THE LIBRARY POSTAL
"My dear, I am sorry if I have told you anything that distresses you," said Viola gently."But I thought - ""Oh, yes, it is best to know," was the low response."Only - only I was so happy a little while ago, and now - ""But perhaps it may all be explained!" interrupted Viola."It is only some tiresome business deal, I'm sure.I never could understand them, and I don't want to.But it does seem queer that there is no record of that fifteen thousand dollars being paid back.""What does Captain Poland say about it?"
"Oh, he told Harry, very frankly, that father paid the money, and that the receipt was sent to Mr.Blossom.But the latter says it can not be found.""And do you suspect Mr.Blossom ?" asked Minnie, and her voice held a challenge.
"Well," answered Viola slowly, "there isn't much of which to suspect him.It isn't as if Captain Poland claimed to have paid father the fifteen thousand dollars, and the money couldn't be found.It's only a receipt for money which the captain admits having gotten back that is missing.But it makes such confusion.And there are so many other things involved - ""You mean about the poisoning?"
"Yes.Oh, I wish it were all cleared up! Don't let's talk of it.I must find out about Mr.Blossom going away.We shall have to get some one in his place.Aunt Mary will be so disturbed - ""Don't say that I told you!" cautioned Minnie."Perhaps I should not have mentioned it.Oh, dear, I am so miserable!" And she certainly looked it.
"And so am I!" confessed Viola."If only Harry would tell what he is keeping back.""You mean about that quarrel with your father?""Yes.And he acts so strangely of late, and looks at me in such aqueer way.Oh, I'm afraid, and I don't know what I'm afraid of!" "I'm the same way, Viola!" admitted Minnie.
I wonder why we two should have all the trouble in the world?" And the two were miserable together.
They were not the only ones to suffer in those days.Captain Gerry Poland could not drive Viola from his mind.To the yachtsman, she was the most beautiful woman he had ever met, and he wondered if fortune would ever make it possible for him to approach her again on the subject that lay so close to his heart.
And then there was Bartlett.It was true he walked the streets - 0r rather rode around them in his "Spanish Omelet" - a free man; yet the finger of suspicion was constantly pointed at him.
More than once in the town he met people who sneered openly at him, as if to say, "You are guilty, but we can't prove it." And once on the golf course he went up to three men who had formerly been quite friendly and suggested a game of golf, upon which one after another the others made trivial excuses and begged to be excused.Upon this occasion the young man had rushed away, his face scarlet, and he had only calmed down after a mad tour of many miles in his racing machine.
"It's an outrage!" he had muttered to himself."A dastardly outrage! But what is a fellow going to do?"Meanwhile Colonel Ashley and Jack Young were puzzling their heads over many matters connected with the golf course mystery.Jack had obeyed the colonel's instructions to the letter.He had played many rounds on the links and had gotten to a certain degree of friendship with Jean Forette.He had even formed a liking for Bruce Garrigan, who, offhand, informed him that the amount of India ink used in tattooing sailors during the past year was less by fifteen hundred ounces than the total output of radium salts for 1916, while the wheat crop of Minnesota for the same period was 66,255 bushels.All of which information, useful in a way, no doubt, was accepted by Jack with a smile.He was there to look and listen, and, well, he did it.
"But I've got to pass it up," he told Colonel Ashley."I've stuck to that Jean chap until I guess he must think I want him for a chauffeur if ever I'mable to own a car bigger than a flivver.And aside from the fact that he does use some kind of dope, in which he isn't alone in this world, I can't get a line on him.""No, I didn't expect you would," said Colonel Ashley, with a smile."But are you well enough acquainted with him to have a talk with his sweetheart?""You mean Mazi?" "Yes."
"Well, I s'pose I might get a talk with her.But what's the idea?" "Nothing special, only I'd like to see if she tells you the same story shetold me.Have a try at it when you get a chance.""On the theory, I suppose, of in any trouble, look for the lady?" "Somewhat, yes."They were talking in The Haven, for Jack had been put up there as a guest at the request of Colonel Ashley.And when the bell rang, indicating some one at the door, they looked at one another questioningly.
Then came the postman's whistle, for Lakeside, though but a summer resort, with a population much larger in summer than in winter, boasted of mail delivery.
A maid placed the letters in their usual place on the hall table, and the colonel quickly ran through them, for he had reports sent him from his New York office from time to time.
"Here's one for you, Jack," he announced, handing his assistant a letter.While Jack Young was reading it the colonel caught sight of a postal, with the address side down, lying among the other missives.It was a postal which bore several lines of printing, the rest being filled in by a pen, and the import of it was that a certain library book, under the number 58 C.H - I6I* had been out the full time allowed under the rules, and must either be returned for renewal, or a fine of two cents a day paid, and the recipientwas asked to give the matter prompt attention.
