The Golf Course Mystery

lled Colonel Ashley, in tense

ah! All

ady for you! And he's

Colonel! I

ome, and took a firmer grip on the "Ready now, Shag!" called the colonel, at the same time directing his

ip of the slender pole bent like a bow, he slipped the net into the

sigh of relief. "There he is, and as fine a fish

l, Harry Bartlett advanced to where the colonel and Shag were bending over the panting bass. As

for he saw the type of man with whom he ha

looked up as he slipped the f

ollowed you here from N

fish, and not to talk business. Excuse me for putting it thus bluntly, but I see no reason for many words. I can not consider any busines

iled genially. "And please don't blame any one in your office for disclos

, then, if

" And again B

Spotty

es

the detective could not keep

rgotten it. It was at a summer resort, and Spotty, though he is a good swimme

the colonel. "A st

n," said Har

s, Spotty saved my life some time ago. It's just a coinci

ged the importance it was to myself and others to know where you were, but they were obdurate. I was coming out, much disappointed, when I saw Spotty emerging from an inner office. He knew me at once

observed the colonel, as he slowly reeled up his line. "One reason why the clerks in my office could not g

gainst him," urged Bartlett.

But I shall have to forgive him, I suppose. It must have been rat

ongest reason in the world. It i

ur pardon, I didn't mean to be rude," went on the colonel with his usual politeness. "But I really can not listen. I came here to rest and fis

ll have no one but you. She says you are the only o

ase," but as his eyes fell on the creel containing his fish he turned asid

o see you at the request of Miss Viola Carwell," he said slowly. "She sent me to find you-told me not

the daughter of Horace C

answered

hope my old friend is not in trouble-nor his dau

e all over-if he had any,"

u m

is d

uttered an

f you," he apologized. "I did not k

ently and

papers, and have not looked at one la

y suddenly on the Maraposa Golf Club links, after

sease or

one. It w

e me, Mr.

rwell died of poison,

he-d

ays Mr. Carwell is a suicide. His daughter, Miss Viola, can not believe it. Nor can I. There h

mine," said the old detective dryly. "You needn't expl

as he knew them, bearing on the deat

to find me?" ask

and if any one could solve the mystery of his death you coul

more or less of a mystery. But

r-aid all of us, for we are all at sea. Will you? She sent me to plead with you.

e to forgive Spotty,"

ome here," went on Bartlett, "so I f

taking off. Horace Carwell was my very good friend. He once did me a great service, when I needed money badly, by helping me make an investment in co

with me to see her

p! We're going bac

stream, at the drooping willows, at the fish rod in his mas

l, yo' done

n. I'll do what I can in this case," he went on to Bartlett. "I came here for some quiet fishing, and to get my mi

ry-" bega

or a daughter of Horace Carwell. You may let her know that I'll come, if it will give her

ll wire her that you are coming. There's a train

w that he had given up his cherished fi

sah, C

ed for Mr. Bartlett and myself. You'll dine with me," he went on. It was an

the detective had gone for such a short vacation, and were on

here," said the colonel, as they alighted from th

artlett. "You are to be her guest. She thought perhaps you

ad better. Then the fun

d at the request of

een a corone

the time I left, at the solicita

than in some of the other states. Well, then I supp

r to meet us. It's here

onel following, and Shag brin

sky. There was a little speck in it, no larger than a man's hand. It gre

of which fluttered a dismal length of crepe, a man stepped from th

it?" aske

was the rather

oena? W

e about Mr. Carwell's death. That's all I know. I'm from police headquarters. I was told to wait around here, as

paper in his hand. "I thought they weren't going to