earlderrbiggers.thehousewithoutakey-第50章

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　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　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