earlderrbiggers.thehousewithoutakey-第29节

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lt　for　herself　the　lure　of　the　wide　open　spaces。　Well；　the　farther　you　went　the　wider　and　opener　they　got。　In　California　life　was　all　color　and　light。　Just　a　suggestion；　of　course。
　As　he　sealed　the　flap　of　the　envelope；　he　seemed　to　glimpse　Agatha's　thin　patrician　face；　and　his　heart　sank。　Her　gray　eyes　were　cool；　so　different　from　Barbara's；　so　very　different　from　those　of　Carlota　Maria　Egan。
　On　Saturday　afternoon　John　Quincy　had　an　engagement　to　play　golf　with　Harry　Jennison。　He　drove　up　Nuuanu　Valley　in　Barbara's　roadster　…　for　Dan　Winterslip's　will　had　been　read　and　everything　he　possessed　was　Barbara's　now。　In　that　sheltered　spot　a　brisk　rain　was　falling；　as　is　usually　the　case；　though　the　sun　was　shining　brightly。　John　Quincy　had　grown　accustomed　to　this　phenomenon；　〃liquid　sunshine〃　the　people　of　Hawaii　call　such　rain；　and　pay　no　attention　to　it。　Half　a　dozen　different　rainbows　added　to　the　beauty　of　the　Country　Club　links。
　Jennison　was　waiting　on　the　veranda；　a　striking　figure　in　white。　He　appeared　genuinely　glad　to　see　his　guest；　and　they　set　out　on　a　round　of　golf　that　John　Quincy　would　long　remember。　Never　before　had　he　played　amid　such　beauty。　The　low　hills　stood　on　guard；　their　slopes　bright　with　tropical　colors　…　the　yellow　of　kukui　trees；　the　gray　of　ferns；　the　emerald　of　ohia　and　banana　trees；　here　and　there　a　splotch　of　brick…red　earth。　The　course　was　a　green　velvet　carpet　beneath　their　feet；　the　showers　came　and　went。　Jennison　was　a　proficient　driver；　but　the　boy　was　his　superior　on　approaches；　and　at　the　end　of　the　match　John　Quincy　was　four　up。　They　putted　through　a　rainbow　and　returned　to　the　locker　room。
　In　the　roadster　going　home；　Jennison　brought　up　the　subject　of　Dan　Winterslip's　murder。　John　Quincy　was　interested　to　get　the　reaction　of　a　lawyer　to　the　evidence。
　〃I've　kept　more　or　less　in　touch　with　the　case；〃　Jennison　said。　〃Egan　is　still　my　choice。〃
　Somehow；　John　Quincy　resented　this。　A　picture　of　Carlota　Egan's　lovely　but　unhappy　face　flashed　through　his　mind。　〃How　about　Leatherbee　and　the　pton　woman？〃　he　asked。
　〃Well；　of　course；　I　wasn't　present　when　they　told　their　story；〃　Jennison　replied。　〃But　Hallet　claims　it　sounded　perfectly　plausible。　And　it　doesn't　seem　likely　that　if　he'd　had　anything　to　do　with　the　murder；　Leatherbee　would　have　been　fool　enough　to　keep　that　page　from　the　guest　book。〃
　〃There's　Brade；　too；〃　John　Quincy　suggested。
　〃Yes　…　Brade　plicates　things。　But　when　they　run　him　down　…　if　they　do　…　I　imagine　the　result　will　be　nil。〃
　〃You　know　that　Kamaikui's　grandson　is　mixed　up　somehow　with　Brade？〃
　〃So　I　understand。　It's　a　matter　that　wants　looking　into。　But　mark　my　words；　when　all　these　trails　are　followed　to　the　end；　everything　will　e　back　to　Jim　Egan。〃
　〃What　have　you　against　Egan？〃　inquired　John　Quincy；　swerving　to　avoid　another　car。
