earlderrbiggers.thehousewithoutakey-第31部分

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　〃I　got　it；〃　glowered　the　boy。
　But　Hallet　was　more　interested　in　the　box。　He　tapped　it　lovingly。　〃This　is　important；　Mr。　Greene。　We　may　find　the　solution　of　our　puzzle　in　here。〃　He　took　a　small　chisel　from　his　desk；　and　after　a　brief　struggle；　pried　open　the　lid。
　John　Quincy；　Chan　and　the　prosecutor　pressed　close；　their　eyes　staring　eagerly　as　the　captain　lifted　the　lid。　The　box　was　empty。
　〃Filled　with　nothing；〃　murmured　Chan。　〃Another　dream　go　smash　against　stone　wall。〃
　The　disappointment　angered　Hallet。　He　turned　on　Kaohla。　〃Now；　my　lad；〃　he　said。　〃I　want　to　hear　from　you。　You've　been　in　touch　with　Brade；　you　talked　with　him　last　Sunday　night；　you've　heard　he's　returning　to…night。　You've　got　some　deal　on　with　him。　e　across　and　be　quick　about　it。〃
　〃Nothing　to　tell；〃　said　the　Hawaiian　stubbornly。
　Hallet　leaped　to　his　feet。　〃Oh；　yes　you　have。　And　by　heaven；　you're　going　to　tell　it。　I'm　not　any　too　patient　tonight　and　I　warn　you　if　you　don't　talk　and　talk　quick　I'm　likely　to　get　rough。〃　He　stopped　suddenly　and　turned　to　Chan。　〃Charlie；　that　Inter…Island　boat　is　due　from　Maui　about　now。　Get　down　to　the　dock　and　watch　for　Brade。　You've　got　his　description？〃
　〃Sure；〃　answered　Chan。　〃Thin　pale　face；　one　shoulder　descended　below　other；　gray　mustaches　that　droop　in　saddened　mood。〃
　〃That's　right。　Keep　a　sharp　lookout。　And　leave　this　lad　to　us。　He　won't　have　any　secrets　when　we　get　through　with　him；　eh；　Mr。　Greene？〃
　The　prosecutor；　more　discreet；　merely　smiled。
　〃Mr。　Winterslip；〃　said　Chan。　〃The　night　is　delicious。　A　little　stroll　to　moonly　dock　…〃
　〃I'm　with　you；〃　John　Quincy　replied。　He　looked　back　over　his　shoulder　as　he　went；　and　reflected　that　he　wouldn't　care　to　be　in　Kaohla's　shoes。
　The　pier…shed　was　dimly　lighted　and　a　small　but　diversified　group　awaited　the　ining　boat。　Chan　and　John　Quincy　walked　to　the　far　end　and　there；　seated　on　a　packing…case；　they　found　the　water…front　reporter　of　the　evening　paper。
　〃Hello；　Charlie；〃　cried　Mr。　Mayberry。　〃What　you　doing　here？〃
　〃Maybe　friend　arrive　on　boat；〃　grinned　Chan。
　〃Is　that　so？〃　responded　Mayberry。　〃You　boys　over　at　the　station　have　certainly　bee　pretty　mysterious　all　of　a　sudden。　What's　doing；　Charlie？〃
　〃All　pronouncements　e　from　captain；〃　advised　Chan。
　〃Yeah；　we've　heard　his　pronouncements；〃　sneered　Mayberry。　〃The　police　have　unearthed　clues　and　are　working　on　them。　Nothing　to　report　at　present。　It's　sickening。　Well；　sit　down；　Charlie。　Oh　…　Mr。　Winterslip　…　good　evening。　I　didn't　recognize　you　at　first。〃
　〃How　are　you；〃　said　John　Quincy。　He　and　Chan　also　found　packing…cases。　There　was　a　penetrating　odor　of　sugar　in　the　air。　Through　a　wide　opening　in　the　pier…shed　they　gazed　along　the　water…front　and　out　upon　the　moonlit　harbor。　A　rather　exotic　and　intriguing　scene；　John　Quincy　reflected；　and　he　said　as　much。
　〃Think　so？〃　answered　Mayberry。　〃Well；　I　don't。　To　me　it's　just　like　Seattle　or　Galveston　or　any　of　those　stereotyped　ports。　But　you　see　…　I　knew　it　when　…〃
