The Somerset reporter., 1906-10-18
GOLFa and
GUILE
BY Margaret Muz2ty

Philip Prentiss was looking for a
place where he could spend his two
weeks vacation playing golf. AS he
stepped on the train he tried to recall
exactly what pretty Sallie Norton had
told him at a dance the night before.
She said there were several attractive
resorts along the river and one where
a lot of professional men and women
went every summer Unfortunately
the twostep had struck up at that mo-
ment, and she had omitted to mention
its name.
Golf links here?" Philip asked the
conductor as the train slowed down at
a little station.
Yes, sir; finest In the country Rock
dale, Rockdalel Don't forget your
packagesp
An unfortunate commuter who bun
died Off at the same time told Philip
that the pretty little house he saw on
the hill was the Rockdale Golf club, so
he made his way across the fields to
inspect it. The fresh breeze famed
his cheek, the blue river looked cool
and refreshing In the distance, and he
hoped this was the place Sallle bad re-
ferred to. If, with Its natural charm,
1t combined the advantage Of making
acquaintance desirable for a young
man eager to advance In the legal pro-
fession nothing was left to be wished
for. He felt inclined to join the com
muter and ask q few more questions.
only could not, In decency, without Of
ferlng to carry some of his bundles and
hated to make first appearance In
new place bearing a bright blue box
of laundered shirts or a large gilt bird
cage.
He interviewed the club instructor,
who was leaning dejectedly against
pillar of the piazza. After lnqulring
the requisites for eligibility Philip said;
you give lessons, I supposef'
az can't collect anything. Amounts to
givin' 'em, don't it?"
How many membersT Philip asked.
Half an almshouse, third Of an old
ladies' home a quarter of state hos
pital-theres that many and that kind
of folks"
The man had been drinking, Philip
thought, as he strolled down the hill'to-
ward boarding house not far away In
search Of luncheon.
Philip was seated at small table op-
poste a grumpy old man dressed In
dirty flannel shirt. Among the other
guests" was an elderly woman wear
Ing q very short skirt and spectacles,
who hurried Into the room followed by
a fat man, who was mutterlng lmpreca-
lions on things in general and golf In
particular.
Philips table companion chuckled
maliciously.
Must be pleasant for man and his
wife to occupy a ten by ten room all
summer and not be on speaking terms.
She won a cup because her handicap
was bigger than his, and he won't for
give her"
1.-The whole atmosphere appears sui
phuric," Philip remarked.
Are you a golfer?" asked the old
man.
Trying to be-" said Philip.
"Marriedr
NO"
at Is a great game for the single
blessed, but every family should be
without It, There Is no blood or mar
ital relationship that can mitigate its
concentrated bitterness. A woman
went away from here yesterday to get
a divorce because her husband accused
her of moving her ball. 1t Is an awful
temptation We are all human"
After luncheon the old man asked
Philip to play around the course. Philip
borrowed some clubs of the Instructor
and they started off. The old duffer,
as Philip mentally stlgmatlzed him,
sent his ball twenty-five yards, Philip
sent his seven times as many, then ne
and the caddy-they had one between
them-ran ahead and waited.
The old man raised his ball and
clod of earth at the same time.
Hes dIggin' for bait" said the cad
dy grinnlng.
The duffer found his ball behind
small mound of sod, which be pounded
fat with a brassy, batted the ball to
the near side of the bunker then paus-
ed to consider.
STAMP on 1t; mash lt!' cried Philip.
"Why let a barrier raised by man In
terfere when you can smooth out ma
ture as you did"
Three times the duffer struck bis
ball, and each time 1t leaped up In the
air and fell on the ground just behind
him.
"I say, old man, 60 back to the farm
and play tlddlywinks," gasped Philip.
But I don't need any more practice.
I'm learning from observation"
He sent his ball, however, to the edge
of the green.
The next time the buffers ball land
ed just off the course In a rut, Philip
lf0hfad cI0arotfa booming On0 eve on