the golf course mystery(高尔夫教程)-第34节
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The telephone in LeGrand Blossom's private office was in a booth； put
there to get it away from the noise of traffic in the street outside。 And； as
the boy had said； Blossom was in this booth as Colonel Ashley entered。
It so happened that the chief clerk was standing in the booth with his
back turned to the main door； and did not see the colonel enter。 And the
latter； coming in with easy steps； as he always went everywhere； heard a
snatch of the talk over the telephone that made him wonder。
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Though the little booth was meant to keep sounds from entering； as
well as coming out； the door was not tightly closed and as LeGrand
Blossom spoke rather loudly Colonel Ashley heard distinctly。
〃Yes；〃 said the head clerk over the wire； 〃I'll pay the money tonight
sure。 Yes； positive。〃 There was a period of waiting； while he listened；
and then he went on： 〃Yes； on the Allawanda。 I'll be there。 Yes； sure！
Now don't bother me any more。〃
Colonel Ashley； through the glass door of the telephone booth； saw
LeGrand Blossom make a move as though to hang up the receiver。 And
then the detective turned suddenly； and swung back； as though he had
entered the room at the moment Blossom had emerged from the booth。
〃Oh！〃 exclaimed the head clerk； and； for a second； he seemed
nonplused。 But Colonel Ashley took up the talk instantly。
〃I will keep you but a minute；〃 he said。 〃Miss Viola asked me to
leave these bills for you。 I came in to town to buy some bait。 There they
are。 I'm going fishing；〃 and before LeGrand Blossom could answer the
colonel was saying good…bye and making his way out。
〃I wonder；〃 mused the colonel； as he started for the car where Jean
awaited him； 〃what or who or where the Allawanda is？ I must find out。〃
He found further cause for wonder as he started off in the car with the
French chauffeur for the boat dock； at the conduct of Jean himself。
For the man appeared to be a wholly different person。 His face was
all smiles； and there was a jaunty air about him as though he had received
good news。 His management of the car； too； left nothing to be desired。
He started off swiftly； but with a smoothness that told of perfect mastery
of the clutch and gears。 He took chances； too； as he dashed through town；
cutting corners； darting before this car； back of the other until； used as the
colonel was to taxicabs in New York； he held his breath more than once。
〃What's the matter … in a hurry？〃 he asked Jean； as they narrowly
escaped a collision。
〃Oh； no； monsieur； but this is the way I like to drive。 It is much more
… what you call pep！〃
〃Yes；〃 mused the colonel to himself； 〃it's pep all right。 But I wonder
what put the pep into you？ You didn't have it when we started out。 Some
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French dope you take； I'll wager。 Well； it may put pep into you now； but
it'll take the starch out of you later on。
Jean left the colonel at the dock； whither Shag had already made his
way； coming in a more prosaic trolley car from The Haven； and soon they
were ready to row down the inlet in a boat。
〃Shall I call for you？〃 asked Jean； as he prepared to drive back。
〃No；〃 answered the colonel； 〃I can't tell what luck I'll have。 We'll
come home when it suits us。〃
〃Very good； monsieur。〃
And so the colonel went fishing； and his thoughts were rather more on
the telephone talk he had overheard than on his rod and line。
Contrary to the poor luck that had held all week； so the dockman said；
the colonel's good luck was exceptional。 Shag had a goodly string of
snappers of large size to carry back with him。
〃How'd you do it？〃 asked the boatman； as he made fast the skiff。
〃Oh； they just bit and I hauled ‘em in；〃 said he colonel。 〃By the
way；〃 he went on； 〃is there a place around here called Allawanda？〃
〃Yes； there's a little village named that； about ten miles back in the
country；〃 said the boatman。
〃Nothing there； though； but a few houses and one store。〃
〃Oh； I thought it might be quite a place。〃
〃No； and nobody'd know it was there if there wasn't a boat around here
named after it。〃
〃Is there a boat called that？〃 asked the colonel； and he tried to keep the
eagerness out of his voice。
〃Yes。 The ferryboat that runs from Lakeside to Loch Elarbor is
named that。 Seems that one of the men in the company that owns it used
to live at Allawanda when he was a boy； and he called the boat that。 It's
an old tub of a ferry； though； about like the town itself； I guess。 Well； you
sure did have good luck！〃
〃Yes； indeed；〃 agreed the colonel； and his luck was better than the
boatman guessed； and of a different kind。
It was in pursuance of this same luck that caused the colonel； later that
day； when the shadows of evening were falling； to take his limp satchel
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and slip out of the house。 He went afoot to the ferry dock； and when the
Allawanda floundered in like a porpoise he went on board。 It was his first
visit to this part of the inlet that separated Lakeside from Loch Harbor； and
this means of getting to the yachting center was seldom used by any guests
of The Haven。 They went around by the highway in automobiles。
〃Well；〃 mused the colonel； as he went to the men's cabin with his limp
valise； 〃I hope Mr。 Blossom keeps his promise and comes here to…night。 I
shall be interested in noting to whom he pays the money。〃
Then； seeing that the little cabin of the ramshackle boat was deserted
at that hour； the colonel went to a dark corner； and from it emerged； a little
later； with a beard on that would have done credit to the most orthodox
inhabitant of New York's Ghetto。
Still the colonel did not look like a Jew； and he was not going to
attempt that character。 He made his way to the stern of the craft； where
he could watch all who came aboard； and finding a deck hand who was
sweeping； said：
〃I'm not feeling very well。 Thought maybe a ride back and forth
across the inlet would do me good if I stayed out in the air。 So if you see
me here don't think I'm trying to beat my fare。 Here's a dollar； you may
keep the change。〃
〃Thanks … ride all you like；〃 said the man。 At five cents a trip； with
the boat stopping at midnight； there would still be a good tip in it for him。
The colonel ensconced himself in a dark corner and waited。
The first two trips over and back were fruitless as far as his object was
concerned。 But just as the Allawanda was about to pull out for her third
voyage across the inlet； there came on board a woman； with a shawl so
closely wrapped about her that her features were completely hidden。 There
were only a few oil lamps on the old…fashioned craft； and the illumination
was poor。
The colonel thought there was something vaguely familiar about the
figure； but he was not certain。 He tried to get near enough to her； in a
casual walk up and down the deck； to view her countenance； but； either by
accident or design； she turned away and looked over the rail。 He was close
enough； however； to note that the shawl was of fine texture and of a
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peculiar pattern。
Retiring again to his corner in the stern of the boat； and noting that the
woman kept her place there； Colonel Ashley waited in patience。 And he
had his reward。
The Allawanrda was whistling to tell the deck hands to cast off the
mooring ropes； when LeGrand Blossom came running down the inclined
gangway and got on board。 He seemed in a hurry and excited； and；
apparently unaware of the presence