　〃I　think　you　mentioned　that　before；〃　John　Quincy　smiled。
　〃I'm　likely　to　mention　it　at　any　moment。　As　far　as　I'm　concerned；　the　harbor　of　Honolulu　has　lost　its　romance。　Once　this　was　the　most　picturesque　water…front　in　the　world；　my　boy。　And　now　look　at　the　damned　thing！〃　The　reporter　relighted　his　pipe。　〃Charlie　can　tell　you　…　he　remembers。　The　old　ramshackle；　low…lying　wharves。　Old　Naval　Row　with　its　sailing　ships。　The　wooden…hulled　steamers　with　a　mast　or　two　…　not　too　proud　to　use　God's　good　winds　occasionally。　The　bright　little　row…boats；　the　Aloha；　the　Manu；　the　Emma。　Eh；　Chan？〃
　〃All　extinct；〃　agreed　Chan。
　〃You　wouldn't　see　a　Rotary　Club　gang　like　this　on　a　pier　in　those　days；〃　Mayberry　continued。　〃Just　Hawaiian　stevedores　with　leis　on　their　hats　and　ukuleles　in　their　hands。　Fishermen　with　their　nets；　and　maybe　a　breezy　old…time　purser　…　a　glad…hander　and　not　a　mere　machine。〃　He　puffed　a　moment　in　sad　silence。　〃Those　were　the　days；　Mr。　Winterslip；　the　days　of　Hawaii's　isolation；　and　her　charm。　The　cable　and　the　radio　hadn't　linked　us　up　with　the　so…called　civilization　of　the　mainland。　Every　boat　that　came　in　we'd　scamper　over　it；　hunting　a　newspaper　with　the　very　latest　news　of　the　outside　world。　Remember　those　steamer　days；　Charlie；　when　everybody　went　down　to　the　wharf　in　the　good　old　hacks　of　yesteryear；　when　the　women　wore　holokus　and　lauhala　hats；　and　Berger　was　there　with　his　band；　and　maybe　a　prince　or　two　…〃
　〃And　the　nights；〃　suggested　Charlie。
　〃Yeah；　old…timer；　I　was　ing　to　the　nights。　The　soft　nights　when　the　serenaders　drifted　about　the　harbor　in　row…boats；　and　the　lanterns　speared　long　paths　on　the　water　…〃
　He　seemed　about　to　weep。　John　Quincy's　mind　went　back　to　books　he　had　read　in　his　boyhood。
　〃And　occasionally；〃　he　said；　〃I　presume　somebody　went　aboard　a　ship　against　his　will？〃
　〃I'll　say　he　did；〃　replied　Mr。　Mayberry；　brightening　at　the　thought。　〃Why；　it　was　only　in　the　'nineties　I　was　sitting　one　night　on　a　dock　a　few　yards　down；　when　I　saw　a　scuffle　near　the　landing；　and　one　of　my　best　friends　shouted　to　me：　'Good…by；　Pete！'　I　was　up　and　off　in　a　minute；　and　I　got　him　away　from　them　…　I　was　younger　in　those　days。　He　was　a　good　fellow；　a　sailorman；　and　he　wasn't　intending　to　take　the　journey　that　bunch　had　planned　for　him。　They'd　got　him　into　a　saloon　and　drugged　him；　but　he　pulled　out　of　it　just　in　time　…　oh；　well；　those　days　are　gone　for　ever　now。　Just　like　Galveston　or　Seattle。　Yes；　sir；　this　harbor　of　Honolulu　has　lost　its　romance。〃
　The　little　Inter…Island　boat　was　drawing　up　to　the　pier；　and　they　watched　it　e。　As　the　gangplank　went　down；　Chan　rose。
　〃Who　you　expecting；　Charlie？〃　asked　Mayberry。
　〃We　grope　about；〃　said　Chan。　〃Maybe　on　this　boat　are　Mr。　Brade。〃
　〃Brade！〃　Mayberry　leaped　to　his　feet。
　〃Not　so　sure；〃　warned　Chan。　〃Only　a　matter　we　suppose。　If　correct；　humbly　suggest　you　follow　to　the　station。　You　might　capture　news。〃
　John　Quincy　and　Chan　moved　up　to　the　gangplank　as　the　passengers　descended。　There　were　not　many　aboard。　A　few　Island　business　men；　a　scattering　of　tourists；　a　party　of　Japanese　in　western　clothes；　ceremoniously　received　by　friends　ashore　…　a　quaint　little　group　all　bowing　from　the　waist。　John　Quincy　was　watching　them　with　interest　when　Chan　touched　his　arm。
