John Henry Smith Part 21

Carter called me aside the next evening.

"I understand," he said, "that you have retained the services of a private golf tutor."

"Who told you that?" I was thunderstruck.

"Never mind who told me," laughed Carter. "Trying to steal a march on the rest of us, eh? Foxy old Smith; foxy old Smith!"

There was nothing I cared to say, and I said it.

"Is he any good?" Carter asked.

"Is who any good?" I parried.

"Wallace, of course. Oh, I know all about it. You, Miss Lawrence, Miss Ross, and Miss Harding have been taking lessons from Wallace for several evenings over in Bishop's sheep pasture. What I wish to know is this: does this Scotch chap of Bishop's really know anything about the game, or are the girls carried away with him because he is a handsome dog who has seen better days and is now playing in bad luck?"

"I cannot speak for the young ladies," I replied realising that I might as well tell the truth, "but I am smitten with the way he hits a ball, and also with his genius in explaining it to me. Carter, I tell you this fellow Wallace is a wonder!"

Carter was silent a moment.

"I wonder if he would like a job as golf professional?" he said.

"Golf professional?" I repeated. "Where?"

"Right here in Woodvale," declared Carter.

"To take Kirkaldy's place?"

"Yes, to take Kirkaldy's place. Kirkaldy handed me his resignation to-night to take effect on Sat.u.r.day. A rich uncle has died in Scotland, and our young friend will buy his own golf b.a.l.l.s in future, instead of winning them from you and me. Now you and I const.i.tute the majority of the house committee, and if this Wallace is as good as you say, and I do not doubt your judgment in the least, what's the matter with offering him Kirkaldy's place? A man who can drive a dozen b.a.l.l.s two hundred yards and tell how he does it is squandering his time and cheating humanity by serving as hired man."

I told him what Wallace said when I offered him money.

"That's all nonsense," declared Carter. "He can be a professional and return to the amateur ranks after he has gone into some other avocation.

That is the rule not only here but in Great Britain. Kirkaldy can now become an amateur, and doubtless will. Get your hat and we'll go over and talk to this chap right now."

"How about LaHume?" I asked. LaHume is the third member of the house committee.

"Never mind about LaHume," laughed Carter. "I imagine there are reasons why LaHume might oppose the selection of Wallace, but if we are satisfied LaHume will have to be."

The Bishops had retired when we reached the old house, but Wallace came to the door, book in hand. Naturally he was surprised to see us at that hour, and he was even more surprised when Carter told him the object of our visit.

"We are not authorised to make you a definite offer to-night," said Carter. "I am chairman of the committee, and if you care to consider the matter seriously we suggest that you play a round with our present professional, Kirkaldy, to-morrow afternoon. If your work is satisfactory, as I have no doubt it will be from what Smith has said of you, the place is yours at the same salary and the same perquisites received by Kirkaldy."

"And what are these?" asked Wallace, a twinkle in his eye which I had noticed on several occasions. It was a peculiar combination of shrewdness, curiosity, and amus.e.m.e.nt, but one could not take offence at it. He certainly is an odd fish, and I like him even if I do not understand him.

"One hundred dollars a month with room and board, and all you can earn giving lessons," said Carter. "Kirkaldy averages three hundred dollars a month, and could have made more had he not been lazy."

"That certainly is a tempting chance for one who is getting twenty dollars a month," observed Wallace, after a long pause. "I like it here, and will not leave Mr. Bishop without due notice, but if you can obtain my release and can positively a.s.sure me that my amateur standing will not be impaired I will try to qualify for the position you offer. I don't mind telling you," he added, and I noticed the same odd twinkle in his eyes, "that there was a time, and I hope it will recur, when I thought much of playing the game in a non-professional capacity. That, however, is amongst ourselves, and if I become your professional I shall attend strictly to my business."

The following morning I saw Mr. Bishop, who informed me that Wallace had already related the purport of our visit the preceding evening.

"I'll tell you how I look at it, Jack," the old man said. "He's not an awful good hired man, but he's willin' and eager to learn, and has the makings of the best one in the county, but mor'n that he is a real gentleman, and good company for mother and me, and I hate like the mischief to lose him. But Lord bless ye, if he can make three hundred dollars a month teaching you fools how to hit a ball with a stick, why I ain't got no call to keep him here. That's as much money as I make out of this whole blamed farm, and I have to work and not play for a livin'.

If Wallace is the man you want, take him, and I won't put a straw in his way. Only I hope you'll sorter hint to him that we'd take it kindly if he'd make it a point to drop over here once in a while and take supper with mother and me, and stay all night, if he'd care to. Will you do that, Jack?"

I heartily promised I would, and felt as guilty as if I had stolen some of Bishop's prize sheep. I went down the fields and told Wallace the old man had consented to release him, and that Kirkaldy would be on hand at the club to play a trial round at two o'clock.

I will describe that game and some other happenings in my next entry.

ENTRY NO. XIII

OUR NEW PROFESSIONAL

LaHume was furious when Carter and I told him Wallace was a candidate for Kirkaldy's place.

"What do you mean by taking this step without consulting me?" he bl.u.s.tered.

"We have not employed this chap yet," Carter calmly responded. "Don't get excited, Percy, Wallace may not make good."

"But who knows who he is?" demanded LaHume. "He may be the rankest kind of an impostor."

"A golf impostor?" smiled Carter. "I never heard of one. We can get a line on him before he has played five holes."

"I don't mean that," growled LaHume. "What I mean is that we don't know anything about this fellow. He comes with no recommendations, and all that sort of thing."

"If he can play within five strokes of Kirkaldy, and teach Smith how to keep from slicing, that's recommendation enough," remarked Carter. "What have you against him, Percy?"

"I'll vote against him in the committee," hotly declared LaHume, "and if I'm over-ruled I will appeal the matter to the club."

"Go as far as you like, my boy," drawled Carter, slowly adjusting his monocle and turning on his heel.

The news Kirkaldy had resigned and that "Bishop's hired man, Wallace,"

was to have a try out for his place spread rapidly, and created no end of comment and excitement. When it was rumoured that the Misses Harding, Ross, and Lawrence--the three acknowledged beauties of the club--were his sponsors the interest was vastly increased.

Wallace appeared half an hour ahead of the appointed time, and I introduced him to Kirkaldy. The latter studied him intently as they chatted, but asked no questions concerning his ident.i.ty with their native Scotland. Wallace looked over an array of clubs, selected some which suited him, but retained my cleek and mashie. It was agreed I should act as caddy for Wallace, Chilvers for Kirkaldy, and that Carter should referee. LaHume declined to act in any capacity.

All games were postponed to watch this strange contest, and the "gallery" cl.u.s.tered at the first tee numbered fully one hundred. It was agreed that the contest should be at medal play, the match score also to be taken into consideration.

Mr. Harding called me aside before the match started.

"What do you think about this game, Smith?" he asked. "You've seen both of them play, and I hav'n't. This young fellow, LaHume, is bluffing around offering to bet any part of five hundred dollars Kirkaldy will beat this Wallace seven strokes. I don't mind losing the money, but I hate to make a foolish bet and be laughed at."

"Take LaHume up, and I'll stand half the bet," I said, after considering the matter for a moment. "Wallace is a stranger to the course, but I doubt if Kirkaldy or anyone living can beat him seven strokes."

Harding covered LaHume's money, and the latter placed several hundred dollars more at the same odds. Miss Lawrence heard he was betting against Wallace, and her eyes blazed with indignation.

"You go to Mr. LaHume," she said to Marshall, "and ask him what odds he will give that Mr. Wallace does not win the game. Do not tell him who wishes to know."