the golf course mystery(高尔夫教程)-第1章
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THE GOLF COURSE MYSTERY
THE GOLF COURSE
MYSTERY
by Chester K。 Steele
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THE GOLF COURSE MYSTERY
CHAPTER I
PUTTING OUT
There was nothing in that clear； calm day； with its blue sky and its
flooding sunshine； to suggest in the slightest degree the awful tragedy so
close at hand … that tragedy which so puzzled the authorities and which
came so close to wrecking the happiness of several innocent people。
The waters of the inlet sparkled like silver； and over those waters
poised the osprey； his rapidly moving wings and fan…spread tail
suspending him almost stationary in one spot； while； with eager and far…
seeing eyes； he peered into the depths below。 The bird was a dark blotch
against the perfect blue sky for several seconds； and then； suddenly
folding his pinions and closing his tail； he darted downward like
a bomb dropped from an aeroplane。
There was a splash in the water； a shower of sparkling drops as the
osprey arose； a fish vainly struggling in its talons； and from a dusty gray
roadster； which had halted along the highway while the occupant watched
the hawk； there came an exclamation of satisfaction。
〃Did you see that； Harry？〃 called the occupant of the gray car to a
slightly built； bronzed companion in a machine of vivid yellow； christened
by some who had ridden in it the 〃Spanish Omelet。〃 〃Did you see that
kill？ As clean as a hound's tooth； and not a lost motion of a feather。
Some sport…that fish…hawk！ Gad！〃
〃Yes； it was a neat bit of work； Gerry。 But rather out of keeping with
the day。〃
〃Out of keeping？ What do you mean？〃
〃Well； out of tune； if you like that better。 It's altogether too perfect a
day for a killing of any sort； seems to me。〃
〃Oh； you're getting sentimental all at once； aren't you； Harry？〃 asked
Captain Gerry Poland； with just the trace of a covert sneer in his voice。
〃I suppose you wouldn't have even a fish…hawk get a much needed meal
on a bright； sunshiny day； when； if ever； he must have a whale of an
appetite。 You'd have him wait until it was dark and gloomy and rainy；
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THE GOLF COURSE MYSTERY
with a north…east wind blowing； and all that sort of thing。 Now for me； a
kill is a kill； no matter what the weather。〃
〃The better the day the worse the deed； I suppose；〃 and Harry Bartlett
smiled as he leaned forward preparatory to throwing the switch of his
machine's self…starter； for both automobiles had come to a stop to watch
the osprey。
〃Oh； well； I don't know that the day has anything to do with it；〃 said
the captain … a courtesy title； bestowed because he was president of the
Maraposa Yacht Club。 〃I was just interested in the clean way the beggar
dived after that fish。 Flounder； wasn't it？〃
〃Yes； though usually the birds are glad enough to get a moss…bunker。
Well； the fish will soon be a dead one； I suppose。〃
〃Yes； food for the little ospreys； I imagine。 Well； it's a good death to
die … serving some useful purpose； even if it's only to be eaten。 Gad！ I
didn't expect to get on such a gruesome subject when we started out。 By
the way； speaking of killings； I expect to make a neat one to…day on this
cup…winners' match。〃
〃How？ I didn't know there was much betting。〃
〃Oh； but there is； and I've picked up some tidy odds against our friend
Carwell。 I'm taking his end； and I think he's going to win。〃
〃Better be careful； Gerry。 Golf is an uncertain game； especially when
there's a match on among the old boys like Horace Carwell and the crowd
of past…performers and cup…winners he trails along with。 He's just as
likely to pull or slice as the veriest novice； and once he starts to slide he's a
goner。 No reserve comeback； you know。〃
〃Oh； I've not so sure about that。 He'll be all right if he'll let the
champagne alone before he starts to play。 I'm banking on him。 At the
same time I haven't bet all my money。 I've a ten spot left that says I can
beat you to the clubhouse； even if one of my cylinders has been missing
the last two miles。 How about it？〃
〃You're on ！〃 said Harry Bartlett shortly。
There was a throb from each machine as the electric motors started the
engines； and then they shot down the wide road in clouds of dust … the
sinister gray car and the more showy yellow … while above them； driving
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its talons deeper into the sides of the fish it had caught； the osprey circled
