the golf course mystery(高尔夫教程)-第19章
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willing。 I don't feel very keen for the game to…day。 How about you；
Tom？〃
〃I'm ready to quit； and I think the least we can do； considering that we
have spoiled Colonel Ashley's day； is to ask him if he won't share with
usthe bottle I won from you on the water hazard。〃
〃Done！〃 exclaimed Garrigan。 〃There were eleven million； four
hundred and ten thousand six hundred and six dollars' worth of soya beans
imported into the United States in 1917；〃 he added； 〃which； of course； has
nothing to do with the number of cold bottles of champagne the steward；
at the nineteenth hole； has on the ice for us。 So I suggest that we adjourn
and … 〃
〃I will； on one condition；〃 said Sharwell。
〃What is it ？〃 asked his companion。
〃That you kindly refrain from telling us how many spools of thread
were sent to the cannibals of the Friendly Islands for the fiscal year ending
June 30； 1884。〃
〃Done！〃 cried Garrigan with a laugh。 〃I'll never hint of it。 Colonel；
will you accept our hospitality？ I believe you are already put up at the
club？〃
〃Yes； Miss Carwell was kind enough to secure a visitor's card for me。〃
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〃Then let's forget our sorrows； drown them in the bubbling glasses
with hollow stems！〃 cried Garrigan； gayly。
〃Here； Shag；〃 called the colonel； as he gave his rod to his colored
servant。 〃I don't know when I'll be back。〃
〃Well said！〃 exclaimed Sharwell。
Then they adjourned to the nineteenth hole。
If it is always good weather when good fellows get together； it was
certainly a most delightful day as the colonel and his two hosts sat on the
shady veranda of the Maraposa Golf Club。 They talked of many things；
and； naturally； the conversation veered around to the death of Mr。 Carwell。
Out of respect to his memory； an important match had been called off on
the day of his funeral。 But now those last rites were over； the clubhouse
was the same gay place it had been。 Though more than one veteran
member sat in silent reverie over his cigar as he recalled the friend who
never again would tee a ball with him。
〃It certainly is queer why Harry Bartlett doesn't come out and say what
it was that he and Mr。 Carwell had words about；〃 commented Sharwell。
〃There he stays； in that rotten jail。 Bah！ I can smell it yet； for I called
to see if I could do anything。 And yet he won't talk。〃
〃It is queer；〃 said Garrigan。 〃If he'd only let his friends speak for him
it could be cleared。 We all know what the quarrel was about。〃
〃What？〃 asked the colonel。 He had his own theory； but he wanted to
see how it jibed with another's。
〃It's an old story；〃 went on Bruce Garrigan。 〃It goes back to the time；
about three years ago； when the fair Viola and Harry began to be talked
about as more than ordinary friends。 Just about then Mr。 Carwell lost a
large sum of money in a stock deal； or a bond issue； or something … I've
forgotten what … and he always said that Harry and his clique engineered
the plan by which he was mulcted。〃
〃And did Mr。 Bartlett have anything to do with it？〃 asked the colonel。
〃Well； some say he did； and some say he didn't。 Harry himself
denied all knowledge of it。 Anyhow the colonel lost a stiffish sum； and
some of Harry's people took in a goodly pile。 Naturally there was a bit of
coldness between the families； and I did hear Harry was told his presence
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around Viola wasn't desired。
〃If he was so warned he didn't heed it； for they went out together as
much as ever； though I can't say he called at the house very often。〃
〃And you think it was about this he and Mr。 Carwell quarreled just
before Mr。 Carwell was stricken？〃 asked the colonel。
〃I think so； yes；〃 answered Garrigan。 〃And I think Harry refuses to
admit it； from a notion that it would be dragging in a lady's name。 But it
wouldn't be airing anything that isn't already pretty well known。 Mr。
Carwell has a violent temper … or he had one … and Harry isn't exactly an
angel when he's roused； though I'll say say for him that I have rarely seen
him angry。 And there you are。 Boy； another bottle； and have it colder
than the last。〃
〃Yes；〃 mused the colonel； 〃there you are … or aren't； according to your
viewpoint。〃
And so the day grew more sunshiny and mellow； and Colonel Ashley
did not regret the fish that the golf ball cheated him of； for he added
several new cards to his index file and jotted down； mentally； new facts on
