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〃Had he an object？ What was the quarrel about； concerning which he
refuses to speak？ Why is Viola so sure Harry could not have done it？ I
think I can see a reason for the last。 She loves him as much as he does
her。 That's natural。 She's a sweet girl！〃
And； being unable to decide definitely as to the status of Harry Bartlett；
Colonel Ashley mentally passed that card in his file and took up another；
bearing the name Captain Gerry Poland。
〃Could he have had an object in getting Horace Carxvell out of the
way？〃 mused the detective。 〃At first thought I'd say he could not； and；
just because I would say so； I must keep him on my list。 He also is in
love with Viola； … just as much as Bartlett is。 I shall list Captain Poland
as a remote possibility。 I can't afford to eliminate him altogether； as it
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may develop that Mr。 Carwell objected to his paying his attentions to
Viola。 Well； we shall see。〃
The next mental index card bore the name Jean Forette； and
concerning him Colonel Ashley had secured some information the day
before。 He had got； by adroit questioning； a certain knowledge of the
French chauffeur； and this was now spread out on the card that； in fancy；
Colonel Ashley could see in his filing cabinet。
〃Forette？ Oh； yes； I know him；〃 the mechanician of the best garage
in Lakeside had told the detective。 〃He's a good driver； and knows more
about an ignition system than I ever shall。 He's a shark at it。 But he's a
queer Dick。〃
〃How do you mean？〃
〃Well； sometimes he's a regular devil at driving。 Once he had a big
Rilat car in here for repairs。 He had to tell me what was wrong with it； as
I couldn't dope it out。 Then when we got it running for him； he took it
out for a trial run on the road。 Drive！ Say； it's a wonder I have any hair
on my head！〃
〃Did he go fast？〃
〃Fast？ Say； a racing man had nothing on that Forette。 And yet the
next day； when he came to take the car away； after we'd charged the
storage battery； he drove like a snail。 One of my men went with him a
little way； to see that everything was all right； for Mr。 Carwell is very
particular … I mean he was … and Forette didn't let her out for a cent My
man was disappointed； for he's a fast devil； too； and he asked the
Frenchman why he didn't kick her along。〃
〃What did the chauffeur say？〃
〃Well； it wasn't so much what he said as how he acted。 He was as
nervous as a cat。 Kept looking behind to see that no other machine was
coming； and when he passed anything on the road he almost went in the
ditch himself to make sure there was room enough to pass。〃
〃Seemed afraid； did he？〃
〃That's it。 And considering how bold he was the day I was out with
him； I put it down that he must have had a few drinks when he took me for
a 〃Well； I never saw him； but how else can you account for it？ Drink will
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make a man drive like old Nick； and get away with it； too； sometimes；
though the stuff'll get ‘em sooner or later。 But that's how I sized it up。〃
〃He might have taken something other than drink。〃
〃What do you mean？〃
〃Dope！〃
〃Oh； yes； I s'pose so； and him bein' French might account for it。
Anyhow he was like two different men。 That one day he was as bold as
brass； and I guess he'd have driven one of them there airships if any one
had dared him to。 Then； the next day he was like a chap trying for his
license with the motor inspector lookin' on。 I can't account for it。 That
Jean Forette sure is a card ！〃
〃Then he really seemed afraid to speed the Dilat car？〃
〃That's it。 And he spoke of Mr。 Carwell going to get a more powerful
French machine。 He said then he'd never driven it to the limit； and didn't
want to handle it at all。 And he spoke the truth； for I heard that he and
the old man didn't get along at all with that red； white and blue devil Mr。
Carwell imported。〃
〃So they say。 Forette was to leave at the end of the month。 Well；
I'm much obliged to you。 A friend of mine was going to engage him； but
if he has such a reputation … not reliable； you know； I guess I'll look farther。
Much obliged；〃 and the colonel； who； it is needless to say； had not
revealed his true character to the garage owner； turned aside。
〃Oh； I wouldn't want what I said to keep Forette out of a place！〃
protested the man quickly。 〃If I'd thought that … 〃
〃You needn't worry。 You haven't done him any harm。 He's out of a
place anyhow； since Mr。 Carwell died； and I'll treat what you told me in
strict confidence。〃
〃I wish you would。 You know we have to be careful。〃
〃I understand。〃
And this information passed again in review before the mind of the
fisherman as he took Jean Forette's card from the pack。
〃I wonder if he can be a dope fiend？〃 mused the colonel。 〃It's worth
looking up； at any rate。 He'd be a bad kind to drive a car。 I'm glad he
isn't in my employ； and I'm better pleased that he won't take Viola out。
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This dope … bad stuff； whether it's morphine； cocaine； or something else。
We'll just keep this card up in front where we can get at it easily。〃
The next mental card had on it the name of LeGrand Blossom。
〃Curious chap； him；〃 mused the detective。 〃He's very fond of the
sound of his own voice； particularly where he can get an audience； as he
had at the inquest。 Well； I don't know anything about you； Mr。 Blossom；
neither for nor against you； but I'll keep your card within reach； also。 Can't
neglect any possibilities in cases like this。 And now for some others。〃
There were many cards in the colonel's index； and he ran rapidly over
them as he waited for a bite。 They bore the names of many members of
the golf and yachting clubs of which Mr。 Carwell had been a member。
There were also the names of the household servants； and the dead man's
nearest relatives； including his sister and Viola。 But the colonel did not
linger long over any of these memoranda。 The card of Viola Carwell；
however； had mentally penciled on it the somewhat mystic symbol 58 C。
H。 … i6i* and this the colonel looked at from every angle。
〃I really must get a book on chemistry；〃 he mused。 〃I may need it to
find out what kind of dope Forette uses … if he takes any。〃
And thus the colonel sat in the shade； beside the quiet stream； the little
green book by his side。 But he did not open it now； and though his gaze
was on his line； where it cut the water in a little swirl； he did not seem to
see it。
〃Shag！〃 suddenly exclaimed the colonel； breaking a stillness that was
little short of idyllic。
〃Yes； sah； Colonel！ Yes； sah！〃 and the colored man awoke with a
skill perfected by long practice under similar circumstances。
〃Shag； the fishing here is miserable！〃
〃Yes； sah； Colonel。 Shall we…all move？〃
〃Might as well。 I haven't had a nibble； and from the looks of
everything … even the evidence of Mr。 Walton himself … it ought to have
been a most choice location。 However； there will be other days； and … 〃
The colonel's voice was cut short by a shrill call from his delicate reel；
and a moment later he had leaped to his feet and cried：
〃Shag； I'm a most monumental liar！〃
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〃Yes； sah； Colonel。 Dat's whut yo' suah is ！〃
〃I've got the biggest bite I ever had！ Get that landing net and see if
you can forget that you're a cross between a snail and a mud turtle！〃 cried