for
him it could be cleared. We all know what the quarrel was about."

"What?" asked the colonel. He had his own theory, but he wanted to see
how it jibed with another's.

"It's an old story," went on Bruce Garrigan. "It goes back to the time,
about three years ago, when the fair Viola and Harry began to be talked
about as more than ordinary friends. Just about then Mr. Carwell lost a
large sum of money in a stock deal, or a bond issue, or something--I've
forgotten what--and he always said that Harry and his clique engineered
the plan by which he was mulcted."

"And did Mr. Bartlett have anything to do with it?" asked the colonel.

"Well, some say he did, and some say he didn't. Harry himself denied
all knowledge of it. Anyhow the colonel lost a stiffish sum, and some
of Harry's people took in a goodly pile. Naturally there was a bit
of coldness between the families, and I did hear Harry was told his
presence around Viola wasn't desired.

"If he was so warned he didn't heed it, for they went out together as
much as ever, though I can't say he called at the house very often."

"And you think it was about this he and Mr. Carwell quarreled just
before Mr. Carwell was stricken?" asked the colonel.

"I think so, yes," answered Garrigan. "And I think Harry refuses to
admit it, from a notion that it would be dragging in a lady's name. But
it wouldn't be airing anything that isn't already pretty well known. Mr.
Carwell has a violent temper--or he had one--and Harry isn't exactly an
angel when he's roused, though I'll say say for him that I have rarely
seen him angry. And there you are. Boy, another bottle, and have it
colder than the last."

"Yes," mused the colonel, "there you are--or aren't, according to your
viewpoint."

And so the day grew more sunshiny and mellow, and Colonel Ashley did not
regret the fish that the golf ball cheated him of, for he added several
new cards to his index file and jotted down, mentally, new facts on some
already in it.

"Will return to-morrow. Viola too restless here."

That was the telegram Colonel Ashley received the day following
his acquaintance at the nineteenth hole with Bruce Garrigan and Tom
Sharwell.

"She stayed away longer than I thought she would," mused the detective,
"Yes, sah!"

"See if that French chauffeur, Forette, can drive me into town."

"Yes, sah, Colonel."

A little later Jean brought the roadster to the front of the house and
waited for Colonel Ashl