　A　tall　stooped　Englishman　was　ing　down　the　plank。　Thomas　Macan　Brade　would　have　been　easily　spotted　in　any　crowd。　His　mustache　was　patterned　after　that　of　the　Earl　of　Pawtucket；　and　to　make　identification　even　simpler；　he　wore　a　white　pith　helmet。　Pith　helmets　are　not　necessary　under　the　kindly　skies　of　Hawaii；　this　was　evidently　a　relic　of　Indian　days。
　Chan　stepped　forward。　〃Mr。　Brade？〃
　The　man　had　a　tired　look　in　his　eyes。　He　started　nervously。　〃Y　…　yes；〃　he　hesitated。
　〃I　am　Detective…Sergeant　Chan。　Honolulu　police。　You　will　do　me　the　great　honor　to　acpany　me　to　the　station；　if　you　please。〃
　Brade　stared　at　him；　then　shook　his　head。　〃It's　quite　impossible；〃　he　said。
　〃Pardon　me；　please；〃　answered　Chan。　〃It　are　unevitable。〃
　〃I　…　I　have　just　returned　from　a　journey；〃　protested　the　man。　〃My　wife　may　be　worried　regarding　me。　I　must　have　a　talk　with　her；　and　after　that　…〃
　〃Regret；〃　purred　Chan；　〃are　scorching　me。　But　duty　remains　duty。　Chief's　words　are　law。　Humbly　suggest　we　squander　valuable　time。〃
　〃Am　I　to　understand　that　I'm　under　arrest？〃　flared　Brade。
　〃The　idea　is　preposterous；〃　Chan　assured　him。　〃But　the　captain　waits　eager　for　statement　from　you。　You　will　walk　this　way；　I　am　sure。　A　moment's　pardon。　I　introduce　my　fine　friend；　Mr。　John　Quincy　Winterslip；　of　Boston。〃
　At　mention　of　the　name；　Brade　turned　and　regarded　John　Quincy　with　deep　interest。　〃Very　good；〃　he　said。　〃I'll　go　with　you。〃
　They　went　out　to　the　street；　Brade　carrying　a　small　hand…bag。　The　flurry　of　arrival　was　dying　fast。　Honolulu　would　shortly　return　to　its　accustomed　evening　calm。
　When　they　reached　the　police　station；　Hallet　and　the　prosecutor　seemed　in　high　good　humor。　Kaohla　sat　in　a　corner；　hopeless　and　defeated；　John　Quincy　saw　at　a　glance　that　the　boy's　secret　was　his　no　longer。
　〃Introducing　Mr。　Brade；〃　said　Chan。
　〃Ah；〃　cried　Hallet；　〃we're　glad　to　see　you；　Mr。　Brade。　We'd　been　getting　pretty　worried　about　you。〃
　〃Really；　sir；〃　said　Brade；　〃I　am　pletely　at　a　loss　…〃
　〃Sit　down；〃　ordered　Hallet。　The　man　sank　into　a　chair。　He　too　had　a　hopeless；　defeated　air。　No　one　can　appear　more　humble　and　beaten　than　a　British　civil　servant；　and　this　man　had　known　thirty…six　years　of　baking　under　the　Indian　sun；　looked　down　on　by　the　military；　respected　by　none。　Not　only　his　mustache　but　his　whole　figure　drooped　〃in　saddened　mood。〃　Yet　now　and　then；　John　Quincy　noted；　he　flashed　into　life；　a　moment　of　self…assertion　and　defiance。
　〃Where　have　you　been；　Mr。　Brade？〃　Hallet　inquired。
　〃I　have　visited　one　of　the　other　islands。　Maui。〃
　〃You　went　last　Tuesday　morning？〃
　〃Yes。　On　the　same　steamer　that　brought　me　back。〃
　〃Your　name　was　not　on　the　sailing　list；〃　Hallet　said。
　〃No。　I　went　under　another　name。　I　had　…　reasons。〃
　〃Indeed？〃
　The　flash　of　life。　〃Just　why　am　I　here；　sir？〃　He　turned　to　the　prosecutor。　〃Perhaps　you　will　tell　me　that？〃
　Greene　nodded　toward　the　detective。　〃Captain　Hallet　will　enlighten　you；〃　he　said。