The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-24


figures for a beginner, and although It was
growing late, persuaded Woodhouse into
taxing a turn around the full eighteen holes.
II was long past the Brown dinner hour
Wnen they had finished, but the new convert
ola not appear to attach any importance
70 tnat fact. He insisted upon driving The
Flend'' home, and before they separated an
agreement had been reached for a meeting
at the club the next afternoon
And be sure you hunt me up that address
--Where get a red coat, you know,
DaWled Mr.. Brown, standing up on the back
seat OF the rapidly receding carriage. The
Flend laughed as he entered the house, and
the sound was not a pleasant one.
1t Is a remarkable fact that Mr.. Brown
bought no less than thirty-seven drivers
DeIore nnding one whose length and lie"
exactly suited him, and as he broke that
one on the very first round he began to
nave realizing sense of the exacting ma
ture or the fascination TO which he had
yielded himself. OF course, the first am
ELTON OF every true golfer is TO possess an
absolutely perfect set Of clubs, and Mr..
Brown felt very much annoyed at his mis-
fortune. However, his collection of irons"
was perhaps unequaled in the country. His
chased at about it's weight in gold from a
celebrated professional player whose iden-
tity may be thinly disguised under his ia
a good cleek, and Mr.. Brown expected to
do wonders with 1t at the next monthly
handicap. For practice work he bought
several others exactly like II in appearance,
and unfortunately got the lot all mixed up
through the stupidity of caddie. This was
even more disheartening than the. loss OF
his driver, and, although the professional
was called in and commissioned to pick out
the masterpiece, Mr.. Brown never felt quite
sure that the lost treasure had been recov-
cred. Assuredly the ceek did not play the
same as when willie" had used ii In es-
tabhshing new record for the course, and
Mr. Brown felt vaguely that he had been
Swindled. There could be no doubt though
about his wooden putter, monstrosity that
bore the name of Philip and which was
guaranteed to have once belonged to Allan
Robertson himself. 1t a glorious
weapon, and as Mr.. Brown invariably used
an iron putter he never lost his confidence
tique
All this, of course. cost moro or less
money, and the size Of the clubmaker's bill
rather startled Mr.. Brown when it was pre-
sented at the end of the month. Though
after ALL ne thought to himself, II should
probably have spent as much in Sam
Wards and been none the better for them. T"
or course the unhappy man had entirely
ignored the fact that his consumption of
Scotch and soda" was increasing in in
verse ratio to his abstinence from other
forms of liquid refresment; but the delu-
sion is not an uncommon one among the
fraternity of golfers, and nothing is SO mis-
leading as statistics, with the possible ex-
ception of Scotch and soda itself.
One afternoon about ten days after Mr.
prised to receive an early morning call from
Mr. McTavish the senior partner in the
she found that gentleman in state of I'M
usual excitement, and it was with some
difficulty that she finally gathered that he
had come to inquire as to the whereabouts
of Mr.. Brown. On her informing him that
Mr. Brown had taken a day off and was
spending it upon the golf course Mr. Nc
lavish drew a long breath of relief, but it
was evident that he was both surprised and
annoyed. 1t appeared that Mr. Brown had
given no intimation of his intended absence.
and as he held the combination or the safe
1t had been impossible to transact any bust
ness at the office. In this emergency Mr..
McTavish had taken the first train out to
Tor err n ind nIIf TVh q We
And l was prepared. madam, for the
worst" he concluded gravely.
"Apoplexy perhaps" hazarded Mrs.
'Or Canada" retorted Mr. McTavish.
Well, of course it was unjustifiable, this
insinuation on the part of the senior part
ner. but it must be remembered that Mr..
McTavish was very dignifed old gentle
man, with a tendency to suppressed govt,
and Mr.. Browns dereliction had put him
to a great deal of bodily Inconvenience and
mental discomfort. 1t was annoying to find
that all this pother had been caused by a
ridiculous game of golf, and Mr.. McTavish
considered that he did well to be angry.
Nevertheless Mrs. Brown resented the inn
putation and some warm words passed.
lavish bitterly, 'if Brown had broken his
leg or had been killed on the railroad-that
would have been some excuse"
'But. to find him playing golf with the
market liable to go to pieces at any mo-
ment1-I don't know what can can say to that;
short in the consciousness that the English
language was entirely unequal to the due
expression of his feelings.
Perhaps you've said quite enough all
ready remarked Mrs. Brown Jelly; but
don't know what you are to 90 about 1t un-
less you go in for golf yourself"
II go in for golf" gasped Mr. McTavish.
why not?' 1t would help you to under
stand Mr.. Browns position and be an eX-
cellent thing for your health. Mr.. Brown
has never been better since he took to golf.
1t keeps him in the open air, ne mas q
splendid appetite. an excellent temper, ana
he hardly ever drinks Sam Ward nova
days, a point which some other people might
do well to bear in mind at this hour in the
morning.
skirts and sailed majestically out of the
room, leaving Mr. McTavish to don the con-
Xersaton cap at his lelsHpe ~ to od
Immediately sent for his lawyer and sate
expert.
When Brown came home. that night. fresh
from a glorious victory over The Fiend,'
Mrs. Brown told him of her visitor and his
extraordinary behavior. Mr.. Brown only
smiled at the prejudices and narrow-mind-
edness of the nongolfing class and went out
on the lawn to practice UP his approach
ing"
1t must be confessed, however, that as
time went on, Mrs. Brown was not wholly
satisfied with Mr.. Browns attitude to-
wards all things outside of golf She smiled,
indulgently at his fancy of taking a cleek
to church in lieu of walking stick, but
she frowned when she discovered that he
had laid out a course of short holes among
the flower beds, and she was annoyed to
see that the front lawn looked as though
Sin Roger de Coyerly' had been performed
upon it by select company of patent har-
rows and steam ditchers. It was also very
provoking, upon the occal1rn of grand
dinner party, that Mr.. Bro IN should have
brought up from the city dozen golf balls
instead Of the French artighokes that ne
had been instructed to procure. The cook
had done his BEST but even marvellous
sauce could not make them go down with
the guests, and the chef had given warning
the very next day. 1t was too bad, for he
had been veritable treasure. real pearl
among cooks.
Mrs. Brown finally felt 'onelled to have
serious conversation wiz DER husband. She
been near the office for month and al
though Mr. McTavisI had offered no remon-
STRANGE either verbally or otherwise, his
very silence was portentouS. AS Mr..
Browns income was derived solely from his
interest in the business, he could not ar
ford to entirely ignore his responsibilities,
and, after all, golf was simply an amuse-
ment and not the real business of life. Mr..
Brown listened attentively to what Mrs.
Brown had to say and acknowledged frank
go to town, effect reconciliation with Mr..
McTavlsh, and take up his duties with new
zeal and fresh determination. Yes, he GER
tainly would that-it was the only proper
course
But when will you go?" urged Mrs.
Brown.
Just as soon as the monthly handicap is
over" answered Mr.. Brown firmly.
Mrs. Brown said no more, but she turned
away with sigh, and with an uncomfort-
able foreboding of what the future might
bring forth.
Two or three days after this conversation
1t happened to be wet and Mrs. Brown had
occasion TO go to town. On returning home
a. nNsCTN Vino Oh rr-Oc SIR mi sod m thn