earlderrbiggers.thehousewithoutakey-第16章

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　〃Go　easy；〃　advised　John　Quincy。　〃A　fellow　back　home　who　had　a　divorce　case　in　his　family　was　telling　me　that　if　you're　not　polite　to　the　newspaper　boys　they　just　plain　break　your　heart。〃
　〃Don't　worry；〃　said　Miss　Minerva。　〃I　was　diplomatic；　of　course。　I　think　I　handled　them　rather　well；　under　the　circumstances。　They　were　the　first　reporters　I'd　ever　met　…　though　I've　had　the　pleasure　of　talking　with　gentlemen　from　the　Transcript。　What　happened　at　the　Reef　and　Palm　Hotel？〃
　John　Quincy　told　her　…　in　part。
　〃Well；　I　shouldn't　be　surprised　if　Egan　turned　out　to　be　guilty；〃　she　mented。　〃I've　made　a　few　inquiries　about　him　this　morning；　and　he　doesn't　appear　to　amount　to　much。　A　sort　of　glorified　beachber。〃
　〃Nonsense；〃　objected　John　Quincy。　〃Egan's　a　gentleman。　Just　because　he　doesn't　happen　to　have　prospered　is　no　reason　for　condemning　him　without　a　hearing。〃
　〃He's　had　a　hearing；〃　snapped　Miss　Minerva。　〃And　it　seems　he's　been　mixed　up　in　something　he's　not　precisely　proud　of。　There；　I've　gone　and　ended　a　sentence　with　a　preposition。　Probably　all　this　has　upset　me　more　than　I　realize。〃
　John　Quincy　smiled。　〃Cousin　Dan；〃　he　reminded　her；　〃was　also　mixed　up　in　a　few　affairs　he　could　hardly　have　looked　back　on　with　pride。　No；　Aunt　Minerva；　I　feel　Hallet　is　on　the　wrong　trail　there。　It's　just　as　Egan's　daughter　said　…〃
　She　glanced　at　him　quickly。　〃Oh　…　so　Egan　has　a　daughter？〃
　〃Yes；　and　a　mighty　attractive　girl。　It's　a　confounded　shame　to　put　this　thing　on　her。〃
　〃Humph；〃　said　Miss　Minerva。
　John　Quincy　glanced　at　his　watch。　〃Good　lord　…　it's　only　ten　o'clock！〃　A　great　calm　had　settled　over　the　house；　there　was　no　sound　save　the　soft　lapping　of　waves　on　the　beach　outside。　〃What；　in　heaven's　name；　do　you　do　out　here？〃
　〃Oh；　you'll　bee　accustomed　to　it　shortly；〃　Miss　Minerva　answered。　〃At　first；　you　just　sit　and　think。　After　a　time；　you　just　sit。〃
　〃Sounds　fascinating；〃　said　John　Quincy　sarcastically。
　〃That's　the　odd　part　of　it；〃　his　aunt　replied；　〃it　is。　One　of　the　things　you　think　about；　at　first；　is　going　home。　When　you　stop　thinking；　that　naturally　slips　your　mind。〃
　〃We　gathered　that；〃　John　Quincy　told　her。
　〃You'll　meet　a　man　on　the　beach；〃　said　Miss　Minerva；　〃who　stopped　over　between　boats　to　have　his　laundry　done。　That　was　twenty　years　ago；　and　he's　still　here。〃
　〃Probably　they　haven't　finished　his　laundry；〃　suggested　John　Quincy；　yawning　openly。　〃Ho；　hum。　I'm　going　up　to　my　room　to　change；　and　after　that　I　believe　I'll　write　a　few　letters。〃　He　rose　with　an　effort　and　went　to　the　door。　〃How's　Barbara？〃　he　asked。
　Miss　Minerva　shook　her　head。　〃Dan　was　all　the　poor　child　had；〃　she　said。　〃She's　taken　it　rather　hard。　You　won't　see　her　for　some　time；　and　when　you　do　…　the　least　said　about　all　this；　the　better。〃
