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〃I say； that looks important； doesn't it？〃 John Quincy said。 He handed it back to her； and thought a moment。 〃By gad … it is important。 It seems to me it's pretty conclusive evidence of your father's innocence。 If he had that； his business with Cousin Dan must have e to a successful end； and it isn't likely he would … er … do away with the man who signed it and plicate the cashing of it。〃
The girl's eyes shone。 〃Just the way I reasoned。 But I don't know what to do with it。〃
〃Your father has engaged a lawyer； of course。〃
〃Yes； but a rather poor one。 The only kind we can afford。 Should I turn this over to him？〃
〃No … wait a minute。 Any chance of seeing your father soon？〃
〃Yes。 It's been arranged I'm to visit him in the morning。〃
John Quincy nodded。 〃Better talk with him before you do anything；〃 he advised。 He had a sudden recollection of Egan's face when he refused to explain his business with Dan Winterslip。 〃Take this check with you and ask your father what he wants done with it。 Point out to him that it's vital evidence in his favor。〃
〃Yes； I guess that's the best plan；〃 the girl agreed。 〃Will … will you sit down a moment？〃
〃Well。〃 John Quincy recalled Miss Minerva waiting impatiently for news。 〃Just a moment。 I want to know how you're getting on。 Any big arithmetical problems e up yet？〃
She shook her head。 〃Not yet。 It really isn't so bad； the work。 We haven't many guests； you know。 I could be quite happy … if it weren't for poor dad。〃 She sighed。 〃Ever since I can remember；〃 she added； 〃my happiness has had an if in it。〃
He led her on to speak about herself； there in the calm night by that romantic beach。 Through her talk flashed little pictures of her motherless childhood on this exotic shore； of a wearing fight against poverty and her father's bitter struggle to send her to school on the mainland； to give her what he considered her proper place in the world。 Here was a girl far different from any he had met on Beacon Street； and John Quincy found pleasure in her talk。
Finally he forced himself to leave。 As they walked along the balcony they encountered one of the guests； a meek little man with stooped shoulders。 Even at that late hour he wore a bathing suit。
〃Any luck； Mr。 Saladine？〃 the girl inquired。
〃Luck ith againth me；〃 he lisped； and passed hastily on。
Carlota Egan laughed softly。 〃Oh； I really shouldn't；〃 she repented at once。 〃The poor man。〃
〃What's his trouble？〃 asked John Quincy。
〃He's a tourist … a business man；〃 she said。 〃Des Moines； or some place like that。 And he's had the most appalling accident。 He's lost his teeth。〃
〃His teeth！〃 repeated John Quincy。
〃Yes。 Like so many things in this world； they were false。 He got into a battle with a roller out by the second raft； and they disappeared。 Since then he spends all his time out there； peering down into the water by day； and diving down and feeling about by night。 One of the tragic figures of history；〃 she added。
John Quincy laughed。
〃That's the most tragic part of it；〃 the girl continued。 〃He's the joke of the beach。 But he goes on hunting； so serious。 Of course； it is serious for him。〃
They passed through the public room to the front door。 Mr。 Saladine's tragedy slipped at once from John Quincy's mind。
〃Good night；〃 he said。 〃Don't forget about the check； when you see your father to…morrow。 I'll look in on you during the day。〃
〃It was so good of you to e；〃 she said。 Her hand was in his。 〃It has helped me along … tremendously。〃
〃Don't you worry。 Happy days are not far off。 Happy days without an if。 Hold the thought！〃
〃I'll hold it；〃 she promised。
〃We'll both hold it。〃 It came to him that he was also holding her hand。 He dropped it hastily。 〃Good night；〃 he repeated； and fled through the garden。
In the living…room of Dan's house he was surprised to find Miss Minerva and Charlie Chan sitting together； solemnly staring at each other。 Chan rose hurriedly at his entrance。
〃Hello；〃 said John Quincy。 〃I see you have a caller。〃
