earlderrbiggers.thehousewithoutakey-第35节

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a　newspaper　on　the　table。　〃I　just　got　hold　of　an　old　Variety　and　seen　about　a　show　opening　in　Atlantic　City。　A　lot　of　the　gang　is　in　it；　working　like　dogs；　rehearsing　night　and　day；　worrying　themselves　sick　over　how　long　the　thing　will　last。　Gee；　don't　I　envy　them。　I　was　near　to　bawling　when　you　came　along。〃
　〃You'll　get　back　all　right；〃　forted　John　Quincy。
　〃Say　…　if　I　ever　do！　I'll　stop　everybody　I　meet　on　Broadway　and　promise　never　to　leave　'em　again。〃　John　Quincy　rose。　〃You　tell　that　guy　Hallet　to　get　a　move　on；〃　she　urged。
　〃I'll　tell　him；〃　he　agreed。
　〃And　drop　in　to　see　me　now　and　then；〃　she　added　wistfully。　〃Us　easterners　ought　to　stick　together　out　here。〃
　〃That's　right；　we　should；〃　John　Quincy　answered。　〃Good…by。〃
　As　he　walked　along　the　beach；　he　thought　of　her　with　pity。　The　story　she　and　Leatherbee　had　told　might　be　entirely　false；　even　so；　she　was　a　human　and　appealing　figure　and　her　homesickness　touched　his　heart。
　Later　that　evening　when　John　Quincy　came　downstairs　faultlessly　attired　for　dinner；　he　encountered　Amos　Winterslip　in　the　living…room。　Cousin　Amos's　lean　face　was　whiter　than　ever；　his　manner　listless。　He　had　been　robbed　of　his　hate；　his　evenings　beneath　the　algaroba　tree　had　lost　their　savor；　life　was　devoid　of　spice。
　Dinner　was　not　a　particularly　jolly　affair。　Barbara　seemed　intent　on　knowing　now　the　details　of　the　search　the　police　were　conducting；　and　it　fell　to　John　Quincy　to　enlighten　her。　Reluctantly　he　came　at　last　to　the　story　of　Brade。　She　listened　in　silence。　After　dinner　she　and　John　Quincy　went　out　into　the　garden　and　sat　on　a　bench　under　the　hau　tree；　facing　the　water。
　〃I'm　terribly　sorry　I　had　to　tell　you　that　about　Brade；〃　John　Quincy　said　gently。　〃But　it　seemed　necessary。〃
　〃Of　course；〃　she　agreed。　〃Poor　dad！　He　was　weak　…　weak　…〃
　〃Forgive　and　forget；〃　John　Quincy　suggested。　〃Man　is　a　creature　of　environment。〃　He　wondered　dimly　where　he　had　heard　that　before。　〃Your　father　was　not　entirely　to　blame　…〃
　〃You're　terribly　kind；　John　Quincy；〃　she　told　him。
　〃No　…　but　I　mean　it；〃　he　protested。　〃Just　picture　the　scene　to　yourself。　That　lonely　ocean；　wealth　at　his　feet　for　the　taking；　no　one　to　see　or　know。〃
　She　shook　her　head。　〃Oh；　but　it　was　wrong；　wrong。　Poor　Mr。　Brade。　I　must　make　things　right　with　him　as　nearly　as　I　can。　I　shall　ask　Harry　to　talk　with　him　to…morrow　…〃
　〃Just　a　suggestion；〃　interposed　John　Quincy。　〃Whatever　you　agree　to　do　for　Brade　must　not　be　done　until　the　man　who　killed　your　father　is　found。〃
　She　stared　at　him。　〃What！　You　don't　think　that　Brade　…〃
　〃I　don't　know。　Nobody　knows。　Brade　is　unable　to　prove　where　he　was　early　last　Tuesday　morning。〃
　They　sat　silent　for　a　moment；　then　the　girl　suddenly　collapsed　and　buried　her　face　in　her　hands。　Her　slim　shoulders　trembled　convulsively　and　John　Quincy；　deeply　sympathetic；　moved　closer。　He　put　his　arm　about　her。　The　moonlight　shone　on　her　bright　hair；　the　trades　whispered　in　the　hau　tree；　the　breakers　murmured　on　the　beach。　She　lifted　her　face；　and　he　kissed　her。　A　cousinly　kiss　he　had　meant　it　to　be；　but　somehow　it　wasn't　…　it　was　a　kiss　he　would　never　have　been　up　to　on　Beacon　Street。
