the golf course mystery(高尔夫教程)-第35章
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Then came the postman's whistle； for Lakeside； though but a summer
resort； with a population much larger in summer than in winter； boasted of
mail delivery。
A maid placed the letters in their usual place on the hall table； and the
colonel quickly ran through them； for he had reports sent him from his
New York office from time to time。
〃Here's one for you； Jack；〃 he announced； handing his assistant a letter。
While Jack Young was reading it the colonel caught sight of a postal；
with the address side down； lying among the other missives。 It was a
postal which bore several lines of printing； the rest being filled in by a pen；
and the import of it was that a certain library book； under the number 58 C。
H … I6I* had been out the full time allowed under the rules； and must either
be returned for renewal； or a fine of two cents a day paid； and the recipient
was asked to give the matter prompt attention。
The。 colonel turned the card over。 It was addressed to Miss Viola
Carwell at The Haven。
〃So the book is out on her card；〃 murmured the detective。 〃I must look
for her copy of 'Poison Plants of New Jersey；' and see if it is like the one I
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have。〃
〃Were you speaking to me？〃 asked Jack； having finished his letter。
〃No； but I will now。 We've got to get busy on this case； and close it
up。 I've been too long on it now。 Shag is getting impatient。〃
〃Shag？〃
〃Yes； he wants me to go fishing。〃
〃Oh； I see。 Well； I'm ready。 What are the orders？〃
Two busy days on the part of Colonel Ashley and his assistant
followed。 They went on many mysterious errands and were out once all
night。 But where they went； what they did or who they saw they told no
one。
It was early one evening that Colonel Ashley waited for his assistant in
the library of The Haven。 Jack had gone out to send a message and was to
return soon。 And as the colonel waited in the dim light of one electric
bulb； much shaded； he saw a figure come stealing to the portieres that
separated the library from the hall。 Cautiously the figure advanced and
looked into the room。 A glance seemed to indicate that no one was there；
for the colonel was hidden in the depths of a big chair； 〃slumping；〃 which
was his favorite mode of relaxing。
〃I wonder if some one is looking for me？〃 mused the colonel。 〃Well；
just for fun； I'll play hide and seek。 I can disclose myself later。〃 And so
he remained in the chair； hardly breathing the silent figure parted the
heavy curtains； within； dropped something white on the floor； and then
quickly hurried away； the feet making no sound on the thick carpet of the
hall。
〃Now；〃 mused the colonel to himself； 〃I wonder that is a note for me；
or a love missive for one the maids from the butler or the gardener； who
too bashful to deliver it in person。 I'd better look。〃
Without turning on more light the colonel picked up the thing that had
fluttered so silently to the floor。 It was a scrap of paper； and as he held it
under the dimly glowing bulb he saw； scrawled inprinted letters：
〃Viola Carwell has a poison book。〃
〃As if I didn't know it！〃 softly exclaimed the colonel。
And then； as he resumed his comfortable； but not very dignified
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position； he heard some one coming boldly along the hall； and the voice of
Jack oung asked：
〃Are you in here； Colonel？〃
〃Yes； come in。 Did you get a reply？〃
〃Surely。 Your friend must have been waiting for your telegram。〃
〃I expected he would be。 Let me see it；〃 and the detective read a
brief message which said：
〃Thomas much better after a long sleep。〃
〃Ah；〃 mused the colonel。 〃I'm very glad Thomas is better。〃
〃Is Thomas； by any chance； a cat？〃 asked Jack； who read the telegram
the colonel handed him。
〃He is … just that … a cat and nothing more。 And now； Jack； my friend；
I think we're about ready to close in。〃
〃Close in？ Why … 〃
〃Oh； there are a few things I haven't told you yet。 Sit down and I'll
just go over them。 I've been on this case a little longer than you have；
and I've done some elimination which you haven't had a chance to do。〃
〃And you have eliminated all but … 〃
〃Captain Poland and LeGrand Blossom。〃
At these words Jack started； and made a motion of silence。 They
were still in the library； but more lights had been turned on； and the place
was brilliant。
〃What's the matter？〃 asked the colonel； quickly。 〃I thought I heard a
noise in the hall；〃 and Jack stepped to the door and looked out。 But
