the golf course mystery(高尔夫教程)-第5部分
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noted the presence of Bartlett； but it passed almost at once。
〃Well； here goes； ladies and gentlemen！〃 exclaimed Mr。 Carwell in
rather loud tones and with a free and easy manner he did not often assume。
〃Here's where I bring home the bacon and make my friend； the major； eat
humble pie。〃
Viola flushed。 It was not like her father to thus boast。 On the
contrary he was usually what the Scotch call a 〃canny〃 player。 He never
predicted that he was going to win； except； perhaps； to his close friends。
But he was now boasting like the veriest schoolboy。
〃Here I go！〃 he exclaimed again； and then he swung at the ball with
his well…known skill。
It was a marvelous drive； and the murmurs of approbation that greeted
it seemed to please Mr。 Carwell。
〃Let's see anybody beat that！〃 he cried as he stepped off the tee to give
place to Major Wardell。
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THE GOLF COURSE MYSTERY
Mr。 Carwell's white ball had sailed well up on the putting green of the
first hole； a shot seldom made at Maraposa。
〃A few more strokes like that and he'll win the match；〃 murmured
Bartlett。
〃And when he does； don't forget what I told you；〃 whispered Viola to
him。
He found her hand； hidden at her side in the folds of her dress； and
pressed it。 She smiled up at him； and then they watched the major swing
at his ball。
〃It's going to be a corking match；〃 murmured more than one member
of the gallery； as they followed the players down the field。
〃If any one asked me； I should say that Carwell had taken just a little
too much champagne to make his strokes true toward the last hole；〃 said
Tom Sharwell to Bruce Garrigan。
〃Perhaps；〃 was the admission。 〃But I'd like to see him win。 And；
for the sake of saying something； let me inform you that in Africa last year
there were used in nose rings alone for the natives seventeen thousand four
hundred and twenty…one pounds of copper wire。 While for anklets … 〃
〃I'll buy you a drink if you chop it off short！〃 offered Sharwell。
〃Taken ！〃 exclaimed Garrigan； with a grin。
The cup play went on； the four contestants being well matched； and
the shots duly applauded from hole to hole。
The turn was made and the homeward course began； with the
excitement increasing as it was seen that there would be the closest
possible finish； between the major and Mr。 Carwell at least。
〃What's the row over there？〃 asked Bartlett suddenly； as he walked
along with Viola and Captain Poland。
〃Where？〃 inquired the captain。
〃Among those autos。 Looks as if one was on fire。〃
〃It does；〃 agreed Viola。 〃But I can see our patriotic palfrey； so I
guess it's all right。 There are enough people over there； anyhow。 But it
issomething！〃
There was a dense cloud of smoke hovering over the place where
some of the many automobiles were parked at one corner of the course。
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THE GOLF COURSE MYSTERY
Still it might be some one starting his machine； with too much oil being
burned in the cylinders。
〃Now for the last hole！〃 exulted Mr。 Carwell； as they approached the
eighteenth。 〃I've got you two strokes now； Major； and I'll have you
fourby the end of the match。〃
〃I'm not so sure of that；〃 was the laughing and good…natured reply。
There was silence in the gallery while the players made ready for the
last hole。
There was a sharp impact as Mr。 Carwell's driver struck the little white
ball and sent it sailing in a graceful curve well toward the last hole。
〃A marvelous shot！〃 exclaimed Captain Poland。 〃On the green again！
Another like that and he'll win the game！〃
〃And I can do it； too！〃 boasted Carwell； who overheard what was said。
The others drove off in turn； and the play reached the final stage of
putting。 Viola turned as though to go over and see what the trouble was
among the automobiles。 She looked back as she saw her father stoop to
send the ball into the little depressed cup。 She felt sure that he would win；
for she had kept a record of his strokes and those of his opponents。 The
game was all but over。
〃I wonder if there can be anything the matter with our car？〃 mused
