Page:The Black Camel (IA blackcamel0000earl).djvu/249

“No, I don’t. I'll attend to that later. By the way, if you see that old couple from Australia about, keep out of their way. I’ve arranged for them to come to my office, as I told you, and I don’t want to talk with them here. We can handle them better amid the proper surroundings. Now, what is it you want to do?”

“I desire,” Chan answered, “to make complete search of Tarneverro’s apartment.”

The Chief frowned. “That’s not quite according to Hoyle, Charlie. I don’t know. We have no warrant——”

“Which is why I asked you to come. Big man such as you are can arrange it. We leave everything as we found it, and Tarneverro will not know.”

“Where is he?”

Charlie explained the fortune-teller’s present whereabouts. The Chief nodded. “That was a good idea. Wait here, and I'll have a talk with the management.”

He returned presently, accompanied by a tall lean man with sandy hair. “It’s all fixed,” the Chief announced. “You know Jack Murdock, don’t you, Charlie? He’s going with us.”

“Mr. Murdock old friend,” Chan said.

“Well, Charlie, how you been?” Murdock remarked. He was an ex-policeman, now one of the house detectives for the hotel.

“I enjoy the usual good health,” Charlie replied, and with the Chief, followed Murdock.

After the house detective had unlocked the door and admitted them to Tarneverro’s sitting-room, he stood looking at Chan with a speculative eye.