the golf course mystery(高尔夫教程)-第14节
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looking for you。 I told him something of the reason for wanting to find
you and … Well； he told me you were here。〃
〃And he is about the only person in New York outside of my most
confidential man who could have done that；〃 observed the colonel； as he
slowly reeled up his line。 〃One reason why the clerks in my office could
not give you my address was because they did not have it。 So Spotty；
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who must just have finished his bit； told。〃
〃But please don't hold that against him；〃 urged Bartlett。 〃If he
violated a confidence … 〃
〃He did； in a way； yes；〃 observed the disciple of Izaak Walton。 〃But I
shall have to forgive him； I suppose。 It must have been rather a strong
reason that induced him to tell you where I had gone。〃
〃It was； Colonel Ashley； the strongest reason in the world。 It is to
help clear up the mystery … 〃
〃Stop！〃 fairly shouted the colonel。 〃If it's a detective case I don't
want to hear it！ Not a word！ Shag； show this gentleman the door … I
beg your pardon； I didn't mean to be rude；〃 went on the colonel with his
usual politeness。 〃But I really can not listen。 I came here to rest and
fish； not to take up new detective cases。 You know where my office is。
They will attend to you there。 I have given up business for the time
being。〃
〃And yet； Colonel Ashley； the person who sent me will have no one
but you。 She says you are the only one who can get at the bottom of the
puzzling case。〃
In spite of himself the colonel's face lighted up at the words 〃puzzling
case；〃 but as his eyes fell on the creel containing his fish he turned aside。
〃No；〃 he said； 〃I am sorry； but I can not listen to you。 Shag； kindly … 〃
Harry Bartlett was not a successful business man for nothing。 He
knew how to make an appeal。 〃I came to see you at the request of Miss
Viola Carweil；〃 he said slowly。 〃She sent me to find you … told me not
to come back to her without you。 A change came over the colonel's face
at the mention of Viola's name。
〃You came from her … from the daughter of Horace Carwell？〃 he asked
quickly。
〃I did；〃 answered Bartlett。
〃Well； of course； that might make a difference。 I hope my old friend
is not in trouble … nor his daughter；〃 and there was a new quality in the
voice。
〃Mr。 Carwell's troubles are all over … if he had any；〃 returned Bartlett
simply。
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〃You mean … 〃
〃He is dead。〃
The colonel uttered an exclamation。
〃Pardon my rather brusk reception of you；〃 he apologized。 〃I did not
know that。 Was it recently … suddenly？〃
〃Both recently and suddenly。〃
〃I did not know that I seldom read the papers； and have not looked at
one lately。 I had not heard that he was ill。〃
〃‘He wasn't； Colonel Ashley。 Mr。 Carwell died very suddenly on the
Maraposa Golf Club links； after making a stroke that gave him the
championship。〃
〃Heart disease or apoplexy ？〃
〃Neither one。 It was poison。〃
〃You amaze me； Mr。 … er … Mr。 … 〃
〃Bartlett。 Yes； Mr。 Carwell died of poison； asthe autopsy showed。〃
〃‘Was he … did he … 〃
〃That is what we want to find out；〃 interrupted the messenger eagerly。
〃The county physician says Mr。 Carwell is a suicide。 His daughter； Miss
Viola； can not believe it。 Nor can I。 There has been some talk that his
affairs are involved。 As you may have known； he was somewhat of a … 〃
〃His sporting proclivities were somewhat different from mine；〃 said
the old detective dryly。 〃You needn't explain。 Every man must live his
own life。 But tell me more。〃
Thereupon Bartlett gave the details as he knew them； bearing on the
death of the father of the girl he loved。
〃And she sent you to find me？〃 asked the detective。
〃Yes。 Miss Viola said you were an old friend of her father's； and if
any one could solve the mystery of his death you could。 For that there is
a mystery about it； many of us believe。〃
〃There may be。 Poison is always more or less of a mystery。 But
just what do you want me to do？〃
〃Come back with me if you will； Colonel Ashley。 Miss Carwell
wants you to aid her … aid all of us； for we are all at sea。 Will you？ She
sent me to plead with you。 I went to your New York office； and from
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Spotty Morgan learned you were here。 I … 〃
〃I suppose I shall have to forgive Spotty；〃 murmured the fisherman。
〃They told me at the hotel you had come here；〃 went on Bartlett； 〃so I
followed。 I was lucky in finding you。〃
〃I don't know about that；〃 murmured the colonel； smiling。 〃It may be
unfortunate。 Well； I am deeply shocked at my old friend's death … and
such a tragic taking off。 Horace Carwell was my very good friend。 He
once did me a great service； when I needed money badly； by helping me
make an investment in copper that turned out extremely well。 I feel
myself under obligations to him； and； since he is no more； I must transfer
that obligation to his daughter。〃
〃Then you'll come with me to see her； Colonel Ashley？〃
〃Yes。 Shag； pack up！ We're going back to civilization。〃
The colored man's face was a study。 He looked at the quiet stream； at
the drooping willows； at the fish rod in his master's hand； and at the creel。
He opened his mouth and spoke：
〃But； Colonel； yo' done tole me t' … 〃
〃No matter what I told you； Shag； these are new orders。 Pack up！〃
came the crisp command。 〃We're going back to town。 I'll do what I can
in this case；〃 he went on to Bartlett。 〃I came here for some quiet fishing；
and to get my mind off detective work。 I was dragged into a diamond
cross mystery not long since； sorely against my will； and now … 〃
〃I am sorry … 〃 began Bartlett。
〃Oh； well； it can't be helped；〃 the colonel said。 〃I'd give up more than
a fishing trip for a daughter of Horace Carwell。 You may let her know
that I'll come； if it will give her any comfort。 Though； mind you；〃 the
colonel's manner was impressive； 〃I promise nothing。〃
〃That is understood；〃 said Bartlett eagerly。 〃I'll wire her that you are
coming。 There's a train that leaves right after supper。 We can get that …
〃
〃I'll take it ！〃 decided the colonel。 Now that he had given up his
cherished fishing he was all business again。 〃Shag！〃 〃Yes； sah； Colonel！〃
〃Pack up for the evening train。 Give that fish to the cook and have it
served for Mr。 Bartlett and myself。 You'll dine with me；〃 he went on。 It
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was an order； not an invitation； but Bartlett understood； and accepted with
a bow。
A few hours later he and the colonel left the little town where the
detective had gone for such a short vacation； and were on their way to
Lakeside； which they reached early in the morning。
〃Now if you'll tell me the best hotel to stop at here；〃 said the colonel；
as they alighted from the train； 〃I'll put up there and see Miss Carwell
〃She requested me to bring you at once to her home；〃 said Bartlett。 〃You
are to be her guest。 She thought perhaps you would want to examine the
… to see Mr。 Carwell's body … before … 〃
〃Oh； yes。 I suppose I had better。 Then the funeral has not been held？〃
〃No； it was postponed at the request of the county physician。〃
〃Has there been a coroner's inquest？〃
〃No。 None was deemed necessary at the time I left； at the solicitation
of Miss Carwell； to get you。〃
〃I see。 Inquests are less often held in New
