The Chinese Parrot (Charlie Chan Detective Series) — page 384: what you’re looking at

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

= —— The desert wind was cool and bracing as they went out to the little roadster, waiting patiently in the yard. Paula Wendell climbed in behind the wheel. "Get in, Mr. Chan," she invited. Chan took his place beside her. Bob Eden tossed his suitcase into the luggage compartment at the back, and returned to the car door. "Squeeze in there, Charlie," he said. "Don't make a fool of the advertisements. This is a three-seater car." Charlie squeezed. "Moment of gentle embarrassment for me," he remarked. "The vast extensiveness of my area becomes painfully apparent." They were out on the road. The Joshua trees waved them a weird farewell in the white moonlight. "Charlie," said Eden, "I suppose you don't dream why you are in this party?" "Miss Wendell very kind," remarked Chan. "Kind—and cautious," laughed Eden. "You're here as a Wilbur—a sort of buffer between this young woman and the dread institution of marriage. She doesn't believe in marriage, Charlie. Now where do you suppose she picked up that foolish notion?" "Plenty foolish," agreed Chan. "She should be argued at." "She will be argued at. She brought you along because she knows I'm mad about her. She's seen it in my great trusting eyes. She knows that since I've met her, that 384 comiicboeoe S CO