The Press., 1906-11-28
GOLF And
 GUILE
By Margaret Mu2Sey

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 little station.
 "Yes, sir; finest in the country. Rock dale, Rockdale! Don't forget your packages!"
 An unfortunate commuter who bun dled of 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 1t. The fresh breeze famed his cheek, the blue river looked cool and refreshing in the distance, and he hoped this was the place Sallie had re- ferred to, If, with its natural charm, 1t combined the advantage of making acuuaintanceS desirable for young man eager to advance in the legal pro- fesslon nothing was left to be wished for. He felt inclined to join the com muter and ask a few more questions, only could not, in decency, without of fering to carry some of his bundles and hated to make a 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 inQuiring the requisites for eligibility Philip said:
 You give lessons. supposeT
 "I can't collect anything. Amounts to givin' 'em. don't itf'
 How many membersT' Philip asked.
 Half an almshouse. third of an old ladies' home. quarter of state hos pital-there's that many and that kind of folks"
 The man had been drinking, Philip thought, as he strolled down the hill to- ward a boarding house not far away in search of luncheon. Philip was seated at a small table op- poslte a grumpy old man dressed in dirty flannel shirt Among the other guests" was an elderly woman wear Ing a very short skirt and spectacles, who hurried into the room followed by a fat man, who was muttering impreca- iTN nd onl@ U particular.
 Philips table companion chuckled maliciously.
 Must be pleasant for a 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."
 "The whole atmosphere appears sul- phuric," Philip remarked.
 Are you a golfer?" asked the old man.
 "Trying to bes a Philip.
 "Married?"
 "No."
 "It Is a great game for the single blessed, but every family should be without it. There is no blood or mar ltal relationship that can mitigate it's concentrated bitterness. A woman went away from here yesterday to get a divorce because her husband accused her of moving her ball. It 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 of. The old duffer, as Philip mentally stigmatized him, sent his ball twenty-five yards, Philip sent his seven times as many, then he 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.
 He's diggin' for bait" said the cad dy, grinning.
 The duffer found his ball behind a small mound of sod, which he pounded lat with a brassy, batted the ball to the near side of the bunker. then paus- ed to consider.
 Stamp on it; mash itv' cried Philip. | "Why let barrier raised by man in- l terfere when you can smooth out na- ture as you didT'
 Three times the duffer struck his | ball, and each time it leaped up In the l air and fell on the ground just behind l him.
 q say, old man, go back to the farm | and play tiddlywinks," gasped Philip. | "But I don't need any more practice. | Pm learning from observation"
 He sent his ball, however, to the edge | of the green.
 The next time the dufcer's ball land | ed just off the course in a rut. Philip | lighted cigarette, keeping one eye on his opponent. and as he held the blaz- Ing match before his face the old man shuffled his ball with his foot to an easy lie.
 Hold on there! What are you do ingT Philip cried.
 "Nothin4-nothin0. T"-
 "Yon moved your ball. 1 saw you. Didn't you?'' to the caddy.
 "Aln't he the Foxy Grandpa?' said the boy.
 He is a dishonest, disgusting, dis reputable person. A man who would do that would rob widows and or phans." And Philip marched off in a rage. leaving the duffer staring in amazement after him.
 Philip returned the clubs to the dis nal instructor and wrung his hand at parting.
 Il did you an injustice" he said. Knowing, as do now, what your life In this place must be, my heart bleeds for you"
 Sallie had gone away when he re- turned to town. so Philip could not tell her the result of his first venture into the world of sport, but he soon made another and that time scraped the ac- quaintance of youth on the train who gave him some information worth hay in1 |