the golf course mystery(高尔夫教程)-第3部分
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friends … engaged some rumors had it。 But now they were jolly good
companions； that was all。
〃Seen the Carwells' new machine？〃 asked Bartlett。
〃No； but I've heard about it。 I presume they'll drive up in it to…day。〃
〃Does Viola run it？〃
〃I haven't heard。 It's a powerful machine； some one said…more of a
racer than a touring car； Mr。 Blossom was remarking。〃
〃Well； he ought to know。 I understand he's soon to be taken into
partnership with Mr。 Carwell。〃
〃I don't know；〃 murmured Minnie； and she seemed suddenly very
much interested in the vein structure of a leaf she pulled from a vine that
covered the summer…house。
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Bartlett smiled。 Gossip had it that Minnie Webb and Le Grand
Blossom； Mr。 Carwell's private secretary； were engaged。 But there had
been no formal announcement； though the two had been seen together
more frequently of late than mere friendship would warrant。
There was a stir in front of the clubhouse； followed by a murmur of
voices； and Minnie； peering through a space in the vines； announced：
〃There's the big car now。 Oh； I don't like that color at all！ I'm as
patriotic as any one； but to daub a perfectly good car up like that … well； it's
… 〃
〃Sporty； I suppose Carwell thinks；〃 finished Bartlett。 He had risen as
though to leave the summerhouse； but as he saw Captain Poland step up
and offer his hand to Viola Carwell； he drew back and again sat down
beside Minnie。
A group gathered about the big French car； obviously to the delight of
Mr。 Carwell； who was proud of the furor created by his latest purchase。
Though he kept up his talk with Minnie in the summer…house； Harry
Bartlett's attention was very plainly not on his present companion nor the
conversation。 At any other time Minnie Webb would have noticed it and
taxed him with it； but now； she； too； had her attention centered elsewhere。
She watched eagerly the group about the big machine； and her eyes
followed the figure of a man who descended from the rear seat and made
his way out along a path that led to a quiet spot。
〃I think I'll go in now；〃 murmured Minnie Webb。 〃I have to see … 〃
Bartlett was not listening。 In fact he was glad of the diversion； for he
saw Viola Carwell turn with what he thought was impatience aside from
Captain Poland； and that was the very chance the other young man had
been waiting for。
He followed Minnie Webb from the little pavilion； paying no attention
to where she drifted。 But he made his way through the press of persons
to where Viola stood； and he saw her eyes light up as he approached。 His；
too； seemed brighter。
〃I was wondering if you would come to see dad win；〃 she murmured
to him； as he took her hand； and Captain Poland； with a little bow； stepped
back。
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〃You knew I'd come； didn't you？〃 Bartlett asked in a low voice。
〃I hoped so；〃 she murmured。 〃Now； Harry；〃 she went on in a low
voice； as they moved aside； 〃this will be a good time for you to smooth
things over with father。 If he wins； as he feels sure he will； you must
congratulate him very heartily … exceptionally so。 Make a fuss over him；
so to speak。 He'll be club champion； and it will seem natural for you to
bubble over about it。〃
〃But why should I； Viola？ I haven't done anything to merit his
displeasure。〃
〃I know。 But you remember what a touch…fire he is。 He's always
held that business matter against you； though I'm sure you had nothing to
do with it。 Now； if he wins； and I hope he will； you can take advantage
of it to get on better terms with him； and … 〃
〃Well； I'm willing to be friends； you know that； Viola。 But I can't
pretend … I never could！〃
〃You're stubborn； Harry ！〃 and Viola pouted。
〃Well； perhaps I am。 When I know I'm right … 〃
〃Couldn't you forget it just once？〃
〃I don't see how！〃
〃Oh； you provoke me！ But if you won't you won't； I suppose。 Only it
would be such a good chance … 〃
〃Well； I'll see him after the match； Viola。 I'll do my best to be
decent。〃
〃You must go a little farther than that； Harry。 Dad will be all worked
