The Complete Charlie Chan Series – All 6 Mystery Novels in One Edition. Earl Derr Biggers

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СКАЧАТЬ do I. He was simply furious—not like himself at all. And when I told him you knew about it, he lost his temper again."

      "But you can rely on me. I shan't tell any one."

      "I know that. But of course father wasn't so sure of you as—as I am. Poor dad—he's having a horrible time of it. They don't give him a moment's rest—keep after him constantly—trying to make him tell. But all the policemen in the world couldn't—Oh, poor old dad!"

      She was weeping again, and John Quincy felt toward her as he had felt toward Barbara. He wanted to put his arm about her, just by way of comfort and cheer. But alas, Carlota Maria Egan was not a Winterslip.

      "Now, now," he said, "that won't do a bit of good."

      She looked at him through her tears. "Won't it? I—I don't know. It seems to help a little. But"—she dried her eyes—"I really haven't time for it now. I must go in and see about lunch."

      She rose, and John Quincy walked with her along the balcony. "I wouldn't worry if I were you," he said. "The police are on an entirely new trail this morning."

      "Really?" she answered eagerly.

      "Yes. There's a man named Brade stopping at your hotel. You know him, I suppose?"

      She shook her head. "No, I don't."

      "What! Why, he's a guest here."

      "He was. But he isn't here now."

      "Wait a minute!" John Quincy laid his hand on her arm, and they stopped. "This is interesting. Brade's gone, you say?"

      "Yes. I understand from the clerk that Mr. and Mrs. Brade arrived here last Saturday. But early Tuesday morning, before my boat got in, Mr. Brade disappeared and he hasn't been seen since."

      "Mr. Brade gets better all the time," John Quincy said. "Hallet and Chan are in his room now, and they've unearthed some rather intriguing facts. You'd better go in and tell Hallet what you've just told me."

      They entered the lobby by a side door. As they did so, a slim young Hawaiian boy was coming in through the big door at the front. Something in his manner caught the attention of John Quincy, and he stopped. At that instant a purple bathing suit slipped by him, and Mr. Saladine also approached the desk. Carlota Egan went on down the corridor toward room nineteen, but John Quincy remained in the lobby.

      The Hawaiian boy moved rather diffidently toward the clerk. "Excuse me, please," he said. "I come to see Mr. Brade. Mr. Thomas Brade."

      "Mr. Brade not here," replied the Jap.

      "Then I will wait till he comes."

      The clerk frowned. "No good. Mr. Brade not in Honolulu now."

      "Not in Honolulu!" The Hawaiian seemed startled by the news.

      "Mrs. Brade outside on the beach," continued the Jap.

      "Oh, then Mr. Brade returns," said the boy with evident relief. "I call again."

      He turned away, moving rapidly now. The clerk addressed Mr. Saladine, who was hovering near the cigar case. "Yes, sir, please?"

      "Thigarettes," said the bereft Mr. Saladine.

      The Jap evidently knew the brand desired, and handed over a box.

      "Juth put it on my bill," said Saladine. He stood for a moment staring after the Hawaiian, who was disappearing through the front door. As he swung round his eyes encountered those of John Quincy. He looked quickly away and hurried out.

      The two policemen and the girl entered from the corridor. "Well, Mr. Winterslip," said Hallet, "the bird has flown."

      "So I understand," John Quincy answered.

      "But we'll find him," continued Hallet. "I'll go over these islands with a drag-net. First of all, I want a talk with his wife." He turned to Carlota Egan. "Get her in here," he ordered. The girl looked at him. "Please," he added.

      She motioned to the clerk, who went out the door.

      "By the way," remarked John Quincy, "some one was just here asking for Brade."

      "What's that!" Hallet was interested.

      "A young Hawaiian, about twenty, I should say. Tall and slim. If you go to the door, you may catch a glimpse of him."

      Hallet hurried over and glanced out into the garden. In a second he returned. "Humph," he said. "I know him. Did he say he'd come again?"

      "He did."

      Hallet considered. "I've changed my mind," he announced. "I won't question Mrs. Brade, after all. For the present, I don't want her to know we're looking for her husband. I'll trust you to fix that up with your clerk," he added to the girl. She nodded. "Lucky we left things as we found them in nineteen," he went on. "Unless she misses that letter and the cigarettes, which isn't likely, we're all right. Now, Miss Egan, we three will go into your father's office there behind the desk, and leave the door open. When Mrs. Brade comes in, I want you to question her about her husband's absence. Get all you can out of her. I'll be listening."

      "I understand," the girl said.

      Hallet, Chan and John Quincy went into Jim Egan's sanctum. "You found nothing else in the room?" the latter inquired of the Chinaman.

      Chan shook his head. "Even so, fates are in smiling mood. What we have now are plentiful."

      "Sh!" warned Hallet.

      "Mrs. Brade, a young man was just here inquiring, for your husband." It was Carlota Egan's voice.

      "Really?" The accent was unmistakably British.

      "He wanted to know where he could find him. We couldn't say."

      "No—of course not."

      "Your husband has left town, Mrs. Brade?"

      "Yes. I fancy he has."

      "You know when he will return, perhaps?"

      "I really couldn't say. Is the mail in?"

      "Not yet. We expect it about one."

      "Thank you so much."

      "Go to the door," Hallet directed John Quincy.

      "She's gone to her room," announced the boy.

      The three of them emerged from Egan's office.

      "Oh, Captain," said the girl, "I'm afraid I wasn't very successful."

      "That's all right," replied Hallet. "I didn't think you would be." The clerk was again at his post behind the desk. Hallet turned to him. "Look here," he said. "I understand some one was here a minute ago asking for Brade. It was Dick Kaohla, wasn't it?"

      "Yes-s," answered the Jap.

      "Had he been here before to see Brade?"

      "Yes-s. Sunday СКАЧАТЬ