“No. Me - I am born in San Francisco. But I read advertisements in magazines - and besides -“

“You are bright girl,” the man cut in, “and your deduction is eminently correct. Honolulu has been my home for many years. Once, it is true, I saw California before, and from flat floor of desert I beheld, far in distance, mountain snow. But that was all same dream. Now I am moving on into veritable snow country, the substance lies on ground all about, soon I shall plunge unaccustomed feet into its delicious cold. I shall intake great breaths of frigid air.” He sighed. “Life is plenty good,” he added.

“Some people,” said the girl, “find the snow boresome.”

“And some, no doubt, consider the stars a blemish on the sky. But you and I, we are not so insensible to the beauties of the world. We delight to travel - to find novelty and change. Is it not so?”

“I certainly do.”

“Ah - you should visit my islands. Do not think that in my ecstasy of raving I forget the charm of my own land. I have daughter same age as you - how happy she would be to act as your guide. She would show you Honolulu, the flowering trees, the -“

“The new police station, perhaps,” cried the girl suddenly.

The big man started slightly and stared at her. “I perceive that I am known,” he remarked.

“Naturally,” the girl smiled. “For many years you have been newspaper hero for me. I was small child at the time, but I read with panting interest when you carried Phillimore pearls on flat floor of desert. Again, when you captured killer of famous Scotland Yard man in San Francisco, I perused daily accounts breathlessly. And only three weeks ago you arrived in San Francisco with one more cruel murderer in your firm grasp.”

“But even so,” he shrugged.

“Your pictures were in all the papers. Have you forgot?”

“I seek to do so,” he answered ruefully. “Were those my pictures?”

“More than that, I have seen you in person. Two weeks ago when the Chan Family Society gave big banquet for you in San Francisco. My mother was a Chan, and we were all present. I stood only a few feet away when you entered the building. True, I was seated so far distant I could not hear your speech, but I was told by others it was brilliant talk.”

He shrugged. “The Chan family should have more respect for truth,” he objected.

“I am Violet Lee,” she went on, holding out a tiny hand. “And you - may I speak the name -“

“Why not?” he replied, taking her hand. “You have me trapped. I am inspector Charlie Chan, of the Honolulu Police.”

“My husband and I recognized you when you came aboard at Oakland,” the girl went on.