The Chinese Parrot (Charlie Chan Detective Series) — page 101: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

ee. "Well—for a minute,” admitted Eden. "Of course, as soon as I found out the source of the racket, I felt better." Madden nodded. "Tony's a colorless little beast, but he's had a scarlet past," he remarked. "Like some of the rest of us," Eden suggested. Madden looked at him keenly. "The bird was given me by a sea captain in the Australian trade. I brought him here to be company for my caretaker, Louie Wong." "I thought your boy's name was Ah Kim," said Eden, innocently. "Oh—this one. This isn't Wong. Louie was called suddenly to San Francisco the other day. This Ah Kim just happened to drift in most opportunely yesterday. He's merely a stop-gap until Louie comes back." "You're lucky," Eden remarked. "Such good cooks as Ah Kim are rare." "Oh, he'll do," Madden admitted. "When I come west to stay, I bring a staff with me. This is a rather unexpected visit." "Your real headquarters out here are in Pasadena, I believe?" Eden inquired. "Yes—I've got a house there, on Orange Grove Avenue. I just keep this place for an occasional week end—when my asthma threatens. And it's good to get away from the 101 comiicboeoe S CO