either he did not see； or did not want to see； a shrinking figure which
quickly crouched down behind a chair not far from the portal。
〃Guess I was mistaken；〃 said Jack。 〃Anyhow I didn't see anything。〃
Did he forget that coming out of a light room into a dim hall was not
conducive to good seeing？ Jack Young ought to have remembered that。
〃One of the servants； likely； passing by；〃 suggested the colonel。 〃Yes；
Jack； I think we must pin it down to either the captain or Blossom。〃
〃Do you really think Blossom could have done it？〃
〃He could； of course。 The main question is； did he have an object in
getting Mr。 Carwell out of the way？〃
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〃And did he have？〃 〃I think he did。 I've been trailing him lately；
when he didn't suspect it； and I've seen him in some queer situations。 I
know he needed a lot of money and … well； I'm going to take him into
custody as the murderer of Mr。 Carwell。 〃I Want you to … 〃
But that was as far as the detective got； for there was a shriek in the
hall … a cry of mortal anguish that could only come from a woman … and
then； past the library door； rushed a figure in white。
Out and away it rushed； flinging open the front door； speeding down
the steps and across the lawn。
〃Quick ！〃 cried Colonel Ashley。 〃Who was that？〃
〃I don't know！〃 answered Jack。 〃Must have been the person I thought
I heard in the hall。〃
〃We must find out who it was！〃 went on the detective。 〃You make
some inquiries。 I'll take after her。〃
〃Could it have been Miss Viola？〃
The question was answered almost as soon as it was asked； for； at that
moment； Viola herself came down the front stairs。
〃What is it？〃 she asked the two detectives。 〃Who cried out like that？
Is some one hurt？〃
〃I don't know；〃 answered Colonel Ashley。 〃Mr。 Young and I were
talking in the library when we heard the scream。 Then a woman rushed
out。〃
〃It must have been Minnie Webb！〃 cried Viola。 〃She was here a
moment ago。 The maid told me she was waiting in the parlor； and I was
detained upstairs。 It must have been Minnie。 But why did she scream
so？〃
Colonel Ashley did not stop to answer。
〃Look after things here； Jack！〃 he called to his assistant。 〃I'm going
to follow her。 If ever there was a desperate woman she is。〃
And he sped through the darkness after the figure in white。
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CHAPTER XXII
THE LARGE BLONDE AGAIN
The trail was not a difficult one to follow。 The night was
particularly black； with low…hanging clouds which seemed to hold a threat
of rain； and the wind sighed dolefully through the scrub pines。 Against
this dim murkiness the figure of the woman in white stood out ghostily。
〃Poor Minnie Webb！〃 mused Colonel Ashley； as he hurried on after her。
〃She must be desperate now … after what she heard。 I wonder … 〃
He did not put his wonder into words then； but his suspicion was
confirmed as he saw her head for the bridge that spanned a creek； not far
from where the ferry ran over to Loch Harbor。
At certain times this creek was not deep enough to afford passage for
small rowboats； but when the tide was in there was draught enough for
motor launches。
〃And the tide is in now；〃 mused the colonel； as he remembered passing
among the sand dunes late that afternoon； and noting the state of the sea。
〃Too bad； poor little woman！〃 he added gently； as he followed her。 〃Not so
fast！ Not so fast！ There is no need of rushing to destruction。 It comes soon
enough without our going out to meet it。 Poor girl！〃
He went on through the darkness； following； following； following
distracted Minnie； who； with the fateful words still ringing in her ears；
hardly knew whither she hurried。
Colonel Ashley； in spite of the desperate manner in which the chase
had begun； felt that he was safe from observation。 He had on dark
clothes； which did not contrast so strongly with the night as did the light
and filmy dress of Minnie Webb。 Besides； she was too distracted to
notice that she was being followed。
〃She is going to the bridge； and the tide is in；〃 mused the detective。 〃I
didn't think she had that much spunk … for it does take spunk to attempt
anything like this in the dark。 However； I'll try to get there as soon as she
does。〃
The fleeing girl in white passed over an open moor； fleeced here and
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there with scanty bushes； which gave the detective all the cover he needed。
But the girl did not look back； and the night was dark。 The clouds were
thicker too； and the ver
