earlderrbiggers.thehousewithoutakey-第37部分

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　John　Quincy　faced　him　calmly。　〃I　know　you　can't　prove　where　you　were　early　last　Tuesday　morning；〃　he　said　evenly。　〃I　don't　say　that　incriminates　you；　but　I　shall　certainly　advise　my　cousin　to　wait。　I'd　not　care　to　see　her　in　the　position　of　having　rewarded　the　man　who　killed　her　father。〃
　〃I'll　fight；〃　cried　Brade。　〃I'll　take　it　to　the　courts　…〃
　〃Go　ahead；〃　John　Quincy　said。　〃But　it　will　cost　you　every　penny　you've　saved；　and　you　may　lose　in　the　end。　Good　night；　sir。〃
　〃Good　night！〃　Brade　answered；　standing　as　his　father　might　have　stood　on　the　Maid　of　Shiloh's　deck。
　John　Quincy　had　gone　half…way　down　the　balcony　when　he　heard　quick　footsteps　behind　him。　He　turned。　It　was　Brade；　Brade　the　civil　servant；　the　man　who　had　labored　thirty…six　years　in　the　oven　of　India；　a　beaten；　helpless　figure。
　〃You've　got　me；〃　he　said；　laying　a　hand　on　John　Quincy's　arm。　〃I　can't　fight。　I'm　too　tired；　too　old　…　I've　worked　too　hard。　I'll　take　whatever　your　cousin　wants　to　give　me　…　when　she's　ready　to　give　it。〃
　〃That's　a　wise　decision；　sir；〃　John　Quincy　answered。　A　sudden　feeling　of　pity　gripped　his　heart。　He　felt　toward　Brade　as　he　had　felt　toward　that　other　exile；　Arlene　pton。　〃I　hope　you　see　London　very　soon；〃　he　added；　and　held　out　his　hand。
　Brade　took　it。　〃Thank　you；　my　boy。　You're　a　gentleman；　even　if　your　name　is　Winterslip。〃
　Which；　John　Quincy　reflected　as　he　entered　the　lobby　of　the　Reef　and　Palm；　was　a　pliment　not　without　its　flaw。
　He　didn't　worry　over　that　long；　however；　for　Carlota　Egan　was　behind　the　desk。　She　looked　up　and　smiled；　and　it　occurred　to　John　Quincy　that　her　eyes　were　happier　than　he　had　seen　them　since　that　day　on　the　Oakland　ferry。
　〃Hello；〃　he　said。　〃Got　a　job　for　a　good　bookkeeper？〃
　She　shook　her　head。　〃Not　with　business　the　way　it　is　now。　I　was　just　figuring　my　pay…roll。　You　know；　we've　no　undertow　at　Waikiki；　but　all　my　life　I've　had　to　worry　about　the　overhead。〃
　He　laughed。　〃You　talk　like　a　brother　Kiwanian。　By　the　way；　has　anything　happened？　You　seem　considerably　cheered。〃
　〃I　am；〃　she　replied。　〃I　went　to　see　poor　dad　this　morning　in　that　horrible　place　…　and　when　I　left　some　one　else　was　going　in　to　visit　him。　A　stranger。〃
　〃A　stranger？〃
　〃Yes　…　and　the　handsomest　thing　you　ever　saw　…　tall；　gray；　capable…looking。　He　had　such　a　friendly　air；　too　…　I　felt　better　the　moment　I　saw　him。〃
　〃Who　was　he？〃　John　Quincy　inquired；　with　sudden　interest。
　〃I'd　never　seen　him　before；　but　one　of　the　men　told　me　he　was　Captain　Cope；　of　the　British　Admiralty。〃
　〃Why　should　Captain　Cope　want　to　see　your　father？〃
　〃I　haven't　a　notion。　Do　you　know　him？〃
　〃Yes　…　I've　met　him；〃　John　Quincy　told　her。
　〃Don't　you　think　he's　wonderful…looking？〃　Her　dark　eyes　glowed。
　〃Oh；　he's　all　right；〃　replied　John　Quincy　without　enthusiasm。　〃You　know；　I　can't　help　feeling　that　things　are　looking　up　for　you。〃
　〃I　feel　that　too；〃　she　said。
　〃What　do　you　say　we　celebrate？〃　he　suggested。　〃Go　out　among　'em　and　get　a　little　taste　of　night　life。　I'm　a　bit　fed　up　on　the　police　station。　What　do　people　do　here　in　the　evening？　The　movies？〃
