earlderrbiggers.thehousewithoutakey-第37章

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　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　driver　shifted　his　gears　preparatory　to　driving　away；　put　a　restraining　hand　on　the　car　door。
　〃One　moment；　please。〃　The　driver　turned；　fright　in　his　eyes。　〃You　are　Okuda；　from　auto　stand　across　way？〃
　〃Yes…s；〃　hissed　the　driver。
　〃You　are　now　returned　from　exploring　island　with　party　of　tourists？　You　leave　this　spot　early　Sunday　morning？〃
　〃Yes…s。〃
　〃Is　it　possible　that　you　wear　wrist　watch；　please？〃
　〃Yes…s。〃
　〃Deign　to　reveal　face　of　same。〃
　The　Jap　hesitated。　Chan　leaned　far　over　into　the　car　and　thrust　aside　the　man's　coat　sleeve。　He　came　back；　a　pleased　light　in　his　eyes；　and　held　open　the　rear　door。　〃Kindly　embark　into　tonneau；　Mr。　Winterslip。〃　Obediently　John　Quincy　got　in。　Chan　took　his　place　by　the　driver's　side。　〃The　police　station；　if　you　will　be　so　kind。〃　The　car　leaped　forward。
　The　essential　clue！　They　had　it　at　last。　John　Quincy's　heart　beat　fast　there　in　the　rear　of　the　car　where；　only　a　few　nights　before；　he　had　been　bound　and　gagged。
　Captain　Hallet's　grim　face　relaxed　into　happy　lines　when　he　met　them　at　the　door　of　his　room。　〃You　got　him；　eh？　Good　work。〃　He　glanced　at　the　prisoner's　wrist。　〃Rip　that　watch　off　him；　Charlie。〃
　Charlie　obeyed。　He　examined　the　watch　for　a　moment；　then　handed　it　to　his　chief。
　〃Inexpensive　time…piece　of　noted　brand；〃　he　announced。　〃Numeral　two　faint　and　far　away。　One　other　fact　emerge　into　light。　This　Japanese　man　have　small　wrist。　Yet　worn　place　on　strap　convey　impression　of　being　worn　by　man　with　wrist　of　vastly　larger　circumference。〃
　Hallet　nodded。　〃Yes；　that's　right。　Some　other　man　has　owned　this　watch。　He　had　a　big　wrist　…　but　most　men　in　Honolulu　have；　you　know。　Sit　down；　Okuda。　I　want　to　hear　from　you。　You　understand　what　it　means　to　lie　to　me？〃
　〃I　do　not　lie；　sir。〃
　〃No；　you　bet　your　sweet　life　you　don't。　First；　tell　me　who　engaged　your　car　last　Saturday　night。〃
　〃Saturday　night？〃
　〃That's　what　I　said！〃
　〃Ah；　yes。　Two　sailors　from　ship。　Engage　for　evening　paying　large　cash　at　once。　I　drive　to　shop　on　River　Street；　wait　long　time。　Then　off　we　go　to　dock　with　extra　passenger　in　back。〃
　〃Know　the　names　of　those　sailors？〃
　〃Could　not　say。〃
　〃What　ship　were　they　from？〃
　〃How　can　I　know？　Not　told。〃
　〃All　right　I'm　ing　to　the　important　thing。　Understand？　The　truth　…　that's　what　I　want！　Where　did　you　get　this　watch？〃
　Chan　and　John　Quincy　leaned　forward　eagerly。　〃I　buy　him；〃　said　the　Jap。
　〃You　bought　him？　Where？〃
　〃At　jewel　store　of　Chinese　Lau　Ho　on　Maunakea　Street。〃
　Hallet　turned　to　Chan。　〃Know　the　place；　Charlie？〃
　Chan　nodded。　〃Yes；　indeed。〃
　〃Open　now？〃
　〃Open　until　hour　of　ten；　maybe　more。〃
　〃Good；〃　said　Hallet。　〃e　along；　Okuda。　You　can　drive　us　there。〃
