earlderrbiggers.thehousewithoutakey-第23章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　She　rose；　and　John　Quincy　walked　with　her　along　the　balcony。　〃I　wouldn't　worry　if　I　were　you；〃　he　said。　〃The　police　are　on　an　entirely　new　trail　this　morning。〃
　〃Really？〃　she　answered　eagerly。
　〃Yes。　There's　a　man　named　Brade　stopping　at　your　hotel。　You　know　him；　I　suppose？〃
　She　shook　her　head。　〃No；　I　don't。〃
　〃What！　Why；　he's　a　guest　here。〃
　〃He　was。　But　he　isn't　here　now。〃
　〃Wait　a　minute！〃　John　Quincy　laid　his　hand　on　her　arm；　and　they　stopped。　〃This　is　interesting。　Brade's　gone；　you　say？〃
　〃Yes。　I　understand　from　the　clerk　that　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Brade　arrived　here　last　Saturday。　But　early　Tuesday　morning；　before　my　boat　got　in；　Mr。　Brade　disappeared　and　he　hasn't　been　seen　since。〃
　〃Mr。　Brade　gets　better　all　the　time；〃　John　Quincy　said。　〃Hallet　and　Chan　are　in　his　room　now；　and　they've　unearthed　some　rather　intriguing　facts。　You'd　better　go　in　and　tell　Hallet　what　you've　just　told　me。〃
　They　entered　the　lobby　by　a　side　door。　As　they　did　so；　a　slim　young　Hawaiian　boy　was　ing　in　through　the　big　door　at　the　front。　Something　in　his　manner　caught　the　attention　of　John　Quincy；　and　he　stopped。　At　that　instant　a　purple　bathing　suit　slipped　by　him；　and　Mr。　Saladine　also　approached　the　desk。　Carlota　Egan　went　on　down　the　corridor　toward　room　nineteen；　but　John　Quincy　remained　in　the　lobby。
　The　Hawaiian　boy　moved　rather　diffidently　toward　the　clerk。　〃Excuse　me；　please；〃　he　said。　〃I　e　to　see　Mr。　Brade。　Mr。　Thomas　Brade。〃
　〃Mr。　Brade　not　here；〃　replied　the　clerk。
　〃Then　I　will　wait　till　he　es。〃
　The　clerk　frowned。　〃No　good。　Mr。　Brade　not　in　Honolulu　now。〃
　〃Not　in　Honolulu！〃　The　Hawaiian　seemed　startled　by　the　news。
　〃Mrs。　Brade　outside　on　the　beach；〃　continued　the　clerk。
　〃Oh；　then　Mr。　Brade　returns；〃　said　the　boy　with　evident　relief。　〃I　call　again。〃
　He　turned　away；　moving　rapidly　now。　The　clerk　addressed　Mr。　Saladine；　who　was　hovering　near　the　cigar　case。　〃Yes；　sir；　please？〃
　〃Thigarettes；〃　said　the　bereft　Mr。　Saladine。
　The　clerk　evidently　knew　the　brand　desired；　and　handed　over　a　box。
　〃Juth　put　it　on　my　bill；〃　said　Saladine。　He　stood　for　a　moment　staring　after　the　Hawaiian；　who　was　disappearing　through　the　front　door。　As　he　swung　round　his　eyes　encountered　those　of　John　Quincy。　He　looked　quickly　away　and　hurried　out。
　The　two　policemen　and　the　girl　entered　from　the　corridor。　〃Well；　Mr。　Winterslip；〃　said　Hallet；　〃the　bird　has　flown。〃
　〃So　I　understand；〃　John　Quincy　answered。
　〃But　we'll　find　him；〃　continued　Hallet。　〃I'll　go　over　these　islands　with　a　drag…net。　First　of　all；　I　want　a　talk　with　his　wife。〃　He　turned　to　Carlota　Egan。　〃Get　her　in　here；〃　he　ordered。　The　girl　looked　at　him。　〃Please；〃　he　added。
　She　motioned　to　the　clerk；　who　went　out　the　door。
