earlderrbiggers.thehousewithoutakey-第16节

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　No　one　spoke。　The　curtains　of　the　car　were　drawn；　but　a　warm　streak　of　sunlight　fell　across　John　Quincy's　knees。　He　was　a　little　dazed。　Shocking；　this　news　about　Cousin　Dan。　Must　have　died　suddenly　…　but　no　doubt　that　was　how　things　always　happened　out　this　way。　He　glanced　at　the　white　stricken　face　of　the　girl　beside　him；　and　because　of　her　his　heart　was　heavy。
　She　laid　her　cold　hand　on　his。　〃It's　not　the　wele　I　promised　you；　John　Quincy；〃　she　said　softly。
　〃Why；　my　dear　girl；　I　don't　matter　now。〃
　No　other　word　was　spoken　on　the　journey；　and　when　they　reached　Dan's　house；　Barbara　and　Miss　Minerva　went　immediately　up…stairs。　Jennison　disappeared　through　a　doorway　at　the　left；　evidently　he　knew　his　way　about。　Haku　volunteered　to　show　John　Quincy　his　quarters；　so　he　followed　Haku　to　the　second　floor。
　When　his　bags　were　unpacked；　John　Quincy　went　down…stairs　again。　Miss　Minerva　was　waiting　for　him　in　the　living…room。　From　beyond　the　bamboo　curtain　leading　to　the　lanai　came　the　sound　of　men's　voices；　mumbling　and　indistinct。
　〃Well；〃　said　John　Quincy；　〃how　have　you　been？〃
　〃Never　better；〃　his　aunt　assured　him。
　〃Mother's　been　rather　worried　about　you。　She'd　begun　to　think　you　were　never　ing　home。〃
　〃I've　begun　to　think　it　myself；〃　Miss　Minerva　replied。
　He　stared　at　her。　〃Some　of　those　bonds　you　left　with　me　have　matured。　I　haven't　known　just　what　you　wanted　me　to　do　about　them。〃
　〃What；〃　inquired　Miss　Minerva；　〃is　a　bond？〃
　That　sort　of　wild　reckless　talk　never　did　make　a　hit　with　John　Quincy。　〃It's　about　time　somebody　came　out　here　and　brought　you　to　your　senses；〃　he　remarked。
　〃Think　so？〃　said　his　aunt。
　A　sound　up…stairs　recalled　John　Quincy　to　the　situation。　〃This　was　rather　sudden　…　Cousin　Dan's　death？〃　he　inquired。
　〃Amazingly　so。〃
　〃Well；　it　seems　to　me　that　it　would　be　rather　an　intrusion　…　our　staying　on　here　now。　We　ought　to　go　home　in　a　few　days。　I'd　better　see　about　reservations　…〃
　〃You　needn't　trouble；〃　snapped　Miss　Minerva。　〃I'll　not　stir　from　here　until　I　see　the　person　who　did　this　brought　to　justice。〃
　〃The　person　who　did　what？〃　asked　John　Quincy。
　〃The　person　who　murdered　Cousin　Dan；〃　said　Miss　Minerva。
　John　Quincy's　jaw　dropped。　His　face　registered　a　wide　variety　of　emotions。　〃Good　lord！〃　he　gasped。
　〃Oh；　you　needn't　be　so　shocked；〃　said　his　aunt。　〃The　Winterslip　family　will　still　go　on。〃
　〃Well；　I'm　not　surprised；〃　remarked　John　Quincy；　〃when　I　stop　to　think。　The　things　I've　learned　about　Cousin　Dan。　It's　a　wonder　to　me　…〃
　〃That　will　do；〃　said　Miss　Minerva。　〃You're　talking　like　Amos；　and　that's　no　pliment。　You　didn't　know　Dan。　I　did　…　and　I　liked　him。　I'm　going　to　stay　here　and　do　all　I　can　to　help　run　down　the　murderer。　And　so　are　you。〃
　〃Pardon　me。　I　am　not。〃
　〃Don't　contradict。　I　intend　you　shall　take　an　active　part　in　the　investigation。　The　police　are　rather　informal　in　a　small　place　like　this。　They'll　wele　your　help。〃
　〃My　help！　I'm　no　detective。　What's　happened　to　you；　anyhow？　Why　should　you　want　me　to　go　round　hobnobbing　with　policemen　…〃
