earlderrbiggers.thehousewithoutakey-第21章

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　〃Then　you　think　those　two　were　telling　the　truth？〃　John　Quincy　asked。
　〃As　to　that；　I　do　not　venture　to　remark；〃　Chan　replied。
　〃How　about　those　psychic　powers？〃　inquired　John　Quincy。
　Chan　smiled。　〃Psychic　powers　somewhat　drowsy　just　now；〃　he　admitted。　〃Need　prodding　into　wakefulness。〃
　〃Look　here；〃　said　John　Quincy；　〃there's　no　need　for　you　to　take　me　out　to　Waikiki。　Just　drop　me　on　King　Street；　and　I'll　get　a　trolley。〃
　〃Making　humble　suggestion；〃　Chan　replied；　〃is　it　not　possible　you　will　acpany　me　to　newspaper　rooms；　where　we　set　out　on　different　path？〃
　John　Quincy　looked　at　his　watch；　it　was　ten　minutes　past　eleven。　〃I'll　be　glad　to；　Charlie；〃　he　said。
　Chan　beamed　with　pleasure。　〃Greatly　honored　by　your　friendly　manner；〃　he　remarked。　He　turned　into　a　side　street。　〃Newspaper　of　this　nature　burst　out　at　evening；　very　quiet　now。　Somebody　may　loiter　in　rooms；　if　we　have　happy　luck。〃
　They　had　just　that；　for　the　building　of　the　evening　journal　was　open；　and　in　the　city　room　an　elderly　man　with　a　green　shade　over　his　eyes　hammered　on　a　typewriter。
　〃Hello；　Charlie；〃　he　said　cordially。
　〃Hello；　Pete。　Mr。　Winterslip　of　Boston；　I　have　all　the　honor　to　present　this　Pete　Mayberry。　For　many　years　he　explore　water…front　ferreting　for　whatever　news　are　hiding　there。〃
　The　elderly　man　rose　and　removed　his　eye…shade；　revealing　a　pleasant　twinkle。　He　was　evidently　interested　to　meet　a　Winterslip。
　〃We　pursue；〃　continued　Chan；　〃one　copy　of　paper　marked　June　sixteen；　present　year。　If　you　have　no　inclination　for　objecting。〃
　Mayberry　laughed。　〃Go　to　it；　Charlie。　You　know　where　the　files　are。〃
　Chan　bowed　and　disappeared。　〃Your　first　appearance　out　here；　Mr。　Winterslip？〃　inquired　the　newspaper　man。
　John　Quincy　nodded。　〃I've　only　just　got　here；〃　he　said；　〃but　I　can　see　it's　a　rather　intriguing　place。〃
　〃You've　said　it；〃　smiled　Mayberry。　〃Forty…six　years　ago　I　came　out　from　Portsmouth；　New　Hampshire；　to　visit　relatives。　I've　been　in　the　newspaper　game　here　ever　since　…　most　of　the　time　on　the　water…front。　There's　a　lifework　for　you！〃
　〃You　must　have　seen　some　changes；〃　remarked　John　Quincy　inanely。
　Mayberry　nodded。　〃For　the　worse。　I　knew　Honolulu　in　the　glamourous　days　of　its　isolation；　and　I've　watched　it　fade　into　an　eighth　carbon　copy　of　Babbittville；　U。S。A。　The　water…front's　just　a　water…front　now　…　but　once；　my　boy！　Once　it　oozed　romance　at　every　pore。〃
　Chan　returned；　carrying　a　paper。　〃Much　to　be　thankful　for；〃　he　said　to　Mayberry。　〃Your　kindness　are　quite　overwhelming　…〃
　〃Anything　doing？〃　asked　Mayberry　eagerly。
　Chan　shook　his　head。　〃Presently　speaking；　no。　Our　motions　just　now　must　be　blackly　clouded　in　secrecy。〃
　〃Well；〃　said　the　reporter；　〃when　it　es　time　to　roll　them　clouds　away；　don't　forget　me。〃
