the golf course mystery(高尔夫教程)-第33部分
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part of the trip； timid and watchful of every crossing and turning； now he
put on full speed and drove with the confidence of an expert。
〃He must have had another shot of dope；〃 mused the colonel。 〃I'll
have to keep an eye on you； my Frenchie； else you may be ramming a
stone wall when you're feeling pretty well elated。〃
They were half way to the home of Captain Poland when Viola
suddenly changed her mind。
〃I … I don't believe I care to go to see him；〃 she said。 〃Can't you go
without me； Colonel Ashley？ You can find out better than I can。 I … I
really don't feel equal to it。〃
〃Of course； I can；〃 was the ready answer。 〃Drive Miss Carwell home；
Jean； and then I'll go on to see Captain Poland myself。〃
The car was swung around； and was soon in front of The Haven。 The
colonel； with his usual gallantry； walked with Viola to the steps。 As the
maid opened the door she said to her mistress：
‘‘There is a lady to see you。〃
〃A lady to see me？〃 exclaimed Viola； in some surprise。
〃Yes。 She is in the library； waiting。 I said I did not know how long
you would be away； but she said she was a friend of the family and would
wait。〃
〃Who is she？〃 asked Viola。
〃I don't know。 But she is a large； blonde lady。〃
〃I can't imagine；〃 murmured Viola。 〃Won't you come in； Colonel
Ashley？ It may be some one I would want you to see； also。〃
As Viola； followed at a little distance by the colonel； entered the
library； a large； blonde woman arose to meet her。
〃I am so glad to see you； my dear Miss Carwell；〃 began the woman；
and then Colonel Ashley had one of his questions answered。 The voice
was the same as that of the shawled woman LeGrand Blossom had met on
the ferryboat the night before； and it was the voice of Annie Tighe； alias
Maude Warren； alias Morocco Kate； one of the cleverest of New York's de
luxe crooks。
〃So you have a hand in the game； have you； my dear？〃 mused the
colonel； as he caught the now well…remembered tones。 〃Well； I guess
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you don't want to see me right away； and I don't want you to。〃
He had kept behind Viola during the walk down the hall； and the large
blonde had not noticed him； he hoped。 He whispered to Viola； who stood
just at the entrance to the room：
〃Learn all you can from her。 I'll be back pretty soon … as soon as she
has gone。 Find out where she's stopping。 Don't mention me。〃
The hall was dimly lighted； and he had a chance to say this to Viola
without getting into full view of the caller； and without her overhearing。
Then； turning quickly； Colonel Ashley hurried out of the house。
〃Morocco Kate；〃 he mused as he got into the car again； and told Jean
to drive to Captain Poland's。 〃Morocco Kate！ I wonder if she is just
beginning her game； or if this is merely a phase of it； started before Mr。
Carwell's death？ Another link added to the puzzle。〃
He was still pondering over this when he reached the captain's home。
It was a rather elaborate summer 〃cottage；〃 with magnificent grounds； and
the captain's mother kept house for him。 But there was a curious
deserted air about the place as Jean drove up the gravel road。 A man was
engaged in putting up boards at the windows。
〃Is the captain here？〃 asked the colonel。
〃The place is being closed for the season； sir；〃 answered the man；
evidently a caretaker。
〃Closed？ So early？〃 exclaimed the colonel； in surprise。
〃The captain has gone away；〃 the man went on。 〃I got orders
yesterday to close the place for the season。 Captain Poland will not be
back。〃
〃Oh！〃 softly exclaimed the colonel。 And then to himself he added：
〃He won't be back！ Well； perhaps I shall have to bring him back。
Another link！ There may be three people in this instead of two！〃
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CHAPTER XIX
〃UNKNOWN〃
〃So sweet of you to see me； Miss Carwell； in all your grief； and I
must apologize for troubling you。〃
Miss Tighe； alias Morocco Kate； fairly gushed out the words as she
extended a hand to Viola in the library。 The first glance at the 〃large
blonde；〃 as the maid had described her； shocked the girl。 She could
hardly repress a shudder of disgust as she looked at the bleached hair。 But；
nerving herself for the effort； Viola let her hand rest limply for a moment
in the warm moist grip of Miss Tighe。
〃Won't you sit down？〃 asked Viola。
〃Thank you。 I won't detain you long。 I called merely on business；
though I suppose you think I'm not a very business…like looking person。
But I am strictly business； all the way through；〃 and she tittered。 〃I find
it pays better to really dress the part；〃 she added。
〃I was so sorry to hear about your dear father's death。 I knew him …
quite well I may say … he was very good to me。〃
〃Yes；〃 murmured Viola； and somehow her heart was beating strangely。
What did it all mean？ Who was this … this impossible person who
claimed business relations； yes； even friendliness； with the late Mr。
Carwell？
〃And now to tell you what I came for；〃 went on Miss Tighe。 〃Your
dear father … and in his death I feel that I have lost a very dear friend and
adviser … your dear father purchased many valuable books of me。 I sell
only the rarest and most expensive bindings； chiefly full morocco。 Your
father was very fond of books； wasn't he？〃
Viola could not help admitting it； as far as purchasing expensive； if
unread； editions was concerned。 The library shelves testified to this。
〃Yes； indeed； he just loved them； and he was always glad when I
brought his attention to a new set； my dear Miss Carwell。 Well； that is
what I came about now。 Just before his terrible death … it was terrible；
wasn't it？ Oh； I feel so sorry for you；〃 and she dabbed a much…perfumed
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handkerchief to her eyes。 〃Just before his lamented death he bought a
lovely white morocco set of the Arabian Nights from me。 Forty volumes；
unexpurgated； my dear。 Mind you that … unexpurgated！〃 and Morocco
Kate seemed to dwell on this with relish。 〃As I say； he bought a lovely
set from me。 It was the most expensive set I ever sold … forty…five
hundred dollars。〃
〃Forty…five hundred dollars for a set of books！〃 exclaimed Viola； in
unaffected wonder。
〃Oh； my dear； that is nothing。 These were some books；〃 and she
winked understandingly。
〃It isn't everybody who could get them！ The edition was limited。
But I happened on a set and I knew your father wanted them； so I got them
for him。 He made the first payment； and then he died … I read it in the
papers。 Naturally I didn't want to bother you while the terrible affair was
so fresh； so I waited。 And now I'm here！〃
She seemed to be … very much so； as she settled herself back in the big
leather chair； and made sure that her hair was properly fluffed around her
much…powdered face。
〃You are here to … 〃 faltered Viola。 〃To get the balance for the books
… that's it； dear Miss Carwell。 Naturally I'm not in for my health； and of
course I don't publish books myself。 I'm only a poor business woman；
and I work on commission。 The firm likes have all contracts cleaned up；
but in this case they didn't press matters； knowing Mr。 Carwell was all
right； or； if he wasn't； his estate was。 I've sold him many a choice and
rare book … books you don't see in every library； my dear。 Of course there
were … ahem … some you wouldn't care to read； and I can't say I care much
about 'em myself。 A good French novel is all right； I say； but some of
‘em well； you know！〃 and she winked boldly； and dabbed her face with the
handkerchief which was quickly filling the room with an overpowering
odor。
〃You mean my father owes you money？〃 faltered Viola。
〃Well； not me； exactly … the firm。 But I don't mind telling you I get
my rake…off。 I have to so I can live。 The balance is only three thousand
dollars； and if you could give me a check … 〃
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〃Excuse me；〃 interrupted Viola； 〃but I have nothing to
