earlderrbiggers.thehousewithoutakey-第31部分

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　She　smiled　again；　and　leaped　to　her　feet。　For　a　second　she　stood　poised；　then　dived　in　a　way　that　John　Quincy　could　never　hope　to　emulate。　He　slipped　off　in　pursuit；　and　though　he　put　forth　every　effort；　she　reached　Saladine's　side　five　seconds　before　he　did。
　〃Hello；　Mr。　Saladine；〃　she　said。　〃This　is　Mr。　Winterslip；　of　Boston。〃
　〃Ah；　yeth；〃　responded　Mr。　Saladine；　gloomily。　〃Mr。　Winterthlip。〃　He　regarded　the　young　man　with　interest。
　〃Any　luck；　sir？〃　inquired　John　Quincy　sympathetically。
　〃Oh　…　you　heard　about　my　accthident？〃
　〃I　did；　sir；　and　I'm　sorry。〃
　〃I　am；　too；〃　said　Mr。　Saladine　feelingly。　〃Not　a　thrath　of　them　tho　far。　And　I　muth　go　home　in　a　few　deth。〃
　〃I　believe　Miss　Egan　said　you　lived　in　Des　Moines？〃
　〃Yeth。　Deth　…　Deth　…　I　can't　they　it。〃
　〃In　business　there？〃　inquired　John　Quincy　nonchalantly。
　〃Yeth。　Wholethale　grothery　buthineth；〃　answered　Mr。　Saladine；　slowly　but　not　very　successfully。
　John　Quincy　turned　away　to　hide　a　smile。　〃Shall　we　go　along？〃　he　said　to　the　girl。　〃Good　luck　to　you；　sir。〃　He　dove　off；　and　as　they　swam　toward　the　shore；　he　reflected　that　they　were　on　a　false　trail　there　…　a　trail　as　spurious　as　the　teeth。　That　little　business　man　was　too　conventional　a　figure　to　have　any　connection　with　the　murder　of　Dan　Winterslip。　He　kept　these　thoughts　to　himself；　however。
　Half…way　to　the　beach；　they　encountered　an　enormous　figure　floating　languidly　on　the　water。　Just　beyond　the　great　stomach　John　Quincy　perceived　the　serene　face　of　Charlie　Chan。
　〃Hello；　Charlie；〃　he　cried。　〃It's　a　small　ocean；　after　all！　Got　your　Ford　with　you？〃
　Chan　righted　himself　and　grinned。　〃Little　pleasant　recreation；〃　he　explained。　〃Forget　detective　worries　out　here　floating　idle　like　leaf　on　stream。〃
　〃Please　float　ashore；〃　suggested　John　Quincy。　〃I　have　something　to　tell　you。〃
　〃Only　too　happy；〃　agreed　Chan。
　He　followed　them　in　and　they　sat；　an　odd　trio；　on　the　white　sand。　John　Quincy　told　the　detective　about　Saladine's　activities　outside　the　window　the　night　before；　and　repeated　the　conversation　he　had　just　had　with　the　middle　westerner。　〃Of　course；　the　man　seems　almost　too　foolish　to　mean　anything；〃　he　added。
　Chan　shook　his　head。　〃Begging　most　humble　pardon；〃　he　said；　〃that　are　wrong　attitude　pletely。　Detective　business　made　up　of　unsignificant　trifles。　One　after　other　our　clues　go　burst　in　our　countenance。　Wise　to　pursue　matter　of　Mr。　Saladine。〃
　〃What　do　you　suggest？〃　John　Quincy　asked。
　〃To…night　I　visit　city　for　night　work　to　drive　off　my　piled　tasks；〃　Chan　replied。　〃After　evening　meal；　suggest　you　join　with　me　at　cable　office。　We　despatch　message　to　postmaster　of　this　Des　Moines；　inquiring　what　are　present　locality　of　Mr。　Saladine；　expert　in　wholeselling　provisions。　Your　name　will　be　signed　to　message；　much　better　than　police　meddling。〃
　〃All　right；〃　John　Quincy　agreed；　〃I'll　meet　you　there　at　eight…thirty。〃
　Carlota　Egan　rose。　〃I　must　get　back　to　the　Reef　and　Palm。　You've　no　idea　all　I　have　to　do　…〃
　John　Quincy　stood　beside　her。　〃If　I　can　help；　you　know　…〃
