no, make it a floor. Tell the proprietor I want supper served in my sitting-room—two porterhouse steaks, and everything else they’ve got. Tell him to have the best doctor in town there when I arrive. Help me find the telegraph blanks. Put in five long distance calls—no, that had better wait until we reach the hotel. Find out if there’s anybody in Eldorado who can take dictation. Call up the leading real-estate man and put this place on the market. I never want to see it again. And oh, yes—don’t let that Chinese detective get away without seeing me. I’m not through with him. Make a note to call a secretarial bureau in Los Angeles at eight in the morning—”
Bob Eden hurried to his room, and packed his suitcase. When he returned, Chan was standing in Madden’s presence, holding crisp bank-notes in his hand.
“Mr. Madden has given receipt for necklace,” said the Chinese. “He has also enforced on me this vast sum of money, which I am somewhat loathsome to accept.”
“Nonsense,” Eden replied. “You take it, Charlie. You’ve earned it.”
“Just what I told him,” Madden declared.
Chan put the bank-notes carefully away. “Free to remark the sum represents two and one half years’salary in Honolulu. This mainland climate not so bad, after all.”
“Good-bye, Mr. Eden,” Madden said. “I’ve thanked Mr. Chan—but what shall I say to you? You’ve been through a lot down here—”
“Been through some of the happiest moments of my life,” Eden replied.
Madden shook his head. “Well, I don’t understand that—”
