earlderrbiggers.thehousewithoutakey-第25节

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teve　…　and　wants　to　know　what　he's　going　to　do　in　Australia。　Says　he　don't　know　a　soul　down　there　and　he'll　just　plain　starve。　Dan　was　sore　at　first；　then　he　laughs　a　nasty　little　laugh　and　goes　over　and　tears　that　there　page　out　of　the　guest　book　and　gives　it　to　Steve。　'Look　him　up　and　tell　him　you're　a　friend　of　mine；'　he　says。　'Maybe　he'll　give　you　a　job。　The　name　is　Gleason。　I've　disliked　him　for　twenty　years；　though　he　don't　know　that！'〃
　〃A　dirty　dig　at　me；〃　Leatherbee　explained。　〃I　took　the　loan　and　this　Gleason's　address　and　we　started　to　go。　Winterslip　said　he　wanted　to　talk　to　Arlene；　so　I　came　away　alone。　That　was　about　ten　o'clock。〃
　〃Where　did　you　go？〃　Hallet　asked。
　〃I　went　back　to　my　hotel　down…town。　I　had　to　pack。〃
　〃Back　to　your　hotel；　eh？　Can　you　prove　it？〃
　Leatherbee　considered。　〃I　don't　know。　The　boy　at　the　desk　may　remember　when　I　came　in；　though　I　didn't　stop　there　for　my　key　…　I　had　it　with　me。　Anyhow；　I　didn't　see　Winterslip　after　that。　I　just　went　ahead　with　my　preparations　to　sail　on　the　Niagara；　and　I　must　say　you've　got　your　nerve　…〃
　〃Never　mind　that！〃　Hallet　turned　to　the　woman。　〃And　after　Leatherbee　left　…　what　happened　then？〃
　〃Well；　Dan　started　in　on　that　brooch　again；〃　she　said。　〃It　made　me　sore；　too　…　I　never　did　like　a　tight…wad。　Besides；　my　nerves　was　all　on　edge。　I'm　funny　that　way；　rows　get　me　all　upset。　I　like　everybody　pleasant　around　me。　He　went　on　arguing；　so　finally　I　ripped　off　the　brooch　and　threw　it　at　him；　and　it　rolled　away　under　the　table　somewhere。　Then　he　said　he　was　sorry；　and　that　was　when　he　offered　to　replace　it　with　something　more　up…to…date。　The　best　money　could　buy　…　that　was　what　he　promised。　Pretty　soon　we　was　friends　again　…　just　as　good　friends　as　ever　when　I　came　away；　about　ten…fifteen。　His　last　words　was　that　we'd　look　round　the　jewelry　stores　this　morning。　I　ask　you；　Captain；　is　it　reasonable　to　think　I'd　have　anything　to　do　with　murdering　a　man　who　was　in　a　buying　mood　like　that？〃
　Hallet　laughed。　〃So　you　left　him　at　ten…fifteen　…　and　went　home　alone？〃
　〃I　did。　And　when　I　saw　him　last　he　was　alive　and　well　…　I'll　swear　to　that　on　a　stack　of　Bibles　as　high　as　the　Times　Building。　Gee；　don't　I　wish　I　was　safe　on　Broadway　to…night！〃
　Hallet　thought　for　a　moment。　〃Well；　we'll　look　into　all　this。　You　can　both　go　…　I'm　not　going　to　hold　you　at　present。　But　I　expect　you　both　to　remain　in　Honolulu　until　this　affair　is　cleared　up；　and　I　advise　you　not　to　try　any　funny　business。　You've　seen　to…night　what　chance　you've　got　to　get　away。〃
　〃Oh；　that's　all　right。〃　The　woman　stood；　looking　her　relief。　〃We've　got　no　reason　to　beat　it；　have　we；　Steve？〃
　〃None　in　the　world；〃　agreed　Steve。　His　facetious　manner　returned。　〃Speaking　for　myself；〃　he　added；　〃innocent　is　my　middle…name。〃
　〃Good　night；　all；〃　said　Mrs。　pton；　and　they　went　out。
　Hallet　sat　staring　at　the　brooch。　〃A　pretty　straight　story；〃　he　remarked；　looking　at　Chan。
　〃Nice　and　neat；〃　grinned　the　Chinese　man。
