earlderrbiggers.thehousewithoutakey-第31章

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　〃Oh；　no；　you　don't　understand。　Naturally。〃　The　captain　smiled　down　at　her。　〃You　see；　Jim's　my　young　brother。　You're　my　niece；　and　your　name　is　Carlota　Maria　Cope。　I　fancy　I've　persuaded　old　Jim　to　own　up　to　us　at　last。〃
　The　girl's　dark　eyes　were　wide。　〃I　…　I　think　you're　a　very　nice　uncle；〃　she　said　at　last。
　〃Do　you　really？〃　The　captain　bowed。　〃I　aim　to　be；〃　he　added。
　John　Quincy　stepped　forward。　〃Pardon　me；〃　he　said。　〃I'm　afraid　I'm　intruding。　Good　night；　Captain。〃
　〃Good　night；　my　boy；〃　Cope　answered。
　The　girl　went　with　John　Quincy　to　the　balcony。　〃I　…　I　don't　know　what　to　make　of　it；〃　she　said。
　〃Things　are　ing　rather　fast；〃　John　Quincy　admitted。　He　remembered　the　Corsican　cigarette。　〃I　wouldn't　trust　him　too　far；〃　he　admonished。
　〃But　he's　so　wonderful　…〃
　〃Oh；　he's　all　right；　probably。　But　looks　are　often　deceptive。　I'll　go　along　now　and　let　you　talk　with　him。〃
　She　laid　one　slim　tanned　hand　on　his　white…clad　arm。　〃Do　be　careful！〃
　〃Oh；　I'm　all　right；〃　he　told　her。
　〃But　some　one　shot　at　you。〃
　〃Yes；　and　a　very　poor　aim　he　had；　too。　Don't　worry　about　me。〃　She　was　very　close；　her　eyes　glowing　in　the　dark。　〃You　said　you　weren't　afraid　for　yourself；〃　he　added。　〃Did　you　mean　…〃
　〃I　meant　…　I　was　afraid　…　for　you。〃
　The　moon；　of　course；　was　shining。　The　cocoa…palms　turned　their　heads　away　at　the　suggestion　of　the　trades。　The　warm　waters　of　Waikiki　murmured　near　by。　John　Quincy　Winterslip；　from　Boston　and　immune；　drew　the　girl　to　him　and　kissed　her。　Not　a　cousinly　kiss；　either　…　but　why　should　it　have　been？　She　wasn't　his　cousin。
　〃Thank　you；　my　dear；〃　he　said。　He　seemed　to　be　floating　dizzily　in　space。　It　came　to　him　that　he　might　reach　out　and　pluck　her　a　handful　of　stars。
　It　came　to　him　a　second　later　that；　despite　his　firm　resolve；　he　had　done　it　again。　Kissed　another　girl。
　Three　…　that　made　three　with　whom　he　was　sort　of　entangled。
　〃Good　night；〃　he　said　huskily；　and　leaping　over　the　rail；　fled　hastily　through　the　garden。
　Three　girls　now　…　but　he　hadn't　a　single　regret。　He　was　living　at　last。　As　he　hurried　through　the　dark　along　the　beach；　his　heart　was　light。　Once　he　fancied　he　was　being　followed；　but　he　gave　it　little　thought。　What　of　it？
　On　the　bureau　in　his　room　he　found　an　envelope　with　his　name　typewritten　on　the　outside。　The　note　within　was　typewritten　too。　He　read：　
　〃You　are　too　busy　out　here。　Hawaii　can　manage　her　affairs　without　the　interference　of　a　malihini。
　Boats　sail　almost　daily。　If　you　are　still　here　forty…eight　hours　after　you　get　this　…　look　out！　To…night's　shots　were　fired　into　the　air。　The　aim　will　quickly　improve！〃　
　Delighted；　John　Quincy　tossed　the　note　aside。
