight　to　encounter　this　Kaohla；　to　say　nothing　of　ohia　wood　box。〃
　In　the　doorway；　Kaohla　crowded　close　to　John　Quincy；　and　the　latter　was　startled　by　the　look　of　hate　he　saw　in　the　boy's　stormy　eyes。　〃You　did　this；〃　muttered　the　Hawaiian。　〃I　don't　forget。〃
　
　CHAPTER　XV　
　The　Man　From　India
　
　THEY　clattered　along　Kalakaua　Avenue　in　Chan's　car。　John　Quincy　sat　alone　on　the　rear　seat；　at　the　detective's　request　he　held　the　ohia　wood　box　on　his　knees。
　He　rested　his　hands　upon　it。　Once　it　had　eluded　him；　but　he　had　it　now。　His　mind　went　back　to　that　night　in　the　attic　two　thousand　miles　away；　the　shadow　against　the　moonlit　window；　the　sting　of　a　jewel　cutting　across　his　cheek。　Roger's　heartfelt　cry　of　〃Poor　old　Dan！〃　Did　they　hold　at　last；　in　this　ohia　wood　box；　the　answer　to　the　mystery　of　Dan's　death？
　Hallet　was　waiting　in　his　room。　With　him　was　a　keen…eyed；　efficient　looking　man　evidently　in　his　late　thirties。
　〃Hello；　boys；〃　said　the　captain。　〃Mr。　Winterslip；　meet　Mr。　Greene；　our　district　court　prosecutor。〃
　Greene　shook　hands　cordially。　〃I've　been　wanting　to　meet　you；　sir；〃　he　said。　〃I　know　your　city　rather　well。　Spent　three　years　at　your　Harvard　Law　School。〃
　〃Really？〃　replied　John　Quincy　with　enthusiasm。
　〃Yes。　I　went　there　after　I　got　through　at　New　Haven。　I'm　a　Yale　man；　you　know。〃
　〃Oh；〃　remarked　John　Quincy；　without　any　enthusiasm　at　all。　But　Greene　seemed　a　pleasant　fellow；　despite　his　choice　of　college。
　Chan　had　set　the　box　on　the　table　before　Hallet；　and　was　explaining　how　they　had　e　upon　it。　The　captain's　thin　face　had　brightened　perceptibly。　He　inspected　the　treasure。　〃Locked；　eh？〃　he　remarked。　〃You　got　the　key；　Kaohla？〃
　The　Hawaiian　shook　his　head　sullenly。　〃No。〃
　〃Watch　your　step；　boy；〃　warned　Hallet。　〃Go　over　him；　Charlie。〃
　Chan　went　over　him；　rapidly　and　thoroughly。　He　found　a　key　ring；　but　none　of　the　keys　fitted　the　lock　on　the　box。　He　also　brought　to　light　a　fat　roll　of　bills。
　〃Where'd　you　get　all　that　money；　Dick？〃　Hallet　inquired。
　〃I　got　it；〃　glowered　the　boy。
　But　Hallet　was　more　interested　in　the　box。　He　tapped　it　lovingly。　〃This　is　important；　Mr。　Gree