the golf course mystery(高尔夫教程)-第47节
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copy of it that I got from New York。 There isn't anything to be worried
about。〃
〃But a book on poisons … poisonous plants it is； as I found out at the
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library … and poor father was killed by some mysterious poison！ Oh … 〃
She was rapidly verging on an attack of hysterics； and the colonel led
her gently to the dining room whence； in a little while； she emerged； pale；
but otherwise self…possessed。
〃Then you really want Aunt Mary and me to go away？〃 she asked。
〃Yes； for a day or so。 Make it appear that the house is closed for the
season。 You dismissed Forette； didn't you； as I suggested？〃
〃Yes； and paid him in full。 I never want to see him again。 He's been
so insolent of late … he'd hardly do a thing I asked him。 And he looked at
me in such a queer； leering； impudent way。〃
〃Don't worry about that； my dear。 Everything will soon be all right。〃
〃And will … will Harry be cleared？〃
The colonel did not have time to answer； for Miss Mary Carwell
appeared just then； lamenting the many matters that must be attended to on
the closing of the house for even a short time。 The colonel left her and
Viola to talk it over by themselves。
On slowly moving pinions； a lone osprey beat its way against a
quartering south…east wind to the dead tree where the little birds waited
impatiently in the nest； giving vent to curious； whistling sounds。 Slowly
the osprey flew； for it had played in great luck that day； and had swooped
down on a fish that would make a meal for him and his mate and the little
ones。 The fish was not yet dead； but every now and then would contort
its length in an effort to escape from the talons which were thrust deeper
and deeper into it； making bright spots of blood on the scaly sides。
And a man； walking through the sand； looked up； and in the last rays
of the setting sun saw the drops of blood on the sides of the fish。
〃A good kill； old man！ A good kill！〃 he said aloud； and as though the
osprey could hear him。 〃A mighty good kill！〃
When it was dark a procession of figures began to wend its way over
the lonely moor and among the sand dunes to where a tiny cottage nestled
in a lonely spot on the beach。 From the cottage a cheerful light shone；
and now and then a pretty girl went to the door to look out。 Seeing
nothing； she went back and sat beside a table； on which gleamed a lamp。
By the light of it a woman was knitting； her needles flying in and out
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of the wool。 The girl took up some sewing； but laid it down again and
again； to go to the door and peer out。
〃He is not coming yet； Mazi？〃 asked the woman in French。
〃No； mamma； but he will。 He said he would。 Oh； I am so happy
with him！ I love him so！ He is all life to me！〃
〃May you ever feel like that！〃 murmured the older woman。
Soon after that； the first of the figures in the procession reached the
little cottage。 The girl flew to the door； crying：
〃Jean！ Jean！ What made you so late？〃
〃I could not help it； sweetheart。 I but waited to get the last of my
wages。 Now I am paid； and we shall go on our honeymoon！〃
〃Oh； Jean！ I am so happy！〃
〃And I； too； Mazi ！〃 and the man drew the girl to him； a strange light
shining in his eyes。
They sat down just outside the little cottage； where the gleam from the
lamp would not reflect on them too strongly； and talked of many things。
Of old things that are ever new； and of new things that are destined to be
old。
The second figure of the procession that seemed to make the lonely
cottage on the moor a rendezvous that evening； was not far behind that of
the lover。 It was a figure of a man in a natty blue serge suit。 A panama
hat of expensive make sat jauntily on top of his head on which curled
close； heavy black hair。
〃I wonder if the colonel is coming？〃 mused Jack Young； as he stopped
to let Jean Forette hurry on a little in advance。 Then a backward lance
told him that two other figures were joining the procession。 These last two
… a man and a woman … walked more slowly； and they did not talk； except
now and then to pass a few words。
〃Then the marriage was legal； after all？〃 the woman asked。
〃Yes； Kate； it was；〃 answered Colonel Ashley。 〃You are his lawful
wife。〃
〃And he only told me I wasn't； so as to shame me … to make me leave
him； and render me desperate？〃
〃That； and for other reasons。 But the fact remains that you are his
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wife。〃
〃And this other ceremony … this other woman？〃
〃No legal wife at all。〃
〃I am sorry for her。〃
〃Yes； she is but a girl。 If I had known in time I might have stopped it。
But it is too late now。 Is he there； Jack？〃 he asked； as he joined the man in
the panama hat。
〃Yes； sitting outside with Mazi。 Going to close in？〃
〃Might as well。 Watch him carefully。 He's desperate； and … 〃
〃I know … full of dope。 Well I‘m ready for him。〃
And so the trio … the last of the procession； if we except Fate … went
closer to the cottage whence so cheerfully gleamed the light。
〃Who is there？ What do you want？〃
It was the snarling voice of Jean Forette； late chauffeur for the
Carwells； challenging。
〃Who is it？〃 he cried。
The three figures came on。
Suddenly there was a blinding flash； and the gleam from a powerful
electric torch shone in the faces of Jack Young； Morocco Kate and Colonel
Ashley。
There was a gasp of surprise and terror trom the man beside Mazi … the
man who had thrust out the torch to see who it was advancing and closing
in on him through the darkness。
〃Ah！〃 sneered the Frenchman； recovering his self…possession。 〃It is
my friend the officer。 Ah； I am glad to see you … but just now … not！〃 and
he seemed to spit out the words。
〃Maybe not。 I can't always come when I'm expected； nor where I'm
wanted；〃 said Colonel Ashley coolly。 〃Now； my friend … Jack！〃 he cried
sharply。
〃I've got him； Colonel；〃 was the cool answer； and there was a cry of
agony from the chauffeur as his wrist was turned； almost to the breaking
point； while there dropped from his paralyzed hand a magazine pistol；
thudding to the sand at his feet。
〃Go on； Colonel；〃 said Jack； who had slipped off to one side； out of the
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focus of the glaring light； just in time to prevent Jean Forette from using
the weapon he had quickly taken from a side pocket。 〃Go on； close in。
I've drawn his stinger。〃
〃Messieurs； what does this mean？〃 demanded the girl beside Jean。
〃Who are you？ What do you want？ Ah； it is you … and you ！〃 and she
turned first to Colonel Ashley and then to Jack Young。 〃You who have
talked so kindly to me … who have asked me so much about … about my
husband！ It is you who come like thieves and assassins！ Speak to them；
Jean！ Tell them to go！〃
The Frenchman was breathing heavily； for Jack had a merciless grip
on him。
〃Speak to them； Jean！〃 implored the girl； while her mother； standing in
the door with her knitting； looked wonderingly on。 〃Why do they come
to take you like a traitor？〃
〃It … it's all a mistake ！〃 panted the chauffeur。
〃You've got me wrong； messieurs。 I … I didn't do it。 It was all an
accident。 He … I … Oh； my God！ You！〃 and he started back as Morocco
Kate stepped toward him； pulling from her face the veil that had covered it
when the glaring light showed。 Jack Young now held the electric torch。
〃You！〃 he murmured hoarsely。
〃Yes； I！〃 she cried。 〃The woman you kicked out like a sick dog！
I've found you at last； and now I'll make you s