　〃I　have　nothing　against　Egan；〃　Jennison　replied。　〃But　I　can't　forget　the　look　on　Dan　Winterslip's　face　that　day　he　told　me　he　was　afraid　of　the　man。　Then　there　is　the　stub　of　the　Corsican　cigarette。　Most　important　of　all；　Egan's　silence　regarding　his　business　with　Winterslip。　Men　who　are　facing　a　charge　of　murder；　my　boy；　talk；　and　talk　fast。　Unless　it　so　happens　that　what　they　have　to　say　would　further　incriminate　them。〃
　They　drove　on　in　silence　into　the　heart　of　the　city。　〃Hallet　tells　me　you're　doing　a　little　detective　work　yourself；〃　smiled　Jennison。
　〃I've　tried；　but　I'm　a　duffer；〃　John　Quincy　admitted。　〃Just　at　present　my　efforts　consist　of　a　still　hunt　for　that　watch　Aunt　Minerva　saw　on　the　murderer's　wrist。　Whenever　I　see　a　wrist　watch　I　get　as　close　to　it　as　I　can；　and　stare。　But　as　most　of　my　sleuthing　is　done　in　the　day　time；　it　isn't　so　easy　to　determine　whether　the　numeral　two　is　bright　or　dim。〃
　〃Persistence；〃　urged　Jennison。　〃That's　the　secret　of　a　good　detective。　Stick　to　the　job　and　you　may　succeed　yet。〃
　The　lawyer　was　to　dine　with　the　family　at　Waikiki。　John　Quincy　set　him　down　at　his　office；　where　he　had　a　few　letters　to　sign；　and　then　drove　him　out　to　the　beach。　Barbara　was　gowned　in　white；　she　was　slim　and　wistful　and　beautiful；　and　considering　the　events　of　the　immediate　past；　the　dinner　was　a　cheerful　one。
　They　had　coffee　on　the　lanai。　Presently　Jennison　rose　and　stood　by　Barbara's　chair。　〃We've　something　to　tell　you；〃　he　announced。　He　looked　down　at　the　girl。　〃Is　that　right；　my　dear？〃
　Barbara　nodded。
　〃Your　cousin　and　I〃　…　the　lawyer　turned　to　the　two　from　Boston　…　〃have　been　fond　of　each　other　for　a　long　time。　We　shall　be　married　very　quietly　in　a　week　or　so　…〃
　〃Oh；　Harry　…　not　a　week；〃　said　Barbara。
　〃Well；　as　you　wish。　But　very　soon。〃
　〃Yes；　very　soon；〃　she　repeated。
　〃And　leave　Honolulu　for　a　time；〃　Jennison　continued。　〃Naturally；　Barbara　feels　she　can　not　stay　here　for　the　present　…　so　many　memories　…　you　both　understand。　She　has　authorized　me　to　put　this　house　up　for　sale　…〃
　〃But；　Harry；〃　Barbara　protested；　〃you　make　me　sound　so　inhospitable。　Telling　my　guests　that　the　house　is　for　sale　and　I　am　leaving　…〃
　〃Nonsense；　my　dear；〃　said　Aunt　Minerva。　〃John　Quincy　and　I　understand；　quite。　I　sympathize　with　your　desire　to　get　away。〃　She　rose。
　〃I'm　sorry；〃　said　Jennison。　〃I　did　sound　a　little　abrupt。　But　I'm　naturally　eager　to　take　care　of　her　now。〃
　〃Of　course；〃　John　Quincy　agreed。
　Miss　Minerva　bent　over　and　kissed　the　girl。　〃If　your　mother　were　here；　dear　child；〃　she　said；　〃she　couldn't　wish　for　your　happiness　any　more　keenly　than　I　do。〃　Barbara　reached　up　impulsively　and　put　her　arms　about　the　older　woman。
　John　Quincy　shook　Jennison's　hand。　〃You're　mighty　lucky。〃
　〃I　think　so；〃　Jennison　answered。
　The　boy　went　over　to　Barbara。　〃All　…　all　good　wishes；〃　he　said。　She　nodded；　but　did　not　reply。　He　saw　there　were　tears　in　her　eyes。
　Presently　Miss　Minerva　withdrew　to　the　living…room；　and　John　Quincy；　feeling　like　a　fifth　wheel；　made　haste　to　leave　the　two　together。　He　went　out　on　the　beach。　The　pale　moon　rode　high　amid　the　golden　stars；　romance　whispered　through　the　cocoanut　palms。　He　thought　of　the　scene　he　had　witnessed　that　breathless　night　on　the　President　Tyler　…　only　two　in　the　world；　love　quick　and　overwhelming　…　well；　this　was　the　setting　for　it。　Here　on　this　beach　they　had　walked　two　and　two　since　the　beginning　of　time；　whispering　the　same　vows；　making　the　same　promises；　whatever　their　color　and　creed。　Suddenly　the　boy　felt　lonely。