up if he wins； and he'll want a fuss made over him。 It will be the very
chance for you。〃
〃All right…I'll do my best；〃 murmured Bartlett。 And then a servant
came up to summon him to the telephone。
Viola was not left long alone； for Captain Poland was watching her
from the tail of his eye； and he was at her side before Harry Bartlett was
out of sight。
〃Perhaps you'd like to come for a little spin with me； Miss Carwell；〃
said the captain。 〃I just heard that they've postponed the cup…winners'
match an hour； and unless you want to sit around here … 〃
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〃Come on ！〃 cried Viola； impulsively。 〃It's too perfect a day to sit
around； and I'm only interested in my father's match。〃
There was another reason why Viola Carwell was glad of the chance to
go riding with Captain Poland just then。 She really was a little provoked
with Bartlett's stubbornness； or what she called that； and she thought it
might 〃wake him up；〃 as she termed it； to see her with the only man who
might be classed as his rival。
As for herself； Viola was not sure whether or not she would admit
Captain Poland to that class。 There was time enough yet。
And so； as Bartlett went in to the telephone； to answer a call that had
come most inopportunely for him； Viola Carwell and Captain Poland
swept off along the pleasantly shaded country road。
Left to herself； for which just then she was thankful； Minnie Webb
drifted around until she met LeGrand Blossom。
〃What's the matter； Lee？〃 she asked him in a low voice； and he smiled
with his eyes at her； though his face showed no great amount of jollity。
〃You're as solemn as though every railroad stock listed had dropped ten
points just after you bought it。〃
〃No；it isn't quite as bad as that；〃 he said； as he fell into step beside her；
and they strolled off onone of the less…frequented walks。
〃I thought everything was going so well with you。 Has there been
any hitch in the partnership arrangement？〃 asked Minnie。
〃No； not exactly。〃
〃Have you lost money？〃
〃No； I can't say that I have。〃
〃Then for goodness' sake what is it？ Do I have to pump you like a
newspaper reporter？〃 and Minnie Webb laughed； showing a perfect set of
teeth that contrasted well against the dark red and tan of her cheeks。
〃Oh； I don't know that it's anything much；〃 replied LeGrand Blossom。
〃It's something！〃 insisted Minnie。
〃Well； yes； it is。 And as it'll come out； sooner or later； I might as well
tell you now；〃 he said； with rather an air of desperation； and as though
driven to it。 〃Have you heard any rumors that Mr。 Carwell is in financial
difficulties？〃
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〃Why； no！ The idea！ I always thought he had plenty of money。
Not a multi…millionaire； of course； but better off financially than any one
else in Lakeside。〃
〃He was once； but he won't be soon； if he keeps up the pace he's set of
late；〃 went on LeGrand Blossom； and his voice was gloomy。
〃What do you mean？〃
〃Well； things don't look so well as they did。 He was very foolish to
buy that ten…thousand…dollar yacht so soon after spending even more than
that on this red； white and blue monstrosity of his ！〃
〃You don't mean to tell me he's bought a yacht； too？〃
〃Yes； the Osprey that Colonel Blakeson used to sport up and down the
coast in。 Paid a cool ten thousand for it； though if he had left it to me I
could have got it for eight； I'm sure。〃
〃Well； twenty thousand dollars oughtn't to worry Mr。 Carwell； I should
think；〃 returned Minnie。
〃It wouldn't have； a year ago；〃 answered LeGrand。 〃But he's been on
the wrong side of the market for some time。 Then； too； something new
has cropped up about that old Bartlett deal。〃
〃You mean the one over which Harry's uncle and Mr。 Carwell had such
a fuss？〃
〃Yes。 Mr。 Carwell's never got over that。 And there are rumors that
he lost quite a sum in a business transaction with Captain Poland。〃
〃Oh； dear ！〃 sighed the girl。 〃Isn't business horrid！ I'm glad I'm not
a man。 But what is this about Captain Poland？〃
〃I don't know？haven't heard it all yet； as Mr。 Carwell doesn't tell me
everything； even if he has planned to take me into partnership with him。
But now I'm not so
