the golf course mystery(高尔夫教程)-第33节
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captain was in love with her … he had frankly confessed as much； and Viola
knew it anyhow。 She was not at all sure whether he loved her for her
position or because she was good to look upon and desirable in every way。
As for her own heart； she was sure of that。 In spite of the fact that
she had tried to pique him that fatal day； merely to 〃stir him up；〃 as she
phrased it； Viola was deeply and earnestly in love with Harry Bartlett； and
she was sure enough of his feeling toward her to find in it a glow of
delight。
Then there was in the letter the hint of a threat。 〃Let me hear from
you by the twenty…third； or … 〃
〃Oh； what does it mean？ What does it mean？〃 and Viola bent her
weary head down on the letters and her tears stained them。 Puzzled as she
was over the contents of the letters … torn and otherwise … which she had
found hidden in the drawer of the private safe； Viola Carwell was not yet
ready to share her secret with her Aunt Mary or Colonel Ashley。 These two
were her nearest and most natural confidants under the circumstances。
〃I would like to tell Harry； but I can't；〃 she reasoned； when she had
awakened after a night of not very refreshing slumber。 〃Of course
Captain Poland could explain … if he would。 But I'll keep this a secret a
little longer。 But； oh！ I wonder what it means？〃
And so； when she greeted Colonel Ashley at the breakfast table she
smiled and tried to appear her usual self。
〃I did not hear you come in；〃 said Miss Carwell； as she poured the
coffee。
〃No； I did not want to disturb any one；〃 answered the colonel。 〃I saw
a light under Miss Viola's door； and reported myself to her；〃 he went on。
〃But I don't imagine you slept much more than I did； for your eyes are not
as bright as usual；〃 and he smiled at the girl。
〃Aren't they？〃 countered Viola。 〃Well； I did read later than I should。
But tell me； Colonel Ashley； are you making any progress at all？〃
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He did not answer for a moment。 He seemed very much occupied in
buttering a piece of roll … trying to get the little dab of yellow in the exact
center of the white portion。 Then； when it was arranged to his
satisfaction； he said：
〃I am making progress； that is all I can say now。〃
〃And does that progress carry with it any hope that Harry Bartlett will
be proved innocent？〃 asked Viola eagerly。
〃That I can not say … now。 I hope it will； though。〃
〃Thank you for that！〃 exclaimed Viola earnestly。
Miss Carwell said nothing。 She had her own opinion； and was going
to hold to it； detectives or no detectives。
〃Will you send Shag to me？〃 the colonel requested a maid； as he arose
from the table。 〃Tell him we are going fishing。〃
〃Isn't there anything you can do … I mean toward … toward the …
case？〃 faltered Viola。 〃Not that I mean … of course I don't want to seem …
〃
〃I understand； my dear；〃 said the colonel gently。 〃And I am not going
fishing merely to shirk a responsibility。 But I have to think some of these
puzzles out quietly； and fishing is the quietest pastime I know。〃
〃Oh； yes； I know；〃 Viola hastened to add。 〃I shouldn't have said
anything。 I wish I could get quiet myself。 I'm almost tempted to take
your recipe。〃
〃Why don't you？〃 urged the colonel。 〃Come along with me。 I can
soon teach you the rudiments； though to become a finished angler； so that
you would be not ashamed to meet Mr。 Walton； takes years。 But I think
it would rest you to come。 Shall I tell Shag to fit you out with one of my
rods？〃
Viola hesitated a moment。 This might give her an opportunity for
talking with the colonel in secret and confidence。 But she put it aside。
〃No； thank you；〃 she answered。 〃I'll go another time。 I must stop at
the office and leave some bills that have come here to the house。 Mr。
Blossom attends to the payment。〃
〃Let me leave them for you；〃 offered the colonel。 〃I have to go into
town for some bait； and I can easily stop at the office for you。〃
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〃If you will be so good；〃 returned Viola； and she got the bundle of bills
… some relating to Mr。 Carwell's funeral and others that had been mailed to
the house instead of to the office。
The colonel might have sent Shag to purchase the shedder crabs he
was going to use for bait that day in fishing in the inlet； and the colored
servant might have left the bills。 But the colonel was particular about his
bait； and would let none select it but himself。 Consequently he had Jean
Forette drive him in； telling Shag to meet him at a certain dock where they
would drop down the inlet and try for 〃snappers；〃 young bluefish； elusive；
gamy and delicious eating。
〃You have not yet found a place？〃 asked the colonel of the chauffeur；
as they rolled along。
〃No； monsieur … none to my satisfaction； though I have been offered
many。 One I could have I refused yesterday。〃
〃You liked it with Mr。 Carwell； then？〃
〃Truly the situation was in itself delightful。 But I could not manage
the big car as he liked； and we had to part。 There was no other way。〃
The detective narrowly observed the driver beside whom he sat。 Jean
did not look well。 He had much of the appearance of the 〃morning after
the night before；〃 and his hand was not very steady as he shifted the gear
lever。
〃How much longer have you to stay here； Jean？〃
〃About two weeks。 My month will be up then。〃
〃And then you go … 〃
〃I do not know； monsieur。 Probably to New York。 That is a great
headquarters。〃
〃So I believe。〃
〃If monsieur should hear of a family that … 〃
〃Yes； I'll bear you in mind； Jean。 You are steady and reliable； I
presume？〃 and the colonel smiled。
〃I have most excellent letters！〃 he boasted； and for the moment he
seemed to rouse himself from the sluggishness that marked him that
morning。
〃I'll bear it in mind；〃 said the colonel again。
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But as they drove on； and Colonel Ashley noted with what exaggerated
care Jean Forette passed other cars … giving them such a wide berth that
often his own machine was almost in the ditch … the impression grew on
the detective that the Frenchman was not as skillful as he would have it
believed。
〃He drives Like an amateur； or a woman out alone in her machine for
the first time；〃 mused the colonel。 〃He'd never do for a smart car。
Wonder what ails him。 He wasn't drunk last night by any means； and yet
… 〃
They reached the town； and paused at the only place where there was
any congestion of traffic … where two main seashore highways crossed in
the center of Lakeside。 Jean held the runabout there so long； waiting for
other traffic to pass； that the officer who was on duty called：
〃What's the matter … going to sleep there？〃
Then Jean； with a start； threw in the clutch and shot ahead。
〃That's queer；〃 mused the colonel。 〃He seems afraid。〃
The purchase of the shedder crabs was gone into care fully； and having
questioned the bait…seller as to the best location in the inlet； the detective
again got into the machine and was driven to the office of the late Horace
Carwell。 It was a branch of the New York office； and thither； every
summer； came LeGrand Blossom and a corps of clerks to manage affairs
for their employer。
Colonel Ashley； who by this time was known to the office boy at the
outer gate； was admitted at once。
〃Mr。 Blossom is at the telephone；〃 said the lad； 〃but you can go right
in and wait for him。〃
This the colonel did； having left Jean outside in the car。
The telephone in LeGrand Blossom's private office was in a booth； put
there to get it away from th
