the golf course mystery(高尔夫教程)-第17节
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improved when Mr。 Stryker took him in hand to question him。 The
prosecutor； observing that the man was more frightened than anything else；
soon put him at his ease； and then the witness told a clear and connected
story。 He admitted frankly that because he had not the faculty； or； perhaps；
the desire to drive the big； new car； he and his late employer were to part
company at the end of the month。 That was no secret； and there were no
hard feelings on either side。 It was in the course of business； and natural。
Yes； he had driven Mr。 Carwell and his daughter to the links that day
in the big red； white and blue machine。 Mr。 Carwell had been in his
usual jolly spirits； and had greeted several acquaintances on the road。
Had they stopped at any place？ Oh； yes。 The golfer was thirsty； and
halted at a roadhouse for a pint of champagne … his favorite wine。 Jean
had alighted from the car to get it for him； and Viola； recalled to the stand；
testified that she had seen her father drink some of the bubbling liquor。 It
was obvious why she had not spoken of it before； and that point was not
pressed。 It was known she did not share her father's love for sports and
high living。
A little delay was caused while the innkeeper was sent for； but pending
his arrival some other unimportant witnesses were called； among them
Major Wardell； who was Mr。 Carwell's rival in the golf game。
Had he heard his friend speak of feeling ill？ No； not until a moment
before the final stroke was made。 Then Mr。 Carwell had said he felt
〃queer；〃 and had acted as though dizzy。 The major； who was himself
quite a convivial spirit； attributed it to some highballs he and his friend
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had had in the clubhouse just prior to the game。
Mr。 Carwell had drunk nothing during his round of golf； and had
associated during the progress of the game with no one except the players
who were with him from the start to the finish。 He was not seen to have
taken any tablets or powders that might have contained poison； and a
thorough search of his person and clothing after his death had revealed
nothing。
At this point the innkeeper appeared。 He testified to having served
Mr。 Carwell's chauffeur with a pint of champagne which Jean Forette was
seen to carry directly from the cafe to the waiting automobile。 The
champagne was from a bottle newly opened； and the innkeeper himself
had selected a clean glass and carefully washed it before pouring in the
wine。 He knew Mr。 Carwell was fastidious about such matters； as he had
often spent many hours in the roadhouse。
〃LeGrand Blossom！〃
Now something might come out。 It was known that Blossom was Mr。
Carwell's chief clerk； and more than one person knew of the impending
partnership； for Mr。 Carwell was rather talkative at times。
〃Mr。 Blossom；〃 asked the prosecutor； after some preliminary questions；
〃it has been intimated … not here but outside … that the financial affairs of
Mr。 Carwell were not in such good shape as might be wished。 Do you
know anything about this？〃
〃I do； sir。
〃Tell what you know。〃
〃I know he was hard pushed for money； and had to get loans from the
bank and otherwise。〃
〃Was that unusual？〃
〃Yes； it was。 Before he bought the big car and the yacht he carried a
good balance。 But I told him … 〃
〃Never mind what you told him or he told you。 That is not
admissible under the circumstances。 Just tell what you know。〃
〃Well； then I know that Mr。 Carwell's affairs were in bad shape； and
that he was trying to raise some ready cash。〃
〃How do you know this？〃
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〃Because he asked me to put a large sum into his business and become
a member of the firm。〃
〃He asked you to invest money and become a partner？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Well； that is not unusual； is it？ Many a business man might do the
same if he wanted to branch out； mightn't he ？〃
〃Yes。 But before this Mr。 Carwell had offered to take me into
partnership without any advance of money on my part。 Then he
suddenly said he needed a large sum。 He knew I had inherited eleven
thousand dollars and had； moreover； made from investments。〃
〃And did you agree to it？〃
〃I said I'd think it over。 I was to give him my answer the day he
died。〃
〃Did you？〃
〃No。〃
〃What would have been your answer？〃
〃It would have been 'no。' I didn't think I wanted to tie up with a man
who was on the verge of ruin； and if you ask me I'll say I think he
committed suicide because he was on the verge of financial ruin and
couldn't face the music； and … 〃
〃That will do！〃 came sternly from the prosecutor。 〃We didn't ask
your opinion as to the suicide theory； and； what is more； we don't want it。 I
ask； your honor；〃 and he turned to Billy Teller； who was secretly delighted
at being thus addressed； 〃that the last remark of the witness be stricken
from the record。〃
〃Rub it out；〃 ordered the coroner； looking over at the stenographer；
and the latter； with a smile； ran his pen through the curious hooks and
curves that represented the 〃opinion〃 of LeGrand Blossom。
He was allowed to leave the stand； and Harry Bartlett was called next。
He nodded and smiled at Viola as he walked forward through the crowd；
and Captain Poland； who was sitting in front； waved his hand to his rival。
For the young men were friends； even if both were in love with Viola
Carwell。
〃Mr Bartlett；〃 began the prosecutor； after some unimportant
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preliminary questions； 〃I haye been informed that you had a conversation
with Mr。 Carwell shortly before his death。 Is that true？〃
〃Yes； we had a talk。〃
Viola started at hearing this … started so visibly that several about her
noticed it； and even Colonel Ashley turned his head。
〃What was the nature of the talk？〃 asked Mr。 Stryker。
〃That I can not tell；〃 said Bartlett firmly。 〃But it had nothing to do
with the matter in hand。〃
There was a rustle of expectancy on hearing this； and the prosecutor
quickly asked：
〃What do you mean by ‘the matter in hand'？〃
〃Well； his death。〃
〃Naturally you didn't talk about his death； for it hadn't taken place；〃
said Mr。 Stryker。 〃Nor could it have been foreseen； I imagine。 But what
did you talk about？〃
〃I decline to answer。〃
There was a gasp that swept over the courtroom； and Billy Teller
banged the gavel as he had seen real judges do。
〃You decline to answer；〃 repeated the prosecutor。 〃Is it on the ground
that it might incriminate you？〃
〃No〃
〃Then I must insist on an answer。 However； I will not do so now； but
at the proper time。 I will now ask you one other question； and I think you
willanswer that。 Did you resume friendly relations with Mr。 Carwell
after your quarrel with him that day？〃 and Mr。 Stryker fairly hurled the
question at Harry Bartlett。
If this was a trap it was a most skillfully set one。 For there must be
an answer； and either no or yes would involve explanations。
〃Answer me！〃 exclaimed the prosecutor。 〃Did you make up after the
quarrel？〃
There was a tense silence as Bartlett； whose face showed pale under
his tan； said：
〃I did not。〃
〃Then you admit that you had a quarrel with Mr。 Carwell？〃
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〃Yes； but … 〃
Just at this moment Viola Carwell fainted in the arms of