　〃Why；　naturally；〃　agreed　John　Quincy；　and　went　up…stairs。
　After　he　had　bathed　and　put　on　his　whitest；　thinnest　clothes；　he　explored　the　desk　that　stood　near　his　bed　and　found　it　well　supplied　with　note　paper。　Languidly　laying　out　a　sheet；　he　began　to　write。　
　〃DEAR　AGATHA：　Here　I　am　in　Honolulu　and　outside　my　window　I　can　hear　the　lazy　swish　of　waters　lapping　the　famous　beach　of　…〃　
　Lazy；　indeed。　John　Quincy　had　a　feeling　for　words。　He　stopped　and　stared　at　an　agile　little　cloud　flitting　swiftly　through　the　sky　…　got　up　from　his　chair　to　watch　it　disappear　over　Diamond　Head。　On　his　way　back　to　the　desk　he　had　to　pass　the　bed。　What　inviting　beds　they　had　out　here！　He　lifted　the　mosquito　netting　and　dropped　down　for　a　moment　…
　Haku　hammered　on　the　door　at　one　o'clock；　and　that　was　how　John　Quincy　happened　to　be　present　at　lunch。　His　aunt　was　already　at　the　table　when　he　staggered　in。
　〃Cheer　up；〃　she　smiled。　〃You'll　bee　acclimated　soon。　Of　course；　even　then　you'll　want　your　nap　just　after　lunch　every　day。〃
　〃I　will　not；〃　he　answered；　but　there　was　no　conviction　in　his　tone。
　〃Barbara　asked　me　to　tell　you　how　sorry　she　is　not　to　be　with　you。　She's　a　sweet　girl；　John　Quincy。〃
　〃She's　all　of　that。　Give　her　my　love；　won't　you？〃
　〃Your　love？〃　His　aunt　looked　at　him。　〃Do　you　mean　that？　Barbara's　only　a　second　cousin　…〃
　He　laughed。　〃Don't　waste　your　time　match…making；　Aunt　Minerva。　Some　one　has　already　spoken　for　Barbara。〃
　〃Really？　Who？〃
　〃Jennison。　He　seems　like　a　fine　fellow；　too。〃
　〃Handsome；　at　any　rate；〃　Miss　Minerva　admitted。　They　ate　in　silence　for　a　time。　〃The　coroner　and　his　friends　were　here　this　morning；〃　said　Miss　Minerva　presently。
　〃That　so？〃　replied　John　Quincy。　〃Any　verdict？〃
　〃Not　yet。　I　believe　they're　to　settle　on　that　later。　By　the　way；　I'm　going　down…town　immediately　after　lunch　to　do　some　shopping　for　Barbara。　Care　to　e　along？〃
　〃No；　thanks；〃　John　Quincy　said。　〃I　must　go　up…stairs　and　finish　my　letters。〃
　But　when　he　left　the　luncheon　table；　he　decided　the　letters　could　wait。　He　took　a　heavy　volume　with　a　South　Sea　title　from　Dan's　library；　and　went　out　on　to　the　lanai。　Presently　Miss　Minerva　appeared；　smartly　dressed　in　white　linen。
　〃I'll　return　as　soon　as　I'm　pau；〃　she　announced。
　〃What　is　this　pau？〃　John　Quincy　inquired。
　〃Pau　means　finished　…　through。〃
　〃Good　lord；〃　John　Quincy　said。　〃Aren't　there　enough　words　in　the　English　language　for　you？〃
　〃Oh；　I　don't　know；〃　she　answered；　〃a　little　Hawaiian　sprinkled　in　makes　a　pleasant　change。　And　when　one　reaches　my　age；　John　Quincy；　one　is　eager　for　a　change。　Good…by。〃