　〃Miss　Minerva　said　I'd　find　you　here；〃　remarked　a　voice　behind　them。
　John　Quincy　leaped　to　his　feet　and　found　himself　staring　into　the　cynical　eyes　of　Harry　Jennison。　Even　though　you　are　the　girl's　cousin；　it　is　a　bit　embarrassing　to　have　a　man　find　you　kissing　his　fiancee。　Particularly　if　the　kiss　wasn't　at　all　cousinly　…　John　Quincy　wondered　if　Jennison　had　noticed　that。
　〃e　in　…　I　mean；　sit　down；〃　stammered　John　Quincy。　〃I　was　just　going。〃
　〃Good…by；〃　said　Jennison　coldly。
　John　Quincy　went　hastily　through　the　living…room；　where　Miss　Minerva　sat　with　Amos。　〃Got　an　appointment　down…town；〃　he　explained；　and　picking　up　his　hat　in　the　hall；　fled　into　the　night。
　He　had　intended　taking　the　roadster；　but　to　reach　the　garage　he　would　have　to　pass　that　bench　under　the　hau　tree。　Oh；　well；　the　colorful　atmosphere　of　a　trolley　was　more　interesting；　anyhow。
　In　the　cable　office　on　the　ground　floor　of　the　Alexander　Young　Hotel；　Chan　was　waiting；　and　they　sent　off　their　inquiry　to　the　postmaster　at　Des　Moines；　signing　John　Quincy's　name　and　address。　That　attended　to；　they　returned　to　the　street。　In　the　park　across　the　way　an　unseen　group　of　young　men　strummed　steel　guitars　and　sang　in　soft　haunting　voices；　it　was　the　only　sign　of　life　in　Honolulu。
　〃Kindly　deign　to　enter　hotel　lobby　with　me；〃　suggested　Chan。　〃It　is　my　custom　to　regard　names　in　register　from　time　to　time。〃
　At　the　cigar　stand　just　inside　the　door；　the　boy　paused　to　light　his　pipe；　while　Chan　went　on　to　the　desk。　As　John　Quincy　turned　he　saw　a　man　seated　alone　in　the　lobby；　a　handsome；　distinguished　man　who　wore　immaculate　evening　clothes　that　bore　the　stamp　of　Bond　Street。　An　old　acquaintance；　Captain　Arthur　Temple　Cope。
　At　sight　of　John　Quincy；　Cope　leaped　to　his　feet　and　came　forward。　〃Hello；　I'm　glad　to　see　you；〃　he　cried；　with　a　cordiality　that　had　not　been　evident　at　former　meetings。　〃e　over　and　sit　down。〃
　John　Quincy　followed　him。　〃Aren't　you　back　rather　soon？〃　he　inquired。
　〃Sooner　than　I　expected；〃　Cope　rejoined。　〃Not　sorry；　either。〃
　〃Then　you　didn't　care　for　your　little　flock　of　islands？〃
　〃My　boy；　you　should　visit　there。　Thirty…five　white　men；　two　hundred　and　fifty　natives；　and　a　cable　station。　Jolly　place　of　an　evening；　what？〃
　Chan　came　up；　and　John　Quincy　presented　him。　Captain　Cope　was　the　perfect　host。　〃Sit　down；　both　of　you；〃　he　urged。　〃Have　a　cigarette。〃　He　extended　a　silver　case。
　〃Thanks；　I'll　stick　to　the　pipe；〃　John　Quincy　said。　Chan　gravely　accepted　a　cigarette　and　lighted　it。
　〃Tell　me；　my　boy；〃　Cope　said　when　they　were　seated；　〃is　there　anything　new　on　the　Winterslip　murder？　Haven't　run　down　the　guilty　man；　by　any　chance。〃
　〃No；　not　yet；〃　John　Quincy　replied。
　〃That's　a　great　pity。　I　…　er　…　understand　the　police　are　holding　a　chap　named　Egan？〃
　〃Yes　…　Jim　Egan；　of　the　Reef　and　Palm　Hotel。〃
　〃Just　what　evidence　have　they　against　Egan；　Mr。　Winterslip？〃
