earlderrbiggers.thehousewithoutakey-第27节

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　〃You'd　lose　your　Browning；　and　then　where　would　you　be　when　the　lecture　season　started？〃　laughed　John　Quincy。　〃I　never　knew　you　to　be　so　stupid　before。〃　His　face　became　serious。　〃By　the　way；　will　you　explain　to　Barbara　that　I　can't　join　her；　after　all？〃
　Miss　Minerva　nodded。　〃Go　along；〃　she　said。　〃I　envy　you　all　this。　First　time　in　my　life　I　ever　wished　I　were　a　man。〃
　John　Quincy　approached　the　Reef　and　Palm　by　way　of　the　beach。　The　scene　was　one　of　bright　serenity。　A　few　languid　tourists　lolled　upon　the　sand；　others；　more　ambitious；　were　making　picture　post…card　history　out　where　the　surf　began。　A　great　white　steamer　puffed　blackly　into　port。　Standing　in　water　up　to　their　necks；　a　group　of　Hawaiian　women　paused　in　their　search　for　luncheon　delicacies　to　enjoy　a　moment's　gossip。
　John　Quincy　passed　Arlene　pton's　cottage　and　entered　the　grounds　of　the　Reef　and　Palm。　On　the　beach　not　far　from　the　hotel；　an　elderly　Englishwoman　sat　on　a　camp　stool　with　an　easel　and　canvas　before　her。　She　was　seeking　to　capture　something　of　that　exotic　scene　…　vainly　seeking；　for　John　Quincy；　glancing　over　her　shoulder；　perceived　that　her　work　was　terrible。　She　turned　and　looked　at　him；　a　weary　look　of　protest　against　his　intrusion；　and　he　was　sorry　she　had　caught　him　in　the　act　of　smiling　at　her　inept　canvas。
　Chan　had　not　yet　arrived　at　the　hotel；　and　the　clerk　informed　John　Quincy　that　Miss　Carlota　had　gone　to　the　city。　For　that　interview　with　her　father；　no　doubt。　He　hoped　that　the　evidence　of　the　check　would　bring　about　Egan's　release。　It　seemed　to　him　that　the　man　was　being　held　on　a　rather　flimsy　pretext；　anyhow。
　He　sat　down　on　the　lanai　at　the　side；　where　he　could　see　both　the　path　that　led　in　from　the　street　and　the　restless　waters　of　the　Pacific。　On　the　beach　near　by　a　man　in　a　purple　bathing　suit　reclined　dejectedly；　and　John　Quincy　smiled　in　recollection。　Mr。　Saladine；　alone　with　his　tragedy；　peering　out　at　the　waters　that　had　robbed　him　…　waiting；　no　doubt；　for　the　tide　to　yield　up　its　loot。
　Some　fifteen　or　twenty　minutes　passed；　and　then　John　Quincy　heard　voices　in　the　garden。　He　saw　that　Hallet　and　Chan　were　ing　up　the　walk　and　went　to　meet　them　at　the　front　door。
　〃Splendid　morning；〃　said　Chan。　〃Nice　day　to　set　out　on　new　path　leading　unevitably　to　important　discovery。〃
　John　Quincy　acpanied　them　to　the　desk。　The　Japanese　clerk　regarded　them　with　sullen　unfriendliness；　he　had　not　forgotten　the　events　of　the　day　before。　Information　had　to　be　dragged　from　him　bit　by　bit。　Yes；　there　was　a　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Brade　stopping　there。　They　arrived　last　Saturday；　on　the　steamship　Sonoma。　Mr。　Brade　was　not　about　at　the　moment。　Mrs。　Brade　was　on　the　beach　painting　pretty　pictures。
　〃Good；〃　said　Hallet；　〃I'll　have　a　look　around　their　room　before　I　question　them。　Take　us　there。〃
　The　clerk　hesitated。　〃Boy！〃　he　called。　It　was　only　a　bluff；　the　Reef　and　Palm　had　no　bell…boys。　Finally；　with　an　air　of　injured　dignity；　he　led　the　way　down　a　long　corridor　on　the　same　floor　as　the　office　and　unlocked　the　door　of　nineteen；　the　last　room　on　the　right。　Hallet　strode　in　and　went　to　the　window。
