the golf course mystery(高尔夫教程)-第38部分
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〃Yes。 And he acts so strangely of late； and looks at me in such a
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queer way。 Oh； I'm afraid； and I don't know what I'm afraid of！〃
〃I'm the same way； Viola！〃 admitted Minnie。
I wonder why we two should have all the trouble in the world？〃
And the two were miserable together。
They were not the only ones to suffer in those days。 Captain Gerry
Poland could not drive Viola from his mind。 To the yachtsman； she was
the most beautiful woman he had ever met； and he wondered if fortune
would ever make it possible for him to approach her again on the subject
that lay so close to his heart。
And then there was Bartlett。 It was true he walked the streets … 0r
rather rode around them in his 〃Spanish Omelet〃 … a free man； yet the
finger of suspicion was constantly pointed at him。
More than once in the town he met people who sneered openly at him；
as if to say； 〃You are guilty； but we can't prove it。〃 And once on the golf
course he went up to three men who had formerly been quite friendly and
suggested a game of golf； upon which one after another the others made
trivial excuses and begged to be excused。 Upon this occasion the young
man had rushed away； his face scarlet； and he had only calmed down after
a mad tour of many miles in his racing machine。
〃It's an outrage！〃 he had muttered to himself。 〃A dastardly outrage！
But what is a fellow going to do？〃
Meanwhile Colonel Ashley and Jack Young were puzzling their heads
over many matters connected with the golf course mystery。 Jack had
obeyed the colonel's instructions to the letter。 He had played many
rounds on the links and had gotten to a certain degree of friendship with
Jean Forette。 He had even formed a liking for Bruce Garrigan； who；
offhand； informed him that the amount of India ink used in tattooing
sailors during the past year was less by fifteen hundred ounces than the
total output of radium salts for 1916； while the wheat crop of Minnesota
for the same period was 66；255 bushels。 All of which information； useful
in a way； no doubt； was accepted by Jack with a smile。 He was there to
look and listen； and； well； he did it。
〃But I've got to pass it up；〃 he told Colonel Ashley。 〃I've stuck to that
Jean chap until I guess he must think I want him for a chauffeur if ever I'm
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able to own a car bigger than a flivver。 And aside from the fact that he
does use some kind of dope； in which he isn't alone in this world； I can't
get a line on him。〃
〃No； I didn't expect you would；〃 said Colonel Ashley； with a smile。
〃But are you well enough acquainted with him to have a talk with his
sweetheart？〃
〃You mean Mazi？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Well； I s'pose I might get a talk with her。 But what's the idea？〃
〃Nothing special； only I'd like to see if she tells you the same story she
told me。 Have a try at it when you get a chance。〃
〃On the theory； I suppose； of in any trouble； look for the lady？〃
〃Somewhat； yes。〃
They were talking in The Haven； for Jack had been put up there as a
guest at the request of Colonel Ashley。 And when the bell rang；
indicating some one at the door； they looked at one another questioningly。
Then came the postman's whistle； for Lakeside； though but a summer
resort； with a population much larger in summer than in winter； boasted of
mail delivery。
A maid placed the letters in their usual place on the hall table； and the
colonel quickly ran through them； for he had reports sent him from his
New York office from time to time。
〃Here's one for you； Jack；〃 he announced； handing his assistant a letter。
While Jack Young was reading it the colonel caught sight of a postal；
with the address side down； lying among the other missives。 It was a
postal which bore several lines of printing； the rest being filled in by a pen；
and the import of it was that a certain library book； under the number 58 C。
H … I6I* had been out the full time allowed under the rules； and must either
be returned for renewal； or a fine of two cents a day paid； and the recipient
was asked to give the matter prompt attention。
The。 colonel turned the card over。 It was addressed to Miss Viola
Carwell at The Haven。
〃So the book is out on her card；〃 murmured the detective。 〃I must look
for her copy of 'Poison Plants of New Jersey；' and see if it is like the one I
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have。〃
〃Were you speaking to me？〃 asked Jack； having finished his letter。
〃No； but I will now。 We've got to get busy on this case； and close it
up。 I've been too long on it now。 Shag is getting impatient。〃
〃Shag？〃
〃Yes； he wants me to go fishing。〃
〃Oh； I see。 Well； I'm ready。 What are the orders？〃
Two busy days on the part of Colonel Ashley and his assistant
followed。 They went on many mysterious errands and were out once all
night。 But where they went； what they did or who they saw they told no
one。
It was early one evening that Colonel Ashley waited for his assistant in
the library of The Haven。 Jack had gone out to send a message and was to
return soon。 And as the colonel waited in the dim light of one electric
bulb； much shaded； he saw a figure come stealing to the portieres that
separated the library from the hall。 Cautiously the figure advanced and
looked into the room。 A glance seemed to indicate that no one was there；
for the colonel was hidden in the depths of a big chair； 〃slumping；〃 which
was his favorite mode of relaxing。
〃I wonder if some one is looking for me？〃 mused the colonel。 〃Well；
just for fun； I'll play hide and seek。 I can disclose myself later。〃 And so
he remained in the chair； hardly breathing the silent figure parted the
heavy curtains； within； dropped something white on the floor； and then
quickly hurried away； the feet making no sound on the thick carpet of the
hall。
〃Now；〃 mused the colonel to himself； 〃I wonder that is a note for me；
or a love missive for one the maids from the butler or the gardener； who
too bashful to deliver it in person。 I'd better look。〃
Without turning on more light the colonel picked up the thing that had
fluttered so silently to the floor。 It was a scrap of paper； and as he held it
under the dimly glowing bulb he saw； scrawled inprinted letters：
〃Viola Carwell has a poison book。〃
〃As if I didn't know it！〃 softly exclaimed the colonel。
And then； as he resumed his comfortable； but not very dignified
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position； he heard some one coming boldly along the hall； and the voice of
Jack oung asked：
〃Are you in here； Colonel？〃
〃Yes； come in。 Did you get a reply？〃
〃Surely。 Your friend must have been waiting for your telegram。〃
〃I expected he would be。 Let me see it；〃 and the detective read a
brief message which said：
〃Thomas much better after a long sleep。〃
〃Ah；〃 mused the colonel。 〃I'm very glad Thomas is better。〃
〃Is Thomas； by any chance； a cat？〃 asked Jack； who read the telegram
the colonel handed him。
〃He is … just that … a cat and nothing more。 And now； Jack； my friend；
I think we're about ready to close in。〃
〃Close in？ Why … 〃
〃Oh； there are a few things I haven't told you yet。 Sit down and I'll
just go over them。 I've been on this case a little longer than you have；
and I've done some elimination which you haven't had a chance to do。〃
〃And you have eliminated all but … 〃
〃Captain Poland and LeGrand Blossom。〃
At these words Jack started； and made a motion of silence。 They
were still in the library； but more lights had been turned on； and the place
was brilliant。
〃What's the matter？〃 asked the colonel； quickly。 〃I thought I heard a
noise in the hall；〃 and Jack stepped to the door and looked out。 But
either he did not see； or did not want to see； a shrinking figure which
quickly crouched down behind a chair not far from the portal。
〃Guess I was mistaken；〃 said Jack。 〃Anyhow I didn't see anything。〃
Did he forget that coming out of a light room into a dim hall was not
conducive to good seeing？ Jack Young ought to have remembered that。
〃One of the servants； likely； passing by；〃 suggested the colonel。 〃Yes；
Jack； I think we must pin it down to either the captain or Blossom。〃
〃Do you really think Blossom could have done it？〃
〃He could； of course。 The main question is； did he have an object