　〃By　the　way；〃　remarked　John　Quincy；　〃someone　was　just　here　asking　for　Brade。〃
　〃What's　that！〃　Hallet　was　interested。
　〃A　young　Hawaiian；　about　twenty；　I　should　say。　Tall　and　slim。　If　you　go　to　the　door；　you　may　catch　a　glimpse　of　him。〃
　Hallet　hurried　over　and　glanced　out　into　the　garden。　In　a　second　he　returned。　〃Humph；〃　he　said。　〃I　know　him。　Did　he　say　he'd　e　again？〃
　〃He　did。〃
　Hallet　considered。　〃I've　changed　my　mind；〃　he　announced。　〃I　won't　question　Mrs。　Brade；　after　all。　For　the　present；　I　don't　want　her　to　know　we're　looking　for　her　husband。　I'll　trust　you　to　fix　that　up　with　your　clerk；〃　he　added　to　the　girl。　She　nodded。　〃Lucky　we　left　things　as　we　found　them　in　nineteen；〃　he　went　on。　〃Unless　she　misses　that　letter　and　the　cigarettes；　which　isn't　likely；　we're　all　right。　Now；　Miss　Egan；　we　three　will　go　into　your　father's　office　there　behind　the　desk；　and　leave　the　door　open。　When　Mrs。　Brade　es　in；　I　want　you　to　question　her　about　her　husband's　absence。　Get　all　you　can　out　of　her。　I'll　be　listening。〃
　〃I　understand；〃　the　girl　said。
　Hallet；　Chan　and　John　Quincy　went　into　Jim　Egan's　sanctum。　〃You　found　nothing　else　in　the　room？〃　the　latter　inquired　of　the　Chinese　man。
　Chan　shook　his　head。　〃Even　so；　fates　are　in　smiling　mood。　What　we　have　now　are　plentiful。〃
　〃Sh！〃　warned　Hallet。
　〃Mrs。　Brade；　a　young　man　was　just　here　inquiring　for　your　husband。〃　It　was　Carlota　Egan's　voice。
　〃Really？〃　The　accent　was　unmistakably　British。
　〃He　wanted　to　know　where　he　could　find　him。　We　couldn't　say。〃
　〃No　…　of　course　not。〃
　〃Your　husband　has　left　town；　Mrs。　Brade？〃
　〃Yes。　I　fancy　he　has。〃
　〃You　know　when　he　will　return；　perhaps？〃
　〃I　really　couldn't　say。　Is　the　mail　in？〃
　〃Not　yet。　We　expect　it　about　one。〃
　〃Thank　you　so　much。〃
　〃Go　to　the　door；〃　Hallet　directed　John　Quincy。
　〃She's　gone　to　her　room；〃　announced　the　boy。
　The　three　of　them　emerged　from　Egan's　office。
　〃Oh；　Captain？〃　said　the　girl。　〃I'm　afraid　I　wasn't　very　successful。〃
　〃That's　all　right；〃　replied　Hallet。　〃I　didn't　think　you　would　be。〃　The　clerk　was　again　at　his　post　behind　the　desk。　Hallet　turned　to　him。　〃Look　here；〃　he　said。　〃I　understand　some　one　was　here　a　minute　ago　asking　for　Brade。　It　was　Dick　Kaohla；　wasn't　it？〃
　〃Yes…s；〃　answered　the　clerk。
　〃Had　he　been　here　before　to　see　Brade？〃
　〃Yes…s。　Sunday　night。　Mr。　Brade　and　him　have　long　talk　on　the　beach。〃
　Hallet　nodded　grimly。　〃e　on；　Charlie；〃　he　said。　〃We've　got　our　work　cut　out　for　us。　Wherever　Brade　is；　we　must　find　him。〃
　John　Quincy　stepped　forward。　〃Pardon　me；　Captain；〃　he　remarked。　〃But　if　you　don't　mind　…　just　who　is　Dick　Kaohla？〃
　Hallet　hesitated。　〃Kaohla's　father　…　he's　dead　now　…　was　a　sort　of　confidential　servant　to　Dan　Winterslip。　The　boy's　just　plain　no　good。　And　oh；　yes　…　he's　the　grandson　of　that　woman　who's　over　at　your　place　now。　Kamaikui　…　is　that　her　name？〃