　John　Quincy　was　suddenly　aware　of　Chan　looking　at　him　in　a　peculiar　way。　〃Oh；　they've　dug　up　several　things；〃　he　answered　vaguely。
　〃Mr。　Chan；　you　are　a　member　of　the　police　force；〃　Captain　Cope　went　on。　〃Perhaps　you　can　tell　me？〃
　Chan's　little　eyes　narrowed。　〃Such　matters　are　not　yet　presented　to　public；〃　he　replied。
　〃Ah；　yes；　naturally。〃　Captain　Cope's　tone　suggested　disappointment。
　〃You　have　interest　in　this　murder；　I　think？〃　Chan　said。
　〃Why；　yes　…　every　one　out　this　way　is　puzzling　about　it；　I　fancy。　The　thing　has　so　many　angles。〃
　〃Is　it　possible　that　you　were　an　acquaintance　with　Mr。　Dan　Winterslip？〃　the　detective　persisted。
　〃I　…　I　knew　him　slightly。　But　that　was　many　years　ago。〃
　Chan　stood。　〃Humbly　begging　pardon　to　be　so　abrupt；〃　he　said。　He　turned　to　John　Quincy。　〃The　moment　of　our　appointment　is　eminent　…〃
　〃Of　course；〃　agreed　John　Quincy。　〃See　you　again；　Captain。〃　Perplexed；　he　followed　Chan　to　the　street。　〃What　appointment　…〃　he　began；　and　stopped。　Chan　was　carefully　extinguishing　the　light　of　the　cigarette　against　the　stone　facade　of　the　hotel。　That　done；　he　dropped　the　stub　into　his　pocket。
　〃You　will　see；〃　he　promised。　〃First　we　visit　police　station。　As　we　journey；　kindly　relate　all　known　facts　concerning　this　Captain　Cope。〃
　John　Quincy　told　of　his　first　meeting　with　Cope　in　the　San　Francisco　club；　and　repeated　the　conversation　as　he　recalled　it。
　〃Evidence　of　warm　dislike　for　Dan　Winterslip　were　not　to　be　concealed？〃　inquired　Chan。
　〃Oh；　quite　plain；　Charlie。　He　certainly　had　no　love　for　Cousin　Dan。　But　what　…〃
　〃Immediately　he　was　leaving　for　Hawaii　…　pardon　the　interrupt。　Does　it　happily　chance　you　know　his　date　of　arrival　here？〃
　〃I　do。　I　saw　him　in　the　Alexander　Young　Hotel　last　Tuesday　evening　when　I　was　looking　for　you。　He　was　rushing　off　to　the　Fanning　Islands；　and　he　told　me　he　had　got　in　the　previous　day　at　noon　…〃
　〃Monday　noon　to　put　it　lucidly。〃
　〃Yes　…　Monday　noon。　But　Charlie　…　what　are　you　trying　to　get　at？〃
　〃Groping　about；〃　Chan　smiled。　〃Seeking　to　seize　truth　in　my　hot　hands。〃
　They　walked　on　in　silence　to　the　station；　where　Chan　led　the　way　into　the　deserted　room　of　Captain　Hallet。　He　went　directly　to　the　safe　and　opened　it。　From　a　drawer　he　removed　several　small　objects；　which　he　carried　over　to　the　captain's　table。
　〃Property　Mr。　Jim　Egan；〃　he　announced；　and　laid　a　case　of　tarnished　silver　before　John　Quincy。　〃Open　it　…　what　do　you　find　now？　Corsican　cigarettes。〃　He　set　down　another　exhibit。　〃Tin　box　found　in　room　of　Mr。　Brade。　Open　that；　also。　You　find　more　Corsican　cigarettes。〃
　He　removed　an　envelope　from　his　pocket　and　taking　out　a　charred　stub；　laid　that　too　on　the　table。　〃Fragment　found　by　walk　outside　door　of　Dan　Winterslip's　mansion；〃　he　elucidated。　〃Also　Corsican　brand。〃
　Frowning　deeply；　he　removed　a　second　charred　stub　from　his　pocket　and　laid　it　some　distance　from　the　other　exhibits。　〃Cigarette　offered　just　now　with　winning　air　of　hospitality　by　Captain　Arthur　Temple　Cope。　Lean　close　and　perceive。　More　Corsican　brand！〃
　〃Good　lord！〃　John　Quincy　cried。
　〃Can　it　be　you　are　familiar　with　these　Corsicans？〃　inquired　Chan。
　〃Not　at　all。〃
　〃I