The Deep Lake Mystery - Carolyn Wells

Carolyn Wells

The Deep Lake Mystery

CHAPTER I

A STATELY PLEASURE DOME

As I look back on my life, eventful enough in spots, but placid, even monotonous in the long stretches between spots, I think the greatest thrill I ever experienced was when I saw the dead body of Sampson Tracy.

Imagine to yourself a man, dead in his own bed, with no sign of violence or maltreatment. Eyes partly closed, as he might be peacefully thinking, and no expression of fear or horror on his calm face.

Now add to your mental picture the fact that he had round his brow a few flowers arranged as a wreath. More flowers diagonally across his breast, like a garland. Clasped in his right hand, against his heart, an ivory crucifix, and in his left hand an orange.

Sticking up from behind his head showed the plume of a red feather duster!

And draped round all this, like a frame, was a red chiffon scarf, a filmy but voluminous affair, deftly tucked in here and there, and encircling all the strange and bizarre details I have enumerated.

On a pillow, near the dead face, lay two small crackers and a clean, folded handkerchief.

As I stared, my imagination flew to the Indians or the ancient Egyptians, who provided their dead with food and toilet implements, which were buried with them.

But in this case

I believe it was Abraham Lincoln who said: If you have a story to tell, begin at the beginning, go through with the tale, and leave off at the ending. So, as I most assuredly have a story to tell, I will begin at the beginning and follow the prescribed directions.

It all began, I suppose, the night Keeley Moore came to see me about fishing tackle. Kee is a wonderful detective and all that, but when it comes to fishing hes mighty glad to ask my advice.

And Lord knows Im glad to give it to him.

We used to go fishing together, every summer. Then Kee took it into his silly head to get married, and to a girl who cares nothing about fishing.

So from that you can see how things are.

But this time Kee seemed really excited about his prospects of fishing through the summer months.

Were going to Wisconsin, he told me, with a note of joyousness in his voice, and, Gray, do you know, there are more than two thousand lakes in one county out in that foolish old state?

Id like to fish in all of em, I said, with my usual lack of moderation.

You cant do that, but you can fish in a few, if you like. Lora sends you, and I back it up, an invitation to come out there as soon as we get settled and stay as long as you can.

Thats a tempting bid, I told him, but I cant impose on newlyweds like that. Ill go to the inn or lodge or whatever they have out there, and see you every day.

No, we want you with us. Weve taken a fairly good-sized house for the season, and you must be our guest. Loras asking a few of her friends and I want you.

Well, he had little trouble in persuading me, once I felt convinced that his wifes invitation was in good faith, and I planned to go out there early in August.

They were going in July, which left them time enough to get settled and get their home in running order.

So I went to Wisconsin in August, glad enough to get away from the citys heat and noise and dirt.

Deep Lake, the choice of the Moores, was in Oneida County, which is designated among the Scenic Sections of Wisconsin as North Woods Eastern.

And scenic it surely was. The last part of the train ride had shown me that, and when we were motoring from the railroad station to the Moore bungalow, I was impressed with the weird beauty all about.

It was dusk, and the tall trees looked black against the sky. Long shadows of hemlocks and poplars fell across the road, as the last glow of the sunset was fading, and the reflection in the lakes of surrounding scenery was clear, though dark and eerie-looking.

We passed several lakes before we reached the journeys end.

Here we are! Moore cried at last, as we turned in at the gates of a most attractive estate.

A short road led to the front door and Lora came out to greet us.

I liked Kee Moores wife, though I never felt I knew her very well. She was of a reserved type and while amiable and cordial, she was not responsive and never seemed to offer or invite confidence.

But she greeted me heartily, and expressed real pleasure at having me there.

She was very good looking a wholesome, bonny type, with an air of executive ability and absolute savoir faire.

Her hair was dead gold, bobbed and worn straight, I think they call it a Dutch bob. Anyway, she had a trace of Dutch effect and reminded me of that early picture of Queen Wilhelmina.

She sent me to my room to brush up but told me I neednt change as the bungalow was run informally.

The place rejoiced in the name of Variable Winds, and though the Moores guyed the idea of having a name for such an unpretentious affair, they admitted it was at least appropriate.

