earlderrbiggers.thehousewithoutakey-第36章

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　〃Some　one　shot　at　you！〃　gasped　Miss　Minerva。
　〃I'll　say　so。　You　rather　fancy　yourself　as　a　sleuth；　but　is　anybody　taking　aim　at　you　from　behind　bushes？　Answer　me　that。〃
　Miss　Minerva　sat　down　weakly　on　a　chair。　〃You're　going　home　on　the　next　boat；〃　she　announced。
　He　laughed。　〃About　two　weeks　ago　I　made　that　suggestion　to　you。　And　what　was　your　reply？　Ah；　my　dear；　the　tables　are　turned。　I'm　not　going　home　on　the　next　boat。　I　may　never　go　home。　This　gay；　care…free；　sudden　country　begins　to　appeal　to　me。　Let　me　read　about　myself。〃
　He　returned　to　the　paper。　〃The　clock　was　turned　back　thirty　years　on　the　Honolulu　water…front　last　night；〃　began　the　somewhat　imaginative　account。　It　closed　with　the　news　that　the　tramp　steamer　Mary　S。　Allison　had　left　port　before　the　police　could　board　her。　Evidently　she'd　had　steam　up　and　papers　ready；　and　was　only　awaiting　the　return　of　the　red…haired　man　and　his　victim。　John　Quincy　handed　the　newspaper　back　to　his　aunt。
　〃Too　bad；〃　he　remarked。　〃They　slipped　through　Hallet's　fingers。〃
　〃Of　course　they　did；〃　she　snapped。　〃Everybody　does。　I'd　like　a　talk　with　Captain　Hallet。　If　I　could　only　tell　him　what　I　think　of　him；　I'd　feel　better。〃
　〃Save　that　paper；〃　John　Quincy　said。　〃I　want　to　send　it　to　mother。〃
　She　stared　at　him。　〃Are　you　mad？　Poor　Grace　…　she'd　have　a　nervous　breakdown。　I　only　hope　she　doesn't　hear　of　this　until　you're　back　in　Boston　safe　and　sound。〃
　〃Oh；　yes　…　Boston；〃　laughed　John　Quincy。　〃Quaint　old　town；　they　tell　me。　I　must　visit　there　some　day。　Now　if　you'll　leave　me　a　minute；　I'll　prepare　to　join　you　at　breakfast　and　relate　the　story　of　my　adventurous　life。〃
　〃Very　well；〃　agreed　Miss　Minerva；　rising。　She　paused　at　the　door。　〃A　little　witch…hazel　might　help　your　face。〃
　〃The　scars　of　honorable　battle；〃　said　her　nephew。　〃Why　remove　them？〃
　〃Honorable　fiddlesticks；〃　Miss　Minerva　answered。　〃After　all；　the　Back　Bay　has　its　good　points。〃　But　in　the　hall　outside　she　smiled　a　delighted　little　smile。
　When　John　Quincy　and　his　aunt　were　leaving　the　dining…room　after　breakfast　Kamaikui；　stiff　and　dignified　in　a　freshly…laundered　holoku；　approached　the　boy。
　〃So　very　happy　to　see　you　safe　this　morning；〃　she　announced。
　〃Why；　thank　you；　Kamaikui；〃　he　answered。　He　wondered。　Was　Kaohla　responsible　for　his　troubles；　and　if　so；　did　this　huge　silent　woman　know　of　her　grandson's　activities？
　〃Poor　thing；〃　Miss　Minerva　said　as　they　entered　the　living…room。　〃She's　been　quite　downcast　since　Dan　went。　I'm　sorry　for　her。　I've　always　liked　her。〃
　〃Naturally；〃　smiled　John　Quincy。　〃There's　a　bond　between　you。〃
　〃What's　that？〃
　〃Two　vanishing　races；　yours　and　hers。　The　Boston　Brahman　and　the　pure　Hawaiian。〃
