the golf course mystery(高尔夫教程)-第4部分
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everything； even if he has planned to take me into partnership with him。
But now I'm not so keen on it。〃
〃Keen on what； Lee ？〃 and Minnie Webb leaned just the least bit
nearer to his side。
〃On going into partnership with a man who spends money so lavishly
when he needs all the ready cash he can lay his hands on。 But don't
mention this to any one； Minnie。 If it got out it might precipitate matters；
and then the whole business would tumble down like a house of cards。
As it is； I may be able to pull him out。 But I've put the soft pedal on the
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partnership talk。〃
〃Has Mr。 Carwell mentioned it of late？〃
〃No。 All he seems to be interested in is this golf game that may make
him club champion。 But keepsecret what I have told you。〃
Minnie Webb nodded assent； and they turned back toward the
clubhouse； for they had reached a too secluded part of the grounds。
Meanwhile； Viola Carwell was not enjoying her ride with Captain
Poland as much as she had expected she would。 As a matter of fact it had
been undertaken largely to cause Bartlett a little uneasiness； and as the
Seeing this； the latter changed his mind concerning something he had fully
expected to speak to Viola about that day； if he got the chance。
Captain Poland was genuinely in love with Viola； and he had reason to
feel that she cared for him； though whether enough to warrant a
declaration of love on his part was hard to understand。
〃But I won't take a chance now；〃 mused the captain； rather moodily；
and the talk descended to mere monosyllables on the part of both of them。
〃I must see Carwell and have it out with him about that insurance deal。
Maybe he holds that against me； though the last time I talked with him he
gave me to understand that I'd stand a better show than Harry。 I must see
him after the game。 If he wins he'll be in a mellow humor； particularly
after a bottle or so。 That's what I'll do。〃
The captain spun his car up in front of the clubhouse and helped Viola
out。 〃I think we are in plenty of time for your father's match；〃 he
remarked。
〃Yes；〃 she assented。 〃I don't see any of the veterans on the field yet；〃
and she looked across the perfect course。 〃I'll go to look for dad and
wish him luck。 He always wants me to do that before he starts his medal
play。 See you again； Captain〃； and with a friendly nod she left the
somewhat chagrined yachtsman。
When Captain Poland had parked his car hetook a short cut along a
path that led through a little clump of bushes。 Midway he heard voices。
In an instant he recognized them as those of Horace Carwell and Harry
Bartlett。 He heard Bartlett say：
〃But don't you see how much better it would be to drop it all … to have
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nothing more to do with her？〃
〃Look here； young man； you mind your own business ！〃 snapped Mr。
Carwell。 〃I know what I'm doing！〃
〃I haven't any doubt of it； Mr。 Carwell； but I ventured to suggest？〃
went on Bartlett。
〃Keep your suggestions to yourself； if you please。 I've had about all I
want from you and your family。 And if I hear any more of your impudent
talk … 〃
Then Captain Poland moved away； for he did not want to hear any
more。
In the meantime Viola hurried back to the clubhouse； and forced
herself to be gay。 But； somehow； a cloud seemed to have come over her
day。
The throng had increased； and she caught sight； among the press； of
Jean Forette； their chauffeur。
〃Have you seen my father since he arrived； Jean？〃 asked Viola。
〃Oh； he is somewhere about； I suppose；〃 was the answer； and it was
given in such a surly tone with such a churlish manner that Viola flushed
with anger and bit her lips to keep back a sharp retort。
At that moment Minnie Webb strolled past。 She had heard the
question and the answer。
〃I just saw your father going out with the other contestants； Viola；〃
said Minnie Webb； for they were friends of some years' standing。 〃I
think they are going to start to play。 I wonder why they say the French
are such a polite race she went on； speaking lightly to cover Viola's
confusion caused by the chauffeur's manner。 〃He was positively
insulting。〃
〃He was；〃 agreed Viola。 〃But I shouldn't mind him； I suppose。 He
does not like the new machine； and father has told him to find another
place by the end of the month。 I suppose that has piqued him。〃
While there were many matches to be played at the Maraposa Club
that day； interest； as far as the older members and their friends were
concerned； was centered in that for cup…winners。 These constituted the
best players … the veterans of the game … and the contest was sure to be
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interesting and close。
Horace Carwell was a 〃sport；〃 in every meaning of the term。 Though
a man well along in his forties； he was as lithe and active as one ten years
younger。 He motored； fished； played golf； hunted； and of late had added
yachting to his amusements。 He was wealthy； as his father had been
before him； and owned a fine home in New York； but he spent a large part
of every year at Lakeside； where he might enjoy the two sports he loved
best…golfing and yachting。 Viola was an only child； her mother having
died when she was about sixteen； and since then Mr。 Carwell's maiden
sister had kept watch and ward over the handsome home； The Haven。
Viola； though loving her father with the natural affection of a daughter and
some of the love she had lavished on her mother； was not altogether in
sympathy with the sporting proclivities of Mr。 Carwell。
True； she accompanied him to his golf games and sailed with him or
rode in his big car almost as often as he asked her。 And she thoroughly
enjoyed these things。 But what she did not enjoy was the rather too
jovial comradeship that followed on the part of the men and women her
father associated with。 He was a good liver and a good spender； and he
liked to have about him such persons…men 〃sleek and fat；〃 who if they did
not 〃sleep o' nights；〃 at least had the happy faculty of turning night into
day for their own amusement。
So； in a measure； Viola and her father were out of sympathy； as had
been husband and wife before her； though there had never been a whisper
of real incompatibility； nor was there now； between father and daughter。
〃Fore！〃
It was the warning cry from the first tee to clear the course for the start
of the cup…winners' match。 In anticipation of some remarkable playing；
an unusually large gallery would follow the contestants around。 The best
caddies had been selected； clubs had been looked to with care and tested；
new balls were got out； and there was much subdued excitement； as
befitted the occasion。
Mr。 Carwell； his always flushed face perhaps a trifle more like a mild
sunset than ever； strolled to the first tee。 He swung his driver with
freedom and ease to make sure it was the one that best suited him； and
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then turned to Major Wardell； his chief rival。 〃Do you want to take any
more？〃 he asked meaningly。
〃No； thank you；〃 was the laughing response。 〃I've got all I can carry。
Not that I'm going to let you beat me； but I'm always a stroke or two off in
my play when the sun's too bright； as it is now。 However； I'm not
crawling。〃
〃You'd better not ！〃 declared his rival。 As for me； the brighter the sun
the better I like it。 Well； are we all ready？〃
The officials held a last consultation and announced that play might
start。 Mr。 Carwell was to lead。
The first hole was not the longest in the course；but to place one's ball
on fair ground meant driving very surely； and for a longer distance than
most players liked to think about。 Also a short distance from the tee was
a deep ravine； and unless one cleared that it was a handicap hard to
overcome。
Mr。 Carwell made his little tee of sand with care； and placed the ball
on the apex。 Then he took his place and glanced back for a moment to
where Viola stood between Captain Poland and Harry Bartlett。
Something like a little frown gathered on the face of Horace Carwell as he
noted the presence of Bartlett； but it pas
