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〃You're as solemn as though every railroad stock listed had dropped ten
points just after you bought it。〃
〃No；it isn't quite as bad as that；〃 he said； as he fell into step beside her；
and they strolled off onone of the less…frequented walks。
〃I thought everything was going so well with you。 Has there been
any hitch in the partnership arrangement？〃 asked Minnie。
〃No； not exactly。〃
〃Have you lost money？〃
〃No； I can't say that I have。〃
〃Then for goodness' sake what is it？ Do I have to pump you like a
newspaper reporter？〃 and Minnie Webb laughed； showing a perfect set of
teeth that contrasted well against the dark red and tan of her cheeks。
〃Oh； I don't know that it's anything much；〃 replied LeGrand Blossom。
〃It's something！〃 insisted Minnie。
〃Well； yes； it is。 And as it'll come out； sooner or later； I might as well
tell you now；〃 he said； with rather an air of desperation； and as though
driven to it。 〃Have you heard any rumors that Mr。 Carwell is in financial
difficulties？〃
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THE GOLF COURSE MYSTERY
〃Why； no！ The idea！ I always thought he had plenty of money。
Not a multi…millionaire； of course； but better off financially than any one
else in Lakeside。〃
〃He was once； but he won't be soon； if he keeps up the pace he's set of
late；〃 went on LeGrand Blossom； and his voice was gloomy。
〃What do you mean？〃
〃Well； things don't look so well as they did。 He was very foolish to
buy that ten…thousand…dollar yacht so soon after spending even more than
that on this red； white and blue monstrosity of his ！〃
〃You don't mean to tell me he's bought a yacht； too？〃
〃Yes； the Osprey that Colonel Blakeson used to sport up and down the
coast in。 Paid a cool ten thousand for it； though if he had left it to me I
could have got it for eight； I'm sure。〃
〃Well； twenty thousand dollars oughtn't to worry Mr。 Carwell； I should
think；〃 returned Minnie。
〃It wouldn't have； a year ago；〃 answered LeGrand。 〃But he's been on
the wrong side of the market for some time。 Then； too； something new
has cropped up about that old Bartlett deal。〃
〃You mean the one over which Harry's uncle and Mr。 Carwell had such
a fuss？〃
〃Yes。 Mr。 Carwell's never got over that。 And there are rumors that
he lost quite a sum in a business transaction with Captain Poland。〃
〃Oh； dear ！〃 sighed the girl。 〃Isn't business horrid！ I'm glad I'm not
a man。 But what is this about Captain Poland？〃
〃I don't know？haven't heard it all yet； as Mr。 Carwell doesn't tell me
everything； even if he has planned to take me into partnership with him。
But now I'm not so keen on it。〃
〃Keen on what； Lee ？〃 and Minnie Webb leaned just the least bit
nearer to his side。
〃On going into partnership with a man who spends money so lavishly
when he needs all the ready cash he can lay his hands on。 But don't
mention this to any one； Minnie。 If it got out it might precipitate matters；
and then the whole business would tumble down like a house of cards。
As it is； I may be able to pull him out。 But I've put the soft pedal on the
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partnership talk。〃
〃Has Mr。 Carwell mentioned it of late？〃
〃No。 All he seems to be interested in is this golf game that may make
him club champion。 But keepsecret what I have told you。〃
Minnie Webb nodded assent； and they turned back toward the
clubhouse； for they had reached a too secluded part of the grounds。
Meanwhile； Viola Carwell was not enjoying her ride with Captain
Poland as much as she had expected she would。 As a matter of fact it had
been undertaken largely to cause Bartlett a little uneasiness； and as the
Seeing this； the latter changed his mind concerning something he had fully
expected to speak to Viola about that day； if he got the chance。
Captain Poland was genuinely in love with Viola； and he had reason to
feel that she cared for him； though whether enough to warrant a
declaration of love on his part was hard to understand。
〃But I won't take a chance now；〃 mused the captain； rather moodily；
and the talk descended to mere monosyllables on the part of both of them。
〃I must see Carwell and have it out with him about that insurance deal。
Maybe he holds that against me； though the last time I talked with him he
gave me to understand that I'd stand a better show than Harry。 I must see
him after the game。 If he wins he'll be in a mellow humor； particularly
after a bottle or so。 That's what I'll do。〃
The captain spun his car up in front of the clubhouse and helped Viola
out。 〃I think we are in plenty of time for your father's match；〃 he
remarked。
〃Yes；〃 she assented。 〃I don't see any of the veterans on the field yet；〃
and she looked across the perfect course。 〃I'll go to look for dad and
wish him luck。 He always wants me to do that before he starts his medal
play。 See you again； Captain〃； and with a friendly nod she left the
somewhat chagrined yachtsman。
When Captain Poland had parked his car hetook a short cut along a
path that led through a little clump of bushes。 Midway he heard voices。
In an instant he recognized them as those of Horace Carwell and Harry
Bartlett。 He heard Bartlett say：
〃But don't you see how much better it would be to drop it all … to have
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nothing more to do with her？〃
〃Look here； young man； you mind your own business ！〃 snapped Mr。
Carwell。 〃I know what I'm doing！〃
〃I haven't any doubt of it； Mr。 Carwell； but I ventured to suggest？〃
went on Bartlett。
〃Keep your suggestions to yourself； if you please。 I've had about all I
want from you and your family。 And if I hear any more of your impudent
talk … 〃
Then Captain Poland moved away； for he did not want to hear any
more。
In the meantime Viola hurried back to the clubhouse； and forced
herself to be gay。 But； somehow； a cloud seemed to have come over her
day。
The throng had increased； and she caught sight； among the press； of
Jean Forette； their chauffeur。
〃Have you seen my father since he arrived； Jean？〃 asked Viola。
〃Oh； he is somewhere about； I suppose；〃 was the answer； and it was
given in such a surly tone with such a churlish manner that Viola flushed
with anger and bit her lips to keep back a sharp retort。
At that moment Minnie Webb strolled past。 She had heard the
question and the answer。
〃I just saw your father going out with the other contestants； Viola；〃
said Minnie Webb； for they were friends of some years' standing。 〃I
think they are going to start to play。 I wonder why they say the French
are such a polite race she went on； speaking lightly to cover Viola's
confusion caused by the chauffeur's manner。 〃He was positively
insulting。〃
〃He was；〃 agreed Viola。 〃But I shouldn't mind him； I suppose。 He
does not like the new machine； and father has told him to find another
place by the end of the month。 I suppose that has piqued him。〃
While there were many matches to be played at the Maraposa Club
that day； interest； as far as the older members and their friends were
concerned； was centered in that for cup…winners。 These constituted the
best players … the veterans of the game … and the contest was sure to be
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interesting and close。
Horace Carwell was a 〃sport；〃 in every meaning of the term。 Though
a man well along in his forties； he was