the golf course mystery(高尔夫教程)-第15部分
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to be a rumor； perhaps it is current yet in many Jersey counties； that a
coroner was the only official who could legally arrest the sheriff in case
that official needed taking into custody。 As to the truth of this it is not
important。
Certain it is that Billy Teller had never before found himself in such
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demand and prominence。 He was to act in the capacity of judge； though
the verdict in the case； providing one could be returned； would be given by
the jury he might impanel。
There was a large throng in attendance at the town hall when the
inquest began。 Reporters had been sent out by metropolitan papers； for
Horace Carwell was a well known figure in the sporting and the financial
world； and the mere fact that there was a suspicion that his death was not
from natural causes was enough to make it a good story。
Billy Teller was； frankly； unacquainted with the method of procedure；
and he confessed as much to the prosecutor； an astute lawyer。 As the
latter would have the conducting of the case for the state in case it came to
a trial in the upper courts； Mr。 Stryker saw to it that legal forms were
followed in the selection of a jury and the swearing in of the members of
the panel。 Then began the taking of testimony。
The doctors told of the finding of evidences of poison in Mr。 Carwell's
body。 Its nature was as yet undetermined； for it was not of the common
type。
This much Dr。 Lambert stated calmly； and without attempting to go
into technical details。 Not so Dr。 Baird。 He spoke learnedly of
Reinsch's test for arsenic； of Bloxam's method； of the distillation process。
He juggled with words； and finally； when pinned down by a direct but
homely question from Billy Teller； admitted that he did not know what had
killed Mr。 Carwell。
Testimony to the same effect was given by several chemists who had
analyzed the stomach and viscera of the dead man。 There was a sediment
of poison present； they admitted； and sufficient had been extracted in a
free state to end the lives of several guinea pigs on which it had been
tested。 But as to the exact nature of the poison they could not yet say。
More time for analysis was needed。
It was certain that Mr。 Carwell had come to his death by an active
agent in the nature of some substance； as yet unknown； which he either
swallowed purposely； by accident； or because some one gave it to him
either knowingly or unknowingly。 This was a sufficiently broad
hypothesis on which to base almost anything； thought Colonel Ashley； as
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he sat and listened in the corner of the improvised courtroom。
There was a stir of excitement and anticipation when Viola was called；
but beyond testifying that her father was in his usual health when he went
with her to the golf game； she could throw no light on the puzzle； nor
could the dead man's sister or any of the servants。
〃Call Jean Forette；〃 said the prosecutor； and the chauffeur； a decidedly
nervous man on whom the excitement of testifying plainly told； came to
the stand。
He made a poor showing； and there were several whispers that ran
around the courtroom； but poor Jean's rather distressing manner was
improved when Mr。 Stryker took him in hand to question him。 The
prosecutor； observing that the man was more frightened than anything else；
soon put him at his ease； and then the witness told a clear and connected
story。 He admitted frankly that because he had not the faculty； or； perhaps；
the desire to drive the big； new car； he and his late employer were to part
company at the end of the month。 That was no secret； and there were no
hard feelings on either side。 It was in the course of business； and natural。
Yes； he had driven Mr。 Carwell and his daughter to the links that day
in the big red； white and blue machine。 Mr。 Carwell had been in his
usual jolly spirits； and had greeted several acquaintances on the road。
Had they stopped at any place？ Oh； yes。 The golfer was thirsty； and
halted at a roadhouse for a pint of champagne … his favorite wine。 Jean
had alighted from the car to get it for him； and Viola； recalled to the stand；
testified that she had seen her father drink some of the bubbling liquor。 It
was obvious why she had not spoken of it before； and that point was not
pressed。 It was known she did not share her father's love for sports and
high living。
A little delay was caused while the innkeeper was sent for； but pending
his arrival some other unimportant witnesses were called； among them
Major Wardell； who was Mr。 Carwell's rival in the golf game。
Had he heard his friend speak of feeling ill？ No； not until a moment
before the final stroke was made。 Then Mr。 Carwell had said he felt
〃queer；〃 and had acted as though dizzy。 The major； who was himself
quite a convivial spirit； attributed it to some highballs he and his friend
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had had in the clubhouse just prior to the game。
Mr。 Carwell had drunk nothing during his round of golf； and had
associated during the progress of the game with no one except the players
who were with him from the start to the finish。 He was not seen to have
taken any tablets or powders that might have contained poison； and a
thorough search of his person and clothing after his death had revealed
nothing。
At this point the innkeeper appeared。 He testified to having served
Mr。 Carwell's chauffeur with a pint of champagne which Jean Forette was
seen to carry directly from the cafe to the waiting automobile。 The
champagne was from a bottle newly opened； and the innkeeper himself
had selected a clean glass and carefully washed it before pouring in the
wine。 He knew Mr。 Carwell was fastidious about such matters； as he had
often spent many hours in the roadhouse。
〃LeGrand Blossom！〃
Now something might come out。 It was known that Blossom was Mr。
Carwell's chief clerk； and more than one person knew of the impending
partnership； for Mr。 Carwell was rather talkative at times。
〃Mr。 Blossom；〃 asked the prosecutor； after some preliminary questions；
〃it has been intimated … not here but outside … that the financial affairs of
Mr。 Carwell were not in such good shape as might be wished。 Do you
know anything about this？〃
〃I do； sir。
〃Tell what you know。〃
〃I know he was hard pushed for money； and had to get loans from the
bank and otherwise。〃
〃Was that unusual？〃
〃Yes； it was。 Before he bought the big car and the yacht he carried a
good balance。 But I told him … 〃
〃Never mind what you told him or he told you。 That is not
admissible under the circumstances。 Just tell what you know。〃
〃Well； then I know that Mr。 Carwell's affairs were in bad shape； and
that he was trying to raise some ready cash。〃
〃How do you know this？〃
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〃Because he asked me to put a large sum into his business and become
a member of the firm。〃
〃He asked you to invest money and become a partner？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Well； that is not unusual； is it？ Many a business man might do the
same if he wanted to branch out； mightn't he ？〃
〃Yes。 But before this Mr。 Carwell had offered to take me into
partnership without any advance of money on my part。 Then he
suddenly said he needed a large sum。 He knew I had inherited eleven
thousand dollars and had； moreover； made from investments。〃
〃And did you agree to it？〃
〃I said I'd think it over。 I was to give him my answer the day he
died。〃
〃Did you？〃
〃No。〃
〃What would have been your answer？〃
〃It would have been 'no。' I didn't think I wanted to tie up with a man
who was on the verge of ruin； and if you ask me I'll say I think he
committed suicide because he was on the verge of financial ruin and
couldn't face the music； and … 〃
〃That will do！〃 came sternly from the prosecutor。 〃We didn't ask
your opinion as to the suicide theory； and； what is more； we don't want it。 I
ask； your honor；〃 and he turned to Billy Teller； who was secretly delighted
at being thus addressed； 〃that the last remark of the witness be stricken
from the record。〃
〃Rub it out；〃 ordered the c
