The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1908-07-11

c;tedly. Look there! Do you see
them?" he cried, pointing at the beau
tiful meadows with their winding
stream and gentle slopes.
See what?" 1 demanded somewhat
testify, adjusting my glasses and sur
veying the landscape without perceiv-
ing anything Of unusual interest.
But Vincent, in fever of haste, was
kneeling and unstrapping his golf
clubs. "Hooray," he cried, "Terhune,
a golf course as I'm a sinner. Come
on, we'll have some sport. The old
trains due to wait an hour anyhow"
l looked again, and, sure enough,
saw that at intervals the close-crOpped
grass was dotted with little red flags
like sparks of IRE on a carpet Of
green velvet. Vincent has many fads,
but I think he is keener on golf than
anything else. / was disguised with
him. Vincent" l said with decision,
this is nonsense. You can wait till
we get to Cuppstone to play golf. Ora
ham said there were public links
there"
Yes, and he also said that it was
the rottenest course he ever played
over" said Vincent with some heat.
81 made him admit It. And this one
is a beauty. A private one, I'll
wager. Look at that turf 1t is just
like velvet, nay dear fellow-like vel
vet" and he swept practiced eye over
the wide green slopes.
Now, am fond of the game myself
within reason, and certainly the pros
pect was inviting, for 1 was tired of
-
Vincent was most persuasive. 1 knew
it was foolish thing to do; the train
might not stay so long as we expected
and we might get left; and yet, as
say, it is hard to refuse Vincent any
thing. 1 unwillingly permitted him to
get out my clubs.
Whose links are these?" 1 asked
the guard. do they belong to the
castle?"
'Yessir," replied the guard. "They
belong to Castle Wyckhoff. the family
seat of Baron Wyckhoff. They're all
dead now, though, all 'cept the Honor
able Agatha, and she lives in the cas-
tie and owns All these acres, sir, all
you can see," and the guard waved
his hand grandiloquently toward the
imposing old pile on the hillside and
the green meadows stretching away
far below 1t.
"She must have money" 1 said, re-
f1ectively. Vincent, meanwhile, was
hunting in his grip for an atrocious
red coat he wears when he COILS.
Money!" repeated the guard.
Money? Lor' bless you, sir, she as
millions an nillions. Her own IA
Their was Baron Wyckhof, but e died
when is darter were a little thing. e
never 'ad shilling, but 'er stepfather,
that married Baroness Wyckhoff two
years later, was H'american and 'ad
more pounds than there is stones In
that castle, sir, an arter lis wife died
e 'ad the place built up again An
now they're both dead, sir, and is
stepdaughter, the Honorable Agatha,
as 'er title is, sir, is heiress of all his
millions and FER mothers estate
She ought to marry" / said, still
rehectively, and without any personal
meaning.
The guard smiled knowingly
There's many 4 one arter her, sir, -
he said; but they don't seem to make
no progress against 'er stepfather's
will
Her stepfather's will?" I repeated
with interest. do you hear that,
Vincent?"
But Vincent, his beloved coat al
last found, was half out OF the car
riage. Come on" he shouted, we're
wasting time" And 1, perforce, was
obliged to follow him, although the
guards story promised to be very in
teresting.
After we had played the first hole
and 1 had won Il seldom win a hole
from Vincent, 30 l was in q good
humor) told him what the guard had
said. $50 these grounds belong to the
Honorable Agatha" concluded, "and
| have curiosity enough to wish thai
we might behold this mysterious lady.
| But Vincent wasn't a bit excited
| you can never depend upon him wher
he's playing golf. "Bosh!" he said
ia rather play on her links than SCI
her. If she saw US she might put III
on. I'll bet she's a Grabbed old maid
I'm surprised at you, Terhune, will
your romantic notions. 1 thought you'(
left all that sort OF thing behind you IL
London"
felt myself reddening slightly
though 1 knew Vincent didn't NEAR
anything, and was about to make som,
retort when he drove on Unexpectedly
and stopped in admiration of thu
clean, fast shot he made. 1t jus
cleared a natural bunker and sped OF
beyond.
/ At that instant q discordant mixtur
OF sound burst upon our ears, as tina
OF dog yelping and a vigorous scold
ing in high but sweet feminine voice
With one accord we rushed I'D tn
geatle rise, md in the depression b
yond we beheld one of the handsomes
girls had ever seen in my life. Sh
was bending over setter puppy an,
scolding him. The dogs yelps ha
subsidized to q whimper and he wa
holding up one of his/paws as If b
had been hurt. II told you not +