　Lau　Ho；　a　little　wizened　Chinese　man；　sat　back　of　his　work　bench　with　a　microscope　screwed　into　one　dim　old　eye。　The　four　men　who　entered　his　tiny　store　filled　it　to　overflowing；　but　he　gave　them　barely　a　glance。
　〃e　on；　Ho　…　wake　up；〃　Hallet　cried。　〃I　want　to　talk　to　you。〃
　With　the　utmost　deliberation　Lau　Ho　descended　from　his　stool　and　approached　the　counter。　He　regarded　Hallet　with　a　hostile　eye。　The　captain　laid　the　wrist　watch　on　top　of　a　showcase　in　which　reposed　many　trays　of　jade。
　〃Ever　see　that　before？〃　he　inquired。
　Lau　Ho　regarded　it　casually。　Slowly　he　raised　his　eyes。　〃Maybe　so。　Can　not　say；〃　he　replied　in　a　high　squeaky　voice。
　Hallet　reddened。　〃Nonsense。　You　had　it　here　in　the　store；　and　you　sold　it　to　this　fellow。　Now；　didn't　you？〃
　Lau　Ho　dreamily　regarded　the　taxi　driver。　〃Maybe　so。　Can　not　say。〃
　〃Damn　it！〃　cried　Hallet。　〃You　know　who　I　am？〃
　〃Policeman；　maybe。〃
　〃Policeman　maybe　yes！　And　I　want　you　to　tell　me　about　this　watch。　Now　wake　up　and　e　across　or　by　the　Lord　Harry　…〃
　Chan　laid　a　deferential　hand　on　his　chief's　arm。　〃Humbly　suggest　I　attempt　this；〃　he　said。
　Hallet　nodded。　〃All　right；　he's　your　meat；　Charlie。〃　He　drew　back。
　Chan　bowed　with　a　great　show　of　politeness。　He　launched　into　a　long　story　in　Chinese。　Lau　Ho　looked　at　him　with　slight　interest。　Presently　he　squeaked　a　brief　reply。　Chan　resumed　his　flow　of　talk。　Occasionally　he　paused；　and　Lau　Ho　spoke。　In　a　few　moments　Chan　turned　beaming。
　〃Story　are　now　pletely　extracted　like　aching　tooth；〃　he　said。　〃Wrist　watch　was　brought　to　Lau　Ho　on　Thursday；　same　week　as　murder。　Offered　him　on　sale　by　young　man　darkly　colored　with　small　knife　scar　marring　cheek。　Lau　Ho　buy　and　repair　watch；　interior　works　being　in　injured　state。　Saturday　morning　he　sell　at　seemly　profit　to　Japanese；　presumably　this　Okoda　here　but　Lau　Ho　will　not　swear。　Saturday　night　dark　young　man　appear　much　overwhelmed　with　excitement　and　demand　watch　again；　please。　Lau　Ho　say　it　is　sold　to　Japanese。　Which　Japanese？　Lau　Ho　is　not　aware　of　name；　and　can　not　describe；　all　Japanese　faces　being　uninteresting　outlook　for　him。　Dark　young　man　curse　and　fly。　Appear　frequently　demanding　any　news；　but　Lau　Ho　is　unable　to　oblige。　Such　are　story　of　this　jewel　merchant　here。〃
　They　went　out　on　the　street。　Hallet　scowled　at　the　Japanese　man。　〃All　right　…　run　along。　I'll　keep　the　watch。〃
　〃Very　thankful；〃　said　the　taxi　driver；　and　leaped　into　his　car。
　Hallet　turned　to　Chan。　〃A　dark　young　man　with　a　scar？〃　he　queried。
　〃Clear　enough　to　me；〃　Chan　answered。　〃Same　are　the　Spaniard　Jose　Cabrera；　careless　man　about　town　with　reputation　not　so　savory。　Mr。　Winterslip；　is　it　that　you　have　forgotten　him？〃
　John　Quincy　started。　〃Me？　Did　I　ever　see　him？〃