〃Where in the world have you been？〃 snapped Miss Minerva。 Evidently entertaining Chan had got a bit on her nerves。
〃Well … I …〃 John Quincy hesitated。
〃Speak out；〃 said Miss Minerva。 〃Mr。 Chan knows everything。〃
〃Most flattering；〃 grinned Chan。 〃Some things are not entirely well known to me。 But about your call on Widow of Waikiki I learn soon after door receives you。〃
〃The devil you did；〃 said John Quincy。
〃Simple enough；〃 Chan went on。 〃Study human people； as I relate to you。 pton lady was friend to Mr。 Dan Winterslip。 Mr。 Leatherbee rival friend。 Enter jealous feelings。 Since morning both of these people are under watchful regard of Honolulu police。 Into the scene； you walk。 I am notified and fly to beach。〃
〃Ah … does he also know …〃 began John Quincy。
〃About the brooch？〃 finished Miss Minerva。 〃Yes … I've confessed everything。 And he's been kind enough to forgive me。〃
〃But not nice thing to do；〃 added Chan。 〃Humbly begging pardon to mention it。 All cards should repose on table when police are called upon。〃
〃Yes；〃 said Miss Minerva； 〃he forgave me； but I have been gently chided。 I have been made to feel； as he puts it； most naughty。〃
〃So sorry；〃 bowed Chan。
〃Well； as a matter of fact；〃 said John Quincy； 〃I was going to tell Mr。 Chan the whole story at once。〃 He turned to him。 〃I've already tried to reach you by telephone at the station。 When I left the woman's cottage …〃
〃Police affairs forbid utmost courtesy；〃 interrupted Chan。 〃I cut in to remark from the beginning； if you will please do so。〃
〃Oh； yes；〃 smiled John Quincy。 〃Well； the woman herself let me in； and showed me into her little living…room。 When I got there this fellow Leatherbee was mixing cocktails by the table …〃
Haku appeared at the door。 〃Mr。 Charlie Chan wanted by telephone；〃 he announced。
Chan apologized and hastened out。
〃I intend to tell everything；〃 John Quincy warned his aunt。
〃I shan't interfere；〃 she answered。 〃He has been sitting here looking at me more in sorrow than in anger for the better part of an hour； and I've made up my mind to one thing。 I shall have no more secrets from the police。〃
Chan reentered the room。 〃As I was saying；〃 John Quincy began； 〃this fellow Leatherbee was standing by the table； and …〃
〃Most sorry；〃 said Chan； 〃but the remainder of that interesting recital is to be told at the station…house。〃
〃At the station…house！〃 cried John Quincy。
〃Precisely the fact。 I am presuming you do me the great honor to e with me to that spot。 The man Leatherbee is apprehended aboard boat Niagara on verge of sailing to Australia。 Woman are also apprehended in act of tearful farewell。 Both now relax at police station。〃
〃I thought so；〃 said John Quincy。
〃One more amazing fact es into light；〃 added Chan。 〃In pocket of Leatherbee is the page ruthlessly extracted from guest book。 Kindly procure your hat。 Outside I have waiting for me one Ford automobile。〃
CHAPTER XII
Tom Brade The Blackbirder
IN HALLET'S room at headquarters they found the Captain of Detectives seated grimly behind his desk staring at two reluctant visitors。 One of the visitors； Mr。 Stephen Leatherbee； stared back with a look of sullen defiance。 Mrs。 Arlene pton； late of Broadway and the Automat； was dabbing at her eyes with a tiny handkerchief。 John Quincy perceived that she had carelessly allowed tears to play havoc with her make…up。
〃Hello； Charlie；〃 said Hallet。 〃Mr。 Winterslip； I'm glad you came along。 As you may have heard； we've just pulled this young man off the Niagara。 He seemed inclined to leave us。 We found this in his pocket。〃
He put into Chan's hand a time…yellowed page obviously from Dan Winterslip's guest book。 John Quincy and Chan bent over it together。 The inscription was written in an old…fashioned hand； and the ink was fading fast。 It ran：
〃In Hawaii all things are perfect； none more so than the hospitality I have enjoyed in this house。 … Joseph E。 Gleason； 124 Little Bourke Street； Melbourne； Victoria。〃
John Quincy turned away； shocked。 No wonder that page had been ripped out！ Evidently Mr。 Gleason had not enjoyed the privilege of studying A。 S。 Hill's book on the principles of rhetoric。 How could one thing be more perfect than another？
