earlderrbiggers.thehousewithoutakey-第43部分

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　He　stepped　on　the　gas。　By　the　clock　in　the　automobile　he　had　just　seventeen　minutes；　to　reach　the　dock　before　the　President　Tyler　would　sail。　He　shot　like　a　madman　through　the　brilliant　Hawaiian　night。　Kalakaua　Avenue；　smooth　and　deserted；　proved　a　glorious　speedway。　It　took　him　just　eight　minutes　to　travel　the　three　miles　to　the　dock。　A　bit　of　traffic　and　an　angry　policeman　in　the　center　of　the　city　caused　the　delay。
　A　scattering　of　people　in　the　dim　pier…shed　waited　for　the　imminent　sailing　of　the　liner。　John　Quincy　dashed　through　them　and　up　the　gangplank。　The　second　officer；　Hepworth；　stood　at　the　top。
　〃Hello；　Mr。　Winterslip；〃　he　said。　〃You　sailing？〃
　〃No。　But　let　me　aboard！〃
　〃I'm　sorry。　We're　about　to　draw　in　the　plank。〃
　〃No；　no　…　you　mustn't。　This　is　life　and　death。　Hold　off　just　a　few　minutes。　There's　a　steward　named　Bowker　…　I　must　find　him　at　once。　Life　and　death；　I　tell　you。〃
　Hepworth　stood　aside。　〃Oh；　well；　in　that　case。　But　please　hurry；　sir　…〃
　〃I　will。〃　John　Quincy　passed　him　on　the　run。　He　was　on　his　way　to　the　cabins　presided　over　by　Bowker　when　a　tall　figure　caught　his　eye。　A　man　in　a　long　green　ulster　and　a　battered　green　hat　…　a　hat　John　Quincy　had　last　seen　on　the　links　of　the　Oahu　Country　Club。
　The　tall　figure　moved　on　up　a　stairway　to　the　topmost　deck。　John　Quincy　followed。　He　saw　the　ulster　disappear　into　one　of　the　de　luxe　cabins。　Still　he　followed；　and　pushed　open　the　cabin　door。　The　man　in　the　ulster　was　back　to；　but　he　swung　round　suddenly。
　〃Ah；　Mr。　Jennison；〃　John　Quincy　cried。　〃Were　you　thinking　of　sailing　on　this　boat？〃
　For　an　instant　Jennison　stared　at　him。　〃I　was；〃　he　said　quietly。
　〃Forget　it；〃　John　Quincy　answered。　〃You're　going　ashore　with　me。〃
　〃Really？　What　is　your　authority？〃
　〃No　authority　whatever；〃　said　the　boy　grimly。　〃I'm　taking　you；　that's　all。〃
　Jennison　smiled；　but　there　was　a　gleam　of　hate　behind　it。　And　in　John　Quincy's　heart；　usually　so　gentle　and　civilized；　there　was　hate　too　as　he　faced　this　man。　He　thought　of　Dan　Winterslip；　dead　on　his　cot。　He　thought　of　Jennison　walking　down　the　gangplank　with　them　that　morning　they　landed；　Jennison　putting　his　arm　about　poor　Barbara　when　she　faltered　under　the　blow。　He　thought　of　the　shots　fired　at　him　from　the　bush；　of　the　red…haired　man　battering　him　in　that　red　room。　Well；　he　must　fight　again。　No　way　out　of　it。　The　siren　of　the　President　Tyler　sounded　a　sharp　warning。
　〃You　get　out　of　here；〃　said　Jennison　through　his　teeth。　〃I'll　go　with　you　to　the　gangplank　…〃
　He　stopped；　as　the　disadvantages　of　that　plan　came　home　to　him。　His　right　hand　went　swiftly　to　his　pocket。　Inspired；　John　Quincy　seized　a　filled　water　bottle　and　hurled　it　at　the　man's　head。　Jennison　dodged；　the　bottle　crashed　through　one　of　the　windows。　The　clatter　of　glass　rang　through　the　night；　but　no　one　appeared。　John　Quincy　saw　Jennison　leap　toward　him；　something　gleaming　in　his　hand。　Stepping　aside；　he　threw　himself　on　the　man's　back　and　forced　him　to　his　knees。　He　seized　the　wrist　of　Jennison's　right　hand；　which　held　the　automatic；　in　a　firm　grip。　They　kept　that　posture　for　a　moment；　and　then　Jennison　began　slowly　to　rise　to　his　feet。　The　hand　that　held　the　pistol　began　to　tear　away。　John　Quincy　shut　his　teeth　and　sought　to　maintain　his　grip。　But　he　was　up　against　a　more　powerful　antagonist　than　the　red…haired　sailor；　he　was　outclassed；　and　the　realization　of　it　crept　over　him　with　a　sickening　force。
