earlderrbiggers.thehousewithoutakey-第39部分

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o　that　it　dropped　about　his　collar。　〃Good…by；　Pete！〃　he　shouted　at　the　top　of　his　lungs；　and　launched　at　once　into　a　terrific　struggle　to　break　away　from　his　startled　captors。
　There　was　a　moment's　delay；　and　then　the　clatter　of　feet　along　the　dock。　A　stocky　boy　in　a　white　uniform　began　an　enthusiastic　debate　with　Mike；　and　the　other　two　were　prompt　to　claim　the　attention　of　the　red…haired　man。　Pete　Mayberry　was　at　John　Quincy's　back；　cutting　the　rope　on　his　wrists。
　〃Well；　I'll　be　damned；　Mr。　Winterslip；〃　he　cried。
　〃Same　here；〃　laughed　John　Quincy。　〃Shanghaied　in　another　minute　but　for　you。〃　He　leaped　forward　to　join　the　battle；　but　the　red…haired　man　and　his　friend　had　already　succumbed　to　youth　and　superior　forces；　and　were　in　full　retreat。　John　Quincy　followed　joyously　along　the　dock；　and　planted　his　fist　back　of　his　old　adversary's　ear。　The　sailor　staggered；　but　regained　his　balance　and　went　on。
　John　Quincy　returned　to　his　rescuers。　〃The　last　blow　is　the　sweetest；〃　he　remarked。
　〃I　can　place　those　guys；〃　said　Mayberry。　〃They're　off　that　tramp　steamer　that's　been　lying　out　in　the　harbor　the　past　week。　An　opium　runner；　I'll　gamble　on　it。　You　go　to　the　police　station　right　away　…〃
　〃Yes；〃　said　John　Quincy；　〃I　must。　But　I　want　to　thank　you；　Mr。　Mayberry。　And〃　…　he　turned　to　the　white　uniforms　…　〃you　fellows　too。〃
　The　stocky　lad　was　picking　up　his　cap。　〃Why；　that's　all　right；〃　he　said。　〃A　real　pleasure；　if　you　ask　me。　But　look　here；　old　timer；〃　he　added；　addressing　Mayberry；　〃how　about　your　Honolulu　water…front　and　its　lost　romance？　You　go　tell　that　to　the　marines。〃
　As　John　Quincy　hurried　away　Pete　Mayberry　was　busily　explaining　that　the　thing　was　unheard　of　…　not　in　twenty　years　…　maybe　more　than　that　…　his　voice　died　in　the　distance。
　Hallet　was　in　his　room；　and　John　Quincy　detailed　his　evening's　adventure。　The　captain　was　incredulous；　but　when　the　boy　came　to　the　wrist　watch　on　the　driver　of　the　car；　he　sat　up　and　took　notice。
　〃Now　you're　talking；〃　he　cried。　〃I'll　start　the　force　after　that　car　to…night。　First　two　figures　33；　you　say。　I'll　send　somebody　aboard　that　tramp；　too。　They　can't　get　away　with　stuff　like　that　around　here。〃
　〃Oh；　never　mind　them；〃　said　John　Quincy　magnanimously。　〃Concentrate　on　the　watch。〃
　Back　in　the　quiet　town　he　walked　with　his　head　up；　his　heart　full　of　the　joy　of　battle。　And　while　he　thought　of　it；　he　stepped　into　the　cable　office。　The　message　he　sent　was　addressed　to　Agatha　Parker　on　that　Wyoming　ranch。　〃San　Francisco　or　nothing；〃　was　all　it　said。
　As　he　walked　down　the　deserted　street　on　his　way　to　the　corner　to　wait　for　his　trolley；　he　heard　quick　footsteps　on　his　trail　again。　Who　now？　He　was　sore　and　weary；　a　bit　fed　up　on　fighting　for　one　evening。　He　quickened　his　pace。　The　steps　quickened　too。　He　went　even　faster。　So　did　his　pursuer。　Oh；　well；　might　as　well　stop　and　face　him。
　John　Quincy　turned。　A　young　man　rushed　up；　a　lean　young　man　in　a　cap。
　〃Mr。　Winterslip；　ain't　it？〃　He　thrust　a　dark　brown　object　into　John　Quincy's　hand。　〃Your　July　Atlantic；　sir。　Came　in　on　the　Maui　this　morning。〃
　〃Oh；〃　said　John　Quincy　limply。　〃Well；　I'll　take　it。　My　aunt　might　like　to　look　at　it。　Keep　the　change。〃
　〃Thank　you；　sir；〃　said　the　newsman；　touching　his　cap。
