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practiced and sensitive hands。
A moment later the reel clicked its song of a strike； and the colonel got
first to his knees and then to his feet as he prepared to play his fish。
〃I've hooked one； Shag ！〃 he called in a low but tense voice。 〃I've
hooked one； and I think it's a beauty！〃
〃Yes； sah； Colonel！ Yes； sah！ Dat's fine！ I'll be ready as soon as
yo' is！〃
Shag caught up a landing net； for； though the colonel was not
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THE GOLF COURSE MYSTERY
anticipating any gamy fish in this quiet； country stream； yet for such as he
caught he used such light tackle that a net was needed to bring even a
humble perch to shore。
〃I've got him； Shag！ I've got him！〃 the colonel cried； as the fish
broke water； a shimmering shower of sparkling drops falling from his
sides。 〃I've got him； and it's a bass； too！ I didn't think there were any
here！ I've got him ！〃
〃Yes； sah； Colonel！ Yo' suah has ！〃 exclaimed the delighted George
Washington Shag。 〃You suah has got a beauty！〃
And as Shag started forward with the landing net； while the colonel
was playing with the skill of long years of practice the fish which had
developed unexpected fighting powers； there was a movement among the
bushes that lined the stream below the willows； and a young man； showing
every evidence of eagerness； advanced toward the fisherman。 Shag saw
him and called：
〃Keep back！ Keep back； sah； if yo' please！ De Colonel； he's done got a
bite； an' … 〃
〃Bite！ You mean that something's bitten him？〃 asked the young man；
for he could not see the figure of the colonel； who； just then； in allowing
the bass to have a run； had followed him up stream。
〃No； he's catchin' a fish … he's got a strike … a big one！ Don't isturb
him。〃
〃But I must see him。 I've come a long distance to … 〃
〃Distance or closeness don't make no mattah of diffunce to de colonel
when he's got a bite； sah！ I'm sorry； but I can't let yo' go any closer； an'
I'se got to go an' land de fish。 Aftah dat； if you wants to hab a word wif
de colonel； well； maybe he'll see yo'； sah；〃 and Shag； with a warning
gesture； like that of a traffic policeman halting a line of automobiles；
started toward the colonel； who was still playing his fish。
Harry Bartlett； for he it was who had thus somewhat rudely interrupted
the detective's fishing； stopped in the shade of the willows； somewhat
chagrined。 He had come a long way for a talk； and now to be thus held
back by a colored man who seemed to have no idea of the importance of
the mission was provoking。
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THE GOLF COURSE MYSTERY
But there was something authoritative in Shag's manner； and； being a
business man； Harry Bartlett knew better than to make an inauspicious
approach。 It would be as bad as slicing his golf ball on the drive。
So he waited beside the silent stream； not so silent as it had been； for it
was disturbed by the movements； up and down； of Colonel Ashley； who
was playing his fish with consummate skill。
Seeing a little green book on the grass where it had fallen； Harry
Bartlett picked it up。 Idly opening the pages； he read：
〃There is also a fish called a sticklebag； a fish without scales；
but he hath his body fenced with several prickles。 I know not
where he dwells in winter； nor what he is good for in summer； but
only to make sport for boys and women anglers； and to feed other
fish that be fish of prey； as trout in particular； who will bite at him as
at a penk； and better； if your hook be rightly baited with him； for he
may be so baited； as； his tail turning like a sail of a windmill； will
make him turn more quick than any penk or minnow can。〃
〃I guess I've got the right man；〃 said Harry Bartlett with a smile。
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THE GOLF COURSE MYSTERY
CHAPTER VII
THE INQUEST
〃Ready； now； Shag！ Ready！〃 called Colonel Ashley； in tense tones。
〃Ready with the net！〃
〃Yes； sah！ All ready！〃
〃I've got him about ready for you！ And he's better than I thought ！〃
〃Yes； sah； Colonel！ I won't miss！〃
〃If you do you may look for another place！〃 At this dire threat Shag
turned as white as he would ever become； and took a firmer grip on the
〃Ready now； Shag ！〃 called the colonel； at the same time directing his
helper to come down the bank toward a little pool whither he was leading
the now well…played fish。 〃Ready！〃
Shag did not speak； but while the colonel slowly reeled in and the tip
of the slender pole bent like a bow； he slipped the net into the water； under
the fish； and； a moment later； had it out on the grass。
〃There！〃 exclaimed the famous detective； with a sigh of relief。
〃There he is； and as fine a fish as I've ever landed in these parts！ Now；
Shag … 〃
But there came an interruption。 Reasoning that now was a most
propitious time to make his appeal； Harry Bartlett advanced to where the
colonel and Shag were bending over the panting bass。 As the detective；
with a smart blow back of its head； put his catch out of misery； Bartlett
spoke。
〃Excuse me；〃 he said； deferentially enough； for he saw the type of man
with whom he had to deal； 〃but are you not Colonel Ashley？〃
〃I am； sir！〃 and the colonel looked up as he slipped the fish into his
grass…lined creel。
〃I am Mr。 Bartlett。 I followed you here from New York； and I wish to
… 〃
〃If it's anything about business； Mr。 Bartlett； let me save your time and
my own … both valuable； I take it … by stating that I came here to fish； and
not to talk business。 Excuse me for putting it thus bluntly； but I see no
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THE GOLF COURSE MYSTERY
reason for many words。 I can not consider any business。 That is all
attended to at my New York office； and I am surprised that they should
even have given you my address。 I told them not to。〃
〃It was no easy matter to get it； Colonel； I assure you；〃 and … Bartlett
smiled genially。 〃And please don't blame any one in your office for
disclosing your whereabouts。 I did not get your address from them； I
assure you。〃
〃From whom； then； if I may ask？〃
〃From Spotty。〃 And again Bartlett smiled。
〃What？ Spotty Morgan ？〃 〃Yes。〃
〃Are you … do you know him？〃 and the detective could not keep the
interest out of his voice。
〃Rather well。 I saved him from drowning once some years ago； and
he hasn't forgotten it。 It was at a summer resort； and Spotty； though he is
a good swimmer； didn't estimate the force of the undertow。 I pulled him
out just in time。〃
〃Strange；〃 murmured the colonel。 〃A strange coincidence。〃
〃I beg pardon；〃 said Harry politely。
〃Oh； nothing；〃 went on the detective。 〃Only； as it happens； Spotty
saved my life some time ago。 It's just a coincidence； that's all。 So Spotty
gave you my address； did he？〃
〃Yes。 I had called at your New York office； and； as you say； your
clerks had orders not to disclose your whereabouts。 I used every cajolery
and device of which I was master； but it was no avail。 I urged the
importance it was to myself and others to know where you were； but they
were obdurate。 I was coming out； much disappointed； when I saw Spotty
emerging from an inner office。 He knew me at once； though it is years
since we met； and going down in the elevator I mentioned that I was
looking for you。 I told him something of the reason for wanting to find
you and … Well； he told me you were