　Later　in　the　morning　Carlota　Egan　telephoned　him；　greatly　excited。　She　had　just　seen　the　Sunday　paper。
　〃All　true；〃　he　admitted。　〃While　you　were　dancing　your　heart　out；　I　was　struggling　to　sidestep　a　Cook's　tour　of　the　Orient。〃
　〃I　shouldn't　have　had　a　happy　moment　if　I'd　known。〃
　〃Then　I'm　glad　you　didn't。　Big　party；　I　suppose？〃
　〃Yes。　You　know；　I've　been　terribly　worried　about　you　ever　since　that　night　on　the　avenue。　I　want　to　talk　with　you。　Will　you　e　to　see　me？〃
　〃Will　I？　I'm　on　my　way　already。〃
　He　hung　up　the　receiver　and　hastened　down　the　beach。　Carlota　was　sitting　on　the　white　sand　not　far　from　the　Reef　and　Palm；　all　in　white　herself。　A　serious　wide…eyed　Carlota　quite　different　from　the　gay　girl　who　had　been　hurrying　to　a　party　the　night　before。
　John　Quincy　dropped　down　beside　her；　and　for　a　time　they　talked　of　the　dance　and　of　his　adventure。　Suddenly　she　turned　to　him。
　〃I　have　no　right　to　ask　it；　I　know；　but　…　I　want　you　to　do　something　for　me。〃
　〃It　will　make　me　very　happy　…　anything　you　ask。〃
　〃Go　back　to　Boston。〃
　〃What！　Not　that。　I　was　wrong　…　that　wouldn't　make　me　happy。〃
　〃Yes；　it　would。　You　don't　think　so　now；　perhaps。　You're　dazzled　by　the　sun　out　here；　but　this　isn't　your　kind　of　place。　We're　not　your　kind　of　people。　You　think　you　like　us；　but　you'd　soon　forget。　Back　among　your　own　sort　…　the　sort　who　are　interested　in　the　things　that　interest　you。　Please　go。〃
　〃It　would　be　retreating　under　fire；〃　he　objected。
　〃But　you　proved　your　courage；　last　night。　I'm　afraid　for　you。　Some　one　out　here　has　a　terrible　grudge　against　you。　I'd　never　forgive　Hawaii　if　…　if　anything　happened　to　you。〃
　〃That's　sweet　of　you。〃　He　moved　closer。　But　…　confound　it　…　there　was　Agatha。　Bound　to　Agatha　by　all　the　ties　of　honor。　He　edged　away　again。　〃I'll　think　about　it；〃　he　agreed。
　〃I'm　leaving　Honolulu　too；　you　know；〃　she　reminded　him。
　〃I　know。　You'll　have　a　wonderful　time　in　England。〃
　She　shook　her　head。　〃Oh；　I　dread　the　whole　idea。　Dad's　heart　is　set　on　it；　and　I　shall　go　to　please　him。　But　I　shan't　enjoy　it。　I'm　not　up　to　England。〃
　〃Nonsense。〃
　〃No；　I'm　not。　I'm　unsophisticated　…　crude；　really　…　just　a　girl　of　the　Islands。〃
　〃But　you　wouldn't　care　to　stay　here　all　your　life？〃
　〃No；　indeed。　It's　a　beautiful　spot　…　to　loll　about　in。　But　I've　too　much　northern　blood　to　be　satisfied　with　that。　One　of　these　days　I　want　dad　to　sell　and　we'll　go　to　the　mainland。　I　could　get　some　sort　of　work　…〃
　〃Any　particular　place　on　the　mainland？〃
　〃Well；　I　haven't　been　about　much；　of　course。　But　all　the　time　I　was　at　school　I　kept　thinking　I'd　rather　live　in　San　Francisco　than　anywhere　else　in　the　world　…〃
　〃Good；〃　John　Quincy　cried。　〃That's　my　choice　too。　You　remember　that　morning　on　the　ferry；　how　you　held　out　your　hand　to　me　and　said：　'Wele　to　your　city　…'〃
　〃But　you　corrected　me　at　once。　You　said　you　belonged　in　Boston。〃
　〃I　see　my　error　now。〃
