the golf course mystery(高尔夫教程)-第7节
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going to add。
〃He isn't … Oh； don't tell me he is … 〃
〃The doctor says he is dead； Viola；〃 answered Bartlett gently。 〃He
passed away without pain or suffering。 It must have been heart disease。〃
But Viola Carwell never heard the last words； for she really fainted
this time； and Captain Poland laid her gently down on the soft； green
grass。
〃Better get the doctor for her；〃 he advised Bartlett。 〃She'll need him；
if her father doesn't。〃 As Harry Bartlett turned aside； waving back the
curiosity seekers that were already leaving the former scene of excitement
for the latest； LeGrand Blossom came up。 He seemed very cool and not
at all excited； considering what had happened。
〃I will look after Miss Carwell；〃 he said。
〃Perhaps you had better see to Mr。 Carwell … Mr。 Carwell's remains；
Blossom；〃 suggested Captain Poland。 〃Miss Carwell will be herself very
soon。 She has only fainted。 Her father is dead。
〃Dead？ Are you sure？〃 asked LeGrand Blossom； and his manner
seemed a trifle more naturally excited。
〃Dr。 Baird says so。 You'd better go to him。 He may want to ask
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THE GOLF COURSE MYSTERY
some questions； and you were more closely associated with Carwell than
any of the rest of us。〃
〃Very well； I'll look after the body；〃 said the secretary。 〃Did the
doctor say what killed him？〃
〃No。 That will be gone into later； I dare say。 Probably heart disease；
though I never knew he had it；〃 said Bartlett。
〃Nor I；〃 added Blossom。 〃I'd be more inclined to suspect apoplexy。
But are you sure Miss Carwell will be all right？〃
〃Yes；〃 answered Captain Poland； who had raised her head after
sprinkling in her face some water a caddy brought in his cap。 〃She is
reviving。〃
Dr。 Baird came up just then and gave her some aromatic spirits of
ammonia。
Viola opened her eyes。 There was no comprehension in them； and
she looked about in wonder。 Then； as her benumbed brain again took up
its work； she exclaimed：
〃Oh； it isn't true！ It can't be true！ Tell me it isn't！〃
〃I am sorry； but it seems to be but too true；〃 said Captain Poland gently。
〃Did he ever speak of trouble with his heart； Viola ？〃
〃Never； Gerry。 He was always so well and strong。〃
〃You had better come to the clubhouse；〃 suggested Bartlett； and she
went with them both。
A little later the body of Horace Carwell was carried to the 〃nineteenth
hole〃 … that place where all games are played over again in detail as the
contestants put away their clubs。
A throng followed the silent figure； borne on the shoulders of some
grounds workmen； but only club members were admitted to the house。
And among them buzzed talk of the tragedy that had so suddenly ended
the day of sports。
〃He looked all right when he started to play；〃 said one。 〃Never saw
him in better form； and some of his shots were marvelous。〃
〃He'd been drinking a little too much for a man to play his best；
especially on a hot day；〃 ventured another。 〃He must have been taken ill
from that； and the excitement of trying to win over the major； and it
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THE GOLF COURSE MYSTERY
affected his heart。〃
〃Never knew him to have heart disease；〃 declared Bruce Garrigan。
〃Lots of us have it and don't know it；〃 commented Tom Sharwell。 〃I
suppose it will take an autopsy to decide。〃
〃Rather tough on Miss Carwell；〃 was another comment。
〃That's true ！〃 several agreed。
The body of Horace Carwell was placed in one of the small card
rooms； and the door locked。 Then followed some quick telephoning on
the part of Dr。 Baird； who had recently joined the golf club； and who had
arrived at the clubhouse shortly before Mr。 Carwell dropped dead。 It was
at the suggestion of Harry Bartlett that Dr。 Addison Lambert； the Carwell
family physician； was sent for； and that rather aged practitioner arrived as
soon as possible。
He was taken in to view the body； together with Dr。 Baird； who was
almost pathetically deferential to his senior colleague。 The two medical
men were together in the room with the body for some time； and when
they came out Viola Carwell was there to meet them。 Dr。 Lambert put
his arms about her。 He had known her all her life … since she first
ventured into this world； in fact … and his manner was most fatherly。
〃Oh； Uncle Add ！〃 she murmured to him … for she had long called him
by this endearing title … Oh； Uncle Add！ What is it？ Is my father … is he
really … 〃
〃My dear little girl； your father is dead； I am sorry to say。 You must
be very brave； and bear up。 Be the brave woman he would want you to
be。〃
〃I will； Uncle Add。 But； oh； it is so hard！ He was all I had！ Oh；
what made him die？〃
She questioned almost as a little child might have done。
〃That I don't know； my dear；〃 answered Dr。 Lambert gently。 〃We
shall have to find that out later by … Well； we'll find out later； Dr。 Baird and
I。 You had better go home now。 I'll have your car brought around。 Is
that … that Frenchman here … your chauffeur？〃
〃Yes； he was here a little while ago。 But I had rather not go home
with him … at least； unless some one else comes with me。 I don't like … I
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don't like that big； new car。
〃If you will come with me； Viola … 〃 began Bartlett。
〃Yes； Harry； I'll go with you。 Oh； poor Aunt Mary！ This will be a
terrible shock to her。 I … 〃
〃I'll telephone； offered Dr。 Lambert。 〃She'll know when you arrive。
And I'll be over to see you； Viola； as soon as I make some arrangements。〃
〃And will you look after … after poor father？〃
〃Yes； you may leave it all to me。
And so； while the body of the dead clubman remained at the
nineteenth hole； Viola Carwell was taken to The Haven by Harry Bartlett；
while Captain Poland； nodding farewell to LeGrand Blossom and some of
his other friends； left the grounds in his gray car。
And as he rode down past the inlet where the tide was now running out
to the sea； he saw an osprey dart down and strike at an unseen fish。
But the bird rose with dripping pinions； its talons empty。
〃You didn't get any one that time！〃 murmured the captain。
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CHAPTER III
〃WHY？〃
Through the silent house echoed the vibration of the electric bell；
sounding unnecessarily loud； it seemed。 The maid who answered took
the caller's card to Miss Mary Carwell； Viola's aunt。
〃He wants to see Miss Viola；〃 the servant reported。 〃Shall I tell her？〃
〃You had better； yes。 She went to lie down； but she will want to see
Captain Poland。 Wait； I'll tell her myself。 Where is he？〃
〃In the library； ma am。
〃Very well。 I'll see him。〃
Mr。 Carwell's sister literally swept down the stairs； her black silk dress
rustling somberly and importantly。 She was a large woman； and her
bearing and air were in keeping。
〃It was very good of you to come；〃 she murmured； as she sank； with
more rustling and shimmerings； into a chair； while the captain waited for
her to be settled； like a boat at anchor； before he again took his place。
〃Viola will be down presently。 I gave her a powder the doctor left for her；
and she slept； I hope； since we were both awake nearly all of last night。〃
〃I should imagine so。 The strain and shock must have been intense。
But please don't disturb her if she is resting。