　〃Impossibility；〃　protested　Chan。　〃Good　night。〃
　They　left　Mayberry　bending　over　his　typewriter；　and　at　Chan's　suggestion　went　to　the　All　American　Restaurant；　where　he　ordered　two　cups　of　〃your　inspeakable　coffee。〃　While　they　waited　to　be　served；　he　spread　out　on　the　table　his　plete　copy　of　the　newspaper；　and　laying　the　torn　page　on　its　counterpart；　carefully　removed　the　upper　right…hand　corner。
　〃The　missing　fragment；〃　he　explained。　For　a　time　he　studied　it　thoughtfully；　and　finally　shook　his　head。　〃I　apprehend　nothing　to　startle；〃　he　admitted。　He　handed　it　across　the　table。　〃If　you　will　condescend　greatly　…〃
　John　Quincy　took　the　bit　of　newspaper。　On　one　side　was　the　advertisement　of　a　Japanese　dealer　in　shirtings　who　wrote　his　own　publicity。　Any　one　might　carry　off；　he　said；　six　yards　for　the　price　of　five。　John　Quincy　laughed　aloud。
　〃Ah；〃　said　Chan；　〃you　are　by　rights　mirthful。　Kikuchi；　purveyor　of　skirting　cloth；　seize　on　grand　English　language　and　make　it　into　a　jumble。　On　that　side　are　nothing　to　detain　us。　But　humbly　hinting　you　reverse　the　fragment　…〃
　John　Quincy　reversed　it。　The　other　side　was　a　part　of　the　shipping　page。　He　read　it　carefully；　news　of　sailings　and　arrivals；　there　would　be　places　for　five　passengers　to　the　Orient　on　the　Shinyo　Maru；　leaving　Wednesday；　the　Wilhelmina　was　six　hundred　and　forty　miles　east　of　Makupuu　Point；　the　brig　Mary　Jane　from　the　Treaty　Ports　…
　John　Quincy　started；　and　caught　his　breath。　A　small　item　in　tiny　print　had　met　his　eye。
　〃Among　the　passengers　who　will　arrive　here　on　the　Sonoma　from　Australia　a　week　from　Saturday　are：　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Thomas　Macan　Brade；　of　Calcutta　…〃
　John　Quincy　sat　staring　at　the　unwashed　window　of　the　All　American　Restaurant。　His　mind　went　back　to　the　deck　of　the　President　Tyler；　to　a　lean　old　missionary　telling　a　tale　of　a　bright　morning　on　Apiang；　a　grave　under　a　palm　tree。　〃Mr。　and　Mrs。　Thomas　Macan　Brade；　of　Calcutta。〃　He　heard　again　the　missionary's　high…pitched　voice。　〃A　callous　brute；　a　pirate　and　adventurer。　Tom　Brade；　the　blackbirder。〃
　But　Brade　had　been　buried　in　a　long　pine　box　on　Apiang。　Even　at　the　Crossroads　of　the　Pacific；　his　path　and　that　of　Dan　Winterslip　could　hardly　have　crossed　again。
　The　waiter　brought　the　coffee。　Chan　said　nothing；　watching　John　Quincy　closely。　Finally　he　spoke：　〃You　have　much　to　tell　me。〃
　John　Quincy　looked　around　quickly；　he　had　forgotten　Chan's　presence。
　His　dilemma　was　acute。　Must　he　here　in　this　soiled　restaurant　in　a　far　town　reveal　to　this　man　that　ancient　blot　on　the　Winterslip　name？　What　would　Aunt　Minerva　say？　Well；　only　a　short　time　ago　she　had　remarked　that　she　was　resolved　to　have　no　more　secrets　from　the　police。　However；　there　was　family　pride　…
　John　Quincy's　eye　fell　on　the　Japanese　waiter。　What　were　those　lines　from　The　Mikado？　〃But　family　pride　must　be　denied　and　mortified　and　set　aside。〃