　She　shook　her　head。　〃A　moment's　madness；　but　you'll　recover。　You're　an　easterner；　and　you　could　never　be　happy　anywhere　else。〃
　〃Oh；　yes；　I　could；〃　he　assured　her。　〃I'm　a　Winterslip；　a　wandering　Winterslip。　Any　old　place　we　hang　our　hats　…〃　This　time　he　did　lean　rather　close。　〃I　could　be　happy　anywhere　…〃　he　began。　He　wanted　to　add　〃with　you。〃　But　Agatha's　slim　patrician　hand　was　on　his　shoulder。　〃Anywhere；〃　he　repeated；　with　a　different　inflection。　A　gong　sounded　from　the　Reef　and　Palm。
　Carlota　rose。　〃That's　lunch。〃　John　Quincy　stood　too。　〃It's　beside　the　point　…　where　you　go；〃　she　went　on。　〃I　asked　you　to　do　something　for　me。〃
　〃I　know。　If　you'd　asked　anything　else　in　the　world；　I'd　be　up　to　my　neck　in　it　now。　But　what　you　suggest　would　take　a　bit　of　doing。　To　leave　Hawaii　…　and　say　good…by　to　you　…〃
　〃I　meant　to　be　very　firm　about　it；〃　she　broke　in。
　〃But　I　must　have　a　little　time　to　consider。　Will　you　wait？〃
　She　smiled　up　at　him。　〃You're　so　much　wiser　than　I　am；〃　she　said。　〃Yes　…　I'll　wait。〃
　He　went　slowly　along　the　beach。　Unsophisticated；　yes　…　and　charming。　〃You're　so　much　wiser　than　I　am。〃　Where　on　the　mainland　could　one　encounter　a　girl　nowadays　who'd　say　that？　He　had　quite　forgotten　that　she　smiled　when　she　said　it。
　In　the　afternoon；　John　Quincy　visited　the　police　station。　Hallet　was　in　his　room　in　rather　a　grouchy　mood。　Chan　was　out　somewhere　hunting　the　watch。　No；　they　hadn't　found　it　yet。
　John　Quincy　was　mildly　reproving。　〃Well；　you　saw　it；　didn't　you？〃　growled　Hallet。　〃Why　in　Sam　Hill　didn't　you　grab　it？〃
　〃Because　they　tied　my　hands；〃　John　Quincy　reminded　him。　〃I've　narrowed　the　search　down　for　you　to　the　taxi　drivers　of　Honolulu。〃
　〃Hundreds　of　them；　my　boy。〃
　〃More　than　that；　I've　given　you　the　first　two　numbers　on　the　license　plate　of　the　car。　If　you're　any　good　at　all；　you　ought　to　be　able　to　land　that　watch　now。〃
　〃Oh；　we'll　land　it；〃　Hallet　said。　〃Give　us　time。〃
　Time　was　just　what　John　Quincy　had　to　give　them。　Monday　came　and　went。　Miss　Minerva　was　bitterly　sarcastic。
　〃Patience　are　a　very　lovely　virtue；〃　John　Quincy　told　her。　〃I　got　that　from　Charlie。〃
　〃At　any　rate；〃　she　snapped；　〃it　are　a　virtue　very　much　needed　with　Captain　Hallet　in　charge。〃
　In　another　direction；　too；　John　Quincy　was　called　upon　to　exercise　patience。　Agatha　Parker　was　unaccountably　silent　regarding　that　short　peremptory　cable　he　had　sent　on　his　big　night　in　town。　Was　she　offended？　The　Parkers　were　notoriously　not　a　family　who　accepted　dictation。　But　in　such　a　vital　matter　as　this；　a　girl　should　be　willing　to　listen　to　reason。
　Late　Tuesday　afternoon　Chan　telephoned　from　the　station…house　…　unquestionably　Chan　this　time。　Would　John　Quincy　do　him　the　great　honor　to　join　him　for　an　early　dinner　at　the　Alexander　Young　cafe？
　〃Something　doing；　Charlie？〃　cried　the　boy　eagerly。