　John　Quincy　rode　out　to　Waikiki　on　the　last　seat　of　the　car。　His　face　was　swollen　and　cut；　every　muscle　ached。　Under　his　arm；　clasped　tightly；　he　held　the　July　Atlantic。　But　he　didn't　so　much　as　look　at　the　table　of　contents。　〃We　move；　we　advance；〃　he　told　himself　exultantly。　For　he　had　seen　the　watch　with　the　illuminated　dial　…　the　dial　on　which　the　numeral　two　was　very　dim。
　
　CHAPTER　XX　
　The　Story　Of　Lau　Ho
　
　EARLY　SUNDAY　morning　John　Quincy　was　awakened　by　a　sharp　knock　on　his　door。　Rising　sleepily　and　donning　dressing…gown　and　slippers；　he　opened　it　to　admit　his　Aunt　Minerva。　She　had　a　worried　air。
　〃Are　you　all　right；　John　Quincy？〃　she　inquired。
　〃Surely。　That　is；　I　would　be　if　I　hadn't　been　dragged　out　of　bed　a　full　hour　before　I　intended　to　get　up。〃
　〃I'm　sorry；　but　I　had　to　have　a　look　at　you。〃　She　took　a　newspaper　from　under　her　arm　and　handed　it　to　him。　〃What's　all　this？〃
　An　eight…column　head　on　the　first　page　caught　even　John　Quincy's　sleepy　eye。　〃Boston　Man　has　Strange　Adventure　on　Water…Front。〃　Smaller　heads　announced　that　Mr。　John　Quincy　Winterslip　had　been　rescued　from　an　unwele　trip　to　China；　〃in　the　nick　of　time〃　by　three　midshipmen　from　the　Oregon。　Poor　Pete　Mayberry！　He　had　been　the　real　hero　of　the　affair；　but　his　own　paper　would　not　e　out　again　until　Monday　evening；　and　rivals　had　beaten　him　to　the　story。
　John　Quincy　yawned。　〃All　true；　my　dear；〃　he　said。　〃I　was　on　the　verge　of　leaving　you　when　the　navy　saved　me。　Life；　you　perceive；　has　bee　a　musical　edy。〃
　〃But　why　should　any　one　want　to　shanghai　you？〃　cried　Miss　Minerva。
　〃Ah；　I　hoped　you'd　ask　me　that。　It　happens　that　your　nephew　has　a　brain。　His　keen　analytical　work　as　a　detective　is　getting　some　one's　goat。　He　admitted　as　much　in　a　letter　he　sent　me　the　night　he　took　a　few　shots　at　my　head。〃
　〃Some　one　shot　at　you！〃　gasped　Miss　Minerva。
　〃I'll　say　so。　You　rather　fancy　yourself　as　a　sleuth；　but　is　anybody　taking　aim　at　you　from　behind　bushes？　Answer　me　that。〃
　Miss　Minerva　sat　down　weakly　on　a　chair。　〃You're　going　home　on　the　next　boat；〃　she　announced。
　He　laughed。　〃About　two　weeks　ago　I　made　that　suggestion　to　you。　And　what　was　your　reply？　Ah；　my　dear；　the　tables　are　turned。　I'm　not　going　home　on　the　next　boat。　I　may　never　go　home。　This　gay；　care…free；　sudden　country　begins　to　appeal　to　me。　Let　me　read　about　myself。〃
　He　returned　to　the　paper。　〃The　clock　was　turned　back　thirty　years　on　the　Honolulu　water…front　last　night；〃　began　the　somewhat　imaginative　account。　It　closed　with　the　news　that　the　tramp　steamer　Mary　S。　Allison　had　left　port　before　the　police　could　board　her。　Evidently　she'd　had　steam　up　and　papers　ready；　and　was　only　awaiting　the　return　of　the　red…haired　man　and　his　victim。　John　Quincy　handed　the　newspaper　back　to　his　aunt。
　〃Too　bad；〃　he　remarked。　〃They　slipped　through　Hallet's　fingers。〃
　〃Of　course　they　did；〃　she　snapped。　〃Everybody　does。　I'd　like　a　talk　with　Captain　Hallet。　If　I　could　only　tell　him　what　I　think　of　him；　I'd　feel　better。〃
　〃Save　that　paper；〃　John　Quincy　said。　〃I　want　to　send　it　to　mother。〃
　She　stared　at　him。　〃Are　you　mad？　Poor　Grace　…　she'd　have　a　nervous　breakdown。　I　only　hope　she　doesn't　hear　of　this　until　you're　back　in　Boston　safe　and　sound。〃
　〃Oh；　yes　…　Boston；〃　laughed　John　Quincy。　〃Quaint　old　town；　they　tell　me。　I　must　visit　there　some　day。　Now　if　you'll　leave　me　a　minute；　I'll　prepare　to　join　you　at　breakfast　and　relate　the　story　of　my　adventurous　life。〃
　〃Very　well；〃　agreed　Miss　Minerva；　rising。　She　paused　at　the　door。　〃A　little　witch…hazel　might　help　your　face。〃
