登陆注册
26128200000050

第50章

"Is anything the matter?" asked the confidential clerk, as he quickly opened his desk."I am sorry I was late this morning.But I had some matters to look after - ""No apology necessary," said Colonel Ashley, quickly."We have notbeen waiting long.We have discovered something."If his life had depended on it LeGrand Blossom could not, at that moment, have concealed a start of surprise.

"You mean you have found out who killed Mr.Carwell?" he asked, and his tongue went quickly around his dry lips.

"Not that," the colonel answered."But we have found some letters that seem to need explaining.Here they are."Then when Viola had told how she discovered them, she asked: "Did my father ever owe Captain Poland any money?""Yes," answered LeGrand Blossom, frankly, "he did." "How much?""Fifteen thousand dollars."

"Was it ever paid back?" asked Colonel Ashley."That I cannot say," replied the head clerk."The papers in that particular transaction are missing.I looked for them the other day, but failed to find them.I was intending to ask you, Miss Carwell, if you knew anything about them.Now, it seems you do not.The fact remains that your father was at one time indebted to the captain for fifteen thousand dollars.Whether it was repaid I can not say.""Who would know?" asked Colonel Ashley.

"Why, Captain Poland, of course," answered Mr.Blossom."One would think that it would be paid by check, but in that case the canceled one would come back from the bank, which it has not.It is possible that Mr.Carwell had an account in some other bank, or he may have paid the captain in cash.In either case a receipt would be given, I should say.Captain Poland is the only one who now would know.""Then we had better see him," suggested Colonel Ashley."Shall we call on him, Viola?"She hesitated a moment before answering, and then replied in a low voice:

"I think it would be better.We must end this mystery!"They left LeGrand Blossom and again entered the car.Jean Forette was driving, and the detective again noticed the strange and sudden change in his manner.Whereas he had been morose and sullen the firstpart of the trip, timid and watchful of every crossing and turning, now he put on full speed and drove with the confidence of an expert.

"He must have had another shot of dope," mused the colonel."I'll have to keep an eye on you, my Frenchie, else you may be ramming a stone wall when you're feeling pretty well elated."They were half way to the home of Captain Poland when Viola suddenly changed her mind.

"I - I don't believe I care to go to see him," she said."Can't you go without me, Colonel Ashley? You can find out better than I can.I - I really don't feel equal to it.""Of course, I can," was the ready answer."Drive Miss Carwell home, Jean, and then I'll go on to see Captain Poland myself."The car was swung around, and was soon in front of The Haven.The colonel, with his usual gallantry, walked with Viola to the steps.As the maid opened the door she said to her mistress:

``There is a lady to see you."

"A lady to see me?" exclaimed Viola, in some surprise.

"Yes.She is in the library, waiting.I said I did not know how long you would be away, but she said she was a friend of the family and would wait.""Who is she?" asked Viola.

"I don't know.But she is a large, blonde lady.""I can't imagine," murmured Viola."Won't you come in, Colonel Ashley? It may be some one I would want you to see, also."As Viola, followed at a little distance by the colonel, entered the library, a large, blonde woman arose to meet her.

"I am so glad to see you, my dear Miss Carwell," began the woman, and then Colonel Ashley had one of his questions answered.The voice was the same as that of the shawled woman LeGrand Blossom had met on the ferryboat the night before, and it was the voice of Annie Tighe, alias Maude Warren, alias Morocco Kate, one of the cleverest of New York's de luxe crooks.

"So you have a hand in the game, have you, my dear?" mused the colonel, as he caught the now well-remembered tones."Well, I guessyou don't want to see me right away, and I don't want you to."He had kept behind Viola during the walk down the hall, and the large blonde had not noticed him, he hoped.He whispered to Viola, who stood just at the entrance to the room:

"Learn all you can from her.I'll be back pretty soon - as soon as she has gone.Find out where she's stopping.Don't mention me."The hall was dimly lighted, and he had a chance to say this to Viola without getting into full view of the caller, and without her overhearing.Then, turning quickly, Colonel Ashley hurried out of the house.

"Morocco Kate," he mused as he got into the car again, and told Jean to drive to Captain Poland's."Morocco Kate! I wonder if she is just beginning her game, or if this is merely a phase of it, started before Mr.Carwell's death? Another link added to the puzzle."He was still pondering over this when he reached the captain's home.It was a rather elaborate summer "cottage," with magnificent grounds, and the captain's mother kept house for him.But there was a curious deserted air about the place as Jean drove up the gravel road.A man was engaged in putting up boards at the windows.

"Is the captain here?" asked the colonel.

"The place is being closed for the season, sir," answered the man, evidently a caretaker.

"Closed? So early?" exclaimed the colonel, in surprise.

"The captain has gone away," the man went on."I got orders yesterday to close the place for the season.Captain Poland will not be back.""Oh!" softly exclaimed the colonel.And then to himself he added: "He won't be back! Well, perhaps I shall have to bring him back.Another link! There may be three people in this instead of two!"

