earlderrbiggers.thehousewithoutakey-第51节

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liating　ordeal　for　you。　Or　you　can　confess　here　and　now　and　throw　yourself　on　the　mercy　of　the　court。　If　you're　the　sensible　man　I　think　you　are；　that's　what　you'll　do。〃
　Jennison　did　not　answer；　did　not　even　look　at　the　prosecutor。　〃It　was　a　very　neat　idea；〃　Greene　went　on。　〃I'll　grant　you　that。　Only　one　thing　puzzles　me　…　did　it　e　as　the　inspiration　of　the　moment　or　did　you　plan　it　all　out　in　advance？　You've　been　over　to　the　mainland　rather　often　of　late　…　were　you　waiting　your　chance？　Anyhow；　it　came；　didn't　it　…　it　came　at　last。　And　for　a　swimmer　like　you；　child's　play。　You　didn't　need　that　ladder　when　you　left　the　vessel　…　perhaps　you　went　overboard　while　the　President　Tyler　was　still　moving。　A　quick　silent　dive；　a　little　way　under　water　in　case　any　one　was　watching　from　the　deck；　and　then　a　long　but　easy　swim　ashore。　And　there　you　were；　on　the　beach　at　Waikiki。　Not　far　away　Dan　Winterslip　was　asleep　on　his　lanai；　with　not　so　much　as　a　locked　door　between　you。　Dan　Winterslip；　who　stood　between　you　and　what　you　wanted。　A　little　struggle　…　a　quick　thrust　of　your　knife。　e　on；　Jennison；　don't　be　a　fool。　It's　the　best　way　out　for　you　now。　A　full　confession。〃
　Jennison　leaped　to　his　feet；　his　eyes　flashing。　〃I'll　see　you　in　hell　first！〃　he　cried。
　〃Very　well　…　if　you　feel　that　way　about　it　…〃　Greene　turned　his　back　upon　him　and　began　a　low…toned　conversation　with　Hallet。　Jennison　and　Charlie　Chan　were　together　on　one　side　of　the　desk。　Chan　took　out　a　pencil　and　accidentally　dropped　it　on　the　floor。　He　stooped　to　pick　it　up。
　John　Quincy　saw　that　the　butt　of　a　pistol　carried　in　Chan's　hip　pocket　protruded　from　under　his　coat。　He　saw　Jennison　spring　forward　and　snatch　the　gun。　With　a　cry　John　Quincy　moved　nearer；　but　Greene　seized　his　arm　and　held　him。　Charlie　Chan　seemed　unaccountably　oblivious　to　what　was　going　on。
　Jennison　put　the　muzzle　of　the　pistol　to　his　forehead　and　pulled　the　trigger。　A　sharp　click　…　and　that　was　all。　The　pistol　fell　from　his　hand。
　〃That's　it！〃　cried　Greene　triumphantly。　〃That's　my　confession；　and　not　a　word　spoken。　I've　witnesses；　Jennison　…　they　all　saw　you　…　you　couldn't　stand　the　disgrace　a　man　in　your　position　…　you　tried　to　kill　yourself。　With　an　empty　gun。〃　He　went　over　and　patted　Chan　on　the　shoulder。　〃A　great　idea；　Charlie；〃　he　said。　〃Chan　thought　of　it；〃　he　added　to　Jennison。　〃The　Oriental　mind；　Harry。　Rather　subtle；　isn't　it？〃
　But　Jennison　had　dropped　back　into　his　chair　and　buried　his　face　in　his　hands。
　〃I'm　sorry；〃　said　Greene　gently。　〃But　we've　got　you。　Maybe　you'll　talk　now。〃
　Jennison　looked　up　slowly。　The　defiance　was　gone　from　his　face；　it　was　lined　and　old。
　〃Maybe　I　will；〃　he　said　hoarsely。
　
　CHAPTER　XXIII　
　Moonlight　At　The　Crossroads
　
　THEY　filed　out；　leaving　Jennison　with　Greene　and　the　stenographer。　In　the　anteroom　Chan　approached　John　Quincy。
　〃You　go　home　decked　in　the　shining　garments　of　success；〃　he　said。　〃One　thought　is　tantalizing　me。　At　simultaneous　moment　you　arrive　at　same　conclusion　we　do。　To　reach　there　you　must　have　leaped　across　considerable　cavity。〃
