the golf course mystery(高尔夫教程)-第5章
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last hole。
There was a sharp impact as Mr。 Carwell's driver struck the little white
ball and sent it sailing in a graceful curve well toward the last hole。
〃A marvelous shot！〃 exclaimed Captain Poland。 〃On the green again！
Another like that and he'll win the game！〃
〃And I can do it； too！〃 boasted Carwell； who overheard what was said。
The others drove off in turn； and the play reached the final stage of
putting。 Viola turned as though to go over and see what the trouble was
among the automobiles。 She looked back as she saw her father stoop to
send the ball into the little depressed cup。 She felt sure that he would win；
for she had kept a record of his strokes and those of his opponents。 The
game was all but over。
〃I wonder if there can be anything the matter with our car？〃 mused
Viola； as she saw the smoke growing denser。 〃Dad's won； so I'm going
over to see。 Perhaps that chauffeur … 〃
She did not finish the sentence。 She turned to look back at her father
once more； and saw him make the putt that won the game at the last hole。
Then； to her horror she saw him reel； throw up his hands； and fall heavily
in a heap； while startled cries reached her ears。
〃Oh！ Oh！ What has happened？〃 she exclaimed； and deadly fear
clutched at her heart … and not without good cause。
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THE GOLF COURSE MYSTERY
CHAPTER II
THE NINETEENTH HOLE
For several seconds after Mr。 Carwell fell so heavily on the putting
green； having completed the last stroke that sent the white ball into the cup
and made him club champion； there was not a stir among the other players
grouped about him； nor did the gallery； grouped some distance back； rush
up。 The most natural thought； and one that was in the minds of the
majority； was that the clubman had overbalanced himself in making his
stance for the putt shot； and had fallen。 There was even a little
thoughtless laughter from some in the gallery。 But it was almost
instantly hushed； for it needed but a second glance to tell that something
more serious than a simple fall had occurred。
Or if it was a fall caused by an unsteady position； taken when he made
his last shot； it had been such a heavy one that Mr。 Carwell was overlong
in recovering from it。 He remained in a huddled heap on the short…
cropped； velvety turf of the putting green。
Then the murmurs of wonder came； surging from many throats； and
the friends of Mr。 Carwell closed around to help him to his feet…to render
what aid was needed。 Among them were Captain Poland and Harry
Bartlett； and as the latter stepped forward he glanced up； for an instant； at
the blue sky。
Far above the Maraposa golf links circled a lone osprey on its way to
the inlet or ocean。 Rather idly Bartlett wondered if it was the same one
he and Captain Poland had seen dart down and kill the fish just before the
beginning of the big match。
〃What's the matter； Horace？ Sun too much for you ？〃 asked Major
Wardell； as he leaned over his friend and rival。 〃It is a bit hot； I feel it
myself。 But I didn't think it would knock you out。 Or are you done up
because you beat me？ Come … 〃
He ceased his rather railing talk； and a look came over his face that
told those near him something serious had happened。 There was a rush
toward the prostrate man。
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THE GOLF COURSE MYSTERY
〃Keep back； please！〃 exclaimed the major。 〃He seems to have fainted。
He needs air。 Is Dr。 Rowland here？ I thought I saw him at the
clubhouse a while ago。 Some one get him； please。 If not … 〃
〃I'll get him ！〃 some one offered
〃Here； give him a sip of this … it's brandy！〃 and an automobilist； who
had come across the links from the nearest point to the highway； offered
his flask。
The major unscrewed the silver top； which formed a tiny cup； and tried
to let some of the potent liquor trickle between the purplish lips of the
unconscious victor in the cup…winners' match。 But more of the liquid
was spilled on his face and neck than went into his mouth。 The air
reeked with the odor of it。
〃What has happened？ Is he hurt？〃 gasped Viola； who made her way
through the press of people； which opened for her； till she stood close
beside her father。 〃What is it？ Oh； is he … ？〃
〃He fell；〃 some one said。
〃Just as he made his winning stroke；〃 added another。
〃Oh！〃 and Viola herself reeled unsteadily。
〃It's all right；〃 a voice said in her ear； and though it was in the ordinary
tones of Captain Poland； to the alarmed girl it seemed as though it came
from the distant peaks of the hills。 〃He'll be all right presently；〃 went on
the captain； as he supported Viola and led her out of the throng。
〃It's just a touch of the sun； I fancy。 They've gone for a doctor。〃
〃Oh； but； Captain Poland … father was never like this before … he was
always so strong and well … I never knew him to complain of the heat。 And
as for fainting … why I believe I almost did it myself； just now； didn't I？〃
〃Almost； yes。〃
〃But father never did。 Oh； I must go to him ！〃
She struggled a little and moved away from his half encircling arm； for
he had seen that her strength was failing her and had supported her as he
led her away。 〃I must go to him ！〃
〃Better not just now；〃 said Captain Poland gently。 〃Harry is there
with him； the major and other friends。 They will look after him。 You
had better come with me to the clubhouse and lie down。 I will get you a
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THE GOLF COURSE MYSTERY
cup of tea。〃
〃No！ I must be with my father！〃 she insisted。 〃He will need me
when he … when he revives。 Please let me go to him！〃
The captain saw that it was of little use to oppose her so he led her
back toward the throng that was still about the prostrate player。 A
clubman was hurrying back with a young man who carried a small black
bag。
〃They've got a doctor； I think；〃 said Gerry。 〃Not Dr。 Rowland；
though。 However； I dare say it will be all right。〃
A fit of trembling seized Viola； and it was so violent that； for a
moment； Captain Poland thought she would fall。 He had to hold her
close； and he wished there was some place near at hand to which he might
take her。 But the clubhouse was some distance away； and there were no
conveyances within call。
However； Viola soon recovered her composure； or at least seemed to；
and smiled up at him； though there was no mirth in it。
〃I'll be all right now；〃 she said。 〃Please take me to him。 He will ask
for me as soon as he recovers。〃
The young doctor had made his way through the throng and now knelt
beside the prostrate man。 The examination was brief … a raising of the
eyelids； an ear pressed over the heart； supplemented by the use of the
stethoscope； and then the young medical man looked up； searching the
ring of faces about him as though seeking for some one in authority to
whom information might be imparted。 Then he announced； generally：
〃He is dead。〃
〃Dead！〃 exclaimed several。
〃Hush！〃 cautioned Harry Bartlett 〃She'll hear you！〃
He looked in the direction whence Viola and Captain Poland were
approaching the scene。
〃Are you sure； Dr。 Baird？〃 he asked。
〃Positive。 The heart action has entirely stopped。〃
〃But might that not be from some cause … some temporary cause？〃
〃Yes； but not in this case。 Mr。 Carwell is dead。 I can do nothing for
him。〃
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THE GOLF COURSE MYSTERY
It sounded brutal； but it was only a medical man's plain statement of
the case。
〃Some one must tell her；〃 murmured Minnie Webb； who had been
attracted to the crowd； though she was not much of a golf enthusiast。
〃Poor Viola！ Some one must tell her。〃
〃I will；〃 offered Bartlett； and he made his way through a living lane
that opened for him。 Then it closed again； hiding the body from sight。
Some one placed a sweater over the face that had been so ruddy； and was
now so pale。
Captain Poland； still supporting Viola on his arm； saw Bartlett
approaching。 Somehow he surmised what his fellow clubman was going
to say。
〃Oh； Harry！〃 exclaimed Viola； impulsively holding out her hands to
him。 〃Is he all right？ Is he better？〃
〃I am sorry；〃 began Harry； and then she seemed to sense what he was
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。 S