　The　boy　smiled。　〃Yes；　Charlie；〃　he　admitted；　〃I　have　much　to　tell　you。〃　And　over　the　inspeakable　coffee　of　the　All　American　Restaurant　he　repeated　to　the　detective　the　story　the　Reverend　Frank　Upton　had　told　on　the　President　Tyler。
　Chan　beamed。　〃Now；〃　he　cried；　〃we　arrive　in　the　neighborhood　of　something！　Brade　the　blackbirder；　master　Maid　of　Shiloh　boat；　on　which　Mr。　Dan　Winterslip　are　first　officer　…〃
　〃But　Brade　was　buried　on　Apiang；〃　protested　John　Quincy。
　〃Yes；　indeed。　And　who　saw　him；　pardon　me？　Was　it　then　an　unsealed　box？　Oh；　no！〃　Chan's　eyes　were　dancing。　〃Please　recollect　something　more。　The　strong　box　of　ohia　wood。　Initials　on　it　are　T。M。B。　Mysteries　yet；　but　we　move；　we　advance！〃
　〃I　guess　we　do；〃　admitted　John　Quincy。
　〃This　much　we　grasp；〃　Chan　continued。　〃Dan　Winterslip　repose　for　quiet　hour　on　lanai；　in　peaceful　reading。　This　news　assault　his　eye。　He　now　leaps　up；　paces　about；　flees　to　dock　to　send　letter　requesting；　please；　the　ohia　wood　box　must　be　buried　deep　in　Pacific。　Why？〃　Fumbling　in　his　pocket；　Chan　took　out　a　sheaf　of　papers；　evidently　lists　of　steamer　arrivals。　〃On　Saturday　just　gone　by；　the　Sonoma　make　this　port。　Among　passengers　…　yes　…　yes　…　Thomas　Macan　Brade　and　honorable　wife；　Calcutta。　It　is　here　inscribed　they　arrive　to　stay；　not　being　present　when　Sonoma　persist　on　journey。　On　the　night　of　Monday；　Mr。　Dan　Winterslip　are　foully　slain。〃
　〃Which　makes　Mr。　Brade　an　important　person　to　locate；〃　said　John　Quincy。
　〃How　very　true。　But　the　hurry　are　not　intense。　No　boats　sailing　now。　Before　sleeping；　I　will　investigate　downtown　hotels；　Waikiki　to…morrow。　Where　are　you；　Mr。　Brade？〃　Chan　seized　the　check。　〃No　…　pardon　me　…　the　honor　of　paying　for　this　poison…tasting　beverage　must　be　mine。〃
　Out　in　the　street；　he　indicated　an　approaching　trolley。　〃It　bears　imprint　of　your　destination；〃　he　pointed　out。　〃You　will　require　sleep。　We　meet　to…morrow。　Congratulations　on　most　fruitful　evening。〃
　Once　more　John　Quincy　was　on　a　Waikiki　car。　Weary　but　thrilled；　he　took　out　his　pipe　and　filling　it；　lighted　up。　What　a　day！　He　seemed　to　have　lived　a　lifetime　since　he　landed　that　very　morning。　He　perceived　that　his　smoke　was　blowing　in　the　face　of　a　tired　little　Japanese　woman　beside　him。　〃Pardon　me；〃　he　remarked；　and　knocking　the　pipe　against　the　side　rail；　put　it　in　his　pocket。　The　woman　stared　at　him　in　meek　startled　wonder；　no　one　had　ever　asked　her　pardon　before。
　On　the　seat　behind　John　Quincy　a　group　of　Hawaiian　boys　with　yellow　leis　about　their　necks　twanged　on　steel　guitars　and　sang　a　plaintive　love　song。　The　trolley　rattled　on　through　the　fragrant　night；　above　the　clatter　of　the　wheels　the　music　rose　with　a　sweet　intensity。　John　Quincy　leaned　back　and　closed　his　eyes。
