The Chinese Parrot (Charlie Chan Detective Series) — page 217: what you’re looking at

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

a, Chan shrugged. "More mystery," he whispered. "Just what has our friend Thorn been doing for the past four hours?" Eden wondered. "Enjoying moonlit ride on desert, I think," Chan returned. "When big car go out, I note speedometer. Twelve thousand eight hundred and forty miles. Four miles necessary to travel to town, and four to return with. But when big car arrives home, speedometer announces quietly twelve thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine miles." "Charlie, you think of everything,” Eden said admiringly. "Strange place this Thorn has been," Charlie added. "Much red clay on ground." He exhibited a fragment of earth. "Scraped off on accelerator," he explained. "Maybe you have seen such place round here?” "Nothing like it," replied Eden. "You don't suppose he's harmed the gal—but no, Madden seems to be in on it, and she's his darling." "Just one more little problem rising up," said Chan. Eden nodded. "Lord, I haven't met so many problems since I gave up algebra. And by the way, tomorrow's Tuesday. The pearls are coming, hurrah, hurrah. At least, old P.J. thinks they are. He's going to be hard to handle tomorrow." 217 comiicboeoe S CO