　〃Here　…　wait　a　minute；〃　he　called　to　the　clerk。　He　pointed　to　the　elderly　woman　painting　on　the　beach。　〃That　Mrs。　Brade？〃
　〃Yes…s；〃　hissed　the　clerk。
　〃All　right　…　go　along。〃　The　clerk　went　out。　〃Mr。　Winterslip；　I'll　ask　you　to　sit　here　in　the　window　and　keep　an　eye　on　the　lady。　If　she　starts　to　e　in；　let　me　know。〃　He　stared　eagerly　about　the　poorly　furnished　bedroom。　〃Now；　Mr。　Brade；　I　wonder　what　you've　got？〃
　John　Quincy　took　the　post　assigned　him；　feeling　decidedly　unfortable。　This　didn't　seem　quite　honorable　to　him。　However；　he　probably　wouldn't　be　called　upon　to　do　any　searching　himself；　and　if　policemen　were　forced　to　do　disagreeable　things　…　well；　they　should　have　thought　of　that　before　they　became　policemen。　Not　that　either　Hallet　or　Chan　appeared　to　be　embarrassed　by　the　task　before　them。
　There　was　a　great　deal　of　luggage　in　the　room　…　English　luggage；　which　is　usually　large　and　impressive。　John　Quincy　noted　a　trunk；　two　enormous　bags；　and　a　smaller　case。　All　were　plastered　with　labels　of　the　Sonoma；　and　beneath　were　the　worn　fragments　of　earlier　labels；　telling　a　broken　story　of　other　ships　and　far　hotels。
　Hallet　and　Chan　were　old　hands　at　this　game；　they　went　through　Brade's　trunk　rapidly　and　thoroughly；　but　without　finding　anything　of　note。　The　captain　turned　his　attention　to　the　small　traveling　case。　With　every　evidence　of　delight　he　drew　forth　a　packet　of　letters；　and　sat　down　with　them　at　a　table。　John　Quincy　was　shocked。　Reading　other　people's　mail　was；　in　his　eyes；　something　that　simply　wasn't　done。
　It　was　done　by　Hallet；　however。　In　a　moment　the　captain　spoke。　〃Seems　to　have　been　in　the　British　civil　service　in　Calcutta；　but　he's　resigned；〃　he　announced　to　Chan。　〃Here's　a　letter　from　his　superior　in　London　referring　to　Brade's　thirty…six　years　on　the　job；　and　saying　he's　sorry　to　lose　him。〃　Hallet　took　up　another　letter；　his　face　brightened　as　he　read。　〃Say　…　this　is　more　like　it！〃　He　handed　the　typewritten　page　to　Chan。　Chan　looked　at　it；　and　his　eyes　sparkled。　〃Most　interesting；〃　he　cried；　and　turned　it　over　to　John　Quincy。
　The　boy　hesitated。　The　standards　of　a　lifetime　are　not　easily　abandoned。　But　the　others　had　read　it　first；　so　he　put　aside　his　scruples。　The　letter　was　several　months　old；　and　was　addressed　to　Brade　in　Calcutta。　
　〃DEAR　SIR：　In　reply　to　your　inquiry　of　the　sixth　instant；　would　say　that　Mr。　Daniel　Winterslip　is　alive　and　is　a　resident　of　this　city。　His　address　is　3947　Kalia　Road；　Waikiki；　Honolulu；　T。H。〃　
　The　signature　was　that　of　the　British　consul　at　Honolulu。　John　Quincy　returned　the　epistle　to　Hallet；　who　put　it　in　his　pocket。　At　that　instant　Chan；　who　had　been　exploring　one　of　the　larger　bags；　emitted　a　little　grunt　of　satisfaction。
　〃What　is　it；　Charlie？〃　Hallet　asked。
　Chan　set　out　on　the　table　before　his　chief　a　small　tin　box；　and　removed　the　lid。　It　was　filled　with　cigarettes。　〃Corsican　brand；〃　he　announced　cheerfully。
　〃Good；〃　said　Hallet。　〃It　begins　to　look　as　though　Mr。　Thomas　Macan　Brade　would　have　a　lot　to　explain。〃
