The Chinese Parrot (Charlie Chan Detective Series) — page 224: what you’re looking at

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

a, away. Naturally, I thought she was brightening your life long before this.” Eden shook his head. "Funny business," he commented. "Thorn got back to the ranch a little after ten, and when he came he was alone. Charlie here discovered, with his usual acumen, that the car had traveled some thirty- nine miles." "Also clinging to accelerator, as though scraped off from shoe of Thorn, small fragment of red clay," added Chan. "You are accustomed round here, Mr. Holley. Maybe you can mention home of red clay." "Not offhand," replied Holley. "There are several places —But say, this thing gets deeper and deeper. Oh—I was forgetting—there's a letter here for you, Eden.” He handed over a neat missive addressed in an old- fashioned hand. Eden inspected it with interest. It was from Madame Jordan, a rather touching appeal not to let the deal for the pearls fall through. He went back and began to read it aloud. Mrs. Jordan could not understand. Madden was there, he had bought the pearls—why the delay? The loss of that money would be serious for her. When he had finished, Eden looked accusingly at Chan, then tore the letter to bits and threw them into a wastepaper basket. "I'm about through,” he said. "That woman is one of the dearest old souls that ever lived, and it strikes me we're treating her shamefully. After all, 224 comiicboeoe S CO