The Golf Course Mystery | Page 7

Blossom,
Mr. Carwell's private secretary, were engaged. But there had been no
formal announcement, though the two had been seen together more
frequently of late than mere friendship would warrant.
There was a stir in front of the clubhouse, followed by a murmur of
voices, and Minnie, peering through a space in the vines, announced:
"There's the big car now. Oh, I don't like that color at all! I'm as
patriotic as any one, but to daub a perfectly good car up like that - well,
it's - "
"Sporty, I suppose Carwell thinks," finished Bartlett. He had risen as
though to leave the summerhouse, but as he saw Captain Poland step
up and offer his hand to Viola Carwell, he drew back and again sat
down beside Minnie.
A group gathered about the big French car, obviously to the delight of
Mr. Carwell, who was proud of the furor created by his latest purchase.
Though he kept up his talk with Minnie in the summer-house, Harry
Bartlett's attention was very plainly not on his present companion nor
the conversation. At any other time Minnie Webb would have noticed it
and taxed him with it, but now, she, too, had her attention centered
elsewhere. She watched eagerly the group about the big machine, and
her eyes followed the figure of a man who descended from the rear seat

and made his way out along a path that led to a quiet spot.
"I think I'll go in now," murmured Minnie Webb. "I have to see - "
Bartlett was not listening. In fact he was glad of the diversion, for he
saw Viola Carwell turn with what he thought was impatience aside
from Captain Poland, and that was the very chance the other young
man had been waiting for.
He followed Minnie Webb from the little pavilion, paying no attention
to where she drifted. But he made his way through the press of persons
to where Viola stood, and he saw her eyes light up as he approached.
His, too, seemed brighter.
"I was wondering if you would come to see dad win," she murmured to
him, as he took her hand, and Captain Poland, with a little bow, stepped
back.
"You knew I'd come, didn't you?" Bartlett asked in a low voice.
"I hoped so," she murmured. "Now, Harry," she went on in a low voice,
as they moved aside, "this will be a good time for you to smooth things
over with father. If he wins, as he feels sure he will, you must
congratulate him very heartily - exceptionally so. Make a fuss over him,
so to speak. He'll be club champion, and it will seem natural for you to
bubble over about it."
"But why should I, Viola? I haven't done anything to merit his
displeasure."
"I know. But you remember what a touch-fire he is. He's always held
that business matter against you, though I'm sure you had nothing to do
with it. Now, if he wins, and I hope he will, you can take advantage of
it to get on better terms with him, and - "
"Well, I'm willing to be friends, you know that, Viola. But I can't
pretend - I never could!"
"You're stubborn, Harry !" and Viola pouted.

"Well, perhaps I am. When I know I'm right - "
"Couldn't you forget it just once?"
"I don't see how!"
"Oh, you provoke me! But if you won't you won't, I suppose. Only it
would be such a good chance - "
"Well, I'll see him after the match, Viola. I'll do my best to be decent."
"You must go a little farther than that, Harry. Dad will be all worked up
if he wins, and he'll want a fuss made over him. It will be the very
chance for you."
"All right-I'll do my best," murmured Bartlett. And then a servant came
up to summon him to the telephone.
Viola was not left long alone, for Captain Poland was watching her
from the tail of his eye, and he was at her side before Harry Bartlett
was out of sight.
"Perhaps you'd like to come for a little spin with me, Miss Carwell,"
said the captain. "I just heard that they've postponed the cup-winners'
match an hour; and unless you want to sit around here - "
"Come on !" cried Viola, impulsively. "It's too perfect a day to sit
around, and I'm only interested in my father's match."
There was another reason why Viola Carwell was glad of the chance to
go riding with Captain Poland just then. She really was a little
provoked with Bartlett's stubbornness, or what she called that, and she
thought it might "wake him up," as she termed it, to see her with the
only man