Viola； as she saw the smoke growing denser。 〃Dad's won； so I'm going
over to see。 Perhaps that chauffeur … 〃
She did not finish the sentence。 She turned to look back at her father
once more； and saw him make the putt that won the game at the last hole。
Then； to her horror she saw him reel； throw up his hands； and fall heavily
in a heap； while startled cries reached her ears。
〃Oh！ Oh！ What has happened？〃 she exclaimed； and deadly fear
clutched at her heart … and not without good cause。
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THE GOLF COURSE MYSTERY
CHAPTER II
THE NINETEENTH HOLE
For several seconds after Mr。 Carwell fell so heavily on the putting
green； having completed the last stroke that sent the white ball into the cup
and made him club champion； there was not a stir among the other players
grouped about him； nor did the gallery； grouped some distance back； rush
up。 The most natural thought； and one that was in the minds of the
majority； was that the clubman had overbalanced himself in making his
stance for the putt shot； and had fallen。 There was even a little
thoughtless laughter from some in the gallery。 But it was almost
instantly hushed； for it needed but a second glance to tell that something
more serious than a simple fall had occurred。
Or if it was a fall caused by an unsteady position； taken when he made
his last shot； it had been such a heavy one that Mr。 Carwell was overlong
in recovering from it。 He remained in a huddled heap on the short…
cropped； velvety turf of the putting green。
Then the murmurs of wonder came； surging from many throats； and
the friends of Mr。 Carwell closed around to help him to his feet…to render
what aid was needed。 Among them were Captain Poland and Harry
Bartlett； and as the latter stepped forward he glanced up； for an instant； at
the blue sky。
Far above the Maraposa golf links circled a lone osprey on its way to
the inlet or ocean。 Rather idly Bartlett wondered if it was the same one
he and Captain Poland had seen dart down and kill the fish just before the
beginning of the big match。
〃What's the matter； Horace？ Sun too much for you ？〃 asked Major
Wardell； as he leaned over his friend and rival。 〃It is a bit hot； I feel it
myself。 But I didn't think it would knock you out。 Or are you done up
because you beat me？ Come … 〃
He ceased his rather railing talk； and a look came over his face that
told those near him something serious had happened。 There was a rush
toward the prostrate man。
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THE GOLF COURSE MYSTERY
〃Keep back； please！〃 exclaimed the major。 〃He seems to have fainted。
He needs air。 Is Dr。 Rowland here？ I thought I saw him at the
clubhouse a while ago。 Some one get him； please。 If not … 〃
〃I'll get him ！〃 some one offered
〃Here； give him a sip of this … it's brandy！〃 and an automobilist； who
had come across the links from the nearest point to the highway； offered
his flask。
The major unscrewed the silver top； which formed a tiny cup； and tried
to let some of the potent liquor trickle between the purplish lips of the
unconscious victor in the cup…winners' match。 But more of the liquid
was spilled on his face and neck than went into his mouth。 The air
reeked with the odor of it。
〃What has happened？ Is he hurt？〃 gasped Viola； who made her way
through the press of people； which opened for her； till she stood close
beside her father。 〃What is it？ Oh； is he … ？〃
〃He fell；〃 some one said。
〃Just as he made his winning stroke；〃 added another。
〃Oh！〃 and Viola herself reeled unsteadily。
〃It's all right；〃 a voice said in her ear； and though it was in the ordinary
tones of Captain Poland； to the alarmed girl it seemed as though it came
from the distant peaks of the hills。 〃He'll be all right presently；〃 went on
the captain； as he supported Viola and led her out of the throng。
〃It's just a touch of the sun； I fancy。 They've gone for a doctor。〃
〃Oh； but； Captain Poland … father was never like this before … he was
always so strong and well … I never knew him to complain of the heat。 And
as for fainting … why I believe I almost did it myself； just now； didn't I？〃
〃Almost； yes。〃
〃But father never did。 Oh； I must go to him ！〃
She struggled a little and moved away