　〃If　true。〃　Hallet　shrugged　his　shoulders。　〃Well；　for　the　present；　I'm　willing　to　believe　it。〃　He　turned　to　John　Quincy。　〃Now；　Mr。　Winterslip；〃　he　said　severely；　〃I　want　it　understood　that　any　other　evidence　your　family　digs　up　…〃
　〃Oh；　that's　all　right；〃　interrupted　the　boy。　〃We'll　turn　it　over　at　once。　I've　already　given　to　Chan　the　newspaper　my　cousin　was　reading　that　night　he　wrote　the　letter　to　Roger　Winterslip。〃
　Chan　took　the　paper　from　his　pocket。　〃Such　a　busy　evening；〃　he　explained；　〃the　journal　was　obscure　in　my　mind。　Thanks　for　the　recollection。〃　He　called　to　his　chief's　attention　the　mutilated　corner。
　〃Look　into　that；〃　said　Hallet。
　〃Before　sleeping；〃　promised　Chan。　〃Mr。　Winterslip；　we　pursue　similar　paths。　The　honor　of　your　pany　in　my　humble　vehicle　would　pleasure　me　deeply。〃　Once　in　the　car　on　the　deserted　street；　he　spoke　again。　〃The　page　ripped　from　guest　book；　the　brooch　lying　silent　on　floor。　Both　are　now　followed　into　presence　of　immovable　stone　wall。　We　sway　about；　looking　for　other　path。〃
　〃Then　you　think　those　two　were　telling　the　truth？〃　John　Quincy　asked。
　〃As　to　that；　I　do　not　venture　to　remark；〃　Chan　replied。
　〃How　about　those　psychic　powers？〃　inquired　John　Quincy。
　Chan　smiled。　〃Psychic　powers　somewhat　drowsy　just　now；〃　he　admitted。　〃Need　prodding　into　wakefulness。〃
　〃Look　here；〃　said　John　Quincy；　〃there's　no　need　for　you　to　take　me　out　to　Waikiki。　Just　drop　me　on　King　Street；　and　I'll　get　a　trolley。〃
　〃Making　humble　suggestion；〃　Chan　replied；　〃is　it　not　possible　you　will　acpany　me　to　newspaper　rooms；　where　we　set　out　on　different　path？〃
　John　Quincy　looked　at　his　watch；　it　was　ten　minutes　past　eleven。　〃I'll　be　glad　to；　Charlie；〃　he　said。
　Chan　beamed　with　pleasure。　〃Greatly　honored　by　your　friendly　manner；〃　he　remarked。　He　turned　into　a　side　street。　〃Newspaper　of　this　nature　burst　out　at　evening；　very　quiet　now。　Somebody　may　loiter　in　rooms；　if　we　have　happy　luck。〃
　They　had　just　that；　for　the　building　of　the　evening　journal　was　open；　and　in　the　city　room　an　elderly　man　with　a　green　shade　over　his　eyes　hammered　on　a　typewriter。
　〃Hello；　Charlie；〃　he　said　cordially。
　〃Hello；　Pete。　Mr。　Winterslip　of　Boston；　I　have　all　the　honor　to　present　this　Pete　Mayberry。　For　many　years　he　explore　water…front　ferreting　for　whatever　news　are　hiding　there。〃
　The　elderly　man　rose　and　removed　his　eye…shade；　revealing　a　pleasant　twinkle。　He　was　evidently　interested　to　meet　a　Winterslip。
　〃We　pursue；〃　continued　Chan；　〃one　copy　of　paper　marked　June　sixteen；　present　year。　If　you　have　no　inclination　for　objecting。〃
　Mayberry　laughed。　〃Go　to　it；　Charlie。　You　know　where　the　files　are。〃
　Chan　bowed　and　disappeared。　〃Your　first　appearance　out　here；　Mr。　Winterslip？〃　inquired　the　newspaper　man。
　John　Quincy　nodded。　〃I've　only　just　got　here；〃　he　said；　〃but　I　can　see　it's　a　rather　intriguing　place。〃
　〃You've　said　it；〃　smiled　Mayberry。　〃Forty…six　years　ago　I　came　out　from　Portsmouth；　New　Hampshire；　to　visit　relatives。　I've　been　in　the　newspaper　game　here　ever　since　…　most　of　the　time　on　the　water…front。　There's　a　lifework　for　you！〃
　〃You　must　have　seen　some　changes；〃　remarked　John　Quincy　inanely。
