the golf course mystery(高尔夫教程)-第41章
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〃But what did Bartlett and Mr。 Carwell quarrel about so seriously that
Bartlett wouldn't tell？〃
〃It was about Morocco Kate。 Harry learned that she had sold Mr。
Carwell a set of books； and； knowing her reputation； he feared she might
have compromised Mr。 Carwell because of his sporting instincts。 So
Harry begged Viola's father to come out plainly and repudiate the book
contract。 But Mr。 Carwell was stiff about it； and told Harry to mind his
own business。 That was all。 Naturally； after Harry found that Morocco
Kate really was mixed up in the case … though innocently enough … he
didn't want to tell what the quarrel was about for fear of bringing out a
scandal。 As a matter of fact there never was any shadow of one。〃
〃And the mysterious notes to you about Viola having a poison book？〃
〃All sent by Jean； of course； to throw suspicion on her。 I heard it
rumored； in more than one quarter； that Viola strongly disapproved of her
father's sporty life； and it was said she had stated that she would rather see
him dead than disgraced。 Which was natural enough。 I've said that
myself many a time about friends。
〃Jean found Miss Carwell's library card； and took out the poison book
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in her name； afterward anonymously sending me word about it。 I admit
that； for a moment； I was staggered； but it was only for a moment。 Here
is what I found in his room。〃
Colonel Ashley held out a piece of paper。 There was no writing on it；
but it bore the indentations； identical with one of the penciled； printed
notes。
〃He wrote it on a pad；〃 said the colonel； 〃and tore off the top sheet。
But he used a hard pencil； and the impression went through。 Just one of
the few mistakes he made。〃
〃Fine work on your part； Colonel。〃
〃As for Captain Poland； the money transactions did look a bit queer；
but we've since found the receipt and it's all right。 A new clerk in
Carwell's office had mislaid it。 It wasn't Blossom's fault； either。 He's a
weak chap； but not morally bad。 The worst thing he did was to fall for
Morocco Kate。 But better men than he have done the same thing。
However； they won't again。〃
〃Why； she hasn't … 〃
〃Oh； no； nothing as rash as that。 She's going to take a new route；
that's all。 She's a natural born saleswoman； and I've gotten her a place
with a big firm that owes me some favors。〃
〃And did Blossom come through 'clean' as he said he would？〃
〃He did； and he didn't。 It seems that a year or so ago he inherited
eleven thousand dollars。 He invested half of the money in copper and
made quite a little on the deal。 Then； a short while before Carwell died；
he got Blossom to lend him some money； which he was to pay back inside
of a month or two。 When Carwell's death occurred； Blossom was in
financial difficulties on account of the demands of Morocco Kate。 He
could not get hold of the money he had invested； nor could he get hold of
the money he had loaned Carwell。 In his quandary he took certain
securities belonging to Carwell and hypothecated them； expecting； later on；
to make good as soon as he got some of his own money back。 Of course
the whole transaction was a rather shady one； and yet I still believe the
young fellow wanted to be honest。〃
〃How does he stand now？〃
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〃Oh； he has managed to get hold of some of his money； and with that
got back the Carwell securities。 And； of course； the Carwell estate will
have to settle with him later on； and Viola and Miss Mary Carwell are
going to keep him in his present position。
〃He and Minnie Webb are to be married very soon … which reminds me
that I have an invitation for you。〃
〃For me？〃
〃Yes。 It's to the wedding of Viola and Harry Bartlett。 The affair is
going to be very quiet； so you can come without worrying about a dress…
suit； which I know you hate as much as I do。〃
〃I should say so！〃
〃And did Bartlett's uncle really mulct Mr。 Carwell in that insurance
deal？〃
〃Well； that's according to how you look at the ins and outs of modern
high finance。 It was a case of skin or be skinned； and I guess Harry's
uncle skinned first and beat Mr。 Carwell to it。 It was six of one and a half
dozen of the other。 The deal would have been legitimate either way it
swung； but it made Mr。 Carwell sore for a time； and that； more than
anything else； made him quarrel with Harry when Morocco Kate was
mentioned。〃
The letters in the secret drawer； which had so worried Viola； proved to
be very simple； after all。 They referred to a certain local committee；
organized for an international financial deal which Mr。 Carwell was
endeavoring to swing with Captain Poland。 The latter thought； because
of his intimate association with Viola's father； that the latter might use his
influence in the captain's love affair。 But that was not to be。 So Viola's
worry was for naught in this respect。
And so the golf course mystery was cleared up； though even to the end；
when he had paid the penalty for his crime； the chauffeur would not reveal
the nature of the poison he had mixed with the dope which had made him
a wreck。
Beside the still water； that ran in a deep eddy where the stream curved
under the trees； Colonel Ashley sat fishing。 Beside him on the grass a
little boy； with black； curling hair； and deep； brown eyes； sat clicking a
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spare reel。 Off to one side； in the shade； a colored man snored。
〃Hey； Unk Bob！〃 lisped the little boy。 〃Don't Shag make an awful
funny noise？〃
〃He certainly does； Gerry！ He certainly does！〃
〃Just ‘ike a saw bitin' wood。〃
〃That's it； Gerry！ I'll have to speak to Shag about it。 But now；
Gerry； my boy； you must keep still while Unk Bob catches a big fish。〃
〃Ess； I keep still。 But you tell me a ‘tory after？〃
〃Yes； I'll tell you a story。〃
〃Will you tell me how you was a fissin'； an' a big white ball comed an'；
zipp！ knocked ze fiss off your hook？ Will you tell me dat fiss ‘tory？〃
〃Yes； Gerry； I'll tell you that if you'll be quiet now。〃
And Shag's snores mingled with the gentle whisper of the water and
the sighing of the wind in the willows。
And then； when the creel had been emptied and Colonel Robert Lee
Ashley sat on the porch with Gerry Ashley Bartlett snugly curled in his lap
and told the story of the golf ball and the fish； while Shag cleaned the fish
fresh from the brook； two figures stood in the door of the house。
〃Look； Harry！〃 softly said the woman's voice。 〃Isn't that a picture？〃
〃It is； indeed； my dear。 Gerry adores the colonel。〃
〃No wonder。 I do myself。 Oh； by the way； Harry； I had a letter from
Captain Poland today。〃
〃Did you？ Where is he now？〃 asked Harry Bartlett； as his eyes
turned lovingly from the figure of his little son in the colonel's lap to that
of his wife beside him。
〃In the Philippines。 He says he thinks he'll settIe there。 He was so
pleased that we named the Boy after him。〃
〃Was he？〃 and then； as his wife went over to steal up behind her little
son and clasp her hands over his eyes； the man； standing alone on the
porch； murmured：
〃Poor Gerry！〃 And it was of the lonely man in the Philippines he was
speaking。
In the silent shadows Colonel Robert Lee Ashley fished again。 This
time he was alone； save for the omnipresent Shag。 And as the latter
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netted a fish； and slipped it into the grass…lined creel； he spoke and said：
〃Mr。 Young； he done ast me to…day when we gwine back t' de city。
He done say dere's a big case waitin' fo' you； Colonel； sah。 When is we…
all gwine back？〃
〃Never； Shag！〃
〃Nevah； Colonel； sah？〃
〃No。 I'm going to spend all the rest of my life fishing。 I've resigned
from the detective business！ I'll never take another case Never！〃
And Shag chuckled silently as he closed the creel。
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