　Threatening　him；　eh？　His　activities　as　a　detective　were　bearing　fruit。　He　recalled　the　glowering　face　of　Kaohla　when　he　said：　〃You　did　this。　I　don't　forget。〃　And　a　remark　of　Dan　Winterslip's　his　aunt　had　quoted：　〃Civilized　…　yes。　But　far　underneath　there　are　deep　dark　waters　flowing　still。〃
　Boats　were　sailing　almost　daily；　were　they？　Well；　let　them　sail。　He　would　be　on　one　some　day　…　but　not　until　he　had　brought　Dan　Winterslip's　murderer　to　justice。
　Life　had　a　new　glamour　now。　Look　out？　He'd　be　looking　…　and　enjoying　it；　too。　He　smiled　happily　to　himself　as　he　took　off　his　coat。　This　was　better　than　selling　bonds　in　Boston。
　
　CHAPTER　XVIII　
　A　Cable　From　The　Mainland
　
　JOHN　QUINCY　awoke　at　nine　the　following　morning　and　slipped　from　under　his　mosquito　netting　eager　to　face　the　responsibilities　of　a　new　day。　On　the　floor　near　his　bureau　lay　the　letter　designed　to　speed　the　parting　guest。　He　picked　it　up　and　read　it　again　with　manifest　enjoyment。
　When　he　reached　the　dining…room　Haku　informed　him　that　Miss　Minerva　and　Barbara　had　breakfasted　early　and　gone　to　the　city　on　a　shopping　tour。
　〃Look　here；　Haku；〃　the　boy　said。　〃A　letter　came　for　me　late　last　night？〃
　〃Yes…s；〃　admitted　Haku。
　〃Who　delivered　it？〃
　〃Can　not　say。　It　were　found　on　floor　of　hall　close　by　big　front　door。〃
　〃Who　found　it？〃
　〃Kamaikui。〃
　〃Oh；　yes　…　Kamaikui。〃
　〃I　tell　her　to　put　in　your　sleeping　room。〃
　〃Did　Kamaikui　see　the　person　who　brought　it？〃
　〃Nobody　see　him。　Nobody　on　place。〃
　〃All　right；〃　John　Quincy　said。
　He　spent　a　leisurely　hour　on　the　lanai　with　his　pipe　and　the　morning　paper。　At　about　half　past　ten　he　got　out　the　roadster　and　drove　to　the　police　station。
　Hallet　and　Chan；　he　was　told；　were　in　a　conference　with　the　prosecutor。　He　sat　down　to　wait；　and　in　a　few　moments　word　came　for　him　to　join　them。　Entering　Greene's　office；　he　saw　the　three　men　seated　gloomily　about　the　prosecutor's　desk。
　〃Well；　I　guess　I'm　some　detective；〃　he　announced。
　Greene　looked　up　quickly。　〃Found　anything　new？〃
　〃Not　precisely；〃　John　Quincy　admitted。　〃But　last　night　when　I　was　walking　along　Kalakaua　Avenue　with　a　young　woman；　somebody　took　a　couple　of　wild　shots　at　me　from　the　bushes。　And　when　I　got　home　I　found　this　letter　waiting。〃
　He　handed　the　epistle　to　Hallet；　who　read　it　with　evident　disgust；　then　passed　it　on　to　the　prosecutor。　〃That　doesn't　get　us　anywhere；〃　the　captain　said。
　〃It　may　get　me　somewhere；　if　I'm　not　careful；〃　John　Quincy　replied。　〃However；　I'm　rather　proud　of　it。　Sort　of　goes　to　show　that　my　detective　work　is　hitting　home。〃
　〃Maybe；〃　answered　Hallet；　carelessly。
　Greene　laid　the　letter　on　his　desk。　〃My　advice　to　you；〃　he　said；　〃is　to　carry　a　gun。　That's　unofficial；　of　course。〃
　〃Nonsense；　I'm　not　afraid；〃　John　Quincy　told　him。　〃I've　got　a　pretty　good　idea　who　sent　this　thing。〃
　〃You　have？〃　Greene　said。
　〃Yes。　He's　a　friend　of　Captain　Hallet's。　Dick　Kaohla。〃