　John　Quincy　laughed。　〃I'll　say　I　did。　It　came　to　me　to…night。　First；　some　one　mentioned　a　golf　professional　with　big　wrists　who　drove　a　long　ball。　I　had　a　quick　flash　of　Jennison　on　the　links　here；　and　his　terrific　drives。　Big　wrists；　they　told　me；　meant　that　a　man　was　proficient　in　the　water。　Then　some　one　else　…　a　young　woman　…　spoke　of　a　champion　swimmer　who　left　a　ship　off　Waikiki。　That　was　the　first　time　the　idea　of　such　a　thing　had　occurred　to　me。　I　was　pretty　warm　then；　and　I　felt　Bowker　was　the　man　who　could　verify　my　suspicion。　When　I　rushed　aboard　the　President　Tyler　to　find　him；　I　saw　Jennison　about　to　sail　and　that　confirmed　my　theory。　I　went　after　him。〃
　〃A　brave　performance；〃　mented　Chan。
　〃But　as　you　can　see；　Charlie；　I　didn't　have　an　iota　of　real　evidence。　Just　guesswork。　You　were　the　one　who　furnished　the　proof。〃
　〃Proof　are　essential　in　this　business；〃　Chan　replied。
　〃I'm　tantalized　too；　Charlie。　I　remember　you　in　the　library。　You　were　on　the　crack　long　before　I　was。　How　e？〃
　Chan　grinned。　〃Seated　at　our　ease　in　All　American　Restaurant　that　first　night；　you　will　recall　I　spoke　of　Chinese　people　as　sensitive；　like　camera　film。　A　look；　a　laugh；　a　gesture；　something　go　click。　Bowker　enters　and　hovering　above；　says　with　alcoholic　accent；　'I'm　my　own　mashter；　ain't　I？'　In　my　mind；　the　click。　He　is　not　own　master。　I　follow　to　dock；　behold　when　Spaniard　present　envelope。　But　for　days　I　am　fogged。　I　can　only　learn　Cabrera　and　Jennison　are　very　close。　Clues　continue　to　burst　in　our　countenance。　The　occasion　remains　suspensive。　At　the　Library　I　read　of　Jennison　the　fine　swimmer。　After　that；　the　watch；　and　triumph。〃
　Miss　Minerva　moved　on　toward　the　door。　〃May　I　have　great　honor　to　acpany　you　to　car？〃　asked　Chan。
　Outside；　John　Quincy　directed　the　chauffeur　to　return　alone　to　Waikiki　with　the　limousine。　〃You're　riding　out　with　me；〃　he　told　his　aunt。　〃I　want　to　talk　with　you。〃
　She　turned　to　Charlie　Chan。　〃I　congratulate　you。　You've　got　brains；　and　they　count。〃
　He　bowed　low。　〃From　you　that　pliment　glows　rosy　red。　At　this　moment　of　parting；　my　heart　droops。　My　final　wish　…　the　snowy　chilling　days　of　winter　and　the　scorching　windless　days　of　summer　…　may　they　all　be　the　springtime　for　you。〃
　〃You're　very　kind；〃　she　said　softly。
　John　Quincy　took　his　hand。　〃It's　been　great　fun　knowing　you；　Charlie；〃　he　remarked。
　〃You　will　go　again　to　the　mainland；〃　Chan　said。　〃The　angry　ocean　rolling　between　us。　Still　I　shall　carry　the　memory　of　your　friendship　like　a　flower　in　my　heart。〃　John　Quincy　climbed　into　the　car。　〃And　the　parting　may　not　be　eternal；〃　Chan　added　cheerfully。　〃The　joy　of　travel　may　yet　be　mine。　I　shall　look　forward　to　the　day　when　I　may　call　upon　you　in　your　home　and　shake　a　healthy　hand。〃
　John　Quincy　started　the　car　and　slipping　away；　they　left　Charlie　Chan　standing　like　a　great　Buddha　on　the　curb。