〃Before I take a statement from these people；〃 Hallet was saying； 〃what's all this about a brooch？〃
John Quincy laid the piece of jewelry on the captain's desk。 He explained that it had been given Mrs。 pton by Dan Winterslip； and told of its being discovered on the floor of the lanai。
〃When was it found？〃 demanded the captain； glaring his disapproval。
〃Most regrettable misunderstanding；〃 put in Chan hastily。 〃Now pletely wiped out。 The littlest said； sooner repairs are made。 Mr。 Winterslip has already tonight examined this woman …〃
〃Oh； he has； has he！〃 Hallet turned angrily on John Quincy。 〃Just who is conducting this case？〃
〃Well；〃 began John Quincy unfortably； 〃it seemed best to the family …〃
〃Damn the family！〃 Hallet exploded。 〃This affair is in my hands …〃
〃Please；〃 broke in Chan soothingly。 〃Waste of time to winnow that out。 Already I have boldness to offer suitable rebukes。〃
〃Well； you talked with the woman； then；〃 said Hallet。 〃What did you get out of her？〃
〃Say； listen；〃 put in Mrs。 pton。 〃I want to take back anything I told this bright…eyed boy。〃
〃Lied to him； eh？〃 said Hallet。
〃Why not？ What right did he have to question me？〃 Her voice became wheedling。 〃I wouldn't lie to a cop；〃 she added。
〃You bet your life you wouldn't；〃 Hallet remarked。 〃Not if you know what's good for you。 However； I want to hear what you told this amateur detective。 Sometimes lies are significant。 Go on； Winterslip。〃
John Quincy was deeply annoyed。 What was this mix…up he had let himself in for； anyhow？ He had a notion to rise； and with a cold bow； leave the room。 Something told him； however； that he couldn't get away with it。
Very much on his dignity； he repeated the woman's story to him。 Winterslip had e to her cottage the night before to make a final appeal for the brooch。 On his promise to replace it with something else； she had given it up。 He had taken it and left her at nine…thirty。
〃That was the last she saw of him；〃 finished John Quincy。
Hallet smiled grimly。 〃So she told you； at any rate。 But she admits she was lying。 If you'd had the sense to leave this sort of thing to the proper people …〃 He wheeled on the woman。 〃You were lying； weren't you？〃
She nodded nonchalantly。 〃In a way。 Dan did leave my cottage at nine…thirty … or a little later。 But I went with him … to his house。 Oh； it was perfectly proper。 Steve went along。〃
〃Oh； yes … Steve。〃 Hallet glanced at Mr。 Leatherbee； who did not appear quite the ideal chaperon。 〃Now； young woman； go back to the beginning。 Nothing but the truth。〃
〃So help me；〃 said Mrs。 pton。 She attempted a devastating smile。 〃I wouldn't lie to you； Captain … you know I wouldn't。 I realize you're a big man out here； and …〃
〃Give me your story；〃 cut in Hallet coldly。
〃Sure。 Dan dropped into my place for a chat last night about nine； and he found Mr。 Leatherbee there。 He was jealous as sin； Dan was … honest to God； I don't know why。 Me and Steve are just pals … eh； Steve？〃
〃Pals； that's all；〃 said Steve。
〃But anyhow； Dan flew off the handle； and we had one grand blow…up。 I tried to explain Steve was just stopping over on his way to Australia； and Dan wants to know what's detaining him。 So Steve tells about how he lost all his money at bridge on the boat ing out here。 'Will you move on；' says Dan； 'if I pay your passage？' And Steve answers he will； like a shot。 Am I getting this straight； Steve？〃
〃Absolutely；〃 approved Mr。 Leatherbee。 〃It's just as she says； Captain。 Winterslip offered to give … loan me passage money。 It was only a loan。 And I agreed to sail on the Niagara to…night。 He said he had a little cash in his safe at the house； and invited Arlene and me to go back with him …〃
〃Which we did；〃 said Arlene。 〃Dan opened the safe and took out a roll of bills。 He peeled off three hundred dollars。 You didn't often see him in that frame of mind … but as I was saying； he give the money to Steve。 Then Steve begins to beef a little … yes； you did； Steve … and wants to know what he's going to do