I returned to the living room to find the group augmented by a few more people: one house guest and two or three neighbours.

Cocktails appeared and the cheery atmosphere dispelled the darksome and gloomy effects that had marked our drive from the station.

I found myself next my fellow guest, a pleasant-faced lady, who introduced herself.

Im Maud Merrill, she vouchsafed. Im staying here, so you must learn to like me.

No trouble at all, I told her, and honestly, for I liked her at once.

She was a widow, perhaps thirty or so, with white hair and deep blue eyes. I judged her hair was prematurely grayed, for her face was young and attractive.

Im an old schoolmate of Lora Moores, she disclosed further, and Im up here for a fortnight. Are you staying long?

Im invited indefinitely, I returned. Ill stay a month, I think, if they seem to want me.

Oh, they will. Theyve both looked forward to your coming with real delight. And youll like it here. Theres no end of things to do. Fishing of course, and bathing and boating and golf and tennis and dancing and flirting in fact, you can have just whatever sport you want.

Sounds rather strenuous. I had hoped for a restful time.

Yes, you can have that if you really want it. Let me give you a hint of the other guests. The beautiful woman is Katherine Dallas. Shes about to be married to our next-door neighbour. He isnt here to-night. But one of his house guests is here. That tall, thin man,  hes Harper Ames.

I thanked her for her hints, though I wasnt terribly interested. But its good to know a little about new acquaintances, and often prevents unfortunate speeches. Especially with me. For Ive a shocking habit of saying the wrong thing and making enemies thereby.

At the table I found myself seated at my hostesss right hand and the beautiful Mrs. Dallas on my other side.

It was a comfortable sort of party. The conversation, while not specially brilliant, was unforced and gayly bantering. Two youngsters were present, who added their flapper slang to the general fund of amusement.

These two were Posy May and Dick Hardy, and though apparently about twenty they seemed to have world-wide knowledge and world-old wisdom.

My canoe upset this afternoon, Posy told the company with an air of being a heroine.

You upset it on purpose, declared Dick.

Didnt, either. I turned around too quickly

Yes, and if I hadnt been on the job youd be turning around there yet.

Posy, Keeley said, reproachfully, you must be more careful. Deep Lake is one of the deepest and most treacherous lakes in all Wisconsin. Now, dont cut up silly tricks in a canoe.

Oh, I know how to manage a canoe.

You managed to upset, said Lora Moore, accusingly, and pretty Posy changed the subject.

After dinner there was a little bridge, but the youngsters were going to a dance, and Mrs. Dallas seemed to want to go home early, so Ames carried her off, and our own quartet was left alone.

I was glad of it, for I like a chat with a few better than the rattle of the crowd. And it was not very long before Lora and Mrs. Merrill left us, and Keeley and I had the porch to ourselves.

Pleasant people, I said, by way of being decently gracious.

Good enough, he agreed. To-morrow, Gray, well fish. Its open season for everything now and the limits are generous. Except muskellonge. You may bag only one per day of those. But trout, all kinds, bass, all kinds, pickerel, rock sturgeon oh, well have the biggest time!

Sounds good to me, I returned, heartily. Im happy to be here, old scout, and well fish and all that, but dont put yourself about to entertain me.

I shant; but you must fall in with Loras plans, wont you? I mean, seem pleased to attend her kettledrums and whatnot, even if it bores you.

Of course I will. Your ladys word is law. Shes a brick, isnt she?

Yes, and Moore smiled happily at my somewhat crude compliment. Shes just that. And such a help in my work.

Your detective work?

What else? Shes more than a Watson, shes a real helpmate. Her insight and intuition are marvellous, and she sees through a bit of evidence and gets the very gist of it quicker than I can.

Then you surely got the right one.

I certainly did. But I hope to Heaven therell be no cases this summer. I want a real vacation, thats why I came way off here, to get away from all crime calls.

Dont crow before youre out of the woods. Crimes can happen even in Wisconsin. And to me, this whole country round looks like a perfect setting for a first-class criminal to work in.

Hush! Im not superstitious, but your suggestion of such a thing might bring it about. And I dont want it!

You think you dont, I smiled a little, but deep in your heart you do. You cant fish all the time, and youre even now restively hankering to be back in harness.

