"All right," she said. "If you insist."
"All right what?" he inquired.
"I"ll marry you, if you want me to. That"s what you were saying, wasn"t it?"
"Not exactly."
"My mistake. I couldn"t hear very well. But I did think I caught the word *marry" -"
"I was saying I hoped you"d marry some nice boy, and be very happy."
"Oh. Excuse it, please."
"But look here. Do you mean you"d actually marry me?"
"Why bring that up? You haven"t asked me."
"But I will. I do. I am."
The horn again. Kennaway wasted no time in words. He released her when the blast was over.
"You really do care for me, after all?" she asked.
"I"m crazy about you. But I was sure you"d turn me down. That"s why I didn"t like to ask you. You"re not going to turn me down, I take it?"
"What a ridiculous idea," she answered.
"Wonderful night," the young man said, and so it seemed, to him. "I know where there are a couple of chairs - in a dark corner of the after deck."
"They"ve been there ever since Hong Kong," the girl replied. They went to find them.
As they walked along through the dripping fog, the horn blared forth again. "The lad who"s working that," Kennaway remarked, "is going to get a big surprise in the morning. I intend to tip him within an inch of his life."
Meanwhile, amid the unfamiliar surroundings of the captain"s cabin, Charlie Chan lay wide awake. He wondered if all old sea-dogs snored as loudly as this one.
He was aroused next morning by a knock at the door, and leaping up, he discovered that his cabin-mate was already about and dressed for the day. The captain took a radiogram from a rather fl.u.s.tered boy, and handed it to Chan.
"From Captain Flannery, of the San Francisco police," Charlie announced when he had read it. "He and Sergeant Wales of Scotland Yard will be aboard immigration launch."
"Good," said the other. "The sooner the better, as far as I"m concerned. I"ve been wondering, Inspector. Hadn"t I better put our friend under restraint until they come?"
Chan shook his head. "Not necessary, thank you. I prefer he remain unsuspecting to the end. Mr. Tait will no doubt spend morning in cabin, and I shall spread underground word among Lofton party we have our man in him. Believe real quarry will a.s.sume extra carelessness when he hears that."
"Just as you say," the captain nodded. "I"m not keen about taking action myself, as you know, though after what you told me last night, I"d gamble a year"s pay that you"re right. I will instruct the second officer not to lose sight of your man until he"s in the hands of the police. People have been known to disappear from boats, you know."
"A wise suggestion," Charlie agreed. "I am grateful for your help." He had been rapidly dressing while they talked, and now moved toward the door with his bag. "I will continue toilet in my own room, please. Many hearty thanks for lodging of the night."
"Not at all. By gad, Inspector, you"ve been on the job this time. Ought to get a lot of kudos for your work on this case."
Chan shrugged. "When the dinner is ended, who values the spoon?" he replied, and went out on to the bridge. The fog was rapidly dispersing, and a hint of sun was in the eastern sky.
Back in his own cabin, he went about his preparations for the day with characteristic deliberation. On his way to breakfast, he stopped at the stateroom occupied by Tait and Kennaway. Both were awake, and the lawyer looked to be much improved.
"Oh, I"m fine," he said, in answer to Chan"s query. "I promised you I"d make San Francisco, didn"t I? And I"ll make a lot of other towns, too, before I"m through. Mark thinks I"d better stay in bed until we"re ready to land. It"s all nonsense, but I"ve agreed to do it."
"A splendid idea," nodded Chan. "Has Mr. Kennaway told you of last night"s happenings?"
Tait frowned. "He has. There"s one criminal I wouldn"t defend - not for a million dollars."
Charlie outlined his plan for the morning, and the lawyer readily agreed.
"All right with me," he said. "Anything to get him. But of course, you"ll let the members of the party know the truth before we land?"
"Naturally," Chan answered.
"Then go to it. You say you"ve got your man? I don"t suppose -"
"Later, please," smiled Charlie as he left.
After breakfast, he met the purser on the deck. "I"ve got a landing card for you," that gentleman said. "But as for Kashimo - well, I don"t know. He"s never been over here before and of course he has no record of his birth in the islands. He came as a stowaway - he"s admitted as much to me - and he"d better go back at once. One of our boats will be at the same pier, due to sail at two o"clock to-day, and I"ll simply turn him over to her purser with instructions to return him to Honolulu."
