The Chinese Parrot (Charlie Chan Detective Series) — page 324: what you’re looking at

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

a. "You Mr. Eden?" she said. "I'm glad to see you, though why I see you's a mystery to me.” "Well, just so long as it's a pleasant mystery—" Eden smiled. "T'll say it is—so far. You in the profession?” "Not precisely. First of all, I want to say that I heard you sing over the radio the other night, and I was enchanted. You've a wonderful voice." She beamed. "Say, I like to hear you talk like that. But I had a cold—I've had one ever since I struck this town. You ought to hear me when I'm going good." "You were going good enough for me. With a voice like yours, you ought to be in grand opera." "I know—that's what all my friends say. And it ain't that I haven't had the chance. But I love the theater. Been on the stage since I was a teeny-weeny girl.” "Only yesterday, that must have been.” "Say, boy—you're good," she told him. "You don't happen to be scouting for the Metropolitan, do you?" "No—I wish I were." Eden paused. "Miss Fitzgerald, I'm an old pal of a friend of yours." "Which friend? I've got so many." "I bet you have. I'm speaking of Jerry Delaney. You know Jerry?" 324 comiicboeoe S CO