the golf course mystery(高尔夫教程)-第30节
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〃Eh？〃
〃I said … Here； boy！ A Scotch high and a mint julep。〃
Colonel Ashley； roused from his reverie as he sat in his club； gazing
out on the busy； fashionable； hurrying； jostling； worried； happy； sad； and
otherwise throngs that swept past the big Fifth avenue windows； shifted
himself in the comfortable leather chair； and looked at his cigar。 It had
gone out； and he decided that it was not worth relighting。
〃Cigars； too！〃 ordered Bruce Garrigan。
〃Oh； were you speaking to me？〃 and the colonel seemed wholly awake
now。
〃Not only to you； but in your interests；〃 went on Garrigan； with a smile。
〃Hope I didn't disturb your nap； but … 〃
〃Oh； no；〃 the colonel hastened to assure his companion with his usual
affability。 〃I had finished sleeping。〃
〃So I inferred。 Do you know how many hours； minutes and seconds
the average human being has passed in sleep when he reacnes tne age of
forty…five years？〃 and Garrigan smiled quizzically。
〃No； sir；〃 answered Colonel Ashley； 〃I do not。〃
〃Neither do I；〃 confessed Mr。 Garrigan as he sank down in a chair
beside the colonel and accepted the glass from a tray which the much…
buttoned club attendant held out to him。 〃I don't know； and I don't much
care。〃
Then； when cigars were glowing and the smoke arose in graceful
clouds； an aroma as of incense shrouding the two as they gazed out on the
afternoon throngs； Garrigan remarked：
〃I didn't know you were here。 In fact； I didn't know you were a
member of this club。〃
〃You wouldn't know it if my attendance here were needed to prove it；〃
said the colonel with a smile。 〃I don't get here very often； but I had to
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run up on some business； and I found this the most convenient stopping
place。〃
〃Are you going back to Lakeside？〃
〃Oh； yes！〃 There was prompt decision in the answer。
〃Then you haven't finished that unfortunate affair？ You haven't
found out what caused the death of Mr。 Carwell？〃
〃Oh； yes； I know what killed him。〃
〃But not who？〃＇
〃Not yet。〃
〃Do you hold to the suicide theory？〃
〃I don't hold to anything； my dear Mr。 Garrigan；〃 answered the colonel；
who was in a sufficiently mellow mood to be amused by the rather vapid
talk of his host … for such he had constituted himself on the ordering of the
drinks and cigars。 〃That is I haven't such a hold on any theory that I can't
let go and take a new one if occasion warrants it。〃
〃I see。 And so you came up to get away from the rather gruesome
atmosphere down there？〃
〃Not exactly。 I came up on business … I have a business in New York
you know； in spite of the fact that I am here；〃 and the colonel smiled as he
looked about the room where were gathered men of wealth and leisure；
who did not seem to have a care or worry in the world。
〃Oh； yes； I know that；〃 agreed Garrigan。 〃Well； has your trip been
satisfactory？〃
〃I can't say that it has。 In fact it's pretty poor fishing around here； and
I'm thinking of going back。 I want to hear the click of the reel and the
music of the brook。 I wasn't cut out for a city man； and the longer I stay
here the worse I hate the place； even if I do have a business here。〃
〃Then you don't care for … this；〃 and Garrigan waved his hand at the
congestion of automobiles and stages which had come to a halt opposite
the big windows of the exclusive and fashionable club。
It was four in the afternoon； just when traffic both of automobiles and
pedestrians is at its height on the avenue。 Of horse…drawn equipages they
were so few as to be a novelty。
〃I care so little for it that I am going back to…night；〃 the detective
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responded。
〃Then you have found what you came looking for？〃
〃I told you the fishing was very poor；〃 said the colonel with a smile。
〃My friend Mr。 Walton； were he alive now； would never forgive me for
deserting the place I left to come here。 When did you come up？〃
〃Last night。 They insisted I had to put in an appearance at the office
merely to take away the salary that's heen accumulating for me … said it
cluttered up the place。 So I obliged。 Do you know how many
automobiles pass this window every twenty…four hours？〃 Garrigan asked
suddenly。
〃I do not。〃
〃Neither do I。 It would be interesting to know； however。 I think I
shall count them； when I have nothing else to do。 I understand there is a
checking or tabulating machine made for such purposes。 But perhaps I
am keeping you from … 〃
〃You are merely keeping me from ordering another portion of liquid
refreshment；〃 interrupted the colonel with a smile。 〃Boy！〃
And once again there was diffused the aroma of mint and the more
pronounced odor of the Scotch。
〃Yes； it's pretty poor fishing；〃 mused the colonel； when Garrigan had
gone off to engage in a game of billiards with some insistent friends；
whose advent the detective was thankful for； as he wanted to be alone。 He
was gregarious by nature； but there were times when he had to be alone；
and it was because of this trait in his nature that he had taken up with the
rod and reel； becoming a disciple of Izaak Walton。
Until dusk began to fall； changing the character of the throngs on the
avenue； the colonel lingered in his easy chair before the broad； plate
windows。 And then； as the electric lights began to sparkle； as had the
diamonds on some of the over…dressed women in the afternoon； he arose
and started out。
〃Will you be dining here； sir？〃 asked one of tke stewards。
〃Mr。 Garrigan asked me to inquire； sir； and； if you were； to say that he
would appreciate it if you would be his guest。〃
〃Thank him for me； and tell him I can't stay。〃 And the colonel； tossing
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aside the cigar which had gone out and been frequently relighted； soon
found himself making a part of the avenue's night throng。
It was a warm summer evening…altogether too warm to be in New York
when one had the inclination and means to be elsewhere； but the colonel；
in spite of the fact that he had been in a hurry to leave the club； seemed to
find no occasion for haste now。
He sauntered along； seemingly without an object； though the rather
frequent consultations he made of his watch appeared to indicate
otherwise。 Finally； he seemed either to have come to a sudden decision
or to have noted the demise of the time he was trying to kill； for with a last
quick glance at his timepiece he put it back into his pocket； and； turning a
corner where there was a taxicab stand； he entered one of the vehicles and
gave an order to the chauffeur。
〃Columbia College…yes； sir！〃 and the driver looked rather oddly at the
figure of the colonel。
〃Wonder what he teaches； and what he's going up there this time of
night for？〃 was the mental comment of the chauffeur。 〃Maybe they have
evening classes； but this guy looks as though he could give em a post…
graduate course in poker。〃
Colonel Ashley sat back in the corner of the cab； glad of the rather
long ride before him。 He scarcely moved； save when the sway or jolt of
the vehicle tossed him about； and he sat with an unlighted cigar between
his teeth。
〃Yes；〃 he murmnred once； 〃pretty poor fishing。 I might better have
stayed where I was。 Well； I'll go back to…morrow。〃
Leaving the taxicab； the colonel made his way along the raised plaza
on which some of the college buildings front； and turned into the faculty
club； where he stayed for some time。 When he came out； having told his
man to wait； he bore under his arm a package which； even to the casual
observer； contained books。
〃Pennsylvania station；〃 was the order he gave； and again he sat back in
the corner of the cab； scarcely glancing out of the wi
