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〃It doesn't interest me a bit； Bruce ！〃 laughed Sharwell。 〃And to
prevent you getting any more of those statistics out of your system；
come on over and we'll do a little precipitating on our own account。 I can
stand another Bronx cocktail。〃
〃I'm with you！ But； speaking of statistics； did you know that from the
national forests of the United States in the last year there was cut
840；612；030 board feet of lumber？ What the thirty feet were for I don't
know； but … 〃
〃And I don't care to know；〃 interrupted Tom。 〃If you spring any more
of those beastly dry figures … Say； there comes something that does interest
me； though！〃 he broke in with。 〃Look at those cars take that turn ！〃
〃Some speed；〃 murmured Garrigan。 〃It's Bartlett and Poland；〃 he
went on； as a shift of wind blew the dust to one side and revealed the gray
roadster and the Spanish Omelet。 〃The rivals are at it again。〃
Bruce Garrigan； who had a name among the golf club members as a
human encyclopaedia； and who； at times； would inform his companions on
almost any subject that chanced to come uppermost； tossed away his
cigarette and； with Tom Sharwell； watched the oncoming automobile
racers。
〃They're rivals in more ways than one；〃 remarked Sharwell。 〃And it
looks； now； as though the captain rather had the edge on Harry； in spite of
the fast color of Harry's car。〃
〃That's right；〃 admitted Garrigan。 〃Is it true what I've heard about
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THE GOLF COURSE MYSTERY
both of them…that each hopes to place the diamond hoop of proprietorship
on the fair Viola？〃
〃I guess if you've heard that they're both trying for her； it's true
enough；〃 answered Sharwell。 〃And it also happens； if that old lady； Mrs。
G。 0。 5。 Sipp； is to be believed； that there； also； the captain has the
advantage。〃
〃How's that？ I thought Harry had made a tidy sum on that ship…
building project he put through。〃
〃He did； but it seems that he and his family have a penchant for doing
that sort of thing； and； some years ago； in one of the big mergers in which
his family took a prominent part； they； or some one connected with them；
pinched the Honorable Horace Carwell so that he squealed for mercy like
a lamb led to the Wall street slaughter house。〃
〃So that's the game； is it？〃
〃Yes。 And ever since then； though Viola Carwell has been just as
nice to Harry as she has to Gerry … as far as any one can tell…there has been
talk that Harry is persona non grata as far as her father goes。 He never
forgives any business beat； I understand。〃
〃Was it anything serious？〃 asked Garrigan； as they watched the racing
automobiles swing around the turn of the road that led to the clubhouse。
〃I don't know the particulars。 It was before my time … I mean before I
paid much attention to business。〃
〃Rot！ You don't now。 You only think you do。 But I'm interested。
I expect to have some business dealing with Carwell myself； and if I could
get a line … 〃
〃Sorry； but I can't help you out； old man。 Better see Harry。 He
knows the whole story； and he insists that it was all straight on his
relatives' part。 But it's like shaking a mince pie at a Thanksgiving turkey
to mention the matter to Carwell。 He hasn't gone so far as to forbid
Harry the house； but there's a bit of coldness just the same。〃
〃I see。 And that's why the captain has the inside edge on the love
game。 Well； Miss Carwell has a mind of her own； I fancy。〃
〃Indeed she has！ She's more like her mother used to be。 I
remember Mrs。 Carwell when I was a boy。 She was a dear； somewhat
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THE GOLF COURSE MYSTERY
conventional lady。 How she ever came to take up with the sporty Horace；
or he with her； was a seven…days' wonder。 But they lived happily； I
believe。〃
〃Then Mrs。 Carwell is dead？〃
〃Oh； yes…some years。 Mr。 Carwell's sister； Miss Mary； keeps The
Haven up to date for him。 You've been there？〃
〃Once； at a reception。 I'm not on the regular calling list； though Miss
Viola is pretty enough to … 〃
〃Look out ！〃 suddenly cried Sharwell； as though appealing to the two
automobilists； far off as they were。 For the yellow car made a sudden
swerve and seemed about to turn turtle。
But Bartlett skillfully brought the Spanish Omelet back on the road
again； and swung up alongside his rival for the home stretch…the broad
highway that ran in front of the clubhouse。
The players who were soon to start out on the links； the guests； the
gallery； and the servants gathered to see the finish of the impromptu race；
murmurs arising as it was seen how close it was likely to be。 And close it
was； for when the two machines； with doleful whinings of brakes； came to
a stop in front of the house； the front wheels were in such perfect
alignment that there was scarcely an inch of difference。
〃A dead heat ！〃 exclaimed Bartlett； as he leaped out and motioned for
one of the servants to take the car around to the garage。
〃Yes； you win ！〃 agreed Captain Poland； as he pushed his goggles back
on his cap。 He held out a bill。
〃What's it for？〃 asked Bartlett； drawing back。
〃Why； I put up a ten spot that I'd beat you。 I didn't； and you win。〃
〃Buy drinks with your money！〃 laughed Bartlett。 〃The race was to be
for a finish； not a dead heat。 We'll try it again； sometime。〃
〃All right…any time you like！〃 said the captain crisply； as he sat down
at a table after greeting some friends。 〃But you won't refuse to split a
quart with me？〃
〃No。 My throat is as dusty as a vacuum cleaner。 Have any of the
matches started yet； Bruce？〃 he asked； turning to the Human
Encyclopedia。
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THE GOLF COURSE MYSTERY
〃Only some of the novices。 And； speaking of novices； do you know
that in Scotland there are fourteen thousand； seven hundred … 〃
〃Cut it； Bruce！ Cut it ！〃 begged the captain。 〃Sit in … you and Tom …
and we'll make it two bottles。 Anything to choke off your flow of useless
statistics！〃 and he laughed good…naturedly。
〃When does the cup…winners' match start？〃 asked Bartlett； as the four
young men sat about the table under the veranda。 〃That's the one I'm
interested in。〃
〃In about an hour；〃 announced Sharwell； as he consulted a card。
〃Hardly any of the veterans are here yet。〃
〃Has Mr。 Carwell arrived？〃 asked Captain Poland； as he raised his
glass and seemed to be studying the bubbles that spiraled upward from the
hollow stem。
〃You'll know when he gets here；〃 answered Bruce Garrigan。
〃How so？〃 asked the captain。 〃Does he have an official announcer？〃
〃No； but you'll hear his car before you see it。〃
〃New horn？〃
〃No； new car…new color…new everything！〃 said Garrigan。 〃He's just
bought a new ten thousand dollar French car； and it's painted red； white
and blue； and…〃
〃Red； white and blue？〃 chorused the other three men。
〃Yes。 Very patriotic。 His friends don't know whether he's honoring
Uncle Sam or the French Republic。 However； it's all the same。 His car
is a wonder。〃
〃I must have a brush with him ！〃 murmured Captain Poland。
〃Don't。 You'll lose out；〃 advised Garrigan。 〃It can do eighty on
fourth speed； and Carwell is sporty enough to slip it into that gear if he
needed to。〃
〃Um！ Guess I'll wait until I get my new machine； then；〃 decided the
captain。
There was more talk； but Bartlett gradually dropped out of the
conversation and went to walk about the club grounds。