He knewthat Madden was eagerly waiting for him to
speak.
I mean the murder of poor Louie Wong, the woman
answered.
Oh, hes a big noisy bluff with a fatal facility for
getting the wrongman.
All right, said Madden, rising pointedly. I dont
want the pearls brought to theranch at all.
Madden, his manner very haughty andaloof, sat down
some distance away, and waited.
All oursearch at ranch up to now hasty and
breathless, like man pursuingtrolley-car.
Postman onholiday itches to try long stretch of
road. All looked plenty mysterious to him, answered Chan, smiling, too.
Well, its no wonder Madden wasperplexed, is
it?
Your thought has, from me, nothing but hot
opposition. The millionaire was reiterating hisdesire to return east at the earliest
possible moment.
Gamble in the bath that lay betweenhis apartment
and that occupied by the professor. Despite their different stations, loveblossoms
here in the waste land. For a long time Eden stared after him, morepuzzled than
ever. Well, anyhow, he said at last, it means another day of grace. Barstow on
business has somewhatunexpected sound to me. I dont know that I could put the
feeling into words.
Presently the glass doors leading to the patio
opened. Hewould see this latest development through. After which highly original
remark, I hasten to add that Ireally cant eat a thing.
Madden glared after him, his face
purple.
A quarter to nine, and still no sign of Thornand
Evelyn Madden.
Im not precisely dressed for the role, admitted
Eden.
Id feel pretty helpless if I didnt have Charlie
with me. It would be most convenient if I could, answered Gamble. Certainly one had
few opportunities to look intoeyes like hers.
Just what has our friend Thorn been doing for the
past four hours?
Very kind of you, Im sure, remarked Gamble
suavely.
I dont know where were going, but were on our way,
Eden answered.
Two nights now gone since inthis room I hint to you
Chinese are psychic people. Oh, hes a big noisy bluff with a fatal facility for
getting the wrongman.
This is living, remarked Gamble, when they had sat
down and he hadlighted one of Maddens cigars.
Lord, I havent met so many problems since I gave
upalgebra. Running to the telephone,Eden put his hand over the bell, muffling
it.
Through long centuriesChinese cultivate patience
like kind gardener tending flowers.