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drawer under it； and then； on top of the false bottom other things might be
placed so that when they were taken out； and the person doing it saw bare
wood； the conclusion would naturally follow that all the contents of the
drawer had been removed。
But such was not the case。 Beneath the smoothfitting piece of wood；
which had sprung loose and been the means of driving a splinter under
Viola's nail； thus apprising her of the fact that there was something in the
drawer she had not seen； had been found some letters。 And Viola had not
told her aunt about them。
〃I want to see what they are myself； first；〃 the girl decided。
Now they were spread out on her dressing table in front of her。 She
sat with her glorious blue…black hair unbound； and falling over her
shoulders； which gleamed pink through the filmy thinness of her robe。
〃I wonder if I shall be shocked when I read them？〃 she mused。
That was what Viola had been living in continual fear of since her
father's death … that some disclosure would shock her … that she might
come upon some phase of his past life which would not bear the full light
of day。 For Horace Carwell had not stinted himself of the pleasures of
life as he saw them。 He had eaten and drunk and he had made merry。
And he was a gregarious man … one who did not like to take his pleasures
alone。
And so Viola was afraid。
The letters were held together with an elastic band； and this gave some
hope。
〃If they were from a woman； he wouldn't have used a rubber band on
them；〃 reasoned Viola。 〃He was too sentimental for that。 They can't be
mother's letters … they were in another compartment。 I wonder … 〃
Viola had done much wondering since her mother's death； and
considerable of it had been due to the life her father led。 That he would
marry again she doubted； but he was fond of the society of the men； and
particularly the women of their own set； and some sets with which Viola
preferred to have nothing to do。
And if Mr。 Carwell had no intentions of marrying again； then his
interest in women …
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But here Viola ceased wondering。
With a more resolute air she reached forth hand to the bundle of letters
and took one out。 There was distinct relief in her manner as she quickly
turned to the signature and read： 〃Gerry Poland。〃
And then； quickly； she ascertained that all the letters comprised
correspondence between her father and the yacht club captain。
〃But why did he hide these letters away？〃 mused Viola。 〃They seem
to be about business； as the others were … the others showing that Captain
Poland perhaps saved my father from financial ruin。 Why should they be
under the false bottom of the drawer？〃
She could not answer that question。
〃I must read them all；〃 she murmured； and she went through the entire
correspondence。 There were several letters； sharp in tone； from both men；
and the subject was as Greek to Viola。 But there was one note from the
captain to her father that brought a more vivid color to her dark cheeks； for
Captain Poland had written：
〃You care little for what I have done for you； otherwise you would
not so oppose my attentions to your daughter。 They are most
honorable； as you well know； yet you are strangely against me。 I can
not understand it。〃
〃Oh！〃 murmured Viola。 〃It is as if I were being bargained for！ How
I hate him！〃
Almost blinded by her tears she read another letter。 It was another
appeal to her father to use his influence in assisting the captain's suit。
But this letter … or at least that portion of it relating to Viola … had been
torn； and all that remained was：
〃As members of the same lo… 〃
〃What can that have meant？〃 she mused。 〃Is it the word 'lodge'？〃
She read on； where the letter was whole again：
〃I must ask you to reconsider your actions。 Let me hear from you
by the twenty…third or … 〃
Again was that mystifying and tantalizing tear。 Viola hastily
searched among the other letters； hoping the missing pieces might be
found。
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〃I simply must see what it meant；〃 she said。 〃I wonder if they can be
in another part of the safe？ I'm going to look！〃
She started for her bath robe； and； at that moment； with a suddenness
that unnerved her； there came a knock on her door。
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CHAPTER XVII
OVER THE TELEPHONE
Viola's first movement was of concealment … to toss over the scattered
letters on her desk a lace shawl she had been wearing earlier in the
evening。 Then satisfied that should the unknown knocker prove to be
some one whom she might admit … her Aunt Mary or one of the maids …
satisfied that no one would； at first glance； see the letters which might
mean nothing or much； Viola asked in a voice that slightly trembled：
〃Who is it？〃
〃I did not mean to disturb you；〃 came the answer； and with a sense of
relief Viola recognized the voice of Colonel Ashley。 〃But I have jus
returned from New York； and； seeing a light under your door； I thought I
would…report； as it were。〃
〃Oh； thank you…thank you！〃 the girl exclaimed； relief evident in her
voice。
〃Is there anything I can do for you？〃 the colonel went on； as he stood
outside the closed door。 〃Has anything happened since I went away？〃
〃No … no；〃 said Viola； rather hesitatingly。 〃There is nothing new to
tell you。 I was sitting up … reading。〃
Her glance went to the desk where the letters were scattered。
〃Oh；〃 answered the colonel。 〃Well； don't sit up too late。 It is getting
on toward morning。〃
〃Have you anything to tell me； Colonel Ashley？〃 asked Viola。 〃Did
you discover anything？〃
There was silence on the other side of the door for a moment； and then
came the answer； given slowly：
〃No； nothing to report。 I will have a talk with you in the morning。〃
And then the footsteps of the detective were heard； lessening in their
sound； as he made his way to his room。
Viola； perplexed； puzzled； and bewildered； went back to her desk。
She took up the letters again。 The torn one with its strange reference：
〃As members of the same … 〃
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What could it be？ Was it some secret society to which her father and
Gerry Poland belonged； the violation of the secrets of which carried a
death penalty？
No； it could not be anything as sensational as that。 Clearly the
captain was in love with her … he had frankly confessed as much； and Viola
knew it anyhow。 She was not at all sure whether he loved her for her
position or because she was good to look upon and desirable in every way。
As for her own heart； she was sure of that。 In spite of the fact that
she had tried to pique him that fatal day； merely to 〃stir him up；〃 as she
phrased it； Viola was deeply and earnestly in love with Harry Bartlett； and
she was sure enough of his feeling toward her to find in it a glow of
delight。
Then there was in the letter the hint of a threat。 〃Let me hear from
you by the twenty…third； or … 〃
〃Oh； what does it mean？ What does it mean？〃 and Viola bent her
weary head down on the letters and her tears stained them。 Puzzled as she
was over the contents of the letters … torn and otherwise … which she had
found hidden in the drawer of the private safe； Viola Carwell was not yet
ready to share her secret with her Aunt Mary or Colonel Ashley。 These two
were her nearest and most natural confidants under the circumstances。
〃I would like to tell Harry； but I can't；〃 she reasoned； when she had
awakened after a night of not very refreshing slumber。 〃Of course
Captain Poland could explain … if he would。 But I'll keep this a secret a
little longer。 But； oh！ I wonder what it means？〃
And so； when she greeted Colonel Ashley at the breakfast table she
smiled and tried to appear her usual self。
〃I did not hear you come in；〃 said Miss Carwell； as she poured the
coffee。
〃No； I did not want to disturb any one；〃 answered the colonel。 〃I saw
a light under Miss Viola's door； and reported myself to her；〃 he went on。
〃But I don't imagine you slept much more than I did； for your eyes
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