　Mayberry　nodded。　〃For　the　worse。　I　knew　Honolulu　in　the　glamourous　days　of　its　isolation；　and　I've　watched　it　fade　into　an　eighth　carbon　copy　of　Babbittville；　U。S。A。　The　water…front's　just　a　water…front　now　…　but　once；　my　boy！　Once　it　oozed　romance　at　every　pore。〃
　Chan　returned；　carrying　a　paper。　〃Much　to　be　thankful　for；〃　he　said　to　Mayberry。　〃Your　kindness　are　quite　overwhelming　…〃
　〃Anything　doing？〃　asked　Mayberry　eagerly。
　Chan　shook　his　head。　〃Presently　speaking；　no。　Our　motions　just　now　must　be　blackly　clouded　in　secrecy。〃
　〃Well；〃　said　the　reporter；　〃when　it　es　time　to　roll　them　clouds　away；　don't　forget　me。〃
　〃Impossibility；〃　protested　Chan。　〃Good　night。〃
　They　left　Mayberry　bending　over　his　typewriter；　and　at　Chan's　suggestion　went　to　the　All　American　Restaurant；　where　he　ordered　two　cups　of　〃your　inspeakable　coffee。〃　While　they　waited　to　be　served；　he　spread　out　on　the　table　his　plete　copy　of　the　newspaper；　and　laying　the　torn　page　on　its　counterpart；　carefully　removed　the　upper　right…hand　corner。
　〃The　missing　fragment；〃　he　explained。　For　a　time　he　studied　it　thoughtfully；　and　finally　shook　his　head。　〃I　apprehend　nothing　to　startle；〃　he　admitted。　He　handed　it　across　the　table。　〃If　you　will　condescend　greatly　…〃
　John　Quincy　took　the　bit　of　newspaper。　On　one　side　was　the　advertisement　of　a　Japanese　dealer　in　shirtings　who　wrote　his　own　publicity。　Any　one　might　carry　off；　he　said；　six　yards　for　the　price　of　five。　John　Quincy　laughed　aloud。
　〃Ah；〃　said　Chan；　〃you　are　by　rights　mirthful。　Kikuchi；　purveyor　of　skirting　cloth；　seize　on　grand　English　language　and　make　it　into　a　jumble。　On　that　side　are　nothing　to　detain　us。　But　humbly　hinting　you　reverse　the　fragment　…〃
　John　Quincy　reversed　it。　The　other　side　was　a　part　of　the　shipping　page。　He　read　it　carefully；　news　of　sailings　and　arrivals；　there　would　be　places　for　five　passengers　to　the　Orient　on　the　Shinyo　Maru；　leaving　Wednesday；　the　Wilhelmina　was　six　hundred　and　forty　miles　east　of　Makupuu　Point；　the　brig　Mary　Jane　from　the　Treaty　Ports　…
　John　Quincy　started；　and　caught　his　breath。　A　small　item　in　tiny　print　had　met　his　eye。
　〃Among　the　passengers　who　will　arrive　here　on　the　Sonoma　from　Australia　a　week　from　Saturday　are：　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Thomas　Macan　Brade；　of　Calcutta　…〃
　John　Quincy　sat　staring　at　the　unwashed　window　of　the　All　American　Restaurant。　His　mind　went　back　to　the　deck　of　the　President　Tyler；　to　a　lean　old　missionary　telling　a　tale　of　a　bright　morning　on　Apiang；　a　grave　under　a　palm　tree。　〃Mr。　and　Mrs。　Thomas　Macan　Brade；　of　Calcutta。〃　He　heard　again　the　missionary's　high…pitched　voice。　〃A　callous　brute；　a　pirate　and　adventurer。　Tom　Brade；　the　blackbirder。〃
　But　Brade　had　been　buried　in　a　long　pine　box　on　Apiang。　Even　at　the　Crossroads　of　the　Pacific；　his　path　and　that　of　Dan　Winterslip　could　hardly　have　crossed　again。
　The　waiter　brought　the　coffee。　Chan　said　nothing；　watching　John　Quincy　closely。　Finally　he　spoke：　〃You　have　much　to　tell　me。〃
　John　Quincy　looked　around　quickly；　he　had　forgotten　Chan's　presence。
　His　dilemma　was　acute。　Must　he　here　in　thi