Chan nodded. "I approve of plan, and so, no doubt, will Kashimo. His work is done - it was good work, too - and already he shows signs of yearning for home. I know he will be glad to hurry back and face the plaudits of his chief. Kindly arrange he goes as pa.s.senger. I will supply the money." The busy purser nodded, and hurried away.
Further down the deck, the detective came upon Stuart Vivian. The San Franciscan stood at the rail, a pair of gla.s.ses in his hand, the empty case from which they had been taken hanging from his shoulder.
"Good morning," he said. "Just had a glimpse of Russian Hill. By heaven, I was never so glad to see it before."
"There is no vision so restful to weary eyes as that of home," Charlie remarked.
"You"ve said it. And I"ve been fed up with this tour for weeks. I"d have dropped out long ago, but I was afraid you policemen might think - By the way, I hear a rumor that you"ve found out who the killer is?"
Charlie nodded. "A very distressing affair."
"It is, indeed. Ah - er - I presume the man"s name is a secret?"
"Not at all. Mr. Tait has granted full permission to make the matter public."
"Tait!" cried Vivian. He was silent for a moment. "That"s interesting, isn"t it?" He looked at his watch. "We"re having a farewell meeting in the library in ten minutes. Lofton"s giving out the tickets to those who travel beyond San Francisco - and his final blessing, I suppose. What a riot this news will stir up!"
"I think maybe it will," smiled Chan, and went on down the deck.
Twenty minutes later the ship"s engines were stilled at last, and they waited on the gray, rolling sea for the launch bearing the customs men and the immigration officials.
When the small motor-boat arrived, Charlie was at the top of the ladder. Presently the crimson face and broad shoulders of Flannery hove in sight.
"h.e.l.lo, there," the officer cried. "It"s my old pal! Sergeant Chan, as I live."
They shook hands. "So happy to see you again," Charlie said. "But since the day, long time ago, when I stood by and noted your admirable work on Bruce case, there have been changes. For one thing, I am now promoted to inspector."
"Is that so?" Flannery answered. "Well, you can"t keep a squirrel on the ground. An old Chinese saying."
Charlie laughed. "I perceive you have not forgotten me." Behind Flannery stood a solid mountain of a man. "This, I presume, is -"
"Excuse me," said Flannery. "Shake hands with Sergeant Wales, of Scotland Yard."
"Highly honored," Chan remarked.
"What"s your latest word from Duff?" inquired the sergeant.
"Steady improvement has set in," Charlie told him. "And speaking of Duff, you have come for his a.s.sailant, of course. The murderer of Hugh Morris Drake in your London hotel?"
"I certainly have," Wales said.
"I am happy to hand him over to you," Chan replied. "So that the matter may not encounter too much publicity, I fix up little plan. Will you come with me, please?"
He led them to a stateroom, on the door of which was the number 119. Escorting them inside, he indicated a couple of wicker chairs. There were two beds, one on either side of the cabin, and beside each was a pile of luggage.
"If you will wait here, your quarry will come to you," he announced. He turned to Wales. "One thing I would inquire about. You had message from me last night?"
"Yes, I did," the sergeant replied. "And I got in touch with the Yard at once. It was morning over there, you know, and within a few hours they had an answer. The news arrived in San Francisco just before we left Captain Flannery"s office. It"s great stuff. Jimmy Breen told our representative your man brought him a coat to be repaired on February twentieth, and called for it the next morning. It was the coat of a gray suit, and the right-hand pocket was torn."
"Ah, yes," nodded Charlie. "Torn by hand of aged porter in hallway of Broome"s Hotel on early morning of February seventh. Murderer should have discarded that coat. But it is not his nature to discard, and from the first, he has felt himself so safe. I would wager he shipped it from London to Nice, addressed to himself, and then engaged the able Mr. Breen. It was excellent choice. I behold on many tailors" signs nowadays the words *Invisible Repairing." Screen was too small for me to note them on Breen establishment, but they should have been there. Many times I have examined that coat, but Mr. Breen was evidently master of invisibility." He stepped to the door. "However, talk will not cook rice. You will await guilty man here," he added, and disappeared.
He found the Lofton party, with the single exception of Tait, gathered in the library, and evidently in a state of great excitement. At the only door leading into the room, Charlie met the second officer. With him the detective held a brief conversation.
