The Chinese Parrot (Charlie Chan Detective Series) — page 288: what you’re looking at

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

———_ - x= on "Oh, I can take care of myself. And it's the orphans I'm thinking of, you know.” "That's your kind heart," she answered. They climbed a narrow sandy road. Yellow lamplight in the front window of a bungalow was suddenly blotted out. "Look at that moon," said Eden. "Like a slice of honeydew melon just off the ice." "Fond of food, aren't you," remarked the girl. "I'll always think of you wrestling with that steak." "A man must eat. And if it hadn't been for the steak, we might never have met." "What if we hadn't?" she asked. "Pretty lonesome for me down here in that event." They turned about in silence. "You know, I've been thinking," Eden continued. "We're bound to come to the end of things at the ranch presently. And I'll have to go back—" "Back to your freedom. That will be nice.” "You bet it will. All the same, I don't want you to forget me after I've gone. I want to go on being your—er—your friend. Or what have you?” "Splendid. One always needs friends." "Write to me occasionally. I'll want to know how Wilbur is. You never can tell—is he careful crossing the streets?" 288 comiicboeoe S CO