Daily camera., 1901-06-10
6he Star Coddie Of
MeodoHfIeld
by Douglas z. Doty.

7 TITLE Jamie Mcleod, the young
II son of the Scotch farmer whose
stock farm ran parallel to the Mead
owtield golf course, despite his name
and his sandy hair, was truly n
Yankee.
Mcleod senior was n widower; he
was also miser of the most pro-
nounced type, and poor jamie led
anything but joyous existence till
that day when young Tom Wetherby,
the club champion, hired him as n
caddie
Jamie had to exist on diet of po-
tatoes and oatmeal and not any too
much of either. He was allowed to
go to school IN the forenoon, but aft
ernoon he was forced to mind the
cows and do numberless chores about
the farm.
The fourteenth hole lay alongside
OF McLeod's cattle yard and high
fence separated the two. On an av-
crngc about two golf balls day
dropped in on the farmers side, and
he never would allow any of the play
ers or the caddies to climb the fence,
for the balls sold for ten cents apiece
in the village.
Jamie had reached that age when
he began TO be ashamed of his tat
tered clothes and rebellious in heart
that his father never allowed him n
cent of spending money. The last
straw was when he had sold pair
of baby rabbits of his own raising,
and the farmer made him turn over
the proceeds to him.
That's my money, and I mean to
keep it," Jamie had said in his de-
liberate way.
I'm your father, and you'll have
TO co as say!" retorted the old man.
and his eyes Travelled significantly
:fom the boy TO the handy strap.
Poor Jamie had already felt the
sting of the strap once that day, SO
he decided discretion was the better
part of valor, and remarked: "Fa
ther, supposin' l could hire out to
work for somebody, would you let
me?"
"Ef anyone is fool enough to hire
shiftless, good-fer-nothin' chap like
you, might let yer go, providin'you
pay me for yer board and lodgin';
seein' your my son, We'll say three
dollars week."
Tom Wetherby was practicing on
new putting green the next after
noon, when ragged urchin walked
timidly up and touched his cap.
Pardon, sir" he said; but do
you want to hire a caddie?"
Now, it so happened that Wetherby
was searching for good caddie. so
he looked the caddie over critically.
60 home and fix yourself up in
some respectable clothes, and l will
think about i'll" he replied bit
sharply. and he went on practicing.
Presently he glanced up from his
play and saw the boy sitting with his
back to a big elm, aud gazing for
lornly at his ragged shoes.
There was something so abject in
the droop Of the boys head that
Wetherby strolled over to the lad.
well. youngster," he remarked.
kindly. WY don't you do as sug-
gested?"
II haven't got any other Clothes"
said the boy, wearily. These is all
got"
Wetherby took notice then, for the
first time, Of the boys face that
shone from soap and water; of his
curly brown hair that had been
brushed with scrupulous care.
whats your name?" asked Weth-
erby.
Jamie Mcleod, sir"
"What! The son of old miser Nc
Leod?" cried the other. Poor lit
tie chap; so that's the way of it! I'll
give you try. I'll pay you three
dollars a week to start. If you prove
success I'll make it four. How's
that?"
The boys face had grown fairly
radiant with joy; then suddenly the
light went out of his eyes.
81 s'pose l don't lock fit." he said,
woefully.
20, that's all right" said the man
cheerfully. "rll give you couple of
weeks pay in advance. That ought
to pretty well fix you up. hadn't it?"
The boy shook his head in hope
less sort of way.
"sTain't no use, guess" he said,
resignedly. Father said l couldn't
work for nobody less l paid him
three week board"
'I'll have little talk with your
father myself" he told the boy, and
then and there he stalked in upon
the miser and gave him piece of his
mind. Among other things he in
formed the farmer that if he didn't
treat his son better, he, Wetherby,
would make the town too hot to hold
him.
Two days after Jamie, smart in new
clothes and red cap, started in on
his duties as caddie. In weeks
time the boy became the star cad
die of the course.
From almost the first time the boy
was absolutely happy from morning
to night. Then came a disappoint-
ment; Wetherby took to playing
with partner two or three times
a week-a very beautiful young lady.
whom Jamie learned to call Miss
Elizabeth"
Now. Wetherby had been working
himself up into splendid form, but
when he got to playing with the girl
Jamie was much worried to notice
that he went all to pieces on his