The Chinese Parrot (Charlie Chan Detective Series) — page 342: what you’re looking at

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

a, struck the hour of seven, and then an air of almost intolerable quiet settled over the room. Eden paused at the radio. "Never could see the sense of these things until I came down here," he explained to Madden. "I realize now there are times when even a lecture on the habits of the hookworm may seem enchanting. How about a bedtime story for the kiddies?” He tuned in. Ah Kim entered and busied himself at the table. The sharp voice of an announcer in Los Angeles filled the room: "—next number on our program—Miss Norma Fitzgerald, who is appearing in the musical show at the Mason, will sing a couple of selections—" Madden leaned forward and tapped the ash from his cigar. Thorn and Gamble looked up with languid interest. "Hello, folks," came the voice of the woman Bob Eden had talked with the day before. "Here I am again. And right at the start I want to thank all you good friends for the loads and loads of letters I've had since I went on the air out here. I found a lovely bunch at the studio tonight. I haven't had time to read them all, but I want to tell Sadie French, if she's listening in, that I was glad to know she's in Santa Monica, and I'll sure call her up. Another letter that brought me happiness was from my old pal, Jerry Delaney—" 342 comiicboeoe S CO