　〃I　know；〃　she　smiled。　〃I'm　thinking　of　making　you　assistant　manager。　They'd　be　so　proud　of　you　…　in　Boston。〃
　She　moved　off　toward　the　water　for　her　homeward　swim；　and　John　Quincy　dropped　down　beside　Chan。　Chan's　amber　eyes　followed　the　girl。　〃Endeavoring　to　make　English　language　my　slave；〃　he　said；　〃I　pursue　poetry。　Who　were　the　great　poet　who　said　…　'She　walks　in　beauty　like　the　night？'〃
　〃Why；　that　was　…　er　…　who　was　it？〃　remarked　John　Quincy　helpfully。
　〃Name　is　slippery；〃　went　on　Chan。　〃But　no　matter。　Lines　pop　into　brain　whenever　I　see　this　Miss　Egan。　Beauty　like　the　night；　Hawaiian　night　maybe；　lovely　as　purest　jade。　Most　especially　on　this　beach。　Spot　of　heartbreaking　charm；　this　beach。〃
　〃Surely　is；〃　agreed　John　Quincy；　amused　at　Chan's　obviously　sentimental　mood。
　〃Here　on　gleaming　sand　I　first　regard　my　future　wife；〃　continued　Chan。　〃Slender　as　the　bamboo　is　slender；　beautiful　as　blossom　of　the　plum　…〃
　〃Your　wife；〃　repeated　John　Quincy。　The　idea　was　a　new　one。
　〃Yes；　indeed。〃　Chan　rose。　〃Recalls　I　must　hasten　home　where　she　attends　the　children　who　are　now；　by　actual　count；　nine　in　number。〃　He　looked　down　at　John　Quincy　thoughtfully。　〃Are　you　well…fitted　with　the　armor　of　preparation？〃　he　said。　〃Consider。　Some　night　the　moon　has　splendor　in　this　neighborhood；　the　cocoa…palms　bow　lowly　and　turn　away　their　heads　so　they　do　not　see。　And　the　white　man　kisses　without　intending　to　do　so。〃
　〃Oh；　don't　worry　about　me；〃　John　Quincy　laughed。　〃I'm　from　Boston；　and　immune。〃
　〃Immune；〃　repeated　Chan。　〃Ah；　yes；　I　grasp　meaning。　In　my　home　I　have　idol　brought　from　China　with　insides　of　solid　stone。　He　would　think　he　is　…　immune。　But　even　so　I　would　not　entrust　him　on　this　beach。　As　my　cousin　Willie　Chan　say　with　vulgarity；　see　you　later。〃
　John　Quincy　sat　for　a　time　on　the　sand；　then　rose　and　strolled　toward　home。　His　path　lay　close　to　the　lanai　of　Arlene　pton's　cottage；　and　he　was　surprised　to　hear　his　name　called　from　behind　the　screen。　He　stepped　to　the　door　and　looked　in。　The　woman　was　sitting　there　alone。
　〃e　in　a　minute；　Mr。　Winterslip；〃　she　said。
　John　Quincy　hesitated。　He　did　not　care　to　make　any　social　calls　on　this　lady；　but　he　did　not　have　it　in　him　to　be　rude。　He　went　inside　and　sat　down　gingerly；　poised　for　flight。　〃Got　to　hurry　back　for　dinner；〃　he　explained。
　〃Dinner？　You'll　want　a　cocktail。〃
　〃No；　thanks。　I'm　…　I'm　on　the　wagon。〃
　〃You'll　find　it　hard　to　stick　out　here；〃　she　said　a　little　bitterly。　〃I　won't　keep　you　long。　I　just　want　to　know　…　are　those　boneheads　down　at　the　station　getting　anywhere；　or　ain't　they？〃
　〃The　police；〃　smiled　John　Quincy。　〃They　seem　to　be　making　progress。　But　it's　slow。　It's　very　slow。〃
　〃I'll　tell　the　world　it's　slow。　And　I　got　to　stick　here　till　they　pin　it　on　somebody。　Pleasant　outlook；　ain't　it？〃
　〃Is　Mr。　Leatherbee　still　with　you？〃　inquired　John　Quincy。
　〃What　do　you　mean　is　he　still　with　me？〃　she　flared。
　〃Pardon　me。　Is　he　still　in　town？〃
　〃Of　course　he's　in　town。　They　won't　let　him　go；　either。　But　I　ain't　worrying　about　him。　I　got　troubles　of　my　own。　I　want　to　go　home。〃　She　nodded　toward　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　H