　〃What　do　you　mean　he's　a　friend　of　mine？〃　flared　Hallet。
　〃Well；　you　certainly　treated　him　pretty　tenderly　the　other　night。〃
　〃I　knew　what　I　was　doing；〃　said　Hallet　grouchily。
　〃I　hope　you　did。　But　if　he　puts　a　bullet　in　me　some　lovely　evening；　I'm　going　to　be　pretty　annoyed　with　you。〃
　〃Oh；　you're　in　no　danger；〃　Hallet　answered。　〃Only　a　coward　writes　anonymous　letters。〃
　〃Yes；　and　only　a　coward　shoots　from　ambush。　But　that　isn't　saying　he　can't　take　a　good　aim。〃
　Hallet　picked　up　the　letter。　〃I'll　keep　this。　It　may　prove　to　be　evidence。〃
　〃Surely；〃　agreed　John　Quincy。　〃And　you　haven't　got　any　too　much　evidence；　as　I　see　it。〃
　〃Is　that　so？〃　growled　Hallet。　〃We've　made　a　rather　important　discovery　about　that　Corsican　cigarette。〃
　〃Oh；　I'm　not　saying　Charlie　isn't　good；〃　smiled　John　Quincy。　〃I　was　with　him　when　he　worked　that　out。〃
　A　uniformed　man　appeared　at　the　door。　〃Egan　and　his　daughter　and　Captain　Cope；〃　he　announced　to　Greene。　〃Want　to　see　them　now；　sir？〃
　〃Send　them　in；〃　ordered　the　prosecutor。
　〃I'd　like　to　stay；　if　you　don't　mind；〃　John　Quincy　suggested。
　〃Oh；　by　all　means；〃　Greene　answered。　〃We　couldn't　get　along　without　you。〃
　The　policeman　brought　Egan　to　the　door；　and　the　proprietor　of　the　Reef　and　Palm　came　into　the　room。　His　face　was　haggard　and　pale；　his　long　siege　with　the　authorities　had　begun　to　tell。　But　a　stubborn　light　still　flamed　in　his　eyes。　After　him　came　Carlota　Egan；　fresh　and　beautiful；　and　with　a　new　air　of　confidence　about　her。　Captain　Cope　followed；　tall；　haughty；　a　man　of　evident　power　and　determination。
　〃This　is　the　prosecutor；　I　believe？〃　he　said。　〃Ah；　Mr。　Winterslip；　I　find　you　everywhere　I　go。〃
　〃You　don't　mind　my　staying？〃　inquired　John　Quincy。
　〃Not　in　the　least；　my　boy。　Our　business　here　will　take　but　a　moment。〃　He　turned　to　Greene。　〃Just　as　a　preliminary；〃　he　continued；　〃I　am　Captain　Arthur　Temple　Cope　of　the　British　Admiralty；　and　this　gentleman〃　…　he　nodded　toward　the　proprietor　of　the　Reef　and　Palm　…　〃is　my　brother。〃
　〃Really？〃　said　Greene。　〃His　name　is　Egan；　as　I　understand　it。〃
　〃His　name　is　James　Egan　Cope；〃　the　captain　replied。　〃He　dropped　the　Cope　many　years　ago　for　reasons　that　do　not　concern　us　now。　I　am　here　simply　to　say；　sir；　that　you　are　holding　my　brother　on　the　flimsiest　pretext　I　have　ever　encountered　in　the　course　of　my　rather　extensive　travels。　If　necessary；　I　propose　to　engage　the　best　lawyer　in　Honolulu　and　have　him　free　by　night。　But　I'm　giving　you　this　last　chance　to　release　him　and　avoid　a　somewhat　painful　expose　of　the　sort　of　nonsense　you　go　in　for。〃
　John　Quincy　glanced　at　Carlota　Egan。　Her　eyes　were　shining　but　not　on　him。　They　were　on　her　uncle。
　Greene　flushed　slightly。　〃A　good　bluff；　Captain；　is　always　worth　trying；〃　he　said。
　〃Oh；　then　you　admit　you've　been　bluffing；〃　said　Cope　quickly。