　A　clock　struck　the　hour　of　midnight。　Another　day　…　Wednesday　…　it　flashed　through　his　mind　that　to…day　his　firm　in　Boston　would　offer　that　preferred　stock　for　the　shoe　people　in　Lynn。　Would　the　issue　be　over…subscribed？　No　matter。
　Here　he　was；　out　in　the　middle　of　the　Pacific　on　a　trolley…car。　Behind　him　brown…skinned　boys　were　singing　a　melancholy　love　song　of　long　ago；　and　the　moon　was　shining　on　crimson　poinciana　trees。　And　somewhere　on　this　tiny　island　a　man　named　Thomas　Macan　Brade　slept　under　a　mosquito　netting。　Or　lay　awake；　perhaps；　thinking　of　Dan　Winterslip。
　
　CHAPTER　XIII　
　The　Luggage　In　Room　Nineteen
　
　JOHN　QUINCY　emerged　from　sleep　the　next　morning　with　a　great　effort；　and　dragged　his　watch　from　under　the　pillow。　Eight…thirty！　Good　lord；　he　was　due　at　the　office　at　nine！　A　quick　bath　and　shave；　a　brief　pause　at　the　breakfast　table；　a　run　past　the　Public　Gardens　and　the　mon　and　down　to　School　Street　…
　He　sat　up　in　bed。　Why　was　he　imprisoned　under　mosquito　netting？　What　was　the　meaning　of　the　little　lizard　that　sported　idly　outside　the　cloth？　Oh；　yes　…　Honolulu。　He　was　in　Hawaii；　and　he'd　never　reach　his　office　by　nine。　It　was　five　thousand　miles　away。
　The　low　murmur　of　breakers　on　the　beach　confirmed　him　in　this　discovery　and　stepping　to　his　window；　he　gazed　out　at　the　calm　sparkling　morning。　Yes；　he　was　in　Honolulu　entangled　in　a　murder　mystery；　consorting　with　Chinese　detectives　and　Waikiki　Widows；　following　clues。　The　new　day　held　interesting　promise。　He　must　hurry　to　find　what　it　would　bring　forth。
　Haku　informed　him　that　his　aunt　and　Barbara　had　already　breakfasted；　and　set　before　him　a　reddish　sort　of　cantaloupe　which　was；　he　explained　in　answer　to　the　boy's　question；　a　papaia。　When　he　had　eaten；　John　Quincy　went　out　on　the　lanai。　Barbara　stood　there；　staring　at　the　beach。　A　new　Barbara；　with　the　old　vivacity；　the　old　joy　of　living；　submerged；　a　pale　girl　with　sorrow　in　her　eyes。
　John　Quincy　put　his　arm　about　her　shoulder；　she　was　a　Winterslip　and　the　family　was　the　family。　Again　he　felt　in　his　heart　that　flare　of　anger　against　the　〃person　or　persons　unknown〃　who　had　brought　this　grief　upon　her。　The　guilty　must　pay　…　Egan　or　whoever；　Brade　or　Leatherbee　or　the　chorus　girl。　Pay　and　pay　dearly　…　he　was　resolved　on　that。
　〃My　dear　girl；〃　he　began。　〃What　can　I　say　to　you　…〃
　〃You've　said　it　all；　without　speaking；〃　she　answered。　〃See；　John　Quincy；　this　is　my　beach。　When　I　was　only　five　I　swam　alone　to　that　first　float。　He　…　he　was　so　proud　of　me。〃
　〃It's　a　lovely　spot；　Barbara；〃　he　told　her。
　〃I　knew　you'd　think　so。　One　of　these　days　we'll　swim　together　out　to　the　reef；　and　I'll　teach　you　to　ride　a　surfboard。　I　want　your　visit　to　be　a　happy　one。〃
　He　shook　his　head。　〃It　can't　be　that；〃　he　said；　〃because　of　you。　But　because　of　you；　I'm　mighty　glad　I　came。〃
　She　pressed　his　hand。　〃I'm　going　out　to　sit