　Jennison　was　on　his　feet　now；　the　right　hand　nearly　free。　Another　moment　…　what　then；　John　Quincy　wondered？　This　man　had　no　intention　of　letting　him　go　ashore；　he　had　changed　that　plan　the　moment　he　put　it　into　words。　A　muffled　shot；　and　later　in　the　night　when　the　ship　was　well　out　on　the　Pacific　…　John　Quincy　thought　of　Boston；　his　mother。　He　thought　of　Carlota　waiting　his　return。　He　summoned　his　strength　for　one　last　desperate　effort　to　renew　his　grip。
　A　serene；　ivory…colored　face　appeared　suddenly　at　the　broken　window。　An　arm　with　a　weapon　was　extended　through　the　jagged　opening。
　〃Relinquish　the　firearms；　Mr。　Jennison；〃　manded　Charlie　Chan；　〃or　I　am　forced　to　make　fatal　insertion　in　vital　organ　belonging　to　you。〃
　Jennison's　pistol　dropped　to　the　floor；　and　John　Quincy　staggered　back　against　the　berth。　At　that　instant　the　door　opened　and　Hallet；　followed　by　the　detective；　Spencer；　came　in。
　〃Hello；　Winterslip；　what　are　you　doing　here？〃　the　captain　said。　He　thrust　a　paper　into　one　of　the　pockets　of　the　green　ulster。　〃e　along；　Jennison；〃　he　said。　〃We　want　you。〃
　Limply　John　Quincy　followed　them　from　the　stateroom。　Outside　they　were　joined　by　Chan。　At　the　top　of　the　gangplank　Hallet　paused。　〃We'll　wait　a　minute　for　Hepworth；〃　he　said。
　John　Quincy　put　his　hand　on　Chan's　shoulder。　〃Charlie；　how　can　I　ever　thank　you？　You　saved　my　life。〃
　Chan　bowed。　〃My　own　pleasure　is　not　to　be　worded。　I　have　saved　a　life　here　and　there；　but　never　before　one　that　had　beginning　in　cultured　city　of　Boston。　Always　a　happy　item　on　the　golden　scroll　of　memory。〃
　Hepworth　came　up。　〃It's　all　right；〃　he　said。　〃The　captain　has　agreed　to　delay　our　sailing　one　hour。　I'll　go　to　the　station　with　you。〃
　On　the　way　down　the　gangplank；　Chan　turned　to　John　Quincy。　〃Speaking　heartily　for　myself；　I　congratulate　your　bravery。　It　is　clear　you　leaped　upon　this　Jennison　with　vigorous　and　triumphant　mood　of　heart。　But　he　would　have　pushed　you　down。　He　would　have　conquered。　And　why？　The　answer　is；　such　powerful　wrists。〃
　〃A　great　surf…boarder；　eh？〃　John　Quincy　said。
　Chan　looked　at　him　keenly。　〃You　are　no　person's　fool。　Ten　years　ago　this　Harry　Jennison　are　champion　swimmer　in　all　Hawaii。　I　extract　that　news　from　ancient　sporting　pages　of　Honolulu　journal。　But　he　have　not　been　in　the　water　much　here　lately。　Pursuing　the　truth　further；　not　since　the　night　he　killed　Dan　Winterslip。〃
　
　CHAPTER　XXII　
　The　Light　Streams　Through
　
　THEY　moved　on　through　the　pier…shed　to　the　street；　where　Hepworth；　Jennison　and　the　three　policemen　got　into　Hallet's　car。　The　captain　turned　to　John　Quincy。
　〃You　ing；　Mr。　Winterslip？〃　he　inquired。
　〃I've　got　my　own　car；〃　the　boy　explained。　〃I'll　follow　you　in　that。〃
　The　roadster　was　not　performing　at　its　best；　and　he　reached　the　station　house　a　good　five　minutes　after　the　policemen。　He　noted　Dan　Winterslip's　big　limousine　parked　in　the　street　outside。
　In　Hallet's　room　he　found　the　captain　and　Chan　closeted　with　a　third　man。　It　took　a　second　glance　at　the　latter　to　identify　him　as　Mr。　Saladine；　for　the　little　man　of　the　lost　teeth　now　appeared　a　great　deal　younger　than　John　Quincy　had　thought　him。
　〃Ah；　Mr。　Winterslip；〃　remarked　Hallet。　He　turned　to　Saladine。　〃Say；　Larry；　you've　got　me　into　a　heap　of　trouble　with　this　boy。　He　accused　me　of　trying　to　shield　you。　I　wish　you'd　loosen　up　for　him。〃