　〃Just　at　present；〃　the　girl　told　him；　〃everybody　visits　Punahou　to　see　the　night…blooming　cereus。　It's　the　season　now；　you　know。〃
　〃Sounds　like　a　big　evening；〃　John　Quincy　laughed。　〃Go　and　look　at　the　flowers。　Well；　I'm　for　it。　Will　you　e？〃
　〃Of　course。〃　She　gave　a　few　directions　to　the　clerk；　then　joined　him　by　the　door。　〃I　can　run　down　and　get　the　roadster；〃　he　offered。
　〃Oh；　no；〃　she　smiled。　〃I'm　sure　I'll　never　own　a　motor…car；　and　it　might　make　me　discontented　to　ride　in　one。　The　trolley's　my　carriage　…　and　it's　lots　of　fun。　One　meets　so　many　interesting　people。〃
　On　the　stone　walls　surrounding　the　campus　of　Oahu　College；　the　strange　flower　that　blooms　only　on　a　summer　night　was　heaped　in　snowy　splendor。　John　Quincy　had　been　a　bit　lukewarm　regarding　the　expedition　when　they　set　out；　but　he　saw　his　error　now。　For　here　was　beauty；　breath…taking　and　rare。　Before　the　walls　paraded　a　throng　of　sight…seers；　they　joined　the　procession。　The　girl　was　a　charming　panion；　her　spirits　had　revived　and　she　chatted　vivaciously。　Not　about　Shaw　and　the　art　galleries；　true　enough；　but　bright　human　talk　that　John　Quincy　liked　to　hear。
　He　persuaded　her　to　go　to　the　city　for　a　maidenly　ice…cream　soda；　and　it　was　ten　o'clock　when　they　returned　to　the　beach。　They　left　the　trolley　at　a　stop　some　distance　down　the　avenue　from　the　Reef　and　Palm；　and　strolled　slowly　toward　the　hotel。　The　sidewalk　was　lined　to　their　right　by　dense　foliage；　almost　impenetrable。　The　night　was　calm；　the　street　lamps　shone　brightly；　the　paved　street　gleamed　white　in　the　moonlight。　John　Quincy　was　talking　of　Boston。
　〃I　think　you'd　like　it　there。　It's　old　and　settled；　but　…〃
　From　the　foliage　beside　them　came　the　flash　of　a　pistol；　and　John　Quincy　heard　a　bullet　sing　close　to　his　head。　Another　flash；　another　bullet。　The　girl　gave　a　startled　little　cry。
　John　Quincy　circled　round　her　and　plunged　into　the　bushes。　Angry　branches　stung　his　cheek。　He　stopped；　he　couldn't　leave　the　girl　alone。　He　returned　to　her　side。
　〃What　did　that　mean？〃　he　asked；　amazed。　He　stared　in　wonder　at　the　peaceful　scene　before　him。
　〃I　…　I　don't　know。〃　She　took　his　arm。　〃e　…　hurry！〃
　〃Don't　be　afraid；〃　he　said　reassuringly。
　〃Not　for　myself；〃　she　answered。
　They　went　on　to　the　hotel；　greatly　puzzled。　But　when　they　entered　the　lobby；　they　had　something　else　to　think　about。　Captain　Arthur　Temple　Cope　was　standing　by　the　desk；　and　he　came　at　once　to　meet　them。
　〃This　is　Miss　Egan；　I　believe。　Ah；　Winterslip；　how　are　you？〃　He　turned　again　to　the　girl；　〃I've　taken　a　room　here；　if　you　don't　mind。〃
　〃Why；　not　at　all；〃　she　gasped。
　〃I　talked　with　your　father　this　morning。　I　didn't　know　about　his　trouble　until　I　had　boarded　a　ship　for　the　Fanning　Islands。　I　came　back　as　quickly　as　I　could。〃
　〃You　came　back　…〃　She　stared　at　him。
　〃Yes。　I　came　back　to　help　him。〃
　〃That's　very　kind　of　you；〃　the　girl　said。　〃But　I'm　afraid　I　don't　understand　…〃
