"By gad, here's a type," he cried. "Say, John—how'd you like to act in the pictures?"
"You clazy, boss," grinned Ah Kim.
"No, I'm not. We could use you in Hollywood."
"Him lookee like you make 'um big joke."
"Nothing of the kind. You think it over. Here." He wrote on a card. "You change your mind, you come and see me. Savvy?"
"Maybe nuddah day, boss. Plenty happly heah now." He moved along with his tray.
Bob Eden sat down beside Paula Wendell. He was, for all his outward calm, in a very perturbed state of mind.
"Look here," he began, "something has happened, and you can help us again." He explained about Jerry Delaney, and repeated the conversation he had just overheard between Madden and Eddie Boston. The girl's eyes were wide. "It wouldn't do for Chan or me to make any inquiries," he added. "What sort of fellow is this Boston?"
"Rather unpleasant person," she said. "I've never liked him."
"Well, suppose you ask him a few questions, the first chance you have. I presume that won't come until you get back to town. Find out all he knows about Jerry Delaney, but do it in a way that won't rouse his suspicions, if you can."
"I'll certainly try," she answered. "I'm not very clever—"
"Who says you're not? You're mighty clever—and kind, too. Call me up as soon as you've talked with him, and I'll hurry in town."
The director was on his feet. "Come on—let's get this thing finished. Is everybody here? Eddie! Where's Eddie?"
Mr. Boston emerged from the living-room, his face a mask, telling nothing. Not going to be an easy matter, Bob Eden reflected, to pump Eddie Boston.
An hour later the movies vanished down the road in a cloud of dust, with Paula Wendell's roadster trailing. Bob Eden sought out Charlie Chan. In the seclusion behind the cookhouse, he again went over Boston's surprising remarks to Madden. The detective's little black eyes shone.
"We march again," he said. "Eddie Boston becomes with sudden flash our one best wager. He must be made to talk. But how?"
"Paula Wendell's going to have a try at it," Eden replied.
Chan nodded. "Fine idea, I think. In presence of pretty girl, what man keeps silent? We pin our eager hopes on that."
Chapter XVII. In Madden's Footsteps
An hour later Bob Eden answered a ring on the telephone. Happily the living room was deserted. Paula Wendell was on the wire.
"What luck?" asked the boy in a low voice.
"Not so good," she answered. "Eddie was in a terrific rush when we got back to town. He packed his things, paid his bill, and was running out of the hotel when I caught him. 'Listen, Eddie—I want to ask you—' I began, but that was as far as I got. He pointed to the station. 'Can't talk now, Paula,' he said. 'Catching the Los Angeles train.' And managed to swing aboard it just as it was pulling out."
Eden was silent for a moment "That's odd. He'd naturally have gone back with the company, wouldn't he? By automobile?"
"Of course. He came that way. Well, I'm awfully sorry, Chief. I've fallen down on the job. I guess there's nothing for me to do but turn in my shield and nightstick—"
"Nothing of the sort. You did your best."
"But it wasn't good enough. I'm sorry. I'm forced to start for Hollywood in my car in about an hour. Shall you be here when I come back?"
Eden sighed. "Me? It begins to look as though I'd be here forever."
"How terrible."
"What sort of speech is that?"
"For you, I mean."
"Oh! Well, thank you very much. I'll hope to see you soon."
He hung up and went into the yard. Ah Kim was loitering near the cookhouse. Together they strolled into the barn.
"We pinned our eager hopes on empty air," said Eden. He repeated his conversation with Paula Wendell.
Chan nodded, unperturbed. "I would have made fat wager same would happen. Eddie Boston knows all about Delaney, and admits the fact to Madden. What the use we try to see Boston then? Madden has seen him first."
Bob Eden dropped down on a battered old settee that had been exiled from the house. He put his head in his hands.
"Well, I'm discouraged," he admitted. "We're up against a stone wall, Charlie."
"Many times in my life I find myself in that precise locality," returned the detective. "What happens? I batter old head until it feels sore, and then a splendid idea assails me. I go around."
"What do you suggest?"
"Possibilities of ranch now exhausted and drooping. We must look elsewhere. Names of three cities gallop into mind—Pasadena, Los Angeles, Hollywood."
"All very fine—but how to get there? By gad—I think I can manage it at that. Madden was saying this morning I ought to go to Pasadena and look up Draycott. It seems that for some strange reason they didn't meet yesterday."
Chan smiled. "Did he display peevish feeling as result?"
"No, oddly enough, he didn't. I don't think he wanted to meet Draycott, with the professor tagging along. Paula Wendell's going over that way shortly in her car. If I hurry, I may be able to ride with her."
"Which, to my thinking, would be joyful traveling," agreed Chan. "Hasten along. We have more talk when I act part of taxi-driver and carry you to Eldorado."
Bob Eden went at once to Madden's bedroom. The door was open and he saw the huge figure of the millionaire stretched on the bed, his snores shattering the calm afternoon. He hammered loudly on the panel of the door.
Madden leaped from the bed with startling suddenness, his eyes instantly wide and staring. He seemed like one expecting trouble. For a moment, Eden pitied the great man. Beyond all question Madden was caught in some inexplicable net; he was harassed and worn, but fighting still. Not a happy figure, for all his millions.
"I'm awfully sorry to disturb you, sir," Eden said. "But the fact is I have a chance to ride over to Pasadena with some of the movie people, and I think I'd better go. Draycott hasn't called, and—"
"Hush," said Madden sharply. He closed the door. "The matter of Draycott is between you and me. I suppose you wonder what it's all about, but I can't tell you—except to say that this fellow Gamble doesn't strike me as being what he pretends. And—"
"Yes, sir," said Eden hopefully, as the millionaire paused.
"Well, I won't go into that. You locate Draycott and tell him to come to Eldorado. Tell him to put up at the Desert Edge and keep his mouth shut. I'll get