　〃Recall；〃　said　Chan。　〃It　are　the　night　following　murder。　You　and　I　linger　in　All　American　Restaurant　engaged　in　debate　regarding　hygiene　of　pie。　Door　open；　admitting　Bowker；　steward　on　President　Tyler；　joyously　full　of　okolehau。　With　him　are　dark　young　man　…　this　Jose　Cabrera　himself。〃
　〃Oh；　I　remember　now；〃　John　Quincy　answered。
　〃Well；　the　Spaniard's　easy　to　pick　up；〃　said　Hallet。　〃I'll　have　him　inside　an　hour　…〃
　〃One　moment；　please；〃　interposed　Chan。　〃To…morrow　morning　at　nine　o'clock　the　President　Tyler　return　from　Orient。　No　gambler　myself　but　will　wager　increditable　sum　Spaniard　waits　on　dock　for　Mr。　Bowker。　If　you　present　no　fierce　objection；　I　have　a　yearning　to　arrest　him　at　that　very　moment。〃
　〃Why；　of　course；〃　agreed　Hallet。　He　looked　keenly　at　Charlie　Chan。　〃Charlie；　you　old　rascal；　you've　got　the　scent　at　last。〃
　〃Who　…　me？〃　grinned　Chan。　〃With　your　gracious　permission　I　would　alter　the　picture。　Stone　walls　are　crumbling　now　like　dust。　Through　many　loopholes　light　stream　in　like　rosy　streaks　of　dawn。〃
　
　CHAPTER　XXI　
　The　Stone　Walls　Crumble　
　
　THE　STONE　WALLS　were　crumbling　and　the　light　streaming　through　…　but　only　for　Chan。　John　Quincy　was　still　groping　in　the　dark；　and　his　reflections　were　a　little　bitter　as　he　returned　to　the　house　at　Waikiki。　Chan　and　he　had　worked　together；　but　now　that　they　approached　the　crisis　of　their　efforts；　the　detective　evidently　preferred　to　push　on　alone；　leaving　his　fellow…worker　to　follow　if　he　could。　Well；　so　be　it　…　but　John　Quincy's　pride　was　touched。
　He　had　suddenly　a　keen　desire　to　show　Chan　that　he　could　not　be　left　behind　like　that。　If　only　he　could；　by　some　inspirational　flash　of　deductive　reasoning；　arrive　at　the　solution　of　the　mystery　simultaneously　with　the　detective。　For　the　honor　of　Boston　and　the　Winterslips。
　Frowning　deeply；　he　considered　all　the　old　discarded　clues　again。　The　people　who　had　been　under　suspicion　and　then　dropped　…　Egan；　the　pton　woman；　Brade；　Kaohla；　Leatherbee；　Saladine；　Cope。　He　even　considered　several　the　investigation　had　not　touched。　Presently　he　came　to　Bowker。　What　did　Bowker's　reappearance　mean？
　For　the　first　time　in　two　weeks　he　thought　of　the　little…man　with　the　fierce　pompadour　and　the　gold…rimmed　eyeglasses。　Bowker　with　his　sorrowful　talk　of　vanished　bar…rooms　and　lost　friends　behind　the　bar。　How　was　the　steward　on　the　President　Tyler　connected　with　the　murder　of　Dan　Winterslip？　He　had　not　done　it　himself；　that　was　obvious；　but　in　some　way　he　was　linked　up　with　the　crime。　John　Quincy　spent　a　long　and　painful　period　seeking　to　join　Bowker　up　with　one　or　another　of　the　suspects。　It　couldn't　be　done。
　All　through　that　Tuesday　evening　the　boy　puzzled；　so　silent　and　distrait　that　Miss　Minerva　finally　gave　him　up　and　retired　to　her　room　with　a　book。　He　awoke　on　Wednesday　morning　with　the　problem　no　nearer　solution。
