When LeGrand Blossom had taken his departure, carrying with him the
books and papers, he left behind two very disconsolate persons.
“It's terrible!” exclaimed Mr. Carwell's sister. “To think that poor
Horace could be so careless! I knew his sporting life would bring
trouble, but I never dreamed of this.”
“We must face it, terrible as it is,” said Viola. “Nothing would matter
if he--if he were only left to us. I'm sure he never meant to spend so
much money. It was just because--he didn't think.”
“That always was a fault of his,” sighed Miss Mary, “even when a boy.
It's terrible!”
“It's terrible to have him gone and to think of the terrible way he was
taken,” sighed Viola. “But any one is likely to lose money.”
She no more approved of many of her late father's sporting proclivities
than did her aunt, and there were many rather startling stories and
rumors that came to Viola as mere whispers to which she turned a deaf
ear. Since her mother's death her father had, it was common knowledge,
associated with a fast set, and he had been seen in company with persons
of both sexes who were rather notorious for their excesses.
“Well, Mr. Blossom will do the best he can, I suppose,” said Miss
Carwell, with rather an intimation that the head clerk's best would be
very bad indeed.
“I'm sure he will,” assented Viola. “He knows all the details of poor
father's affairs, and he alone can straighten them out. Oh, if we had
only known of this before, we might have stopped it.”
“But your father was always very close about his matters,” said his
sister. “He resented even your mother knowing how much money he made,
and how. I think she felt that, too, for she liked to have a share in
all he did. He was kindness itself to her, but she wanted more than
that. She wanted to have a part in his success, and he kept her
out--or she felt that he did. Well, I'm sure I hope all mistakes are
straightened out in Heaven. It's certain they aren't here.”
Viola pondered rather long and deeply on what LeGrand Blossom had told
her. She made it a point to go for a drive the next afternoon with Jean
Forette in the small car, taking a maid with her on a pretense of doing
some shopping. And Viola closely observed the conduct of the chauffeur.
On her return, the girl could not help admitting that the Frenchman was
all a careful car driver should be. He had shown skill and foresight in
guiding the car through the summer-crowded traffic of Lakeside, and had
been cheerful and polite.
“I am sorry you are going to leave us, Jean,” she said, when he had
brought her back to The Haven.
“I, too, am regretful,” he said in his careful English. “But your father
had other ideas, and I--I am really afraid of that big new car. It is
not a machine, mademoiselle, it is--pardon--it is a devil! It will be
the death of some one yet. I could never drive it.”
“But if we sold that car, Jean, as we are going to do--”
“I could not stay, Miss Viola. I have a new place, and to that I go in
two weeks. I am sorry, for I liked it here, though--Oh, well, of what
use?” and he shrugged his shoulders.
“Was there something you did not like? Did my father not treat you
well?” asked Viola quickly.
“Oh, as to that, mademoiselle, I should not speak. I liked your father.
We, at times, did have difference; as who has not? But he was a friend
to me. What would you have? I am sorry!” And he touched his hat and
drove around to the garage.
As Viola was about to enter the house she chanced to look down the
street and saw Minnie Webb approaching. She looked so thoroughly
downcast that Viola was surprised.
“Hello, Minnie!” she exclaimed pleasantly. “Anything new or startling?”
“Nothing,” was the somewhat listless reply. “Is there anything new
here?” and Minnie Webb's face showed a momentary interest.
“I can't say that there is,” returned Viola. She paused for a moment.
“Won't you come in?”
“I don't think so-not to-day,” stammered the other girl. And then as she
looked at Viola her face began to flush. “I--I don't feel very well. I
have a terrible headache. I think I'll go home and lie down,” and she
hurried on without another word.
“There is certainly something wrong with Minnie,” speculated Viola, as
she looked after her friend. “I wonder if it is on account of LeGrand
Blossom.”
She did not know how much Minnie Webb was in love with the man who had
been her father's confidential clerk and who was now in charge of Mr.
Carwell's business affairs, and, not knowing this, she could, of course,
not realize under what a strain Minnie was now living with so many
suspicions against Blossom.
Divesting herself of her street dress for a more simple gown, Viola
inquired of the maid whether Colonel Ashley was in the house. When
informed that he had gone fishing with Shag, the girl, with a little
gesture of impatience, took her seat near a window to look over some
mail that had come during her absence.
As she glanced up after reading a belated letter of sympathy she saw,
alighting from his car which had stopped in front of The Haven, Captain
Gerry Poland. He caught sight of her, and waved his hand.
“Oh, dear!” exclaimed Viola. “If he hadn't seen me I could have said I
was not at home, but now--”
She heard his ring at the door and resigned herself to meeting him, but
if the captain had not been so much in love with Viola Carwell he could
not have helped noticing her rather cold greeting.
“I called,” he said, “to see if there was anything more I could do for
you or for your aunt. I saw Blossom, and he says he is working over the
books. I've had a good deal of experience in helping settle up estates
that were involved. I mean--” he added hastily--“where no will was left,
and, my dear Viola, if I could be of any assistance--”
“Thank you,” broke in Viola rather coldly, “I don't know that there is
anything you can do. It is very kind of you, but Mr. Blossom has charge
and--”
“Oh, of course I realize that,” went on Captain Poland quickly. “But I
thought there might be something.”
