The Chinese Parrot (Charlie Chan Detective Series) — page 241: what you’re looking at

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

Rated "Some dirty dog,” said Mr. Cherry indignantly. "That's just how I feel about it. I'm not a policeman, but I'm doing my best to find the guilty man. The thing you saw that night at the ranch, Mr. Cherry, no doubt has a decided bearing on the killing of Louie. I need your help. Now, will you talk?” Mr. Cherry removed the toothpick from his mouth and, holding it before him, regarded it thoughtfully. "Yes," he said, "I will. I was hopin’ to keep out o' this. Judges an’ courts an’ all that truck ain't fer me. I give 'em a wide berth. But I'm a decent man, an’ I ain't got nothin’ to hide. I'll talk, but I don't hardly know how to begin." "T'll help you," Eden answered, delighted. "The other night when you were at Madden's ranch perhaps you heard a man cry, ‘Help! Help! Murder! Put down that gun. Help.’ Something like that, eh?" "T ain't got nothin’ to hide. That's jest what I heard." Eden's heart leaped. "And after that—you saw something—" The old man nodded. "I saw plenty, boy. Louie Wong wasn't the first to be killed at Madden's ranch. I saw murder done." Eden gasped inwardly. He saw Paula Wendell's eyes wide and startled. "Of course you did," he said. "Now go on and tell me all about it.” 2A1 comiicboeoe S CO