The Chinese Parrot (Charlie Chan Detective Series) — page 269: what you’re looking at

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

a, stuff, you'll kick yourself up and down every hill in Frisco. However, that's your funeral.” "I brought Mr. DeLisle along," explained Holley, "pecause I want you to hear the story he's just told me. About last Wednesday night." "Mr. DeLisle understands that this is confidential—" began Eden. "Oh, sure," said the young man. "Will's explained all that. You needn't worry. Madden and I ain't exactly pals —not after the way he talked to me.” "You saw him last Wednesday night?" Eden suggested. "No, not that night. It was somebody else I saw then. I was out here at the development until after dark, waiting for a prospect—he never showed up, the lowlife. Anyhow, along about seven o'clock, just as I was closing up the office, a big sedan stopped out in front. I went out. There was a little guy driving and another man in the back seat. 'Good evening,’ said the little fellow. 'Can you tell me, please, if we're on the road to Madden's ranch?’ I said sure, to keep right on straight. The man in the back spoke up. 'How far is it?’ he wants to know. ‘Shut up, Jerry,’ says the little guy. 'I'll attend to this.' He shifted the gears, and then he got kind of literary. ‘And an highway shall be there and a way,’ he says. 'Not any too clearly defined, Isaiah.’ And he drove off. Now why do you suppose he called me Isaiah?" Eden smiled. "Did you get a good look at him?" 269 comiicboeoe S CO