　She　left　him　to　his　book　and　the　somnolent　atmosphere　of　Dan's　lanai。　Sometimes　he　read；　colorful　tales　of　other　islands　farther　south。　Sometimes　he　sat　and　thought。　Sometimes　he　just　sat。　The　blazing　afternoon　wore　on；　presently　the　beach　beyond　Dan's　garden　was　gay　with　bathers；　sunburned　men　and　girls；　pretty　girls　in　brief　and　alluring　costumes。　Their　cries　as　they　dared　the　surf　were　exultant；　happy。　John　Quincy　was　keen　to　try　these　notable　waters；　but　it　didn't　seem　quite　the　thing　…　not　just　yet；　with　Dan　Winterslip　lying　in　that　room　upstairs。
　Miss　Minerva　reappeared　about　five；　flushed　and　…　though　she　well　knew　it　was　not　the　thing　for　one　of　her　standing　in　the　Back　Bay　…　perspiring。　She　carried　an　evening　paper　in　her　hand。
　〃Any　news？〃　inquired　John　Quincy。
　She　sat　down。　〃Nothing　but　the　coroner's　verdict。　The　usual　thing　…　person　or　persons　unknown。　But　as　I　was　reading　the　paper　in　the　car；　I　had　a　sudden　inspiration。〃
　〃Good　for　you。　What　was　it？〃
　Haku　appeared　at　the　door　leading　to　the　living…room。　〃You　ring；　miss？〃　he　said。
　〃I　did。　Haku；　what　bees　of　the　old　newspapers　in　this　house？〃
　〃Take　and　put　in　a　closet　beside　kitchen；〃　the　man　told　her。
　〃See　if　you　can　find　me　…　no；　never　mind。　I'll　look　myself。〃
　She　followed　Haku　into　the　living…room。　In　a　few　minutes　she　returned　alone；　a　newspaper　in　her　hand。
　〃I　have　it；〃　she　announced　triumphantly。　〃The　evening　paper　of　Monday；　June　sixteenth　…　the　one　Dan　was　reading　the　night　he　wrote　that　letter　to　Roger。　And　look；　John　Quincy　…　one　corner　has　been　torn　from　the　shipping　page！〃
　〃Might　have　been　accidental；〃　suggested　John　Quincy　languidly。
　〃Nonsense！〃　she　said　sharply。　〃It's　a　clue；　that's　what　it　is。　The　item　that　disturbed　Dan　was　on　that　missing　corner　of　the　page。〃
　〃Might　have　been；　at　that；〃　he　admitted。　〃What　are　you　going　to　do　…〃
　〃You're　the　one　that's　going　to　do　it；〃　she　cut　in。　〃Pull　yourself　together　and　go　into　town。　It's　two　hours　until　dinner。　Give　this　paper　to　Captain　Hallet　…　or　better　still；　to　Charlie　Chan。　I　am　impressed　by　Mr。　Chan's　intelligence。〃
　John　Quincy　laughed。　〃Damned　clever；　these　Chinese！〃　he　quoted。　〃You　don't　mean　to　say　you've　fallen　for　that　bunk。　They　seem　clever　because　they're　so　different。〃
　〃We'll　see　about　that。　The　chauffeur's　gone　on　an　errand　for　Barbara；　but　there's　a　roadster　in　the　garage　…〃
　〃Trolley's　good　enough　for　me；〃　said　John　Quincy。　〃Here；　give　me　the　paper。〃
　She　explained　to　him　how　he　was　to　reach　the　city；　and　he　got　his　hat　and　went。　Presently　he　was　on　a　trolley…car　surrounded　by　representatives　of　a　dozen　different　races。　The　melting　pot　of　the　Pacific；　Carlota　Egan　had　called　Honolulu；　and　the　appellation　seemed　to　be　correct。　John　Quincy　began　to　feel　a　fresh　energy；　a　new　interest　in　life。