　〃For　the　simple　reason　that　if　we're　not　careful　some　rather　unpleasant　scandal　may　e　out　of　this。　If　you're　on　the　ground　you　may　be　able　to　avert　needless　publicity。　For　Barbara's　sake。〃
　〃No；　thank　you；〃　said　John　Quincy。　〃I'm　leaving　for　Boston　in　three　days；　and　so　are　you。　Pack　your　trunks。〃
　Miss　Minerva　laughed。　〃I've　heard　your　father　talk　like　that；〃　she　told　him。　〃But　I　never　knew　him　to　gain　anything　by　it　in　the　end。　e　out　on　the　lanai　and　I'll　introduce　you　to　a　few　policemen。〃
　John　Quincy　received　this　invitation　with　the　contemptuous　silence　he　thought　it　deserved。　But　while　he　was　lavishing　on　it　his　best　contempt；　the　bamboo　curtain　parted　and　the　policemen　came　to　him。　Jennison　was　with　them。
　〃Good　morning；　Captain　Hallet；〃　said　Miss　Minerva　brightly。　〃May　I　present　my　nephew；　Mr。　John　Quincy　Winterslip　of　Boston。〃
　〃I'm　very　anxious　to　meet　Mr。　John　Quincy　Winterslip；〃　the　captain　replied。
　〃How　do　you　do；〃　said　John　Quincy。　His　heart　sank。　They'd　drag　him　into　this　affair　if　they　could。
　〃And　this；　John　Quincy；〃　went　on　Miss　Minerva；　〃is　Mr。　Charles　Chan；　of　the　Honolulu　detective　force。〃
　John　Quincy　had　thought　himself　prepared　for　anything；　but　…　〃Mr。　…　Mr。　Chan；〃　he　gasped。
　〃Mere　words；〃　said　Chan；　〃can　not　express　my　unlimitable　delight　in　meeting　a　representative　of　the　ancient　civilization　of　Boston。〃
　Harry　Jennison　spoke。　〃This　is　an　appalling　business；　Miss　Winterslip；〃　he　said。　〃As　perhaps　you　know；　I　was　your　cousin's　lawyer。　I　was　also　his　friend。　Therefore　I　hope　you　won't　think　I　am　intruding　if　I　show　a　keen　interest　in　what　is　going　forward　here。〃
　〃Not　at　all；〃　Miss　Minerva　assured　him。　〃We　shall　need　all　the　help　we　can　get。〃
　Captain　Hallet　had　taken　a　paper　from　his　pocket。　He　faced　John　Quincy。
　〃Young　man；〃　he　began；　〃I　said　I　wanted　to　meet　you。　Last　night　Miss　Winterslip　told　me　of　a　cablegram　received　by　the　dead　man　about　a　week　ago；　which　she　said　angered　him　greatly。　I　happen　to　have　a　copy　of　that　message；　turned　over　to　me　by　the　cable　people。　I'll　read　it　to　you：
　〃JOHN　QUINCY　SAILING　ON　PRESIDENT　TYLER　STOP　OWING　TO　UNFORTUNATE　ACCIDENT　HE　LEAVES　HERE　WITH　EMPTY　HANDS。　SIGNED　ROGER　WINTERSLIP。〃
　〃Yes？〃　said　John　Quincy　haughtily。
　〃Explain　that；　if　you　will。〃
　John　Quincy　stiffened。　〃The　matter　was　strictly　private；〃　he　said。　〃A　family　affair。〃
　Captain　Hallet　glared　at　him。　〃You're　mistaken；〃　he　replied。　〃Nothing　that　concerns　Mr。　Dan　Winterslip　is　private　now。　Tell　me　what　that　cable　meant；　and　be　quick　about　it。　I'm　busy　this　morning。〃
　John　Quincy　glared　back。　The　man　didn't　seem　to　realize　to　whom　he　was　talking。　〃I've　already　said　…〃　he　began。
　〃John　Quincy；〃　snapped　Miss　Minerva。　〃Do　as　you're　told！〃
　Oh；　well；　if　she　wanted　family　secrets　aired　in　public！　Reluctantly　John　Quincy　explained　about　Dan　Winterslip's　letter；　and　the　misadventure　in　the　attic　of　Dan's　San　Francisco　house。
　〃An　ohia　wood　box　bound　with　copper；〃　repeated　the　captain。　〃Initials　on　it；　T。M。B。　Got　that；　Charlie？〃
　〃It　is　written　in　the　book；〃　said　Chan。
