The Greatest Works of Earl Derr Biggers (Illustrated Edition). Earl Derr Biggers

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СКАЧАТЬ driver alighted and was fumbling with the gate, when his fare leaped to the ground.

      "Never mind that," he said. "I'll leave you here. How much do I owe you?" He was a plump little man, about thirty-five years old, attired in the height of fashion and with a pompous manner. The driver named a sum and, paying him off, the passenger entered the yard. Walking importantly up to the front door of the house, he knocked loudly.

      Madden, talking with Thorn and Gamble by the fire, looked up in annoyance. "Now who the devil—" he began. Thorn went over and opened the door. The plump little man at once pushed his way inside.

      "I'm looking for Mr. P.J. Madden," he announced.

      The millionaire rose. "All right—I'm Madden. What do you want?"

      The stranger shook hands. "Glad to meet you, Mr. Madden. My name is Victor Jordan, and I'm one of the owners of those pearls you bought in San Francisco."

      A delighted smile spread over Madden's face. "Oh—I'm glad to see you," he said. "Mr. Eden told me you were coming—"

      "How could he?" demanded Victor. "He didn't know it himself."

      "Well, he didn't mention you. But he informed me the pearls would be here at eight o'clock—"

      Victor stared. "Be here at eight o'clock?" he repeated. "Say, just what has Bob Eden been up to down here, anyhow? The pearls left San Francisco a week ago, when Eden did."

      "What!" Purple again in Madden's face. "He had them all the time! Why, the young scoundrel! I'll break him in two for this. I'll wring his neck—" He stopped. "But he's gone. I just saw him driving away."

      "Really?" returned Victor. "Well, that may not be so serious as it looks. When I say the pearls left San Francisco with Eden, I don't mean he was carrying them. Charlie had them."

      "Charlie who?"

      "Why, Charlie Chan, of the Honolulu Police. The man who brought them from Hawaii."

      Madden was thoughtful. "Chan—a Chinaman?"

      "Of course. He's here, too, isn't he? I understood he was."

      A wicked light came into Madden's eyes. "Yes, he's here. You think he still has the pearls?"

      "I'm sure he has. In a money-belt about his waist. Get him here and I'll order him to hand them over at once."

      "Fine—fine!" chuckled Madden. "If you'll step into this room for a moment, Mr. Jordan, I'll call you presently."

      "Yes, sir—of course," agreed Victor, who was always polite to the rich. Madden led him by the inside passage to his bedroom. When the millionaire returned, his spirits were high.

      "Bit of luck, this is," he remarked. "And to think that blooming cook—" He went to the door leading on to the patio, and called loudly, "Ah Kim!"

      The Chinese shuffled in. He looked at Madden blankly. "Wha's matte, boss?" he inquired.

      "I want to have a little talk with you." Madden's manner was genial, even kindly. "Where did you work before you came here?"

      "Get 'um woik all place, boss. Maybe lay sticks on gloun' foah lailload—"

      "What town—what town did you work in last?"

      "No got 'um town, boss. Jus' outdoahs no place, laying sticks—"

      "You mean you were laying ties for the railroad on the desert?"

      "Yes, boss. You light now."

      Madden leaned back, and put his thumbs in the armholes of his vest. "Ah Kim—you're a damned liar," he said.

      "Wha's matte, boss?"

      "I'll show you what's the matter. I don't know what your game here has been, but it's all over now." Madden rose and stepped to the door. "Come in, sir," he called, and Victor Jordan strode into the room. Chan's eyes narrowed.

      "Charlie, what is all this nonsense?" demanded Victor. "What are you doing in that melodramatic outfit?"

      Chan did not answer. Madden laughed. "All over, as I told you, Charlie—if that's your name. This is Mr. Jordan, one of the owners of those pearls you're carrying in your money-belt."

      Chan shrugged. "Mr. Jordan juggles truth," he replied, dropping his dialect with a sigh of relief. "He has no claim on pearls. They are property of his mother, to whom I give promise I would guard them with life."

      "See here, Charlie," cried Victor angrily, "don't tell me I lie. I'm sick and tired of this delay down here, and I've come with my mother's authority to put an end to it. If you don't believe me, read that."

      He handed over a brief note in Madame Jordan's old-fashioned script. Chan read it. "One only answer," he remarked. "I must release the pearls." He glanced toward the clock, ticking busily by the patio window. "Though I am much preferring to wait Mr. Eden's come back—"

      "Never mind Eden," said Victor. "Produce that necklace."

      Chan bowed and turning, fumbled for a moment at his waist. The Phillimore necklace was in his hand.

      Madden took it eagerly. "At last," he said.

      Gamble was staring over his shoulder. "Beautiful," murmured the professor.

      "One minute," said Chan. "A receipt, if you will be so kind."

      Madden nodded, and sat at his desk. "I got one ready this afternoon. Just have to sign it." He laid the pearls on the blotter, and took a typewritten sheet from the top drawer. Slowly he wrote his name. "Mr. Jordan," he was saying, "I'm deeply grateful to you for coming down here and ending this. Now that it's settled, I'm leaving at once—" He offered the receipt to Chan.

      A strange look had come into the usually impassive eyes of Charlie Chan. He reached out toward the sheet of paper offered him, then with the speed of a tiger, he snatched for the pearls. Madden snatched, too, but he was a little late. The necklace disappeared into Chan's voluminous sleeve.

      "What's this?" bellowed Madden, on his feet. "Why, you crazy—"

      "Hush," said Chan. "I will retain the pearls."

      "You will, will you?" Madden whipped out a pistol. "We'll see about that—"

      There was a loud report, and a flash of fire—but it did not come from Madden's gun. It came from the silken sleeve of Charlie Chan. Madden's weapon clattered to the floor, and there was blood on his hand.

      "Do not stoop!" warned Chan, and his voice was suddenly high and shrill. "Postman has been on such long walk, but now at last he has reached journey's end. Do not stoop, or I put bullet in somewhat valuable head!"

      "Charlie—are you mad?" cried Victor.

      "Not very," smiled Chan. "Kindly favor me by backing away, Mr. Madden." He picked up the pistol from the floor—Bill Hart's present, it seemed to be. "Very nice gun, I use it now." Swinging Madden round, he searched him, then placed a chair in the center of the room. "Be seated here, if you will so far condescend—" he said.

      "The СКАЧАТЬ