The Chinese Parrot (Charlie Chan Detective Series) — page 236: what you’re looking at

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

= —— The black-bearded one did not speak, but stood with a startled air on the front platform of that lost trolley under the caption "Market Street.” XT. — WHAT MR. CHERRY SAW Bob Eden stepped forward. "Good evening," he said. "I hope we haven't disturbed you.” Moving with some difficulty, the old man descended from the platform to the sandy floor of the desert. "How do," he said gravely, shaking hands. He also shook hands with Paula Wendell. "How do, miss. No, you didn't disturb me none. Just takin' my forty winks—I ain't so spry as I used to be.” "We happened to be passing—" Eden began. ' "Ain't many pass this way," returned the old man. "Cherry's my name—William I. Cherry. Make yourselves to home. Parlor chairs is kind o' scarce, miss." "Of course," said the girl. "We'll stop a minute, if we may," suggested Eden. "It's comin' on supper time,” the old man replied hospitably. "How about grub? There's a can o' beans, an’ a mite o' bacon—" 226 comiicboeoe S CO