The Chinese Parrot (Charlie Chan Detective Series) — page 268: what you’re looking at

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

———_ . == on "No," replied Holley. "I'm going to town and make a few inquiries. Just by way of substantiating what we found here today. If Jerry Delaney came out here last Wednesday, he must have left some sort of trail through the town. Some one may have seen him. Was he alone? I'll speak to the boys at the gas station, the hotel proprietor—" "Humbly suggest utmost discretion,” said Chan. "Oh, I understand the need of that. But there's really no danger. Madden has no connection whatever with the life of the town. He won't hear of it. Just the same, I'll be discretion itself. Trust me. I'll come out here again later in the day." When he had gone, Chan and Eden ate a cold lunch in the cookhouse, and resumed their search. Nothing of any moment rewarded their efforts, however. At four that afternoon Holley drove into the yard. With him was a lean, sad-looking youth whom Eden recognized as the real-estate salesman of Date City. As they entered the room, Chan withdrew, leaving Eden to greet them. Holley introduced the youth as Mr. DeLisle. "I've met DeLisle,"” smiled Bob Eden. "He tried to sell me a corner lot on the desert.” "Yeah," said Mr. DeLisle. "And some day, when the United Cigar Stores and Woolworth are fighting for that 268 comiicboeoe S CO