　Saladine　smiled。　〃Why；　I　don't　mind。　My　job　out　here　is　about　finished。　Of　course；　Mr。　Winterslip　will　keep　what　I　tell　him　under　his　hat？〃
　〃Naturally；〃　replied　John　Quincy。　He　noticed　that　the　man　spoke　with　no　trace　of　a　lisp。　〃I　perceive　you've　found　your　teeth；〃　he　added。
　〃Oh；　yes　…　I　found　them　in　my　trunk；　where　I　put　them　the　day　I　arrived　at　Waikiki；〃　answered　Saladine。　〃When　my　teeth　were　knocked　out　twenty　years　ago　in　a　football　game；　I　was　broken…hearted；　but　the　loss　has　been　a　great　help　to　me　in　my　work。　A　man　hunting　his　bridge　work　in　the　water　is　a　figure　of　ridicule　and　mirth。　No　one　ever　thinks　of　connecting　him　with　serious　affairs。　He　can　prowl　about　a　beach　to　his　heart's　content。　Mr。　Winterslip；　I　am　a　special　agent　of　the　Treasury　Department　sent　out　here　to　break　up　the　opium　ring。　My　name；　of　course；　is　not　Saladine。〃
　〃Oh；〃　said　John　Quincy；　〃I　understand　at　last。〃
　〃I'm　glad　you　do；〃　remarked　Hallet。　〃I　don't　know　whether　you're　familiar　with　the　way　our　opium　smugglers　work。　The　dope　is　brought　in　from　the　Orient　on　tramp　steamers　…　the　Mary　S。　Allison；　for　example。　When　they　arrive　off　Waikiki　they　knock　together　a　few　small　rafts　and　load　'em　with　tins　of　the　stuff。　A　fleet　of　little　boats；　supposedly　out　there　for　the　fishing；　pick　up　these　rafts　and　bring　the　dope　ashore。　It's　taken　downtown　and　hidden　on　ships　bound　for　'Frisco　…　usually　those　that　ply　only　between　here　and　the　mainland；　because　they're　not　so　closely　watched　at　the　other　end。　But　it　just　happened　that　the　quartermaster　of　the　President　Tyler　is　one　of　their　go…betweens。　We　searched　his　cabin　this　evening　and　found　it　packed　with　the　stuff。〃
　〃The　quartermaster　of　the　President　Tyler；〃　repeated　John　Quincy。　〃That's　Dick　Kaohla's　friend。〃
　〃Yeah　…　I'm　ing　to　Dick。　He's　been　in　charge　of　the　pick…up　fleet　here。　He　was　out　on　that　business　the　night　of　the　murder。　Saladine　saw　him　and　told　me　all　about　it　in　that　note；　which　was　my　reason　for　letting　the　boy　go。〃
　〃I　owe　you　an　apology；〃　John　Quincy　said。
　〃Oh；　that's　all　right。〃　Hallet　was　in　great　good　humor。　〃Larry　here　has　got　some　of　the　higher…ups；　too。　For　instance；　he's　discovered　that　Jennison　is　the　lawyer　for　the　ring；　defending　any　of　them　who　are　caught　and　brought　before　the　missioner。　The　fact　has　no　bearing　on　Dan　Winterslip's　murder　…　unless　Winterslip　knew　about　it；　and　that　was　one　of　the　reasons　he　didn't　want　Jennison　to　marry　his　girl。〃
　Saladine　stood　up。　〃I'll　turn　the　quartermaster　over　to　you；〃　he　said。　〃In　view　of　this　other　charge；　you　can　of　course　have　Jennison　too。　That's　all　for　me。　I'll　go　along。〃
　〃See　you　to…morrow；　Larry；〃　Hallet　answered。　Saladine　went　out；　and　the　captain　turned　to　John　Quincy。　〃Well；　my　boy；　this　is　our　big　night。　I　don't　know　what　you　were　doing　in　Jennison's　cabin；　but　if　you'd　picked　him　for　the　murderer；　I'll　say　you're　good。〃
　〃That's　just　what　I'd　done；〃　John　Quincy　told　him。　〃By　the　way；　have　you　seen　my　aunt？　She's　got　hold　of　a　rather　interesting　bit　of　information　…〃
　〃I've　seen　her；〃　Hallet　said。　〃She's　with　the　prosecutor　now；　telling　it　to　him。　By　the　way；　Greene's　waiting　for　us。　e　along。〃
　They　went　into　the　prosecutor's　office。　Greene　was　alert　and　eager；　a　stenographer　was　at　his　elbow；　and　Miss　Minerva　sat　near　his　desk。
　〃Hello；　Mr。　Winterslip；〃　he　said。　〃What　do　you　think　of　our　police　force　now？　Pretty　good；　eh；　pretty　good。　Sit　down；　won't　you？〃　He　glanced　through　some　pa