the golf course mystery(高尔夫教程)-第36节
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through so many changes and varieties of other scents； even over and in
the water； and into the earth。〃
〃Ah；〃 mused the colonel； 〃I think I must cling to my first scent； and
follow it through or over the water or into the earth。〃
Then； laying aside the little green book； with its atmosphere of calm
delight； he picked up a little thin volume； which bore on its title page 〃The
Poisonous Plants of New Jersey。〃
And in that he read：
〃The water hemlock （Cicuta maculata L。） is the most poisonous
plant in the flora of the United States； and has probably destroyed
more human lives than all our other toxic plants combined。 As a
member of the parsley family （Umbellifera） it resembles in general
appearance the carrot and parsnip of the same group of plants。 It
grows in swampy land。 The poisoning of the human is chiefly with the
fleshy roots。
〃The active principle of this cicuta is the volatile alkaloid canine；
common also to the poison hemlock （Conium macula turn L。） The
symptoms of the poisoning are many； including violent contraction of
the muscles； dilated pupils and epilepsy。 。 。 No antidote for canine
poisoning is known。 。 。 The active canine 。 。 。 was the poison
employed by the Greeks in putting prisoners to death； Socrates being one
of its illustrious victims。〃
And having read that much； Colonel Ashley looked at a little slip in
the book。 It bore the penciled memorandum 〃58 C。 H。… ~I6I*。〃
〃I wonder … I wonder；〃 mused the colonel； and so wondering； and with
fitful dreams attending his slumbers； he passed the night。
Jean Forette drove the colonel and Viola to the office。 They arrived
rather early。 In fact LeGrand Blossom was not yet in； and when he did
enter； a few minutes later； he was plainly surprised to see them。
〃Is anything the matter？〃 asked the confidential clerk； as he quickly
opened his desk。 〃I am sorry I was late this morning。 But I had some
matters to look after … 〃
〃No apology necessary；〃 said Colonel Ashley； quickly。 〃We have not
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been waiting long。 We have discovered something。〃
If his life had depended on it LeGrand Blossom could not； at that
moment； have concealed a start of surprise。
〃You mean you have found out who killed Mr。 Carwell？〃 he asked；
and his tongue went quickly around his dry lips。
〃Not that；〃 the colonel answered。 〃But we have found some letters
that seem to need explaining。 Here they are。〃
Then when Viola had told how she discovered them； she asked：
〃Did my father ever owe Captain Poland any money？〃
〃Yes；〃 answered LeGrand Blossom； frankly； 〃he did。〃
〃How much？〃
〃Fifteen thousand dollars。〃
〃Was it ever paid back？〃 asked Colonel Ashley。 〃That I cannot say；〃
replied the head clerk。 〃The papers in that particular transaction are
missing。 I looked for them the other day； but failed to find them。 I was
intending to ask you； Miss Carwell； if you knew anything about them。
Now； it seems you do not。 The fact remains that your father was at one
time indebted to the captain for fifteen thousand dollars。 Whether it was
repaid I can not say。〃
〃Who would know？〃 asked Colonel Ashley。
〃Why； Captain Poland； of course；〃 answered Mr。 Blossom。 〃One
would think that it would be paid by check； but in that case the canceled
one would come back from the bank； which it has not。 It is possible that
Mr。 Carwell had an account in some other bank； or he may have paid the
captain in cash。 In either case a receipt would be given； I should say。
Captain Poland is the only one who now would know。〃
〃Then we had better see him；〃 suggested Colonel Ashley。 〃Shall we
call on him； Viola？〃
She hesitated a moment before answering； and then replied in a low
voice：
〃I think it would be better。 We must end this mystery！〃
They left LeGrand Blossom and again entered the car。 Jean Forette
was driving； and the detective again noticed the strange and sudden
change in his manner。 Whereas he had been morose and sullen the first
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part of the trip； timid and watchful of every crossing and turning； now he
put on full speed and drove with the confidence of an expert。
〃He must have had another shot of dope；〃 mused the colonel。 〃I'll
have to keep an eye on you； my Frenchie； else you may be ramming a
stone wall when you're feeling pretty well elated。〃
They were half way to the home of Captain Poland when Viola
suddenly changed her mind。
〃I … I don't believe I care to go to see him；〃 she said。 〃Can't you go
without me； Colonel Ashley？ You can find out better than I can。 I … I
really don't feel equal to it。〃
〃Of course； I can；〃 was the ready answer。 〃Drive Miss Carwell home；
Jean； and then I'll go on to see Captain Poland myself。〃
The car was swung around； and was soon in front of The Haven。 The
colonel； with his usual gallantry； walked with Viola to the steps。 As the
maid opened the door she said to her mistress：
‘‘There is a lady to see you。〃
〃A lady to see me？〃 exclaimed Viola； in some surprise。
〃Yes。 She is in the library； waiting。 I said I did not know how long
you would be away； but she said she was a friend of the family and would
wait。〃
〃Who is she？〃 asked Viola。
〃I don't know。 But she is a large； blonde lady。〃
〃I can't imagine；〃 murmured Viola。 〃Won't you come in； Colonel
Ashley？ It may be some one I would want you to see； also。〃
As Viola； followed at a little distance by the colonel； entered the
library； a large； blonde woman arose to meet her。
〃I am so glad to see you； my dear Miss Carwell；〃 began the woman；
and then Colonel Ashley had one of his questions answered。 The voice
was the same as that of the shawled woman LeGrand Blossom had met on
the ferryboat the night before； and it was the voice of Annie Tighe； alias
Maude Warren； alias Morocco Kate； one of the cleverest of New York's de
luxe crooks。
〃So you have a hand in the game； have you； my dear？〃 mused the
colonel； as he caught the now well…remembered tones。 〃Well； I guess
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you don't want to see me right away； and I don't want you to。〃
He had kept behind Viola during the walk down the hall； and the large
blonde had not noticed him； he hoped。 He whispered to Viola； who stood
just at the entrance to the room：
〃Learn all you can from her。 I'll be back pretty soon … as soon as she
has gone。 Find out where she's stopping。 Don't mention me。〃
The hall was dimly lighted； and he had a chance to say this to Viola
without getting into full view of the caller； and without her overhearing。
Then； turning quickly； Colonel Ashley hurried out of the house。
〃Morocco Kate；〃 he mused as he got into the car again； and told Jean
to drive to Captain Poland's。 〃Morocco Kate！ I wonder if she is just
beginning her game； or if this is merely a phase of it； started before Mr。
Carwell's death？ Another link added to the puzzle。〃
He was still pondering over this when he reached the captain's home。
It was a rather elaborate summer 〃cottage；〃 with magnificent grounds； and
the captain's mother kept house for him。 But there was a curious
deserted air about the place as Jean drove up the gravel road。 A man was
engaged in putting up boards at the windows。
〃Is the captain here？〃 asked the colonel。
〃The place is being closed for the season； sir；〃 answered the man；
evidently a caretaker。
〃Closed？ So early？〃 e