“There is nothing,” and now the yachtsman could not help noticing the
coldness in Viola's voice. He seemed to nerve himself for an effort as
he said:
“Viola”--he paused a moment before adding--“why can't we be friends?
You were decent enough to me some days ago, and now--Have I done
anything--said anything? I want to be friends with you. I want to be--”
He took a step nearer her, but she drew back.
“Please don't think, Captain Poland, that I am not appreciative of what
you have done for me,” the girl said quickly. “But--Oh, I really don't
know what to think. It has all been so terrible.”
“Indeed it has,” said the captain, in a low voice. “But I would like to
help.”
“Then perhaps you can!” suddenly exclaimed Viola, and there was a new
note in her voice. “Have you been to see Harry Bartlett in--in jail?”
and she faltered over that word.
“No, I have not,” said the captain, and there was a sharp tone in his
answer. “I understood no one was allowed to see him.”
“That is true enough,” agreed Viola. “They wouldn't let me see him, and
I wanted to--so much. I presume you know how he comes to be in prison.”
“It isn't exactly a prison.”
“To him it is-and to me,” she said. “But you know how he comes to be
there?”
“Yes. I was present at the inquest. By the way, they are to resume it
this week, I heard. The chemists have finished their analyses and are
ready to testify.”
“Oh, I didn't know that.”
“Yes. But, speaking of Harry--poor chap--it's terrible, of course, but
he may be able to clear himself.”
“Clear himself, Captain Poland? What do you mean?” and indignant Viola
faced her caller.
“Oh, well, I mean--” He seemed in some confusion.
“I want to know something,” went on Viola. “Did you bring it to the
attention of the coroner or the prosecutor that Harry Bartlett saw my
father just before-before his death, and quarreled with him? Did you
tell that, Captain Poland?”
Viola Carwell was like a stem accuser now.
“Did you?” she demanded again.
“I did,” answered Captain Poland, not, however, without an effort. “I
felt that it was my duty to do so. I merely offered it as a suggestion,
however, to one of the prosecutor's detectives. I didn't think it would
lead to anything. I happened to hear your father and Harry having some
words-about what I couldn't catch-and I thought it no more than right
that all the facts should be brought out in court. I made no secret
about it. I did not send word anonymously to the coroner, as I might
have done. He knew the source of the information, and he could have
called me to the stand had he so desired.”
“Would you have told the same story on the stand?”
“I would. It was the truth.”
“Even if it sent him--sent Harry to jail?”
“I would--yes. I felt it was my duty, and--”
“Oh-duty!”
Viola made a gesture of impatience.
“So-you-you told, Captain Poland! That is enough! Please don't try to
see me again.”
“Viola!” he pleaded. “Please listen--”
“I mean it!” she said, sternly. “Go! I never want to see you again! Oh,
to do such a thing!”
The captain, nonplussed for a moment, lingered, as though to appeal from
the decision. Then, without a word, he turned sharply on his heel and
left the room.
Viola sank on a sofa, and gave way to her emotion.
“It can't be true! It can't!” she sobbed. “I won't believe it. It must
not be true! Oh, how can I prove otherwise? But I will! I must! Harry
never did that horrible thing, and I will prove it!
“Why should Captain Poland try to throw suspicion on him? It isn't
right. He had no need to tell the detective that! I must see Colonel
Ashley at once and tell him what I think. Oh, Captain Poland, if I--”
Viola twisted in her slender hands a sofa cushion, and then threw it
violently from her.
“I'll see Colonel Ashley at once!” she decided.
Inquiry of a maid disclosed the fact that the colonel was still fishing,
and from Patrick, the gardener, she learned that he had gone to try his
luck at a spot in the river at the end of the golf course where Patrick
himself had hooked more than one fish.
“I'll follow him there,” said Viola. “I suppose he won't want to be
interrupted while he's fishing, but I can't help it! I must talk to some
one--tell somebody what I think.”
She donned a walking skirt and stout shoes, for the way to the river was
rough, and set out. On the way she thought of many things, and chiefly
of the man pacing his lonely walk back and forth behind windows that had
steel bars on them.
Viola became aware of some one walking toward her as she neared the bend
of the river whither Patrick had directed her, and a second glance told
her it was the faithful Shag.
He bowed with a funny little jerk and took off his cap.
“Is the colonel there?” and she indicated what seemed to be an ideal
fishing place among the willows.
“He was, Miss Viola, but he done gone now.”
“Gone? Where? Do you mean back to the house?”
“No'm. He done gone t' N'York.”
“New York?”
“Yes'm. On de afternoon train. He say he may be back t'night, an' mebby
not 'twell mornin'.”
“But New York-and so suddenly! Why did he go, Shag?”
“I don't know all de 'ticklers, Miss Viola, but I heah him say he got t'
git a book on poisons.”
“A book on poisons?” and Viola started.
“Yes'm. He done want one fo' de case he's wukin' on, an' he can't git
none at de library, so he go to N'York after one. I'se bringin' back his
tackle. De fish didn't bite nohow, so he went away, de colonel did.”
“Oh!”
Viola stood irresolute a moment, and then turned back toward the house,
Shag walking beside her.