　〃Maybe　it　might　be；〃　answered　Chan；　〃and　maybe　also　not。　At　six　o'clock　in　hotel　lobby；　if　you　will　so　far　condescend。〃
　〃I'll　be　there；〃　John　Quincy　promised；　and　he　was。
　He　greeted　Chan　with　anxious；　inquiring　eyes；　but　Chan　was　suave　and　entirely　non…mittal。　He　led　John　Quincy　to　the　dining…room　and　carefully　selected　a　table　by　a　front　window。
　〃Do　me　the　great　favor　to　recline；〃　he　suggested。
　John　Quincy　reclined。　〃Charlie；　don't　keep　me　in　suspense；〃　he　pleaded。
　Chan　smiled。　〃Let　us　not　shade　the　feast　with　gloomy　murder　talk；〃　he　replied。　〃This　are　social　meeting。　Is　it　that　you　are　in　the　mood　to　dry　up　plate　of　soup？〃
　〃Why；　yes；　of　course；〃　John　Quincy　answered。　Politeness；　he　saw；　dictated　that　he　hide　his　curiosity。
　〃Two　of　the　soup；〃　ordered　Chan　of　a　white…jacketed　waiter。　A　car　drew　up　to　the　door　of　the　Alexander　Young。　Chan　half　rose；　staring　at　it　keenly。　He　dropped　back　to　his　seat。　〃It　is　my　high　delight　to　entertain　you　thus　humbly　before　you　are　restored　to　Boston。　Converse　at　some　length　of　Boston。　I　feel　interested。〃
　〃Really？〃　smiled　the　boy。
　〃Undubitably。　Gentleman　I　meet　once　say　Boston　are　like　China。　The　future　of　both；　he　say；　lies　in　graveyards　where　repose　useless　bodies　of　honored　guests　on　high。　I　am　fogged　as　to　meaning。〃
　〃He　meant　both　places　live　in　the　past；〃　John　Quincy　explained。　〃And　he　was　right；　in　a　way。　Boston；　like　China；　boasts　a　glorious　history。　But　that's　not　saying　the　Boston　of　to…day　isn't　progressive。　Why；　do　you　know　…〃
　He　talked　eloquently　of　his　native　city。　Chan　listened；　rapt。
　〃Always；〃　he　sighed；　when　John　Quincy　finished；　〃I　have　unlimited　yearning　for　travel。〃　He　paused　to　watch　another　car　draw　up　before　the　hotel。　〃But　it　are　unavailable。　I　am　policeman　on　small　remuneration。　In　my　youth；　rambling　on　evening　hillside　or　by　moonly　ocean；　I　dream　of　more　lofty　position。　Not　so　now。　But　that　other　American　citizen；　my　eldest　son；　he　are　dreaming　too。　Maybe　for　him　dreams　eventuate。　Perhaps　he　bee　second　Baby　Ruth；　home　run　emperor；　applause　of　thousands　making　him　deaf。　Who　knows　it？〃
　The　dinner　passed；　unshaded　by　gloomy　talk；　and　they　went　outside。　Chan　proffered　a　cigar　of　which　he　spoke　in　the　most　belittling　fashion。　He　suggested　that　they　stand　for　a　time　before　the　hotel　door。
　〃Waiting　for　somebody？〃　inquired　John　Quincy；　unable　longer　to　dissemble。
　〃Precisely　the　fact。　Barely　dare　to　mention　it；　however。　Great　disappointment　may　drive　up　here　any　minute　now。〃
　An　open　car　stopped　before　the　hotel　entrance。　John　Quincy's　eyes　sought　the　license　plate；　and　he　got　an　immediate　thrill。　The　first　two　figures　were　33。
　A　party　of　tourists；　a　man　and　two　women；　alighted。　The　doorman　ran　forward　and　busied　himself　with　luggage。　Chan　casually　strolled　across　the　walk；　and　as　the　Japanese　dri