　
　CHAPTER　XIV　
　What　Kaohla　Carried
　
　SEVERAL　DAYS　slipped　by　so　rapidly　John　Quincy　scarcely　noted　their　passing。　Dan　Winterslip　was　sleeping　now　under　the　royal　palms　of　the　lovely　island　where　he　had　been　born。　Sun　and　moon　shone　brightly　in　turn　on　his　last　dwelling　place；　but　those　who　sought　the　person　he　had　encountered　that　Monday　night　on　his　lanai　were　still　groping　in　the　dark。
　Hallet　had　kept　his　word；　he　was　bing　the　Islands　for　Brade。　But　Brade　was　nowhere。　Ships　paused　at　the　crossroads　and　sailed　again；　the　name　of　Thomas　Macan　Brade　was　on　no　sailing　list。　Through　far　settlements　that　were　called　villages　but　were　nothing　save　clusters　of　Japanese　huts；　in　lonely　coves　where　the　surf　moaned　dismally；　over　pineapple　and　sugar　plantations；　the　emissaries　of　Hallet　pursued　their　quest。　Their　efforts　came　to　nothing。
　John　Quincy　drifted　idly　with　the　days。　He　knew　now　the　glamour　of　Waikiki　waters；　he　had　felt　their　warm　embrace。　Every　afternoon　he　experimented　with　a　board　in　the　malihini　surf；　and　he　was　eager　for　the　moment　when　he　could　dare　the　big　rollers　farther　out。　Boston　seemed　like　a　tale　that　is　told；　State　Street　and　Beacon　memories　of　another　more　active　existence　now　abandoned。　No　longer　was　he　at　a　loss　to　understand　his　aunt's　reluctance　to　depart　these　friendly　shores。
　Early　Friday　afternoon　Miss　Minerva　found　him　reading　a　book　on　the　lanai。　Something　in　the　nonchalance　of　his　manner　irritated　her。　She　had　always　been　for　action；　and　the　urge　was　on　her　even　in　Hawaii。
　〃Have　you　seen　Mr。　Chan　lately？〃　she　inquired。
　〃Talked　with　him　this　morning。　They're　doing　their　best　to　find　Brade。〃
　〃Humph；〃　sniffed　Miss　Minerva。　〃Their　best　is　none　too　good。　I'd　like　to　have　a　few　Boston　detectives　on　this　case。〃
　〃Oh；　give　them　time；〃　yawned　John　Quincy。
　〃They've　had　three　days；〃　she　snapped。　〃Time　enough。　Brade　never　left　this　island　of　Oahu；　that's　certain。　And　when　you　consider　that　you　can　drive　across　it　in　a　motor　in　two　hours；　and　around　it　in　about　six；　Mr。　Hallet's　brilliance　does　not　impress。　I'll　have　to　end　by　solving　this　thing　myself。〃
　John　Quincy　laughed。　〃Yes；　maybe　you　will。〃
　〃Well；　I've　given　them　the　two　best　clues　they　have。　If　they'd　keep　their　eyes　open　the　way　I　do　…〃
　〃Charlie's　eyes　are　open；〃　protested　John　Quincy。
　〃Think　so？　They　look　pretty　sleepy　to　me。〃
　Barbara　appeared　on　the　lanai；　dressed　for　a　drive。　Her　eyes　were　somewhat　happier；　a　bit　of　color　had　e　back　to　her　cheeks。　〃What　are　you　reading；　John　Quincy？〃　she　asked。
　He　held　up　the　book。　〃The　City　by　the　Golden　Gate；〃　he　told　her。
　〃Oh；　really？　If　you're　interested；　I　believe　dad　had　quite　a　library　on　San　Francisco。　I　remember　there　was　a　history　of　the　stock　exchange　…　he　wanted　me　to　read　it；　but　I　couldn't。〃
