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Gerry Poland。 He caught sight of her； and waved his hand。
〃Oh； dear！〃 exclaimed Viola。 〃If he hadn't seen me I could have said
I was not at home； but now … 〃
She heard his ring at the door and resigned herself to meeting him； but
if the captain had not been so much in love with Viola Carwell he could
not have helped noticing her rather cold greeting。
〃I called；〃 he said； 〃to see if there was anything more I could do for
you or for your aunt。 I saw Blossom； and he says he is working over the
books。 I've had a good deal of experience in helping settle up estates that
were involved。 I mean … 〃 he added hastily … 〃where no will was left； and；
my dear Viola； if I could be of any assistance … 〃
〃Thank you；〃 broke in Viola rather coldly； 〃I don't know that there is
anything you can do。 It is very kind of you； but Mr。 Blossom has charge
and … 〃
〃Oh； of course I realize that；〃 went on Captain Poland quickly。 〃But I
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thought there might be something。〃
〃There is nothing；〃 and now the yachtsman could not help noticing the
coldness in Viola's voice。 He seemed to nerve himself for an effort as he
said：
〃Viola〃 … he paused a moment before adding … 〃why can't we be friends？
You were decent enough to me some days ago； and now … Have I done
anything … said anything？ I want to be friends with you。 I want to be … 〃
He took a step nearer her； but she drew back。
〃Please don't think； Captain Poland； that I am not appreciative of what
you have done for me；〃 the girl said quickly。 〃But … Oh； I really don't know
what to think。 It has all been so terrible。〃
〃Indeed it has；〃 said the captain； in a low voice。 〃But I would like to
help。〃
〃Then perhaps you can ！〃 suddenly exclaimed Viola； and there was a
new note in her voice。 〃Have you been to see Harry Bartlett in … in jail？〃
and she faltered over that word。
〃No； I have not；〃 said the captain； and there was a sharp tone in his
answer。 〃I understood no one was allowed to see him。〃
〃That is true enough；〃 agreed Viola。 〃They wouldn't let me see him；
and I wanted to … so much。 I presume you know how he comes to be in
prison。〃
〃It isn't exactly a prison。〃
〃To him it is…and to me；〃 she said。 〃But you know how he comes to
be there？〃
〃Yes。 I was present at the inquest。 By the way； they are to resume it
this week； I heard。 The chemists have finished their analyses and are
ready to testify。〃
〃Oh； I didn't know that。〃
〃Yes。 But； speaking of Harry … poor chap … it's terrible； of course； but
he may be able to clear himself。〃
〃Clear himself； Captain Poland？ What do you mean？〃 and indignant
Viola faced her caller。
〃Oh； well； I mean … 〃 He seemed in some confusion。
〃I want to know something；〃 went on Viola。 〃Did you bring it to the
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attention of the coroner or the prosecutor that Harry Bartlett saw my father
just before…before his death； and quarreled with him？ Did you tell that；
Captain Poland？〃
Viola Carwell was like a stem accuser now。
〃Did you？〃 she demanded again。
〃I did；〃 answered Captain Poland； not； however； without an effort。 〃I
felt that it was my duty to do so。 I merely offered it as a suggestion；
however； to one of the prosecutor's detectives。 I didn't think it would
lead to anything。 I happened to hear your father and Harry having some
words…about what I couldn't catch…and I thought it no more than right that
all the facts should be brought out in court。 I made no secret about it。 I
did not send word anonymously to the coroner； as I might have done。 He
knew the source of the information； and he could have called me to the
stand had he so desired。〃
〃Would you have told the same story on the stand？〃
〃I would。 It was the truth。〃
〃Even if it sent him … sent Harry to jail？〃
〃I would … yes。 I felt it was my duty； and … 〃
〃Oh…duty！〃
Viola made a gesture of impatience。
〃So…you…you told； Captain Poland！ That is enough！ Please don't try
to see me again。〃
〃Viola！〃 he pleaded。 〃Please listen … 〃
〃I mean it！〃 she said； sternly。 〃Go！ I never want to see you again！
Oh； to do such a thing！〃
The captain； nonpiussed for a moment； lingered； as though to appeal
from the decision。 Then； without a word； he turned sharply on his heel
and left the room。
Viola sank on a sofa； and gave way to her emotion。
〃It can't be true！ It can't！〃 she sobbed。 〃I won't believe it。 It must
not be true！ Oh； how can I prove otherwise？ But I will！ I must！ Harry
never did that horrible thing； and I will prove it！
〃Why should Captain Poland try to throw suspicion on him？ It isn't
right。 He had no need to tell the detective that！ I must see Colonel
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Ashley at once and tell him what I think。 Oh； Captain Poland； if I … 〃
Viola twisted in her slender hands a sofa cushion； and then threw it
violently from her。
〃I'll see Colonel Ashley at once！〃 she decided。
Inquiry of a maid disclosed the fact that the colonel was still fishing；
and from Patrick； the gardener； she learned that he had gone to try his luck
at a spot in the river at the end of the golf course where Patrick himself
had hooked more than one fish。
〃I'll follow him there；〃 said Viola。 〃I suppose he won't want to be
interrupted while he's fishing； but I can't help it！ I must talk to some one
… tell somebody what I think。〃
She donned a walking skirt and stout shoes； for the way to the river
was rough； and set out。 On the way she thought of many things； and
chiefly of the man pacing his lonely walk back and forth behind windows
that had steel bars on them。
Viola became aware of some one walking toward her as she neared the
bend of the river whither Patrick had directed her； and a second glance
told her it was the faithful Shag。
He bowed with a funny little jerk and took off his cap。
〃Is the colonel there？〃 and she indicated what seemed to be an ideal
fishing place among the willows。
〃He was； Miss Viola； but he done gone now。〃
〃Gone？ Where？ Do you mean back to the house？〃
〃No'm。 He done gone t' N'York。〃
〃New York？〃
〃Yes'm。 On de afternoon train。 He say he may be back t'night； an'
mebby not ‘twell mornin'。〃
〃But New York…and so suddenly！ Why did he go； Shag？〃
〃I don't know all de ‘ticklers； Miss Viola； but I heah him say he got t'
git a book on poisons。〃
〃A book on poisons？〃 and Viola started。
〃Yes'm。 He done want one fo' de case he's wukin' on； an' he can't git
none at de library； so he go to N'York after one。 I'se bringin' back his
tackle。 De fish didn't bite nohow； so he went away； de colonel did。〃
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〃Oh！〃
Viola stood irresolute a moment； and then turned back toward the
house； Shag walking beside her。
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CHAPTER XIV
THE PRIVATE SAFE
Divided as she was among several opinions； torn by doubts and
sufferings from grief； Viola Carwell found distinct relief in a message that
awaited her on her return to the house after her failure to find Colonel
Ashley。 The message； given her by a maid； was to the effect：
〃The safe man has come。〃
〃The who？〃 asked Viola； not at first understanding。
〃The safe man。 He said you sent for him to open a safe and … 〃
〃Oh； yes； I understand； Jane。 Where is he？〃
〃In the library； Miss Viola。〃
Viola hastened to the room