the golf course mystery(高尔夫教程)-第23部分
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〃No。 But can't you send to New York for one？〃
〃I suppose I could … yes。 I wonder if they might have one in the local
library？〃
〃I'm sure I don't know；〃 and Viola leaned over to pick a thread from
the carpet。 〃I don't draw books from there。 When it was first opened I
took out a card； but when I saw how unclean some of the volumes were I
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never afterward patronized the place。〃
〃Then you wouldn't know whether they had a book on poisons； or
poison plants or not？〃
〃I wouldn't in the least；〃 she answered； as she arose。 〃As I said； I
don't believe I have been in the place more than twice； and that was two
years ago。〃
〃Then I'll have to inquire myself；〃 said the colonel； and he remained
standing while Viola left the room。 And for some little time he stood
looking at the door as it closed after her。 And on Colonel Ashley's face
there was a peculiar look。
LeGrand Blossom came to The Haven bearing a bundle of books and
papers； and with rather a wry face … for he had no heart for business of this
nature。 Miss Mary Carwell sat down at the table with him and Viola。
〃We want to know just where we stand financially；〃 said Viola。
〃What is the condition of my father's affairs； Mr。 Blossom？〃
The confidential clerk hesitated a moment before answering。 Then
he said slowly：
〃Well； the affairs are anything but good。 There is a great deal of
money gone； and some of the securities left are pledged for loans。〃
〃You mean my father spent a lot of money just before he died？〃 asked
Viola。
〃He either spent it or … Well； yes； he must have spent it； for it is gone。
The car cost ten thousand； and he spent as much； if not more； on the
yacht。〃
〃But they can be sold。 I don't want either of them。 I'm afraid in the
big car；〃 said Viola； 〃and the yacht isn't seaworthy； I've heard。 I wouldn't
take a trip in her。〃
〃I don't know anything about that；〃 said LeGrand Blossom。 〃But
even if the car and yacht were sold at a forced sale they would not bring
anything like what they cost。 I have gone carefully over your father's
affairs； as you requested me； and I tell you frankly they are in bad shape。〃
〃What can be done？〃 asked Miss Carwell。
〃I don't know；〃 LeGrand Blossom frankly admitted。 〃You may call in
an expert； if you like； to go over the books； but I don't believe he would
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come to any other conclusion than I have。 As a matter of fact； I bad a
somewhat selfish motive in looking into your father's affairs of late。 You
know I was thinking of going into partnership with him； and … and …〃 He
did not finish。
Viola nodded。
〃Perhaps I might say that he was good enough to offer me the chance；〃
the young man went on。 And； as I was to invest what was； to me； a large
sum； I wanted to see how matters were。 So I examined the books
carefully； as your father pressed me to do。 At that time his affairs were in
good shape。 But of late he had lost a lot of money。〃
〃Will it make any difference to us？〃 and Viola included her aunt in her
gesture。
〃Well； you； Miss Carwell；〃 and Blossom nodded to the older lady；
〃have your own money in trust funds。 Mr。 Carwell could not touch them。
But he did use part of the fortune left you by your mother；〃 he added to
Viola。
〃I don't mind that；〃 was her steady answer。 〃If my father needed my
money he was welcome to it。 That is past and gone。 What now remains
to me？〃
〃Very little；〃 answered LeGrand Blossom。 〃I may be able to pull the
business through and save something； but there is a lot of money lost …
spent or gone somewhere。 I haven't yet found out。 Your father
speculated too much； and unwisely。 I told him； but he would pay no heed
to me。〃
〃Do you think he knew； before his death； that his affairs were in such
bad shape？〃 asked the dead man's sister。
〃He must have； for I saw him going over the books several times。〃
〃Do you think this knowledge impelled him toto end his life？〃 faltered
Viola。
LeGrand Blossom considered a moment before answering。 Then he
slowly said：
〃It was either that； or … or； well； some one killed him。 There are no
two ways about it。〃
〃I believe some one killed him！〃 burst out Viola。 〃But I think the
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authorities have made a horrible mistake in detaining Mr。 Bartlett；〃 she
added。 〃Don't you； Mr。 Blossom？〃
〃I … er … I don't know what to think。 Your father had some enemies； it
is true。 Every business man has。 And a person with a temper easily
aroused； such as … 〃
LeGrand Blossom stopped suddenly。
〃You were about to name some one？〃 asked Viola。
〃Well； I was about to give； merely as an instance； Jean Forette the
chauffeur。 Not that I think the Frenchman had a thing to do with the
matter。 But he has a violent temper at times； and again he is as meek as
any one I ever knew。 But say a person did give way to violent passion；
such as I have seen him do at times when something went wrong with the
hig； new car； might not such a person； for a fancied wrong； take means of
ending the life of a person who had angered him？〃
〃I never liked Jean Forette；〃 put in Miss Carwell； 〃and I was glad
when I heard Horace was to let him go。〃
〃Do yon think…do you believe he had anything to do with my father's
death？〃 asked Viola quickly。
〃Not the least in the world；〃 answered the head clerk hastily。 〃I just
used him as an iliustration。〃
〃But he quarreled with my father；〃 the girl went on。 〃They had
words； I know。〃
〃Yes； they did； and I heard some of them；〃 admitted LeGrand Blossom。
〃But that passed over； and they were friendly enough the day of the golf
game。 So there could not have been murder in the heart of that
Frenchman。 No； I don't mean even to hint at him： hut I believe some one；
angry at； and with a grudge against； your father； ended his life。〃
〃I believe that； too！〃 declared Viola firmly。 〃And while I feel； as you
do； about Jean； still it is a clew that must not be overlooked。 I'll tell
Colonel Ashley。〃
I fancy he knows it already；〃 said LeGrand Blossom。 〃There isn't
much that escapes that fisherman。〃
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CHAPTER XIII
CAPTAIN POLAND CONFESSES
When LeGrand Blossom had taken his departure； carrying with him
the books and papers； he left behind two very disconsolate persons。
〃It's terrible！〃 exclaimed Mr。 Carwell's sister。 〃To think that poor
Horace could be so careless！ I knew his sporting life would bring trouble；
but I never dreamed of this。〃
〃We must face it； terrible as it is；〃 said Viola。 〃Nothing would matter
if he … if he were only left to us。 I'm sure he never meant to spend so
much money。 It was just because … he didn't think。〃
〃That always was a fault of his；〃 sighed Miss Mary； 〃even when a boy。
It's terrible！〃
〃It's terrible to have him gone and to think of the terrible way he was
taken；〃 sighed Viola。 〃But any one is likely to lose money。〃
She no more approved of many of her late father's sporting proclivities
than did her aunt； and there were many rather startling stories and rumors
that came to Viola as mere whispers to which she turned a deaf ear。
Since her mother's death her father had； it was common knowledge；
associated with a fast set； and he had been seen in company with persons
of both sexes who were rather notorious for their excesses。
〃Well； Mr。 Blossom will do the best he can； I suppose；〃 said Miss
Carwell； with rather an intimation that the head clerk's best would be very
bad indeed。
〃I'm sure he will；〃 assented Viola。 〃He knows all the details of poor
father's affairs； and he alone can straighten them out。 Oh； if we had only
known of this before； we might have stopped it。〃
〃But your father was always very close about his matters；〃 said his
sister。 〃He resented even your mother knowing how much money he
made； and how。 I think she felt that； too； for she liked to have a share in
all he did。 He was kindness itself to her； but she wanted more than that。
She wanted to have a part in his success； and he kept her out … or she felt
that he did。 Well； I'm sure I hope all mistakes are straightened out in
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