Shut up! he growled. Talk of something pleasanter. How do you like the Dallas queen?

Stunning, seductive, and serpentine, I summed up the lady in question.

Moore laughed outright. I must tell Lora that, he said. You see, she agrees with you. Now, I think the right words are stately, gracious, and charming.

All right, I said, you know her better than I do, She is very beautiful, I concede.

What do you mean, concede? Are you against her?

How you do snap a fellow up! No, not exactly. But I wouldnt trust her as far as I could see her,  and Im near-sighted.

Sometimes I think Im no detective after all, Moore said, slowly. Now she gives me no effect of hypocrisy or insincerity.

But she does hint those things to Lora?

Y yes, in a way.

Then Loras more of a detective than you are. But after I see more of the siren, I may change my mind. I didnt talk with her alone at all. What about the grumpy Mr. Ames? Is he in love with the Dallas?

Not at all. In the first place, he wouldnt dare be, for she is engaged to Sampson Tracy, and Tracy is not one to take kindly to any poaching on his domain. Besides that, Ames is a woman hater, also a man hater, and I think, an animal hater.

Pleasant man!

Yes. Hes always in a fierce mood. I dont know, but I imagine he had an affair once

Oh, crossed in love and it made him queer.

Rather say, queered in love and it made him cross.

Yes, he looks cross. Does he always?

Always. He and Samp Tracy are old friends, and Samp can manage him, but nobody else can.

Pleasant guest for Mr. Tracy to have about.

He doesnt mind. Pleasure Dome is usually full of guests and if any want to sulk they are at liberty to do so.

Pleasure Dome?

Yes, thats the Tracy place. Its next to this, but its some distance off. You see, Deep Lake has a most irregular boundary line. It has all sorts of coves and inlets, and theres one that juts in behind the Tracy house. Its so deep and black and so surrounded by trees that its called the Sunless Sea.

Why, thats from Coleridges Kubla Khan, too.

Yes, these are the lines:

You know it, of course, but that will refresh your memory. Well, old Tracy

Is he old?

Oh, no, hes forty-five, but he seems older, somehow. Well, anyway, hes romantic and poetic and imaginative. And he has a fad for Coleridge. Collects editions of him and all that. So he built his enormous and gorgeous house and called it Pleasure Dome. And the deep arm of the lake, which is right beneath his own window, he calls the Sunless Sea. And it is. Its on the north side of the house, and so hemmed in with great firs and cypresses that the sun never gets a look-in.

Must make a delightful sleeping room!

Oh, theres plenty of sunlight from the east and west. His rooms are in a wing, a long L, and you bet they have sunlight and all other modern improvements. The house is a palace.

That all sounds nice for Mrs. Dallas.

It is. And Samp is so drivellingly, so besottedly in love with her, that she will have everything her own way when she takes up the sceptre.

Nobody else in the family? The Tracy family, I mean.

No. Not now. There was. You see, Tracys sister, Mrs. Remsen, and her daughter used to live with him. Then Mrs. Remsen died, about a year ago, or a little more, and then Mrs. Dallas came into the picture, and some think it was at her request Tracy put his niece out

The brute!

Oh, come now, you dont know anything about it. Alma is a lovely girl, but shes a high-handed sort all the Tracys are and her uncle gave her a beautiful home on a near-by island

On an island? A girl, alone!

She has with her an old family nurse, who took care of her as a baby, and old nurses husband is her gardener and houseman, and old nurses daughter is her waitress, and oh, Lord, Alma Remsen is fixed all right.

But on an island!

But she likes being on an island. It was her own choice. She didnt want to stay with the new wife any more than the new wife wanted to have her. You always fly off half-cocked!

All right, all right, I soothed him. Tell me more.

Well, thats all about Alma. Shes a general favourite, has lots of friends, and all that, but of course, when the new mistress of Pleasure Dome comes in at the door, Almas prospects will fly out of the window.

Cut off entirely?

Im not sure, but Ive heard so. I suppose her uncle will always take care of her, but she will no longer be the Tracy heiress.

And how does Miss Alma take that?

Not so good. She has had several talks with the family lawyer, and she has tried to wheedle her uncle, but hes a queer dick, is Samp Tracy, and he obstinately refuses to make a new will or even consider its terms until after hes married.