The Chinese Parrot (Charlie Chan Detective Series) — page 178: what you’re looking at

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

Rai eal "So do I," Eden returned. "On his nerve. However, I oughtn't to knock Wilbur. As I was saying only this noon "Never mind,” put in the girl. "Wake up, Will. What are you thinking about?" Holley started. "I was thinking of a dinner I had once at Mouquin's," he replied. "Closed up, now, I hear. Gone— like all the other old landmarks—the happy stations on the five o'clock cocktail route. You know, I wonder sometimes if I'd like New York today—" He talked on of the old Manhattan he had known. In what seemed to Bob Eden no time at all, the dinner hour had passed. As they were standing at the cashier's desk, the boy noted for the first time a stranger lighting a cigar near by. He was, from his dress, no native—a small, studious-looking man with piercing eyes. "Good evening, neighbor," Holley said. "How are you,” answered the stranger. "Come down to look us over?" the editor asked, thinking of his next issue. "Dropped in for a call on the kangaroo-rat," replied the man. "I understand there's a local variety whose tail measures three millimeters longer than any hitherto recorded." "Oh," returned Holley. "One of those fellows, eh? We get them all—beetle men and butterfly men, mouse and 178 comiicboeoe S CO