The Golf Course Mystery

s he was a silent spectator, while at others he furnished the surprise. In this case he served in his former capacity,

r to himself in a sort of daze, to Colonel Ashley, or to the man from hea

s going to do. Coroner's inquests are not

ssary?" asked Bartlett, as they pr

have requested it, or the prosecutor of the pleas. He may want to b

was due to suicide who can

here was a doubt as to its being

ge that a man of Mr. Carwell's character would do such a thing, particularly w

olonel Ashley, and none knew, bett

they subpoena me

a sort of fishing excursion. They start out not expecting much, not knowing what they are going to get, and sometimes they catch nothing-or no one-

ed the young man, but the manner in which he looked

the house, on the steps of which they stood

y knows all about it,

hat was mortal of the late owner of The Haven-no, not quite all of him, for certain portions were, even then, being

Ashley," said Viola quietly. "I appreciate

p. "I am only sorry that it was necessary to send for me on such an occasion. Believ

er's name from the imputation of having-of havin

ou suspect-" beg

claimed Viola. "It is all so terrible! But one thing I would like all father's f

that he took the fatal dose by mistake or that some one gave it to him. Fo

Ashley. Father often spoke of you, and he often said, if ever he had any mystery to clear up, that you were the only man he would trust. Now that I am alone I must trust y

replied the detective. "I don't mind saying that I hoped I wa

"It's just my luck. And I can't promise you anything. From what Mr. Bartlett told

ll me, Colonel, haven't you often found that the cases which, at first, seeme

ory I always go on. Now then, let me have all the facts in your possession. And you too," he added, turning to Bartlett. "You might remain while Miss Carwell talks

ll to have it, for it will show the public how mistaken a verdict

" said Bartlett, and he see

lack boy of mine?" e

y Carwell, coming in just then. "How do you do, Colon

affles that-well, the taste lingers yet!" and the colonel bowed gallantly, which seem

pare rooms, and I thought

u will be so good as to send him here I'll get him t

lf heart and soul into the "Golf Course Myster

which was inscribed "The Diamond Cross Mystery." It was thus that Colone

the death of Mr. Carwell as they knew. They spoke of the day of the big golf matches,

red, white, and blue car belonging to Mr. Carwell, and then the sudden collapse of Carwell as he make his winning stroke. The finding of some peculiar poison

the inquest before I take an active part. And I think I can best work if I remain unk

of bringing the colonel into the case, it was a comparatively easy matte

ber, Shag was provided with comfortable qu

er aunt, "that the trut

h is more painful tha

ked the girl, as te

e any worse. But we must hope for the best. I trust business matters will go along all right. I con

ably only an

poor father's affairs might not be in the b

re other ter

al, Colonel Ashley went about as silent as though on a fishing trip. He looked and listened, but said little. He was not yet r

uest, which was held in the town hall. Over the deliberations, wh

ies or towns, much of an empty title. At every election the names

y any one against them, and they were automatica

ent yet in many Jersey counties, that a coroner was the only official who could legally arrest the s

prominence. He was to act in the capacity of judge, though the verdict in the ca

tropolitan papers, for Horace Carwell was a well known figure in the sporting and the financial world, and the me

he latter would have the conducting of the case for the state in case it came to a trial in the upper courts, Mr. Stryker saw to it that

oison in Mr. Carwell's body. Its nature was as ye

dly of Reinsch's test for arsenic, of Bloxam's method, of the distillation process. He juggled with words, and finally, whe

ediment of poison present, they admitted, and sufficient had been extracted in a free state to end the lives of several guinea pig

her swallowed purposely, by accident, or because some one gave it to him either knowingly or unknowingly. This was a sufficiently broa

ing that her father was in his usual health when he went with her to the golf game, she c

hauffeur, a decidedly nervous man on whom the excit

ing that the man was more frightened than anything else, soon put him at his ease, and then the witness told a clear and connected story. He admitted frankly that because he had not the faculty, or, perhaps, the des

in the big red, white and blue machine. Mr. Carwell had been in his

from the car to get it for him, and Viola, recalled to the stand, testified that she had seen her father drink some of the bubbling liquor. It was ob

ding his arrival some other unimportant witnesses were called, amon

r. Carwell had said he felt "queer," and had acted as though dizzy. The major, who was himself quite a conviv

except the players who were with him from the start to the finish. He was not seen to have taken any tablets or powders

directly from the cafe to the waiting automobile. The champagne was from a bottle newly opened, and the innkeeper himself had selected a clean glass and

nd Blo

Carwell's chief clerk, and more than one person knew of the impe

been intimated-not here but outside-that the financial affairs of Mr. Carwell w

do,

hat you

r money, and had to get loans

hat un

e big car and the yacht he carrie

d you. That is not admissible under the

affairs were in bad shape, and that he

you kn

large sum into his business an

invest money and

es

y a business man might do the same if

ny advance of money on my part. Then he suddenly said he needed a large sum. He kne

you agr

r. I was to give him my

d y

N

have been

on the verge of ruin; and if you ask me I'll say I think he committed suicide b

and, what is more, we don't want it. I ask, your honor," and he turned to Billy Teller, who was secret

r; and the latter, with a smile, ran his pen through the curious h

ola as he walked forward through the crowd, and Captain Poland, who was sitting in front, waved h

liminary questions, "I have been informed that you had a conver

e had a

visibly that several about her noticed it

ure of the talk?"

lett firmly. "But it had nothing

tancy on hearing this, and

ean by 'the ma

his d

n't taken place," said Mr. Stryker. "Nor could it have

ine to

courtroom, and Billy Teller banged th

the prosecutor. "Is it on the grou

N

you one other question, and I think you will answer that. Did you resume friendly relations with Mr. Car

set one. For there must be an answer, and

e prosecutor. "Did you ma

s Bartlett, whose face show

id n

t you had a quarrel

s,

the resultant commotion being such that an adjournment was taken wh

noticed that during the temporary recess one of the regular court constables from the county building at Loch Harb

feel tha

swell with importance at the title, "I ask that this witness be held without bail to await

ller, who had been co

e to his feet in indignation. "You ar

," answered t

cion o

ng concerning the d

quickly approached by the same constable who had remained at his side du