　They　continued　their　researches；　while　John　Quincy　sat　silent　by　the　window。　Presently　Carlota　Egan　appeared　outside。　She　walked　slowly　to　a　chair　on　the　lanai；　and　sat　down。　For　a　moment　she　stared　at　the　breakers；　then　she　began　to　weep。
　John　Quincy　turned　unfortably　away。　It　came　to　him　that　here　in　this　so…called　paradise　sorrow　was　altogether　too　rampant。　The　only　girls　he　knew　were　given　to　frequent　tears；　and　not　without　reason。
　〃If　you'll　excuse　me　…〃　he　said。　Hallet　and　Chan；　searching　avidly；　made　no　reply；　and　climbing　over　the　sill；　he　stepped　on　to　the　lanai。　The　girl　looked　up　as　he　approached。
　〃Oh；〃　she　said；　〃I　thought　I　was　alone。〃
　〃You'd　like　to　be；　perhaps；〃　he　answered。　〃But　it　might　help　if　you　told　me　what　has　happened。　Did　you　speak　to　your　father　about　that　check？〃
　She　nodded。　〃Yes；　I　showed　it　to　him。　And　what　do　you　think　he　did？　He　snatched　it　out　of　my　hand　and　tore　it　into　a　hundred　pieces。　He　gave　me　the　pieces　to　…　to　throw　away。　And　he　said　I　was　never　to　mention　it　to　a　soul。〃
　〃I　don't　understand　that；〃　frowned　John　Quincy。
　〃Neither　do　I。　He　was　simply　furious　…　not　like　himself　at　all。　And　when　I　told　him　you　knew　about　it；　he　lost　his　temper　again。〃
　〃But　you　can　rely　on　me。　I　shan't　tell　any　one。〃
　〃I　know　that。　But　of　course　father　wasn't　so　sure　of　you　as　…　as　I　am。　Poor　dad　…　he's　having　a　horrible　time　of　it。　They　don't　give　him　a　moment's　rest　…　keep　after　him　constantly　…　trying　to　make　him　tell。　But　all　the　policemen　in　the　world　couldn't　…　Oh；　poor　old　dad！〃
　She　was　weeping　again；　and　John　Quincy　felt　toward　her　as　he　had　felt　toward　Barbara。　He　wanted　to　put　his　arm　about　her；　just　by　way　of　fort　and　cheer。　But　alas；　Carlota　Maria　Egan　was　not　a　Winterslip。
　〃Now；　now；〃　he　said；　〃that　won't　do　a　bit　of　good。〃
　She　looked　at　him　through　her　tears。　〃Won't　it？　I　…　I　don't　know。　It　seems　to　help　a　little。　But〃　…　she　dried　her　eyes　…　〃I　really　haven't　time　for　it　now。　I　must　go　in　and　see　about　lunch。〃
　She　rose；　and　John　Quincy　walked　with　her　along　the　balcony。　〃I　wouldn't　worry　if　I　were　you；〃　he　said。　〃The　police　are　on　an　entirely　new　trail　this　morning。〃
　〃Really？〃　she　answered　eagerly。
　〃Yes。　There's　a　man　named　Brade　stopping　at　your　hotel。　You　know　him；　I　suppose？〃
　She　shook　her　head。　〃No；　I　don't。〃
　〃What！　Why；　he's　a　guest　here。〃
　〃He　was。　But　he　isn't　here　now。〃
　〃Wait　a　minute！〃　John　Quincy　laid　his　hand　on　her　arm；　and　they　stopped。　〃This　is　interesting。　Brade's　gone；　you　say？〃
　〃Yes。　I　understand　from　the　clerk　that　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Brade　arrived　here　last　Saturday。　But　early　Tuesday　morning；　before　my　boat　got　in；　Mr。　Brade　disappeared　and　he　hasn't　been　seen　since。〃
　〃Mr。　Brade　gets　better　all　the　time；〃　John　Quincy　said。　〃Hallet　and　Chan　are　in　his　room　now；　and　they've　unearthed　some　rather　intriguing　facts。　You'd　better　go　in　and　tell　Hallet　what　you've　just　told　me。〃
　They　entered　the　lobby　by　a　side　door。　As　they　did　so；　a　slim　young　Hawaiian　boy　was　ing　in　through　the　big　door　at　the　front。　Something　in　his　manner　caught　the　attention　of　John　Quincy；