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This afternoon Sir Frederic asked me totake out anything of value and move it
upstairs. Theother night I went up to the Kirk Building to see Sir
Frederic.
She led the way above, and Kirk and the littledetective from Honolulu
followed. Chan got his bag, paid his bill, and the three of them entered
Kirkscar, parked round the corner. With jaunty step he went downto breakfast.
Why, its the year-book of the CosmopolitanClub. You are simply to wait for me
in Honolulu. The entertainment he gave us wasdelightful, and it was gracious of
him to honor us.
What other guests did Sir Frederic request? I am not, smiled
Charlie, a leaping kind of man. He repeated his conversation with the great
man. Im afraid the famous Sergeant of the Honolulu police has lost faceto-day.
Dont remember anybody who looked like an outsider? Opening up, said Chan, a new
field of wonderment. She notedthe book, and her eyes strayed wonderingly to the
stocking feet. He noddedtoward a pretty girl in gray, with a cluster of orchids
pinned to hershoulder.
Charlie Chan also got his hat and coat, while Miss
Morrowwatched him inquiringly.
But see here, Kirk cried, arent you
interested?
You have mywarmest wishes for bright outcome. He can act in a sort
of advisory capacity. I shall walk softly in these, Paradise, he told me. We
must take this coolly, she said, and Barry Kirkadmired her composure. Barry
Kirks guests were seated, silent and expectant, in the nowbrightly lighted
living-room.
Begging pardon, I think you labor under natural delusion, Chan
said.
Wont you stay andhelp us get at the bottom of this?
I hastened to make
sure, but Sir Frederic was justbehind. Blonde, blue-eyed, she breaks necklace
on the stair.
They rode on in silence, while the girl thought hard. You are on
leave of absence from the Honolulu force, Sergeant? Chan had felt himself
greatlyattracted to his genial host of the night before. Chan, said the young
woman from the district attorneysoffice. You will pardon me if I put in final
oar. Fear of dark might mean fear of something else.
Im very busy, but somehow
I cant let you go. Anywhere you say, Kirk agreed, and headed the car up Market
Street, toKearny.
The Captain looked his fellow detective over slowly. Neither
of usmoved from there at any time.
I fancy thats all, Li, said the familiar
voice. Iwill merely haunt the background, thinking tensely.
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