　〃Oh；　no；　you　don't　understand。　Naturally。〃　The　captain　smiled　down　at　her。　〃You　see；　Jim's　my　young　brother。　You're　my　niece；　and　your　name　is　Carlota　Maria　Cope。　I　fancy　I've　persuaded　old　Jim　to　own　up　to　us　at　last。〃
　The　girl's　dark　eyes　were　wide。　〃I　…　I　think　you're　a　very　nice　uncle；〃　she　said　at　last。
　〃Do　you　really？〃　The　captain　bowed。　〃I　aim　to　be；〃　he　added。
　John　Quincy　stepped　forward。　〃Pardon　me；〃　he　said。　〃I'm　afraid　I'm　intruding。　Good　night；　Captain。〃
　〃Good　night；　my　boy；〃　Cope　answered。
　The　girl　went　with　John　Quincy　to　the　balcony。　〃I　…　I　don't　know　what　to　make　of　it；〃　she　said。
　〃Things　are　ing　rather　fast；〃　John　Quincy　admitted。　He　remembered　the　Corsican　cigarette。　〃I　wouldn't　trust　him　too　far；〃　he　admonished。
　〃But　he's　so　wonderful　…〃
　〃Oh；　he's　all　right；　probably。　But　looks　are　often　deceptive。　I'll　go　along　now　and　let　you　talk　with　him。〃
　She　laid　one　slim　tanned　hand　on　his　white…clad　arm。　〃Do　be　careful！〃
　〃Oh；　I'm　all　right；〃　he　told　her。
　〃But　some　one　shot　at　you。〃
　〃Yes；　and　a　very　poor　aim　he　had；　too。　Don't　worry　about　me。〃　She　was　very　close；　her　eyes　glowing　in　the　dark。　〃You　said　you　weren't　afraid　for　yourself；〃　he　added。　〃Did　you　mean　…〃
　〃I　meant　…　I　was　afraid　…　for　you。〃
　The　moon；　of　course；　was　shining。　The　cocoa…palms　turned　their　heads　away　at　the　suggestion　of　the　trades。　The　warm　waters　of　Waikiki　murmured　near　by。　John　Quincy　Winterslip；　from　Boston　and　immune；　drew　the　girl　to　him　and　kissed　her。　Not　a　cousinly　kiss；　either　…　but　why　should　it　have　been？　She　wasn't　his　cousin。
　〃Thank　you；　my　dear；〃　he　said。　He　seemed　to　be　floating　dizzily　in　space。　It　came　to　him　that　he　might　reach　out　and　pluck　her　a　handful　of　stars。
　It　came　to　him　a　second　later　that；　despite　his　firm　resolve；　he　had　done　it　again。　Kissed　another　girl。
　Three　…　that　made　three　with　whom　he　was　sort　of　entangled。
　〃Good　night；〃　he　said　huskily；　and　leaping　over　the　rail；　fled　hastily　through　the　garden。
　Three　girls　now　…　but　he　hadn't　a　single　regret。　He　was　living　at　last。　As　he　hurried　through　the　dark　along　the　beach；　his　heart　was　light。　Once　he　fancied　he　was　being　followed；　but　he　gave　it　little　thought。　What　of　it？
　On　the　bureau　in　his　room　he　found　an　envelope　with　his　name　typewritten　on　the　outside。　The　note　within　was　typewritten　too。　He　read：　
　〃You　are　too　busy　out　here。　Hawaii　can　manage　her　affairs　without　the　interference　of　a　malihini。
　Boats　sail　almost　daily。　If　you　are　still　here　forty…eight　hours　after　you　get　this　…　look　out！　To…night's　shots　were　fired　into　the　air。　The　aim　will　quickly　improve！〃　
　Delighted；　John　Quincy　tossed　the　note　aside。
　Threatening　him；　eh？　His　activities　as　a　detective　were　bearing　fruit。　He　recalled　the　glowering　face　of　Kaohla　when　he　said：　〃You　did　this。　I　don't　forget。〃　And　a　remark　of　Dan　Winterslip's　his　aunt　had　quoted：　〃Civilized　…　yes。　But　far　underneath　there　are　deep　dark　waters　flowing　still。〃
　Boats　were　sailing　almost　daily；　were　they？　Well；　let　them　sail。　He　would　be　on　one　some　day　…　but　not　until　he　had　brought　Dan　Winterslip's　murderer　to　justice。
　Life　had　a　new　glamour　now。　Look　out？　He'd　be　looking　…　and　enjoying　it；　too。　He　smile