　〃I　was　referring　to　your　attitude；　sir；〃　Greene　replied。
　〃Oh；　I　see；〃　Cope　said。　〃I'll　sit　down；　if　you　don't　mind。　As　I　understand　it；　you　have　two　things　against　old　Jim　here。　One　is　that　he　visited　Dan　Winterslip　on　the　night　of　the　murder；　and　now　refuses　to　divulge　the　nature　of　that　call。　The　other　is　the　stub　of　a　Corsican　cigarette　which　was　found　by　the　walk　outside　the　door　of　Winterslip's　living…room。〃
　Greene　shook　his　head。　〃Only　the　first；〃　he　responded。　〃The　Corsican　cigarette　is　no　longer　evidence　against　Egan。〃　He　leaned　suddenly　across　his　desk。　〃It　is；　my　dear　Captain　Cope；　evidence　against　you。〃
　Cope　met　his　look　unflinchingly。　〃Really？〃　he　remarked。
　John　Quincy　noted　a　flash　of　startled　bewilderment　in　Carlota　Egan's　eyes。
　〃That's　what　I　said；〃　Greene　continued。　〃I'm　very　glad　you　dropped　in　this　morning；　sir。　I've　been　wanting　to　talk　to　you。　I've　been　told　that　you　were　heard　to　express　a　strong　dislike　for　Dan　Winterslip。〃
　〃I　may　have。　I　certainly　felt　it。〃
　〃Why？〃
　〃As　a　midshipman　on　a　British　war…ship；　I　was　familiar　with　Australian　gossip　in　the　'eighties。　Mr。　Dan　Winterslip　had　an　unsavory　reputation。　It　was　rumored　on　good　authority　that　he　rifled　the　sea　chest　of　his　dead　captain　on　the　Maid　of　Shiloh。　Perhaps　we're　a　bit　squeamish；　but　that　is　the　sort　of　thing　we　sailors　can　not　forgive。　There　were　other　quaint　deeds　in　connection　with　his　blackbirding　activities。　Yes；　my　dear　sir；　I　heartily　disliked　Dan　Winterslip；　and　if　I　haven't　said　so　before；　I　say　it　now。〃
　〃You　arrived　in　Honolulu　a　week　ago　yesterday；〃　Greene　continued。　〃At　noon　…　Monday　noon。　You　left　the　following　day。　Did　you；　by　any　chance；　call　on　Dan　Winterslip　during　that　period？〃
　〃I　did　not。〃
　〃Ah；　yes。　I　may　tell　you；　sir；　that　the　Corsican　cigarettes　found　in　Egan's　case　were　of　Turkish　tobacco。　The　stub　found　near　the　scene　of　Dan　Winterslip's　murder　was　of　Virginia　tobacco。　So　also；　my　dear　Captain　Cope；　was　the　Corsican　cigarette　you　gave　our　man　Charlie　Chan　in　the　lobby　of　the　Alexander　Young　Hotel　last　Sunday　night。〃
　Cope　looked　at　Chan；　and　smiled。　〃Always　the　detective；　eh？〃　he　said。
　〃Never　mind　that！〃　Greene　cried。　〃I'm　asking　for　an　explanation。〃
　〃The　explanation　is　very　simple；〃　Cope　replied。　〃I　was　about　to　give　it　to　you　when　you　launched　into　this　silly　cross…examination。　The　Corsican　cigarette　found　by　Dan　Winterslip's　door　was；　naturally；　of　Virginia　tobacco。　I　never　smoke　any　other　kind。〃
　〃What！〃
　〃There　can　be　no　question　about　it；　sir。　I　dropped　that　cigarette　there　myself。〃
　〃But　you　just　told　me　you　didn't　call　on　Dan　Winterslip。〃
　〃That　was　true。　I　didn't。　I　called　on　Miss　Minerva　Winterslip；　of　Boston；　who　is　a　guest　in　the　house。　As　a　matter　of　fact；　I　had　tea　with　her　last　Monday　at　five　o'clock。　You　may　verify　that　by　telephoning