the golf course mystery(高尔夫教程)-第41节
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Up and down the paths walked Colonel Ashley； his clothes odorous of
fish； and he was beginning to think he might have his trouble for his pains
when he saw a woman coming along hesitatingly。
It needed but a second glance to disclose to the trained eyes of the
detective that it was none other than Minnie Webb； whom he had met
several times at the home of Viola Carwell。 Minnie advanced until she
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came to a certain bench； and she stopped long enough to count and make
sure that it was the third from one end of a row； and the seventh from the
other end。
〃The appointed place；〃 mused the colonel as he sauntered past。 And
then； making a detour； he came up in the rear and hid in the bushes back of
the bench； where he could hear without being observed … in fact the bench
was in such shadow that even the casual passerby in front could not after
darkness had fallen tell who occupied it。
Minnie Webb sat in silence； but by the way she fidgeted about the
colonel； hearing the shuffling of her feet on the gravel walk； knew she was
nervous and impatient。
Then quick footsteps were heard coming along through the little park。
They increased in sound； and came to a stop in front of the bench on
which sat the shrouded and dark figure of the girl。
〃Minnie？〃
〃LeGrand！ Oh； I'm so glad you came！ What is it？ Why did you
send me a note to meet you in this lonely place？ I'm so afraid！〃
〃Afraid？ Lonely？ Why； it's early evening； and this is a public
park；〃 the man answered in a low voice。 〃I wanted you to come here as
it's the best place for us to talk … where we can't be overheard。〃
〃But why are you so afraid of being overheard？〃
〃Oh； things are so mixed up … one can't be too careful。 Minnie； we
must settle our affairs。〃
〃Settle them？ You mean … ？〃
〃I mean we can't go on this way。 I must have you！ I've waited long
enough。 You know I love you … that I've never loved any one else as I've
loved you！ I can't stand it any longer without you。 I have asked you to
marry me several times。 Each time you have put it off for some reason or
other。 Now we must settle it。 Are you going to marry me or not？ No
matter what your folks say about me and this Carwell affair。 Do you … do
you care for me？〃
The answer was so low and so muffled that the colonel was glad he
could not hear it。
〃Confound it all！〃 he murmured； 〃that's the worst of this business！ I
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don't mind anything but the love…making。 I hate to break in on that！〃
There was an eloquent silence； and then LeGrand Blossom said：
〃I am very happy； Minnie。〃
〃And so am I。 Now what shall we do？〃
〃Get married as soon as possible； of course。 I've got to wind up
matters here； and as soon as I can I may take up an offer that came from
Boston。 It's a very good one。 Would you go there with me？〃
〃Yes； LeGrand。 I'd go anywhere with you … you know that。〃
〃I'm glad I do； my dear。 It may be necessary to go very soon； and …
well； we won't stop to say good…bye； either。〃
〃Why！ what do you mean 〃 and the hidden detective knew that the girl
had drawn away from the young man。
〃Oh； I mean that we won't bother about the fuss of a farewell…party。
I'm not tied to the Carwell business。 In fact I'd be glad to chuck it。
There's nothing in it any more； since there's no chance for a partnership。
We'll just go off by ourselves and be happy … won't we； Minnie？〃
〃I hope so； LeGrand。 But must we go away？ Can't you get something
else here？〃
〃I think we must； yes。〃
〃You haven't had trouble with … with Viola； have you？〃
〃No。 What made you think of that？〃
〃Oh； it was just a notion。 Well； if we have to leave we will。 I shall
hate to go； however。 But； I'll be with you … 〃 and again the words were
smothered。
〃I wonder what sort of a double…cross game he's playing；〃 mused the
colonel when the two had left the park and he； rather stiff from his
position； shuffled to the lonely spot where he had before made a change of
garments。 Attired as his usual self； he went back to The Haven； and
spent rather a restless night。
Minnie Webb was perplexed。 She loved LeGrand Blossom … there
was no doubt of that … but she did not see why he should have to leave the
vicinity of Lakeside where she had lived so many years … at least during
the summer months。 All her friends and acquaintances were there。
〃I wonder if Viola has given him notice to leave since she came into
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her father's property；〃 mused Minnie。 〃I'm going to ask her。 He may
never get such a good place in Boston as he has here。 I'll see if I can't
find out why he wants to leave。 It can't be just because father does not
care much for him。〃
So she called on Viola； as she had done often of late； and found her
friend sitting silent； and with unseeing eyes staring at the rows of books in
the library。
〃Oh； Minnie； it was so good of you to come！ I'm very glad to see you。
Since father went it has been very lonely。 You look extremely well。〃
〃I am well … and … happy。 Oh； Viola； you're the first I have told； but
… but Mr。 Blossom has … asked me to marry him； and … 〃
〃Oh； how lovely！ And you've said ‘yes！' I can tell that！〃 and Viola
smiled and kissed her friend impulsively。 〃Tell me all about it！〃
〃And so it's all settled；〃 went on Minnie； after much talk and many
questions and answers。 〃Only I'm sorry he's going to leave you。〃
〃Going to leave me！〃 exclaimed Viola。 Her voice was incredulous。
〃Well； I mean going to give up the management of your business。 I'm
sure you'll miss him。〃
〃I shall indeed！ But I did not know Mr。 Blossom was going to leave。
He has said nothing to me or Aunt Mary about it。 In fact； I … 〃
〃Oh； is there something wrong？〃 asked Minnie quickly； struck by
something in Viola's voice。
〃Well； nothing wrong； as far as we know。 But … 〃
〃Oh； please tell me！〃 begged Minnie。 〃I am sure you are concealing
something。〃
〃Well； I will tell you！〃 said Viola at last。 〃I feel that I ought to； as
you may hear of it publicly。 It concerns fifteen thousand dollars；〃 and
she went into details about the loan； which one party said had been paid；
and of which Blossom said there was no record。
〃Oh！〃 gasped Minnie Webb。 〃Oh； what does it mean？〃 and； worried
and heartsick； lest she should have made a mistake； she sat looking
dumbly at Viola。。。
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CHAPTER XXI
THE LIBRARY POSTAL
〃My dear； I am sorry if I have told you anything that distresses you；〃
said Viola gently。 〃But I thought … 〃
〃Oh； yes； it is best to know；〃 was the low response。 〃Only … only I
was so happy a little while ago； and now … 〃
〃But perhaps it may all be explained！〃 interrupted Viola。 〃It is only
some tiresome business deal； I'm sure。 I never could understand them；
and I don't want to。 But it does seem queer that there is no record of that
fifteen thousand dollars being paid back。〃
〃What does Captain Poland say about it？〃
〃Oh； he told Harry； very frankly； that father paid the money； and that
the receipt was sent to Mr。 Blossom。 But the latter says it can not be
found。〃
〃And do you suspect Mr。 Blossom ？〃 asked Minnie； and her voice held
a challenge。
〃Well；〃 answered Viola slowly； 〃there isn't much of which to suspect
him。 It isn't as if Captain Poland claimed to
