The Bradys' Chinese Clew: or, The Secret Dens of Pell Street. Doughty Francis Worcester

making eyes at the old detective as she proceeded to seat herself. "The fact is, Mr. Butler was taken sick. He sent his son to you yesterday. The foolishness of it. Ed is a good boy, but he is only a boy. Where is he? Has he been here yet?"

      "No, madam, he has not been here," replied Old King Brady, who saw at once that the woman was acting on her own account, and probably without the knowledge of her husband.

      "The lazy fellow has probably overslept himself," said the woman, working her fan. "Just like him. I thought it might be so. I am just as well pleased. I wanted a chance to talk to you first. Have you heard anything of Ethel – my daughter, I mean?"

      "No, madam; nothing definite as yet," replied the old detective.

      "I was afraid it would be so. Pow is a very slick fellow. But you must certainly find her, Mr. Brady. You see, not only do I love the poor deluded girl dearly, but she has robbed us. Three thousand in cash, Mr. Brady; money that I have been saving for years. Then there are certain important papers. Those are what we are most anxious to obtain."

      "Yes, ma'am. And what may the nature of those papers be?" the old detective asked.

      "That I should prefer not to explain."

      "But, my dear madam, you leave us in the dark. How can we be expected to find papers of which we know nothing?"

      "Oh, you just find my daughter. She will give up the papers quick enough."

      "You are sure?"

      "Quite sure if I can only once get my hands on her."

      "Where are you staying?"

      "I haven't made up my mind yet. You see I came here directly from the train. I shall make it a point to send you my address once I am located."

      "And this boy! Shall we send him home?"

      "That will be the best way, if he will mind you. He never will me. He is a wild, harum-scarum fellow. It was perfect nonsense to send him here to look for his sister. But I wish you would tell me what you have done. I understood from Mr. Butler that you had learned that Ethel was here along with her Chinese husband."

      "We have learned that much, Mrs. Butler, but we have been unable to locate her."

      "It is too bad. I suppose Mr. Butler considers it all my fault. I don't. Pow persuaded Ethel to act as she did, I am sure. I don't know as I am to be held accountable in such a case."

      Old King Brady all this time had been sizing the woman up.

      With her husband's letter in his pocket, which told him of family jars, accusing Mrs. Butler of aiding and abetting Ethel in her Chinese escapade, and even hinting at the necessity of a speedy divorce for the writer, he saw plainly that some powerful motive other than love for her adopted daughter must have influenced her when she made this sudden move.

      He resolved to shake her off and turn her over to Alice, telling her nothing about Ed.

      "Mrs. Butler," he said, "let me be perfectly frank with you. Since Mr. Butler could not come to us, we must decline to pursue this case any further. All I have been able to learn about your daughter came to me through a certain female detective, a woman who is partly Chinese. She has a room on Pell street, in Chinatown. Better see her this afternoon. I happen to know that she will be in her room at three o'clock. No doubt she will be glad to help you along in the matter. She is a person you can rely on."

      The woman looked surprised.

      Old King Brady felt that she also looked rather relieved.

      "What is this woman's name?" she asked.

      "Her real name is Chinese. I forget it," was the reply. "She goes by the name of Gertrude Brown. Here is her address."

      Old King Brady scribbled name and address on a slip of paper and passed it over to Mrs. Butler.

      "Are her charges high?" the woman asked.

      "Just the reverse. She is very reasonable, while our charges are high. Tell her that I sent you and that I have dropped the case. She will use you right."

      "I am sure I am very much obliged to you," said Mrs. Butler, rising to depart. "But about Ed. You will send him home if he comes to you?"