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Tighe； to give her one of her names； associates herself with some men。
They arrange to have a set of some books … usually well known enough
and of a certain value … bound in expensive leather … full morocco … hand
tooled and all that。 They call on rich men and women； and induce them
to buy the expensive and rare set； of which they say there is only one or
two on the market。
〃Sometimes the sales are straight enough … particularly where women
are the buyers … but the books； even if delivered； are not worth anything
like the price paid。
〃But； in the case of wealthy men the game is different。〃
〃Different？〃
〃Yes； particularly where a woman like Morocco Kate is the agent。
They are not satisfied with the enormous profit made on selling a common
edition of books； falsely dressed in a garish binding； but they endeavor to
compromise the man in some business or social way； and then threaten to
expose him unless he pays a large sum； … ostensibly； of course； for the
books。
〃Morocco Kate； who called on you； has more than one killing to her
credit in this game； and she has managed to keep out of jail because her
victims were afraid of the publicity of prosecuting。 And it was so foolish
of them for； in most cases； it was just mere foolishness on their part； and
nothing criminally； or even morally； wrong； though they may have been
indiscreet。〃
〃And you think my father … 〃
I don't know anything about it； Viola； my dear！〃 was the prompt
answer。 〃Your father may have dealt in a legitimate way with this woman；
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buying books from her because she cajoled him into it； though he could
have done much better with any reputable house。 As I say； he may have
simply bought some books from her； and not have made the final
payments on account of his death。 Whether the contract he entered into
is binding or not I can't say until I have seen it。〃
〃But I found nothing about books among his papers！〃
〃No？ Then perhaps it was a verbal contract。 Or he may have been …
〃 The colonel stopped。 Viola guessed what he intended to say。
〃Do you think he was … Do you think this woman may make
trouble？〃 she asked bravely。
〃I don't know。 We must find out more about her。 If she comes again；
hold her and send for me。 I didn't want her to see me to…day to know that
I was on this case。 But I don't mind now。〃
〃Oh； suppose there should be some … some disgrace？〃
〃Don't worry about that； Viola。 But now； I have some rather startling
news for you。〃
Oh； more … 〃
〃Not exactly trouble。 But Captain Poland has gone away … his place
is closed。〃
〃The captain gone away！〃 faltered the girl。
〃Yes。 I wondered if you knew he was going。 Did he intimate to you
anything of the kind？〃
The colonel watched Viola narrowly as he asked this question。
〃No； I never knew he contemplated ending the season here so early；〃
Viola said。 〃Usually he is the last to go； staying until late in October。 Is
there anything … 〃
〃That is all I know … he is gone；〃 said the detective。 〃I wanted to ask
him about that fifteen…thousand…dollar matter； but I shall have to write； I
suppose。 And the sooner I get the letter off the better。〃
〃Please write it here；〃 suggested Viola； indicating the table where pens；
ink and stationery were always kept。 〃I am going to look again among
the papers of the private safe to see if there was anything about books …
the Arabian Nights； she said it was。〃
〃Yes； that's her favorite set。 But don't worry； my dear。 Everything
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will come out all right。〃
And as Viola left him alone in the library； the detective added to
himself：
〃I wonder if it will？〃
Colonel Ashley wrote a brief； business…like letter to Captain Poland；
addressing it to his summer home at Lakeside； arguing that the yachtsman
would have left some forwarding address。
Then； lighting a cigar； the colonel sat back in a deep； leather chair …
the same one Morocco Kate had sat in and perfumed … and mused。
〃There are getting to be too many angles to this；〃 he reflected。 〃I
need a little help。 Guess I'll send for Jack Young。 He'll be just the chap
to look after Jean and follow that French dope artist to his new place；
provided he leaves here suddenly。 Yes； I need Jack。〃
And having telephoned a telegram； summoning from New York one of
his most trusted lieutenants； Colonel Ashley refreshed himself by reading
a little in the 〃Compleat Angler。〃
Jack Young appeared at Lakeside the next day； well dressed； good
looking； a typical summer man of pleasing address。
〃Another diamond cross mystery？〃 he asked the colonel。
〃How is your golf？〃 was the unexpected answer。
〃Oh； I guess I can manage to drive without topping；〃 was the ready
answer。 〃Have I got to play？〃
〃It might be well。 I'll get you a visitor's card at the Maraposa Club
here； and you can hang around the links and see what you can pick up
besides stray balls。 Now I'll tell you the history of the case up to the
present。〃
And Jack Young； having heard； and having consumed as many
cigarettes as he considered the subject warranted； remarked：
〃All right。 Get me a bag of clubs； and I'll see what I can do。 So you
want me to pay particular attention to this dope fiend？〃
〃Yes； if he proves to be one； and I think he will。 I'll have my hands
full with Blossom； Morocco Kate and some others。〃
〃What about Poland and Bartlett？〃
〃Well； Harry is still held； but I imagine he'll be released soon； Jack。〃
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〃Nothing on him？〃
〃I wouldn't go so far as to say that。 You know my rule。 Believe no
one innocent until proved not guilty。 I can keep my eye on him。
Besides； he's pretty well anchored。〃
〃You mean by Miss Viola？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃How about the captain？〃
〃He's a puzzle； at present。 But I wish you'd find out if that chauffeur
has a girl。 That's the best way to do； or undo； a man that I know of。 Find
out if he has a girl。 That'll be your trick。〃
〃All right … that and golf。 I'm ready。〃
And Jack Young worked to such good advantage that three days later
he had a pretty complete report ready for his chief。
〃Jean Forette has a girl；〃 said Jack； 〃and she's a little beauty； too。 Mazi
Rochette is her name。 She's a maid in one of the swell families here； and
she's dead gone on our friend Jean。 I managed to get a talk with her； and
she thinks he's going to marry her as soon as he gets another place。 A
better place than with the Carwells； she says he must have。 This place
was pretty much on the blink； she confided to me。〃
〃Or words to that effect；〃 laughed the colonel。
〃Exactly。 I'm not much on the French； you know。 Still I got along
pretty well with her。 She took a notion to me。〃
〃I thought you might be able to get something in that direction；〃 said
the colonel with a smile。 〃Did you learn where Jean was just prior to the
golf game which was the last Mr。 Carwell played？〃
〃Yes； he was with her； the girl says； and she didn't know why I was
asking； either； I flatter myself。 I led around to it in a neat way。 He was
with her until just before he drove Mr。 Carwell to the links。 In fact； Jean
had the girl out for a spin in the new car； she says。 She's afraid of it；
though。 Revolutionary devil； she calls it。〃
〃Hum！ If Jean was with her just before he picked up Carwell to go to
the game … well； the thing is turning out a bit different from what I
expected。 Jack； we still have plenty of work before us。 Did I tell you
Morocco Kate was mixed up in this？〃
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