Behind That Curtain (33 page)

Kirk smiled happily. “If any one had told me two weeks ago I was going to kiss a lawyer—and like it—” He was interrupted by the hoarse cry of the ship's siren.

Slowly the vessel drew away from the pier. The pink streamer broke, its ends trailing in the water. Charlie leaned far over the rail.

“Aloha,” he called. “Until we meet again.” His fat face shone with joy. The big ship paused, trembled, and set out for Hawaii.

Earl Derr Biggers
(1884–1933) was an American novelist and playwright. He is remembered primarily for his novels, especially those featuring the Chinese-American detective, Charlie Chan.

Biggers was born in Warren, Ohio, and graduated from Harvard University in 1907. Many of his plays and novels were made into movies, and he was posthumously inducted into the Warren City Schools Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame.

By 1908, Biggers was hired at the Boston Traveler to write a daily humor column and, soon after, became the drama critic. It was at this time that he met Elanor Ladd, who would later become his wife and who would have a marked influence in his writing.

The popularity of Charlie Chan extended even to China, where audiences in Shanghai appreciated the Hollywood films. Chinese companies made their own versions of the films starring this fictional character.

Biggers lived in San Marino, California, and died in a Pasadena, California of a heart attack. He was 48.

Discover books by S.S. Van Dine published by Bloomsbury Reader at
www.bloomsbury.com/EarlDerrBiggers

Behind That Curtain

The Chinese Parrot

The House without a Key

This electronic edition published in 2013 by Bloomsbury Reader

Bloomsbury Reader is a division of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, 50 Bedford Square,
London WC1B 3DP

Copyright © 1922 Earl Derr Biggers

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eISBN: 9781448213672

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