　〃Any　idea　what　was　in　that　box？〃　asked　Hallet。
　〃Not　the　slightest；〃　John　Quincy　told　him。
　Hallet　turned　to　Miss　Minerva。　〃You　knew　nothing　about　this？〃　She　assured　him　she　did　not。　〃Well；〃　he　continued；　〃one　thing　more　and　we'll　go　along。　We've　been　making　a　thorough　search　of　the　premises　by　daylight　…　without　much　success；　I'm　sorry　to　say。　However；　by　the　cement　walk　just　outside　that　door〃　…　he　pointed　to　the　screen　door　leading　from　the　living…room　into　the　garden　…　〃Charlie　made　a　discovery。〃
　Chan　stepped　forward；　holding　a　small　white　object　in　the　palm　of　his　hand。
　〃One…half　cigarette；　inpletely　consumed；〃　he　announced。　〃Very　recent；　not　weather　stained。　It　are　of　the　brand　denominated　Corsican；　assembled　in　London　and　smoked　habitually　by　Englishmen。〃
　Hallet　again　addressed　Miss　Minerva。　〃Did　Dan　Winterslip　smoke　cigarettes？〃
　〃He　did　not；〃　she　replied。　〃Cigars　and　a　pipe；　but　never　cigarettes。〃
　〃You　were　the　only　other　person　living　here。〃
　〃I　haven't　acquired　the　cigarette　habit；〃　snapped　Miss　Minerva。　〃Though　undoubtedly　it's　not　too　late　yet。〃
　〃The　servants；　perhaps？〃　went　on　Hallet。
　〃Some　of　the　servants　may　smoke　cigarettes；　but　hardly　of　this　quality。　I　take　it　these　are　not　on　sale　in　Honolulu？〃
　〃They're　not；〃　said　the　captain。　〃But　Charlie　tells　me　they're　put　up　in　air…tight　tins　and　shipped　to　Englishmen　the　world　over。　Well；　stow　that　away；　Charlie。〃　The　Chinese　man　tenderly　placed　the　half　cigarette；　inpletely　consumed；　in　his　pocketbook。　〃I'm　going　on　down　the　beach　now　to　have　a　little　talk　with　Mr。　Jim　Egan；〃　the　captain　added。
　〃I'll　go　with　you；〃　Jennison　offered。　〃I　may　be　able　to　supply　a　link　or　two　there。〃
　〃Sure；　e　along；〃　Hallet　replied　cordially。
　〃Captain　Hallet；〃　put　in　Miss　Minerva；　〃it　is　my　wish　that　some　member　of　the　family　keep　in　touch　with　what　you　are　doing；　in　order　that　we　may　give　you　all　the　aid　we　can。　My　nephew　would　like　to　acpany　you　…〃
　〃Pardon　me；〃　said　John　Quincy　coldly；　〃you're　quite　wrong。　I　have　no　intention　of　joining　the　police　force。〃
　〃Well；　just　as　you　say；〃　remarked　Hallet。　He　turned　to　Miss　Minerva。　〃I'm　relying　on　you；　at　any　rate。　You've　got　a　good　mind。　Anybody　can　see　that。〃
　〃Thank　you；〃　she　said。
　〃As　good　as　a　man's；〃　he　added。
　〃Oh；　now　you've　spoiled　it。　Good　morning。〃
　The　three　men　went　through　the　screen　door　into　the　bright　sunshine　of　the　garden。　John　Quincy　was　aware　that　he　was　not　in　high　favor　with　his　aunt。
　〃I'll　go　up　and　change；〃　he　said　unfortably。　〃We'll　talk　things　over　later　…〃
　He　went　into　the　hall。　At　the　foot　of　the　stairs　he　paused。
　From　above　came　a　low；　heart…breaking　moan　of　anguish。　Barbara。　Poor　Barbara；　who　had　been　so　happy　less　than　an　hour　ago。
　John　Quincy　felt　his　head　go　hot；　the　blood　pound　in　his　temples。　How　dare　any　one　strike　down　a　Winterslip！　How　dare　any　one　inflict　this　grief　on　his　Cousin　Barbara！　He　clenched　his　fists　and　stood　for　a　moment；　feeling　that　he；　too；　could　kill。
　Action　…　he　must　have　action！　He　rushed　through　the　living…room；　past　the　astonished　Miss　Minerva。　In　the　drive　stood　a　car；　the　three　me