　〃Poor　Barbara；〃　said　Miss　Minerva　presently。　〃I　dread　to　face　her　with　this　news。　But　then；　it's　not　altogether　news　at　that。　She　told　me　she'd　been　conscious　of　something　wrong　between　her　and　Jennison　ever　since　they　landed。　She　didn't　think　he　killed　her　father；　but　she　believed　he　was　involved　in　it　somehow。　She　is　planning　to　settle　with　Brade　to…morrow　and　leave　the　next　day；　probably　for　ever。　I've　persuaded　her　to　e　to　Boston　for　a　long　visit。　You'll　see　her　there。〃
　John　Quincy　shook　his　head。　〃No；　I　shan't。　But　thanks　for　reminding　me。　I　must　go　to　the　cable　office　at　once。〃
　When　he　emerged　from　the　office　and　again　entered　the　car；　he　was　smiling　happily。
　〃In　San　Francisco；〃　he　explained；　〃Roger　accused　me　of　being　a　Puritan　survival。　He　ran　over　a　little　list　of　adventures　he　said　had　never　happened　to　me。　Well；　most　of　them　have　happened　now；　and　I　cabled　to　tell　him　so。　I　also　said　I'd　take　that　job　with　him。〃
　Miss　Minerva　frowned。　〃Think　it　over　carefully；〃　she　warned。　〃San　Francisco　isn't　Boston。　The　cultural　standard　is；　I　fancy；　much　lower。　You'll　be　lonely　there　…〃
　〃Oh；　no；　I　shan't。　Some　one　will　be　there　with　me。　At　least；　I　hope　she　will。〃
　〃Agatha？〃
　〃No；　not　Agatha。　The　cultural　standard　was　too　low　for　her。　She's　broken　our　engagement。〃
　〃Barbara；　then？〃
　〃Not　Barbara；　either。〃
　〃But　I　have　sometimes　thought　…〃
　〃You　thought　Barbara　sent　Jennison　packing　because　of　me。　Jennison　thought　so　too　…　it's　all　clear　now。　That　was　why　he　tried　to　frighten　me　into　leaving　Honolulu；　and　set　his　opium　running　friends　on　me　when　I　wouldn't　go。　But　Barbara　is　not　in　love　with　me。　We　understand　now　why　she　broke　her　engagement。〃
　〃Neither　Agatha　nor　Barbara；〃　repeated　Miss　Minerva。　〃Then　who　…〃
　〃You　haven't　met　her　yet；　but　that　happy　privilege　will　be　yours　before　you　sleep。　The　sweetest　girl　in　the　Islands　…　or　in　the　world。　The　daughter　of　Jim　Egan；　whom　you　have　been　heard　to　refer　to　as　a　glorified　beachber。〃
　Again　Miss　Minerva　frowned。　〃It's　a　great　risk；　John　Quincy。　She　hasn't　our　background　…〃
　〃No；　and　that's　a　pleasant　change。　She's　the　niece　of　your　old　friend　…　you　knew　that？〃
　〃I　did；〃　answered　Miss　Minerva　softly。
　〃Your　dear　friend　of　the　'eighties。　What　was　it　you　said　to　me？　If　your　chance　ever　es　…〃
　〃I　hope　you　will　be　very　happy；〃　his　aunt　said。　〃When　you　write　it　to　your　mother；　be　sure　and　mention　Captain　Cope　of　the　British　Admiralty。　Poor　Grace！　That　will　be　all　she'll　have　to　cling　to　…　after　the　wreck。〃
　〃What　wreck？〃
　〃The　wreck　of　all　her　hopes　for　you。〃
　〃Nonsense。　Mother　will　understand。　She　knows　I'm　a　roaming　Winterslip；　and　when　we　roam；　we　roam。〃
　They　found　Madame　Maynard　seated　in　her　living…room　with　a　few　of　her　more　elderly　guests。　From　the　beach　came　the　sound　of　youthful　revelry。
　〃Well　my　boy；〃　the　old　woman　cried；　〃it　appears　you　couldn't　stay　away　from　your　policemen　friends　one　single　evening；　after　all。　I　give　you　up。〃
　John　Quincy　laughed。　〃I'm　pau　now。　By　the　way；　Carlota　Egan　…　is　she　…〃
　〃They're　all　out　there　somewhere；〃　the　hostess　said。　〃They　came　in　for　a　bit　of　supper　…　by　the　way；　there　are　sandwiches　in　the　dining…room　and　…〃
　〃Not　just　now；〃　said　John　Quincy。　〃Thank　you　so　much。　I'll　see　you　again；　of　course　…〃
　He　dashed　out　on　t