　Barbara　was　a　Winterslip；　and　not　for　him。　Why　then　did　he　feel　again　that　frustrated　pang　in　his　heart？　She　had　chosen　and　her　choice　was　fitting；　what　affair　was　it　of　his？
　He　found　himself　moving　slowly　toward　the　Reef　and　Palm　Hotel。　For　a　chat　with　Carlota　Egan？　But　why　should　he　want　to　talk　with　this　girl；　whose　outlook　was　so　different　from　that　of　the　world　he　knew？　The　girls　at　home　were　on　a　level　with　the　men　in　brains　…　often；　indeed；　they　were　superior；　seemed　to　be　looking　down　from　a　great　height。　They　discussed　that　article　in　the　latest　Atlantic；　Shaw's　grim　philosophy；　the　new　Sargent　at　the　Art　Gallery。　Wasn't　that　the　sort　of　talk　he　should　be　seeking　here？　Or　was　it？　Under　these　palms　on　this　romantic　beach；　with　the　moon　riding　high　over　Diamond　Head？
　Carlota　Egan　was　seated　behind　the　desk　in　the　deserted　lobby　of　the　Reef　and　Palm；　a　worried　frown　on　her　face。
　〃You've　e　at　the　psychological　moment；〃　she　cried；　and　smiled。　〃I'm　having　the　most　awful　struggle。〃
　〃Arithmetic？〃　John　Quincy　inquired。
　〃pound　fractions；　it　seems　to　me。　I'm　making　out　the　Brades'　bill。〃
　He　came　round　the　desk　and　stood　at　her　side。　〃Let　me　help　you。〃
　〃It's　so　fearfully　involved。〃　She　looked　up　at　him；　and　he　wished　they　could　do　their　sums　on　the　beach。　〃Mr。　Brade　has　been　away　since　Tuesday　morning；　and　we　don't　charge　for　any　absence　of　more　than　three　days。　So　that　es　out　of　it。　Maybe　you　can　figure　it　…　I　can't。〃
　〃Charge　him　anyhow；〃　suggested　John　Quincy。
　〃I'd　like　to　…　that　would　simplify　everything。　But　it's　not　dad's　way。〃
　John　Quincy　took　up　a　pencil。　〃What　rate　are　they　paying？〃　he　inquired。　She　told　him；　and　he　began　to　figure。　It　wasn't　a　simple　matter；　even　for　a　bond　expert。　John　Quincy　frowned　too。
　Some　one　entered　the　front　door　of　the　Reef　and　Palm。　Looking　up；　John　Quincy　beheld　the　Hawaiian　boy；　Dick　Kaohla。　He　carried　a　bulky　object；　wrapped　in　newspapers。
　〃Mr。　Brade　here　now？〃　he　asked。
　Carlota　Egan　shook　her　head。　〃No；　he　hasn't　returned。〃
　〃I　will　wait；〃　said　the　boy。
　〃But　we　don't　know　where　he　is；　or　when　he　will　e　back；〃　the　girl　protested。
　〃He　will　be　here　soon；〃　the　Hawaiian　replied。　〃I　wait　on　the　lanai。〃　He　went　out　the　side　door；　still　carrying　his　clumsy　burden。　John　Quincy　and　the　girl　stared　at　each　other。
　〃'We　move；　we　advance！'〃　John　Quincy　quoted　in　a　low　voice。　〃Brade　will　be　here　soon！　Would　you　mind　going　out　on　the　lanai　and　telling　me　where　Kaohla　is　now？〃
　Quickly　the　girl　plied。　She　returned　in　a　few　seconds。　〃He's　taken　a　chair　at　the　far　end。〃
　〃Out　of　earshot？〃
　〃Quite。　You　want　the　telephone　…〃
　But　John　Quincy　was　already　in　the　booth。　Charlie　Chan's　voice　came　back　over　the　wire。
　〃Most　warm　congratulations。　You　are　number　one　detective　yourself。　Should　my　self…starter　not　indulge　in　stubborn　spasm；　I　will　make　im