some already in it。
〃Will return to…morrow。 Viola too restless here。〃
That was the telegram Colonel Ashley received the day following his
acquaintance at the nineteenth hole with Bruce Garrigan and Tom
Sharwell。
〃She stayed away longer than I thought she would；〃 mused the
detective； 〃Yes； sah！〃
〃See if that French chauffeur； Forette； can drive me into town。〃
〃Yes； sah； Colonel。〃
A little later Jean brought the roadster to the ront of the house and
waited for Colonel Ashley。 The latter came forth holding a slip of paper
in his hand； and； to the chauffeur； he said：
〃Do you know where Dr。 Baird lives？〃
〃Oh； yes； sir。〃
〃Take me there； please。 He was one of the physicians called in when
Mr。 Carwell was poisoned； was he not？〃 〃Yes；〃 and the chauffeur
nodded and smiled。 〃You are not ill； I hope； monsieur。 If you are； there
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is a physician nearer … 〃
〃Oh； no。 I'm all right。 I just want to have a talk with the doctor。 Did
you ever consult him？〃
〃Me？ Oh； no； monsieur； I have no need of a doctor。 I am never sick。
I feel most excellent！〃 and certainly he looked it。 There was a sparkle in
his eyes … perhaps too brilliant a sparkle； but he did not look like a 〃dope
fiend。〃
〃If you are in a hurry；〃 went on the chauffeur； 〃I can … 〃
〃No； no hurry；〃 responded the colonel。 〃Why； do you feel like
driving fast？〃
〃Very fast； monsieur。 I always like to drive fast； only there is seldom
call for it。 Mr。 Carwell； he at times would like speed； and again he was
like the tortoise。 But as for me … poof！ What would you？〃 and he
shrugged his shoulders and reverted to his own tongue。
〃Hum；〃 mused the colonel。 〃Rather a different story from the garage
man's。 However； we shall see。〃
Dr。 Baird was in。 In fact； being a very young doctor indeed； he was
rather more in than out … too much in to suit his own inclination and
pocketbook； for； as yet； the number of his patients was small。
〃I did not come to see you for myself； professionally；〃 said Colonel
Ashley； as he took a seat in the office； and introduced himself。 〃I am
trying to establish； for the satisfaction of Miss Carwell； that her father was
not a suicide； and … 〃
〃What else could it be？〃 asked Dr。 Baird。
〃I do not know。 But I read with great interest the interview； you gave
the Globe on the effects and detection of various poisons。〃
〃Yes？〃 and young Dr。 Baird rubbed his hands in delight； and stroked
his still younger moustache。
〃Yes。 And I called to ask what poison or chemical symbol that might
be。〃
The colonel extended a paper on which was inscribed： 58 C。 H。 …
I6I*
That！ Hum； why that is not a chemical symbol at all！〃 promptly
declared Dr。 Baird。
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〃Are you sure？〃
〃Positive。〃
〃Could it be some formula for poison？〃
〃It could not。 Of course that is not to say it could not be some
person's private memorandum for some combination of elements。 C
might stand for carbon and H for hydrogen。 But that would not make a
poison in the ordinary accepted meaning of the term。 I am sure you are
mistaken if you think that is a chemical symbol。〃
〃I am sure； also；〃 said the detective with a smile。 〃I just wanted your
opinion； that is all。 Then those letters and figures would mean nothing to
you？〃
〃Nothing at all。 Wait though … 〃
Young Dr。 Percy Baird looked at the slip again。 〃No； it would mean
nothing to me；〃 he saidfinally。
〃Thank you；〃 said the colonel。
He came out of the physician's office to find Jean Forette calmly
reading in his side of the car。 The paper was put away at once； and with
a whirr from the self…starter the motor throbbed。
〃It there a free public library in town； Jean？〃 asked the detective。
〃Yes； monsieur。
〃Take me there。〃
The library was one built partly with the money donated by a
celebrated millionaire； and contained a fair variety of books。 To the main
desk； behind which sat a pretty girl； marched Colonel Ashley。
〃Have you any books on poisons？〃 he asked。
〃Poisons？〃 She looked up at him； startled； a flush mantling her fair
cheeks。
〃Yes。 Any works on poisons … a chemistry would do。〃
〃Oh； yes； we have books on poisons。 I'll jot down the numbers for
you。 We have not many； I'm afraid。 It is … it isn't a pleasant subject。〃
〃No； I imagine not。〃
She busied herself with the card index； and came back to him in a
moment with a slip of paper。
〃I'm sorry；〃 said the pretty girl； 〃but we seem to have only one book on
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poiso