"All right, people," shouted the officer. "The baggage is examined on the ship here, you know. The customs men are now ready. Go to your rooms, please."
Mark Kennaway and Pamela Potter were the first to emerge. They were both in high spirits.
"Just like Yale tap day," laughed the young man. "Go to your room. We"ll see you later, Mr. Chan. We"ve news for you."
"That has happy sound," Charlie replied, but his face was grave.
Minchin and his wife came out. "Should I fail to see you again," Charlie remarked, shaking hands, "my kindest regards to little Maxy. Tell him to be good boy and study hard. An idle brain is the devil"s workshop."
"I"ll tell him, Officer," the gangster said. "You"re one bull I been glad to meet. So long."
Mrs. Spicer pa.s.sed, with a nod and a smile of farewell. Mrs. Luce followed.
"You let me know when you reach southern California," she said. "The greatest country on G.o.d"s footstool -"
"Hold back your judgment on that, Mr. Chan," broke in Benbow, coming up. "Wait until we"ve shown you Akron -"
"Then forget them both and come and look at the Northwest," added Ross.
"You"re all wrong," protested Vivian. "He"ll be in G.o.d"s country in half an hour."
Keane and Lofton were approaching, but Charlie did not wait. Leaving the second officer at the door, he hurried away.
Meanwhile, in cabin 119, Captain Flannery and the man from Scotland Yard were growing a bit restless. The latter got up, and moved anxiously about.
"I hope nothing goes wrong," he muttered.
"Don"t you worry," said Flannery generously. "Charlie Chan is the best detective west of the Golden Gate -"
The door opened suddenly, and Flannery leaped to his feet. Vivian was standing in the doorway.
"What"s all this?" he demanded.
"Come in," the policeman said. "Shut that door - quick - and step inside. Who are you?"
"My name is Vivian, and this is my cabin -"
"Sit down there on the bed."
"What do you mean - giving me orders -"
"I mean business. Sit down and keep still."
Vivian reluctantly obeyed. Wales looked at Flannery. "He would be the last, of course," the sergeant remarked.
"Listen." Flannery whispered.
Outside, on the hard surface of the alleyway, they heard the "tap-tap-tap" of a cane.
The door opened, and Ross stepped inside. For a moment he looked inquiringly about him. Then he glanced back at the door. Charlie Chan was standing there, and to say he filled the aperture is putting it mildly.
"Mr. Ross," said Charlie, "you will shake hands with Captain Flannery, of San Francisco police." The captain seized Ross"s unresisting hand. Stepping forward, Chan made a hasty search. "I perceive," he added, "that weapon supply, which you have replenished so many times along the way, is exhausted at last."
"What - what do you mean?" Ross demanded.
"I am sorry to say Captain Flannery has warrant for your arrest."
"Arrest!"
"He has been asked by Scotland Yard to hold you for the murder of Hugh Morris Drake in Broome"s Hotel, London, on the morning of February seventh, present year." Ross stared about him defiantly. "There remain other matters," Chan continued, "but you will never be called upon to answer for those. The murder of Honywood in Nice, the murder of Sybil Conway in San Remo, the murder of Sergeant Welby in Yokohama. The brutal attack on Inspector Duff in Honolulu. Murder round the world, Mr. Ross."
"It"s not true," Ross said hoa.r.s.ely.
"We will see. Kashimo!" Charlie"s voice rose. "You may now emerge from your hiding-place."
A bedraggled little figure rolled swiftly from beneath one of the beds. The j.a.panese was covered with lint, stray threads and dust. Chan helped him to his feet.
"Ah, you are somewhat stiff, Kashimo," he remarked. "I am sorry I could not dig you out sooner. Captain Flannery, the Oriental invasion becomes serious. Meet Officer Kashimo of the Honolulu force." He turned to the boy. "Is it too much to hope you know present whereabouts of precious key?"
"I know," the j.a.panese answered proudly. He dropped to his knees, and from the cuff of Ross"s right trouser leg extracted the key, which he held aloft in triumph.
Charlie took it. "What is this? Looks like plenty good evidence to me, Sergeant Wales. Key to safety-deposit box in some bank, with number 3260. Ah, Mr. Ross, you should have thrown it away. But I understand. You feared that without it you would not dare approach valuables again." He handed the key to Wales.