The Chinese Parrot (Charlie Chan Detective Series) — page 299: what you’re looking at

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

ae "Nothing of the sort. You did your best." "But it wasn't good enough. I'm sorry. I'm forced to start for Hollywood in my car in about an hour. Shall you be here when I come back?" Eden sighed. "Me? It begins to look as though I'd be here forever." "How terrible." "What sort of speech is that?” "For you, I mean." "Oh! Well, thank you very much. I'll hope to see you soon." He hung up and went into the yard. Ah Kim was loitering near the cookhouse. Together they strolled into the barn. "We pinned our eager hopes on empty air,” said Eden. He repeated his conversation with Paula Wendell. Chan nodded, unperturbed. "I would have made fat wager same would happen. Eddie Boston knows all about Delaney, and admits the fact to Madden. What the use we try to see Boston then? Madden has seen him first." Bob Eden dropped down on a battered old settee that had been exiled from the house. He put his head in his hands. 299 comiicboeoe S CO