　Barbara　was　due　to　arrive　at　ten　o'clock　from　Kauai；　and　taking　the　small　car；　John　Quincy　went　down…town　to　meet　her。　Pausing　at　the　bank　to　cash　a　check；　he　encountered　his　old　shipmate　on　the　President　Tyler；　the　sprightly　Madame　Maynard。
　〃I　really　shouldn't　speak　to　you；〃　she　said。　〃You　never　e　to　see　me。〃
　〃I　know；〃　he　answered。　〃But　I've　been　so　very　busy。〃
　〃So　I　hear。　Running　round　with　policemen　and　their　victims。　I　have　no　doubt　you'll　go　back　to　Boston　and　report　we're　all　criminals　and　cutthroats　out　here。〃
　〃Oh；　hardly　that。〃
　〃Yes；　you　will。　You're　getting　a　very　biased　view　of　Honolulu。　Why　not　stoop　to　associate　with　a　respectable　person　now　and　then？〃
　〃I'd　enjoy　it　…　if　they're　all　like　you。〃
　〃Like　me？　They're　much　more　intelligent　and　charming　than　I　am。　Some　of　them　are　dropping　in　at　my　house　tonight　for　an　informal　little　party。　A　bit　of　a　chat；　and　then　a　moonlight　swim。　Won't　you　e　too？〃
　〃I　want　to；　of　course；〃　John　Quincy　replied。　〃But　there's　Cousin　Dan　…〃
　Her　eyes　flashed。　〃I'll　say　it；　even　if　he　was　your　relative。　Ten　minutes　of　mourning　for　Cousin　Dan　is　ample。　I'll　be　looking　for　you。〃
　John　Quincy　laughed。　〃I'll　e。〃
　〃Do；〃　she　answered。　〃And　bring　your　Aunt　Minerva。　Tell　her　I　said　she　might　as　well　be　dead　as　hog…tied　by　convention。〃
　John　Quincy　went　out　to　the　corner　of　Fort　and　King　Streets；　near　which　he　had　parked　the　car。　As　he　was　about　to　climb　into　it；　he　paused。　A　familiar　figure　was　jauntily　crossing　the　street。　The　figure　of　Bowker；　the　steward；　and　with　him　was　Willie　Chan；　demon　back…stopper　of　the　Pacific。
　〃Hello；　Bowker；〃　John　Quincy　called。
　Mr。　Bowker　came　blithely　to　join　him。　〃Well；　well；　well。　My　old　friend　Mr。　Winterslip。　Shake　hands　with　William　Chan；　the　local　Ty　Cobb。〃
　〃Mr。　Chan　and　I　have　met　before；〃　John　Quincy　told　him。
　〃Know　all　the　celebrities；　eh？　That's　good。　Well；　we　missed　you　on　the　President　Tyler。〃
　Bowker　was　evidently　quite　sober。　〃Just　got　in；　I　take　it；〃　John　Quincy　remarked。
　〃A　few　minutes　ago。　How　about　joining　us？〃　He　came　closer　and　lowered　his　voice。　〃This　intelligent　young　man　tells　me　he　knows　a　taxi　stand　out　near　the　beach　where　one　may　obtain　a　superior　brand　of　fusel　oil　with　a　very　pretty　label　on　the　bottle。〃
　〃Sorry；〃　John　Quincy　answered。　〃My　cousin's　ing　in　shortly　on　an　Inter…Island　boat；　and　I'm　elected　to　meet　her。〃
　〃I'm　sorry；　too；〃　said　the　graduate　of　Dublin　University。　〃If　my　strength　holds　out　I'm　aiming　to　stage　quite　a　little　party；　and　I'd　like　to　have　you　in　on　it。　Yes；　a　rather　large　affair　…　in　memory　of　Tim；　and　as　a　last　long　lingering　farewell　to　the　seven　seas。〃
　〃What？　You're　pau？〃
　〃Pau　it　is。　When　I　sail　out　of　here　to…night　at　nine　on　the　old　P。T。　I'm　through　for　ever。　You　don't　happen　to　know　a　good　co