　〃You　missed　a　good　one；〃　John　Quincy　informed　her。　〃I　finished　it　this　morning。　I've　read　five　other　books　on　San　Francisco　since　I　came。〃
　His　aunt　stared　at　him。　〃What　for？〃　she　asked。
　〃Well　…〃　He　hesitated。　〃I've　taken　sort　of　a　fancy　to　the　town。　I　don't　know　…　sometimes　I　think　I'd　rather　like　to　live　there。〃
　Miss　Minerva　smiled　grimly。　〃And　they　sent　you　out　to　take　me　back　to　Boston；〃　she　remarked。
　〃Boston's　all　right；〃　said　her　nephew　hastily。　〃It's　Winterslip　headquarters　…　but　its　hold　has　never　been　strong　enough　to　prevent　an　occasional　Winterslip　from　hitting　the　trail。　You　know；　when　I　came　into　San　Francisco　harbor；　I　had　the　oddest　feeling。〃　He　told　them　about　it。　〃And　the　more　I　saw　of　the　city；　the　better　I　liked　it。　There's　a　snap　and　sparkle　in　the　air；　and　the　people　seem　to　know　how　to　get　the　most　out　of　life。〃
　Barbara　smiled　on　him　approvingly。　〃Follow　that　impulse；　John　Quincy；〃　she　advised。
　〃Maybe　I　will。　All　this　reminds　me　…　I　must　write　a　letter。〃　He　rose　and　left　the　lanai。
　〃Does　he　really　intend　to　desert　Boston？〃　Barbara　asked。
　Miss　Minerva　shook　her　head。　〃Just　a　moment's　madness；〃　she　explained。　〃I'm　glad　he's　going　through　it　…　he'll　be　more　human　in　the　future。　But　as　for　leaving　Boston！　John　Quincy！　As　well　expect　Bunker　Hill　Monument　to　emigrate　to　England。〃
　In　his　room　up…stairs；　however；　John　Quincy's　madness　was　persisting。　He　had　never　pleted　that　letter　to　Agatha　Parker；　but　he　now　plunged　into　his　task　with　enthusiasm。　San　Francisco　was　his　topic；　and　he　wrote　well。　He　pictured　the　city　in　words　that　glowed　with　life；　and　he　wondered　…　just　a　suggestion　…　how　she'd　like　to　live　there。
　Agatha　was　now；　he　recalled；　on　a　ranch　in　Wyoming　…　her　first　encounter　with　the　West　…　and　that　was　providential。　She　had　felt　for　herself　the　lure　of　the　wide　open　spaces。　Well；　the　farther　you　went　the　wider　and　opener　they　got。　In　California　life　was　all　color　and　light。　Just　a　suggestion；　of　course。
　As　he　sealed　the　flap　of　the　envelope；　he　seemed　to　glimpse　Agatha's　thin　patrician　face；　and　his　heart　sank。　Her　gray　eyes　were　cool；　so　different　from　Barbara's；　so　very　different　from　those　of　Carlota　Maria　Egan。
　On　Saturday　afternoon　John　Quincy　had　an　engagement　to　play　golf　with　Harry　Jennison。　He　drove　up　Nuuanu　Valley　in　Barbara's　roadster　…　for　Dan　Winterslip's　will　had　been　read　and　everything　he　possessed　was　Barbara's　now。　In　that　sheltered　spot　a　brisk　rain　was　falling；　as　is　usually　the　case；　though　the　sun　was　shining　brightly。　John　Quincy　had　grown　accustomed　to　this　phenomenon；　〃liquid　sunshine〃　the　people　of　Hawaii　call　such　rain；　and　pay　no　attention　to　it。　Half　a　dozen　different　rainbows　added　to　the　beauty　of　the　Country　Club　links。
　Jennison　was　waiting　on　the　veranda；　a　striking　figure　in　white。　He　appeared　genuinely　glad　to　see　his　guest；　and　they　set　out