the golf course mystery(高尔夫教程)-第12节
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herself than at any time that day。 〃This must be gone into systematically；
and we can best do it through a detective。〃
〃A detective！〃 cried Harry Bartlett； and he started from his chair。 〃Why；
my dear Viola； a detective would be the worst possible person to call in on
a case like this！ Let me investigate； if you think it wise； but a detective …
〃
〃I am not speaking of an ordinary detective； Harry。 I have in mind an
elderly man who was a friend of my father。 He has an extraordinary
reputation for solving mysteries。〃
〃Well； of course； if you know the man it makes a difference。〃
Bartlett eyed the girl curiously。 〃I didn't know you knew any detectives。〃
〃The man I have in mind was in some business deal with my father
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once； and they became very well acquainted。 I met him several times；
and liked him immensely。 He is well along in years； but I think sharper
than many younger men。 But there is one difficulty。〃
〃What is that？〃
〃More than likely he will shy at having anything to do with the case。
He told my father he was going to retire and devote his leisure time to
fishing … that being his great pastime。〃
〃Humph！ he can't be much of a detective if he wants to spend most of
his time fishing；〃 was Bartlett's comment。
〃You're mistaken； Harry。 My father； and other men too； considered
him one of the greatest detectives in the world； even though he sometimes
worksin a very peculiar and apparently uninterested man… ner。〃 〃All right
then； Viola。 If you say so； I'll look up this wonderful detective for you and
get him to take hold of the case。〃
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THE GOLF COURSE MYSTERY
CHAPTER VI
BY A QUIET STREAM
Drooping willows dipped their pendant branches in the stream that
foamed and rippled over green； mossy stones。 In a meadow that
stretched fair and wide on either side of the water； innumerable
grasshoppers were singing their song of summer。 On a verdant bank
reclined a man； whose advanced age might be indicated in his whitening
locks； but whose bright eyes； and the quick； nervous movements as he
leafed the pages of a small； green…covered book； made negative the first
analysis。 A little distance from him； where the sun beat down warmly；
unhindered by any shade； lolled a colored man whose look now and then
strayed to the reading figure。
A glance over the shoulder of the reader； were one so impolite as to
take that liberty； would have disclosed； among others； this passage on the
printed page：
〃But yet you are to note； that as you see some willows or palm
trees bud and blossom sooner than others do； so some trouts be； in
rivers； sooner in season； and as some hollies or oaks are longer
before they cast their leaves； so are some trouts in rivers longer
before they go out of season。〃
The gray…haired man closed the book； thereby revealing the title
〃Walton's Compleat Angler；〃 and looked across the stream。 The sunlight
flickered over its rippling surface； and now and then there was a splash in
the otherwise quiet waters … a splash that to the reader was illuminating
indeed。
〃Shag ！〃 he suddenly exclaimed； thereby galvanizing into life the
somnolent negro。
〃Yes； sah； Colonel！ Yes； sah！〃 came the response。
〃Hum！ Asleep； weren't you？〃 〃Well； no； sah。 Not zactly asleep；
Colonel。 I were jest takin' the fust of mab forty winks； an' … 〃
〃Well； postpone the rest for this evening。 I think I'll make some casts
here。 I don't expect any trout； my friend Walton to the contrary。 Besides
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THE GOLF COURSE MYSTERY
they're out of season now。 But I may get something。 Get me the rod；
Shag！〃
〃Yes； sah； Colonel！ Yes； sah！〃
And while the fishing paraphernalia was being put in readiness by his
colored servant； Colonel Robert Lee Ashley once more opened the little
green book； as though to draw inspiration therefrom。 And he read：
〃Only thus much is necessary for you to know； and to be mindful
and careful of； that if the pike or perch do breed in that river； they
will be sure to bite first and must first be taken。 And for the most
part they are very large。〃
〃Well； large or small； it doesn't much matter； so I catch some；〃
observed the colonel。
Then he carefully baited the hook； after he had taken the rod and line
from Shag； who handled it as though it was a rare object of art； which；
indeed； it was to his master。
〃I think we shall go back with a fine mess of perch； Shag；〃 observed
the fisherman。
〃Yes； sah； Colonel； dat's what we will；〃 was the cheerful answer。
〃And this time we won't； under any consideration； let anything
interfere with our vacation； Shag。〃
〃No； sah； Colonel。 No； sah！〃
〃If you see me buying a paper； Shag； mind； if you ever hear me asking
if the last edition is out； stop me at once。〃
〃I will； Colonel。〃
〃And if any one tries to tell me of a murder mystery； of a big robbery；
or of anything except where the fish are biting best； Shag； why； you just … 〃
〃I'll jest natchully knock ‘em down； Colonel！ Dat's what I'll do！〃
exclaimed the colored man； as cheerfully as though he would relish such
〃Well； I can't advise that； of course；〃 said the colonel with a smile； 〃but
you may use your own judgment。 I came here for a rest； and I don't want
to run into another diamond cross mystery； or anything like it。〃
〃No； sah； ColQnel。 But yo' suah did elucidate dat one most
expeditious like。 I nevah saw sech … 〃
〃That will do now； Shag。 I don't want to be reminded of it。 I came
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here to fish； not to work； nor hold any post…mortems on past cases。 Now
for it！〃 and the elderly man cast in where a little eddy； under the grassy
bank； indicated deep water； in which the perch or other fish might lurk this
sunny day。
And yet； in spite of his determination not to recall the details of the
diamond cross mystery to which Shag had alluded； Colonel Ashley could
not help dwelling on one or two phases of what； with justifiable pride； he
regarded as one of the most successful of his many cases。
Colonel Robert Lee Ashley was a detective by instinct and profession；
though of late years he had endeavored； but with scant success； to turn the
more routine matters of his profession over to his able assistants。
To those who have read of his masterly solution of the diamond cross
mystery the colonel needs no introduction。 He was a well known
character in police and criminal circles； because of his success in catching
many a slippery representative of the latter。
He had served in the secret service during the Spanish…American war；
and later had become the head of the police department of a large Eastern
city。 From that he had built up a private business of his own that
assumed large proportions； until advancing age and a desire to fish and
reflect caused him virtually to retire from active work。 And now； as he
had so often done before； he had come to this quiet stream to angle。
And yet； even as he dropped his bait into the water； he could not keep
his active mind from passing in rapid review over some of the events of
his career … especially the late episode of the Darcy diamond cross。
〃Well； I'm glad I helped out in that case；〃 mused the colonel； as he sat
up more alertly； for there came a tremor to his line that told much to his
practiced and sensitive hands。
A moment later the reel clicked its song of a strike； and the colonel got
first to his knees and then to his feet as he pre