同类推荐
  • 忍经

    忍经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 七域修真证品图

    七域修真证品图

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 龙图公案

    龙图公案

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 云山集

    云山集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 佛说如来智印经

    佛说如来智印经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 不良少年

    不良少年

    谦谦好学少年,因意外变得冷酷淡漠,对感情伤心痛绝的他,未来会如何呢?看他傲视天下,血色浪漫中续写精彩传奇。
  • 执剑凌霄

    执剑凌霄

    新书《万域龙尊》已经发布,欢迎新老读者前来品读。凌霄大陆,万族林立;四境之内,武道为尊!强者一怒,伏尸百万。封皇武帝更能俯瞰天地,抬手之间星辰崩碎,谈笑之间强敌灰飞烟灭!天骄林凡,身怀不朽使命,自东洲而来……在这天骄横溢的时代,且看他如何一步一步,踏上那九重天,封皇成帝,成就不朽伟业!傲立虚空,林凡眼中精芒爆射,长剑出鞘,寒芒闪烁:“你要战——那便战!”
  • 网游之料理传奇

    网游之料理传奇

    灵魂莫名其妙进入了游戏世界,不能下线,死亡还会丢失记忆。这让老饕害怕战斗,害怕死亡。但是,在朋友在伙伴的鼓励下,一直不被看好的料理师职业,却在这个游戏世界大放光彩。---------------------新书《都市猎头》已经上传。把猴子安排去犁地,让黄牛上树去摘果子。一个人才如果不能放在合适的位置,那么其结果只能是一个悲剧故事。我们的口号是,寻找人才,发掘人才,让人与职位能匹配,公司与雇员双赢,才是我们猎头的最终目标。
  • 网游之大修真

    网游之大修真

    爱恨、纠缠!修真、争锋!特殊的出现,死神的降临,谱写未来历史的一页新篇——大修真。PS:谨以此书献给我们征战过的网游和岁月
  • 放下:舍得之间,自在欢喜

    放下:舍得之间,自在欢喜

    每一个人都背负着沉重的生活,茫茫的未来无可预知,压力不断增大,人们的心理承受能力却日复一日地减小。失落、孤独、痛苦、困惑都在日复一日地加深,多少人整日里抱怨重重,又有多少人消极厌世,原本纯净的心灵被蒙上一层又一层厚厚的灰尘。在这里,让禅用清透明晰的故事告诉人们处世的智慧,帮助人们祛除心灵上的尘垢,放下心灵的枷锁,回归宁静的自在世界。
  • 笑傲天龙行

    笑傲天龙行

    北冥斗转,天山白虹,四力合一,即为斗转神阳!乾坤斗转,双力相承,即为斗转乾坤!九阴九阳,二功皆成,即可阴阳相生,刚柔并济!阴阳相生,刚柔并济,气海充盈,心之所向,即可修得圆满,三花聚顶,引来五朝元气!修得无上,可得永生,上可毁天灭地,下可翻江倒海!穿越天龙,傲视天下,扭转乾坤,即为笑傲天龙行!不一样的慕容复,不一样的天龙行,不一样的武侠体系!ps:此慕容非彼慕容,请勿以此慕容与彼慕容作比!
  • 马达加斯加的企鹅

    马达加斯加的企鹅

    欢迎加入肯德基在这个夏天特别推出的“豪华企鹅套餐”。当然,如果你不喜欢的话,也可以选择加入麦当劳鼎力推出的“奢华企鹅套餐”。我们不是广告君,我们是大自然的搬运工。
  • 全能废材

    全能废材

    阅读本书简介前请注意以下条款:——本书简介与本书内容无关……——阅读本书简介时如发生穿越、艳遇、中彩之类意外,本书作者概不负责。——本书内容如有雷同,纯属幻觉……——本书读者拥有本书简介的最终修改权。——本书作者享有本书简介的最终解释权。另:以上文字就是简介,如果看到条款之类的那就纯属幻觉,属于常规治疗无法治愈患症,如需治疗,请阅读本书……吐槽:作者为无耻败类绝代湿人,围观本书者请鄙视之……扣扣群:【众神之手(设定群):144858438】【废材集中营(书友群):104878360】
  • 沉思录Ⅱ

    沉思录Ⅱ

    本书汇集了爱比克泰德其中的部分思想精华,以精辟而又通俗的语言,向人们传授生活的真谛和幸福的真义。
  • 中年男人健康读这本就够了

    中年男人健康读这本就够了

    中年男性的健康问题关系到社会和谐、家庭稳定和个人的幸福。《中年男人健康读这本就够了》对中年男性关注的健康理念、常见病预防保健、纠正不良生活习惯、运动养生、科学饮食、心理及性保健等方面的常识进行重点介绍。根据中年男性生理、心理特点以及生活方式的特殊性,本书针对其常见的问题,用通俗易懂的语言,详尽地介绍了相关保健养生方法和知识,为中年男性提供指导。