　〃The　scars　of　honorable　battle；〃　said　her　nephew。　〃Why　remove　them？〃
　〃Honorable　fiddlesticks；〃　Miss　Minerva　answered。　〃After　all；　the　Back　Bay　has　its　good　points。〃　But　in　the　hall　outside　she　smiled　a　delighted　little　smile。
　When　John　Quincy　and　his　aunt　were　leaving　the　dining…room　after　breakfast　Kamaikui；　stiff　and　dignified　in　a　freshly…laundered　holoku；　approached　the　boy。
　〃So　very　happy　to　see　you　safe　this　morning；〃　she　announced。
　〃Why；　thank　you；　Kamaikui；〃　he　answered。　He　wondered。　Was　Kaohla　responsible　for　his　troubles；　and　if　so；　did　this　huge　silent　woman　know　of　her　grandson's　activities？
　〃Poor　thing；〃　Miss　Minerva　said　as　they　entered　the　living…room。　〃She's　been　quite　downcast　since　Dan　went。　I'm　sorry　for　her。　I've　always　liked　her。〃
　〃Naturally；〃　smiled　John　Quincy。　〃There's　a　bond　between　you。〃
　〃What's　that？〃
　〃Two　vanishing　races；　yours　and　hers。　The　Boston　Brahman　and　the　pure　Hawaiian。〃
　Later　in　the　morning　Carlota　Egan　telephoned　him；　greatly　excited。　She　had　just　seen　the　Sunday　paper。
　〃All　true；〃　he　admitted。　〃While　you　were　dancing　your　heart　out；　I　was　struggling　to　sidestep　a　Cook's　tour　of　the　Orient。〃
　〃I　shouldn't　have　had　a　happy　moment　if　I'd　known。〃
　〃Then　I'm　glad　you　didn't。　Big　party；　I　suppose？〃
　〃Yes。　You　know；　I've　been　terribly　worried　about　you　ever　since　that　night　on　the　avenue。　I　want　to　talk　with　you。　Will　you　e　to　see　me？〃
　〃Will　I？　I'm　on　my　way　already。〃
　He　hung　up　the　receiver　and　hastened　down　the　beach。　Carlota　was　sitting　on　the　white　sand　not　far　from　the　Reef　and　Palm；　all　in　white　herself。　A　serious　wide…eyed　Carlota　quite　different　from　the　gay　girl　who　had　been　hurrying　to　a　party　the　night　before。
　John　Quincy　dropped　down　beside　her；　and　for　a　time　they　talked　of　the　dance　and　of　his　adventure。　Suddenly　she　turned　to　him。
　〃I　have　no　right　to　ask　it；　I　know；　but　…　I　want　you　to　do　something　for　me。〃
　〃It　will　make　me　very　happy　…　anything　you　ask。〃
　〃Go　back　to　Boston。〃
　〃What！　Not　that。　I　was　wrong　…　that　wouldn't　make　me　happy。〃
　〃Yes；　it　would。　You　don't　think　so　now；　perhaps。　You're　dazzled　by　the　sun　out　here；　but　this　isn't　your　kind　of　place。　We're　not　your　kind　of　people。　You　think　you　like　us；　but　you'd　soon　forget。　Back　among　your　own　sort　…　the　sort　who　are　interested　in　the　things　that　interest　you。　Please　go。〃
　〃It　would　be　retreating　under　fire；〃　he　objected。
　〃But　you　proved　your　courage；　last　night。　I'm　afraid　for　you。　Some　one　out　here　has　a　terrible　grudge　against　you。　I'd　never　forgive　Hawaii　if　…　if　anything　happened　to　you。〃
　〃That's　sweet　of　you。〃　He　moved　closer。　But　…　confound　it　…　there　was　Agatha。　Bound　to　Agatha　by　all　the　ties　of　honor。　He　edged　away　again。　〃I'll　think　about　it；〃　he　agreed。
　〃I'm　leaving　Honolulu　too；　you　know；〃　she　reminded　him。
　〃I　know。　You'll　have　a　wonderful　time　in　England。〃
　She　shook　her　head。　〃Oh；　I　dread　the　whole　idea。　Dad's　heart　is　set　on　it；　and　I　shall　go　to　please　him。　But　I　shan't　enjoy　it。　I'm　not　up　to　England。〃
　〃Nonsense。〃
　〃No；　I'm　not。　I'm　unsophisticated　…　crude；　really　…　just　a　girl　of　the　Islands。〃
　〃But　you　wouldn't　care　to　stay　here　all　your　life？〃
　〃No；　indeed。　It's　a　beautiful　spot　…　to　loll　about　in。　But　I've　too　much　northern　blood　to　be　satisfied　with　that。　One　of　these　days　I　want　dad　to　sell　and　we'll　go　to　the　mainland。　I　could　get　some　sort　of　work　…〃
　〃Any　particular　place　on　the　ma