　The　trolley　swept　over　the　low　swampy　land　between　Waikiki　and　Honolulu；　past　rice　fields　where　bent　figures　toiled　patiently　in　water　to　their　knees；　past　taro　patches；　and　finally　turned　on　to　King　Street。　Every　few　moments　it　paused　to　take　aboard　immigrants；　Japanese；　Chinese；　Hawaiians；　Portuguese；　Philippinos；　Koreans；　all　colors　and　all　creeds。　On　it　went。　John　Quincy　saw　great　houses　set　in　blooming　groves；　a　Japanese　theater　flaunting　weird　posters　not　far　from　a　Ford　service　station；　then　a　huge　building　he　recognized　as　the　palace　of　the　monarchy。　Finally　it　entered　a　district　of　modern　office　buildings。
　Mr。　Kipling　was　wrong；　the　boy　reflected；　East　and　West　could　meet。　They　had。
　This　impression　was　confirmed　when　he　left　the　car　at　Fort　Street　and　for　a　moment　walked　about；　a　stranger　in　a　strange　land。　A　dusky　policeman　was　directing　traffic　on　the　corner；　officers　of　the　United　States　army　and　navy　in　spotless　duck　strolled　by；　and　on　the　shady　side　of　the　street　Chinese　girls；　slim　and　immaculate　in　freshly　laundered　trousers　and　jackets；　were　window　shopping　in　the　cool　of　the　evening。
　〃I'm　looking　for　the　police　station；〃　John　Quincy　informed　a　big　American　with　a　friendly　face。
　〃Get　back　on　to　King　Street；〃　the　man　said。　〃Go　to　your　right　until　you　e　to　Bethel；　then　turn　makai　…〃
　〃Turn　what？〃
　The　man　smiled。　〃A　malihini；　I　take　it。　Makai　means　toward　the　sea。　The　other　direction　is　mauka　…　toward　the　mountains。　The　police　station　is　at　the　foot　of　Bethel；　in　Kalakaua　Hale。〃
　John　Quincy　thanked　him　and　went　on　his　way。　He　passed　the　post…office　and　was　amazed　to　see　that　all　the　lock　boxes　opened　on　the　street。　After　a　time；　he　reached　the　station。　A　sergeant　lounging　behind　the　desk　told　him　that　Charlie　Chan　was　at　dinner。　He　suggested　the　Alexander　Young　Hotel　or　possibly　the　All　American　Restaurant　on　King　Street。
　The　hotel　sounded　easiest；　so　John　Quincy　went　there　first。　In　the　dim　lobby　a　Chinese　house　boy　wandered　aimlessly　about　with　broom　and　dust　pan；　a　few　guests　were　writing　the　inevitable　post…cards；　a　Chinese　clerk　was　on　duty　at　the　desk。　But　there　was　no　sign　of　Chan；　either　in　the　lobby　or　in　the　dining…room　at　the　left。　As　John　Quincy　turned　from　an　inspection　of　the　latter；　the　elevator　door　opened　and　a　Britisher　in　mufti　came　hurriedly　forth。　He　was　followed　by　a　Cockney　servant　carrying　luggage。
　〃Captain　Cope；〃　called　John　Quincy。
　The　captain　paused。　〃Hello；〃　he　said。　〃Oh　…　Mr。　Winterslip　…　how　are　you？〃　He　turned　to　the　servant。　〃Buy　me　an　evening　paper　and　an　armful　of　the　less　offensive…looking　magazines。〃　The　man　hurried　off；　and　Cope　again　addressed　John　Quincy。　〃Delighted　to　see　you；　but　I'm　in　a　frightful　rush。　Off　to　the　Fanning　Islands　in　twenty　minutes。〃
　〃When　did　you　get　in？〃　inquired　John　Quincy。　Not　that　he　really　cared。
　〃Yesterday　at　noon；〃　said　Captain　Cope。　〃Been　on　the　wing　ever　since。　I　trust　you　are　enjoying　your　stop　here　…　but　I　was　forgetting。　Fearful　news　about　Dan　Winterslip。〃
　〃Yes；〃　said　John　Quincy　coolly。　Judging　by　the　conversation　in　that　San　Francis