off toward its nest of rough sticks in a dead pine tree on the edge of the
forest。
And on the white of the flounder appeared bright red spots of blood；
some of which dripped to the ground as the cruel talons closed until they
met inside。
It was only a little tragedy； such as went on every day in the inlet and
adjacent ocean； and yet； somehow； Harry Bartlett； as he drove on with
ever…increasing speed in an endeavor to gain a length on his opponent；
could not help thinking of it in contrast to the perfect blue of the sky； in
which there was not a cloud。 Was it prophetic？
Ruddy…faced men； bronze…faced men； pale…faced men； young women；
girls； matrons and 〃flappers〃； caddies burdened with bags of golf clubs
and pockets bulging with cunningly found balls； skillful waiters hurrying
here and there with trays on which glasses of various shapes； sizes； and of
diversified contents tinkled musically…such was the scene at the Maraposa
Club on this June morning when Captain Gerry Poland and Harry Bartlett
were racing their cars toward it。
It was the chief day of the year for the Maraposa Golf Club； for on it
were to be played several matches； not the least in importance being that
of the cup…winners； open only to such members as had won prizes in hotly
contested contests on the home links。
In spite of the fact that on this day there were to be played several
matches； in which visiting and local champions were to try their skill
against one another； to the delight of a large gallery； interest centered in
the cup…winners' battle。 For it was rumored； and not without semblance
of truth； that large sums of money would change hands on the result。
Not that it was gambling…oh； my no！ In fact any laying of wagers
was strictly prohibited by the club's constitution。 But there are ways and
means of getting cattle through a fence without taking down the bars； and
there was talk that Horace Carwell had made a pretty stiff bet with Major
Turpin Wardell as to the outcome of the match； the major and Mr。 Carwell
being rivals of long standing in the matter of drives and putts。
〃Beastly fine day； eh； what？〃 exclaimed Bruce Garrigan； as he set
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down on a tray a waiter held out to him a glass he had just emptied with
every indication of delight in its contents。 〃If it had been made to order
couldn't be improved on；〃 and he flicked from the lapel of Tom Sharwell's
coat some ashes which had blown there from the cigarette which Garrigan
had lighted。
〃You're right for once； Bruce； old man；〃 was the laughing response。
〃Never mind the ashes now； you'll make a spot if you rub any harder。〃
〃Right for once？ 'm always right！〃 cried Garrigan 〃And it may
interest you to know that the total precipitation； including rain and melted
snow in Yuma； Arizona； for the calendar year 1917； was three and one
tenth inches； being the smallest in the United States。〃
〃It doesn't interest me a bit； Bruce ！〃 laughed Sharwell。 〃And to
prevent you getting any more of those statistics out of your system；
come on over and we'll do a little precipitating on our own account。 I can
stand another Bronx cocktail。〃
〃I'm with you！ But； speaking of statistics； did you know that from the
national forests of the United States in the last year there was cut
840；612；030 board feet of lumber？ What the thirty feet were for I don't
know； but … 〃
〃And I don't care to know；〃 interrupted Tom。 〃If you spring any more
of those beastly dry figures … Say； there comes something that does interest
me； though！〃 he broke in with。 〃Look at those cars take that turn ！〃
〃Some speed；〃 murmured Garrigan。 〃It's Bartlett and Poland；〃 he
went on； as a shift of wind blew the dust to one side and revealed the gray
roadster and the Spanish Omelet。 〃The rivals are at it again。〃
Bruce Garrigan； who had a name among the golf club members as a
human encyclopaedia； and who； at times； would inform his companions on
almost any subject that chanced to come uppermost； tossed away his
cigarette and； with Tom Sharwell； watched the oncoming automobile
racers。
〃They're rivals in more ways than one；〃 remarked Sharwell。 〃And it
looks； now； as though the captain rather had the edge on Harry； in spite of
the fast color of Harry's car。〃
〃That's right；〃 admitted Garrigan。 〃Is it true what I've heard about
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both of them…that each hopes to place the diamond hoop of proprietorship
on the fair Viola？〃
〃I guess if you've heard that they're both trying for her； it's true
enough；〃 answered Sharwell。
