The Chinese Parrot (Charlie Chan Detective Series) — page 68: what you’re looking at

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

a. bent old man with a black beard and a pack on his back —evidently old-time prospector such as one meets occasionally, even today, in this desert country. It was his expression that startled me. He stood like a frightened rabbit in the spotlight, then darted away. I knocked at the ranch house door. There was a long delay, then finally a man came, a pale, excited-looking man—Madden's secretary, Thorn, he said he was. I give you my word—Will's heard this before—he was trembling all over. I told him my business with Madden, and he was very rude. He informed me that I positively could not see the great P.J. ‘Come back in a week,’ he said, over and over. I argued and pleaded—and he shut the door in my face." "You couldn't see Madden," repeated Bob Eden slowly. "Anything else?" "Not much. I drove back to town. A short distance down the road my lights picked up the little old prospector again. But when I got to where I thought he was, he'd disappeared utterly. I didn't investigate—I just stepped on the gas. My love for the desert isn't so keen after dark." Bob Eden took out a cigarette. "I'm awfully obliged," he said. "Mr. Holley, I must get out to Madden's at once. If you'll direct me to a garage—" "I'll do nothing of the sort," Holley replied. "An old flivver that answers to the name of Horace Greeley 68 comiicboeoe S CO