the golf course mystery(高尔夫教程)-第26节
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two ways about it。〃
〃I believe some one killed him！〃 burst out Viola。 〃But I think the
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authorities have made a horrible mistake in detaining Mr。 Bartlett；〃 she
added。 〃Don't you； Mr。 Blossom？〃
〃I … er … I don't know what to think。 Your father had some enemies； it
is true。 Every business man has。 And a person with a temper easily
aroused； such as … 〃
LeGrand Blossom stopped suddenly。
〃You were about to name some one？〃 asked Viola。
〃Well； I was about to give； merely as an instance； Jean Forette the
chauffeur。 Not that I think the Frenchman had a thing to do with the
matter。 But he has a violent temper at times； and again he is as meek as
any one I ever knew。 But say a person did give way to violent passion；
such as I have seen him do at times when something went wrong with the
hig； new car； might not such a person； for a fancied wrong； take means of
ending the life of a person who had angered him？〃
〃I never liked Jean Forette；〃 put in Miss Carwell； 〃and I was glad
when I heard Horace was to let him go。〃
〃Do yon think…do you believe he had anything to do with my father's
death？〃 asked Viola quickly。
〃Not the least in the world；〃 answered the head clerk hastily。 〃I just
used him as an iliustration。〃
〃But he quarreled with my father；〃 the girl went on。 〃They had
words； I know。〃
〃Yes； they did； and I heard some of them；〃 admitted LeGrand Blossom。
〃But that passed over； and they were friendly enough the day of the golf
game。 So there could not have been murder in the heart of that
Frenchman。 No； I don't mean even to hint at him： hut I believe some one；
angry at； and with a grudge against； your father； ended his life。〃
〃I believe that； too！〃 declared Viola firmly。 〃And while I feel； as you
do； about Jean； still it is a clew that must not be overlooked。 I'll tell
Colonel Ashley。〃
I fancy he knows it already；〃 said LeGrand Blossom。 〃There isn't
much that escapes that fisherman。〃
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CHAPTER XIII
CAPTAIN POLAND CONFESSES
When LeGrand Blossom had taken his departure； carrying with him
the books and papers； he left behind two very disconsolate persons。
〃It's terrible！〃 exclaimed Mr。 Carwell's sister。 〃To think that poor
Horace could be so careless！ I knew his sporting life would bring trouble；
but I never dreamed of this。〃
〃We must face it； terrible as it is；〃 said Viola。 〃Nothing would matter
if he … if he were only left to us。 I'm sure he never meant to spend so
much money。 It was just because … he didn't think。〃
〃That always was a fault of his；〃 sighed Miss Mary； 〃even when a boy。
It's terrible！〃
〃It's terrible to have him gone and to think of the terrible way he was
taken；〃 sighed Viola。 〃But any one is likely to lose money。〃
She no more approved of many of her late father's sporting proclivities
than did her aunt； and there were many rather startling stories and rumors
that came to Viola as mere whispers to which she turned a deaf ear。
Since her mother's death her father had； it was common knowledge；
associated with a fast set； and he had been seen in company with persons
of both sexes who were rather notorious for their excesses。
〃Well； Mr。 Blossom will do the best he can； I suppose；〃 said Miss
Carwell； with rather an intimation that the head clerk's best would be very
bad indeed。
〃I'm sure he will；〃 assented Viola。 〃He knows all the details of poor
father's affairs； and he alone can straighten them out。 Oh； if we had only
known of this before； we might have stopped it。〃
〃But your father was always very close about his matters；〃 said his
sister。 〃He resented even your mother knowing how much money he
made； and how。 I think she felt that； too； for she liked to have a share in
all he did。 He was kindness itself to her； but she wanted more than that。
She wanted to have a part in his success； and he kept her out … or she felt
that he did。 Well； I'm sure I hope all mistakes are straightened out in
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Heaven。 It's certain they aren't here。〃
Viola pondered rather long and deeply on what LeGrand Blossom had
told her。 She made it a point to go for a drive the next afternoon with
Jean Forette in the small car； taking a maid with her on a pretense of doing
some shopping。 And Viola closely observed the conduct of the chauffeur。
On her return； the girl could not help admitting that the Frenchman
was all a careful car driver should be。 He had shown skill and foresight
in guiding the car through the summer…crowded traffic of Lakeside； and
had been cheerful and polite。
〃I am sorry you are going to leave us； Jean；〃 she said； when he had
brought her back to The Haven。
〃I； too； am regretful；〃 he said in his careful English。 〃But your father
had other ideas； and I … I am really afraid of that big new car。 It is not a
machine； mademoiselle； it is … pardon … it is a devil！ It will be the death of
some one yet。 I could never drive it。〃
〃But if we sold that car； Jean； as we are going to do … 〃
〃I could not stay； Miss Viola。 I have a new place； and to that I go in
two weeks。 I am sorry； for I liked it here； though … Oh； well； of what
use？〃 and he shrugged his shoulders。
〃Was there something you did not like？ Did my father not treat you
well？〃 asked Viola quickly。
〃Oh； as to that； mademoiselle； I should not speak。 I liked your father。
We； at times； did have difference； as who has not？ But he was a friend to
me。 What would you have？ I am sorry！〃 And he touched his hat and
drove around to the garage。
As Viola was about to enter the house she chanced to look down the
street and saw Minnie Webb approaching。 She looked so thoroughly
downcast that Viola was surprised。
〃Hello； Minnie！〃 she exclaimed pleasantly。 〃Anything new or
startling？〃
〃Nothing；〃 was the somewhat listless reply。 〃Is there anything new
here？〃 and Minnie Webb's face showed a momentary interest。
〃I can't say that there is；〃 returned Viola。 She paused for a moment。
〃Won't you come in？〃
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〃I don't think so…not to…day；〃 stammered the other girl。 And then as
she looked at Viola her face began to flush。 〃I … I don't feel very well。 I
have a terrible headache。 I think I'll go home and lie down；〃 and she
hurried on without another word。
〃There is certainly something wrong with Minnie；〃 speculated Viola；
as she looked after her friend。 〃I wonder if it is on account of LeGrand
Blossom。〃
She did not know how much Minnie Webb was in love with the man
who had been her father's confidential clerk and who was now in charge of
Mr。 Carwell's business affairs； and； not knowing this； she could； of course；
not realize under what a strain Minnie was now living with so many
suspicions against Blossom。
Divesting herself of her street dress for a more simple gown； Viola
inquired of the maid whether Colonel Ashley was in the house。 When
informed that he had gone fishing with Shag； the girl； with a little gesture
of impatience； took her seat near a window to look over some mail that
had come during her absence。
As she glanced up after reading a belated letter of sympathy she saw；
alighting from his car which had stopped in front of The Haven； Captain
Gerry Poland。 He caught sight of her； and waved his hand。
〃Oh； dear！〃 exclaimed Viola。 〃If
