the golf course mystery(高尔夫教程)-第29节
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exposed to view。 There was a strange look on her face。
〃Two persons！〃 she murmured。 〃Two persons！ Did he share the
secrets of this safe with some one … some one else？〃
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Viola reached forth her hand and took hold of a bundle of papers tied
with a red band…tape it was； of the kind used in lawyers' offices。 The
bundle appeared to contain letters … old letters； and the handwriting was
that of a woman。
〃I wonder if I had better get Aunt Mary？〃 mused the girl。 〃She is the
administrator； and she will have to know。 But there are some things I
might keep from her … if I had to。〃
She looked more closely at the letters； and when she saw that they
were in the well…remembered hand of her mother she breathed more easily。
〃If he kept … these … it must be … all right！〃 she faltered to herself。 〃I
will call Aunt Mary。〃
The two women； seeing dimly through their tears at times； went over
the contents of the private safe。 There were letters that told of the past
… of the happy days of love and courtship； and of the early married life。
Viola put them sacredly aside； and delved more deeply into the strong box。
〃It was like Horace to keep something away from every one else；〃 said
his sister。 〃He did love a secret。 But we don't seem to be getting at
anything； Viola； that will tell us where there is any more money； and that's
what we need now； more than anything else。 At least you do； if LeGrand
Blossom is right； and you intend to keep on living in the style you're used
to。〃
〃I don't have to do that； Aunt Mary。 Being poor would not frighten
me。〃
〃I didn't think it would。 Fortunately I have enough for both of us；
though I won't spend anything on a big yacht nor a car that looks like a
Fourth of July procession； however much I love the Star Spangled Banner。
〃Oh； no； we mustn't dream of keeping the big car nor the yacht；〃 said
Viola。 〃They are to be sold as soon as possible。 I only hope they will
bring a good price。 But here are more papers； Aunt Mary。 We must see
what they are。 Poor father had so many business interests。 It's going to
be a dreadful matter to straighten them all out。〃
〃Well； LeGrand Blossom and Captain Poland will help us。〃
〃Captain Poland？〃 questioned Viola。
〃Yes。 Why not？ He is a fine business man； and he has large
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interests of his own。 Have you any objection？〃
〃Oh； I don't know。 Of course not！〃 she added quickly； as she caught
sight of a rather odd look on her aunt's face。 〃If we have to … I mean if
you find it necessary； you can ask his advice； I suppose。〃
〃Wouldn't you？〃
〃Why； yes； I believe I would … just as a matter of business。〃
Viola's voice was calm and cool； but it might have been because her
attention was focused on a bundle of papers she was taking from the safe。
And a casual perusal of these showed that they had a bearing on subjects
that might explain certain things。
〃Look； Aunt Mary！〃 the girl exclaimed。 〃Father seems to have kept a
diary。 It tells … it tells about that trouble he had with Harry … Rather； it
wasn't with Harry at all。 It was Harry's uncle。 It's that same old trouble
father so often referred to。 He always declared he was cheated in a
certain business deal； but I always imagined it was because he didn't make
as much money as he thought he ought to。 Father was like that。 But
see…this puts a different face on it。〃
Together they looked over the papers； and among them…among the
memoranda； copies of contracts and other documents … was a diary； or
perhaps it might be called a business man's journal。 Both Viola and her
aunt were familiar enough with business to understand the import of what
they read。
It was to the effect that Mr。 Amos Bartlett； Harry's paternal uncle； had
been associated with Mr。 Carwell in several transactions involving some
big business deals。 Mr。 Bartlett had been smart enough； by forming a
irectorate within a directorate and by means of a dummy company； to get a
large sum to his credit； while Mr。 Carwell was left to face a large deficit。
〃And Harry Bartlett acted as agent for his uncle in the transactions！〃
exclaimed Miss Carwell as she looked over the papers。
〃But I don't believe he knew anything wrong was being done！〃
declared Viola。 〃I'm positive he didn't。 Harry isn't that kind of a man。〃
〃These papers don't say so。〃
〃Naturally you wouldn't expect father to say a good word for one he
considered his business rival； not to say enemy。 I don't believe Harry had
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anything more to do with it than he had with … with poor father's death。〃
Miss Carwell said nothing。 She was busy looking over some other
papers which the opening of the private safe had revealed。 And then；
while her aunt was engaged with these； Viola found a little bundle that had
on it her name。
For a moment she debated with herself whether or not to open it。 The
handwriting was that of her father； and it seemed as though something
stayed her。 But she broke the string at last and there tumbled into her lap
some photographs of herself； taken at different ages； a number of them … in
fact； most of them … amateur attempts； some snapped by her mother and
some by her father； as Viola knew from seeing them。 She ecalled some
very well … especially one taken on the back of a little Shetland pony。 On
the reverse of this picture Mr。 Carwell had written： 〃My dear little girl！〃
Viola burst into tears； and her aunt； seeing the cause； felt the strings of
her heart being tugged。
〃Well； one thing seems to be proved；〃 said the older woman； when
they were again going over the papers； sorting out some to be shown to the
lawyer who was advising them on the conduct of the estate； 〃and that is
that your father didn't think very much of Harry Bartlett。〃
〃That was his fault … I mean father's；〃 retorted Viola。 〃He had no
reason for it； even with what this paper says。 I don't believe Harry would
do such a thing。〃
〃Do you suppose the quarrel could have been about this？〃 and Miss
Carwell held out the journal。
〃I don't know what to think；〃 said Viola。 〃But here is another
memorandum。 We must see what this is。〃
Together they bent over the remaining documents the safe had given
up … secrets of the dead。
As they read a strange look came over Viola's face。
Miss Carwell； perusing a document； recited：
〃Memo。 of certain matters between Captain Poland and myself。
And while I think of it let me state that but for his timely and generous
financial aid I would have been ruined by that scoundrel Bartlett。
Captain Poland saved me。 And should the stock of the concern ever be
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on a paying basis I intend to repay him not only all he advanced me but
any profit I may secure shall be divided with him in gratitude。 That
there will be a profit I very much doubt； though this does not lessen my
gratitude to Captain Poland for his aid。〃
There was a little gasp from Viola as she heard this。
〃Captain Poland saved father from possible ruin；〃 she murmured； 〃and
I … I treated him so！ Oh！ oh！〃
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CHAPTER XV
POOR FISHING
〃Have a drink； Colonel？〃
〃Eh？〃
〃I said … Here； boy！ A Scotch high and a mint julep。〃
Colonel Ashley； roused from
