The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1915-08-05
breath. came humping down the

! oteatn' Soe humping down tue
stairs.
mr. Scott's got rheumatic. Mr.. Titus
He begs to be excused''-
"Buncombe" snapped Mr.. Titus
Hes afraid to- play me. Well, this
means no game for me. A beautiful
day like this and
Il beg your pardon. MI. TITUS" said
l, stepping forward. "If YOU don't
mind taking on stranger 1 will be
happy to go around with you. My
name is Smart. I think you must have
heard OF me through the countess and
your
Great Scott! smart7 Are-are you
the author James Byron Smart, the
the man Who He checked himself
suddenly, but seized me BY the hand
and as he wrung It vigorously dragged
me out Of hearing Of the men behind
the desk.
II am John Bellsmy Smart" said 1,
little miffed.
His shrewd, hard old face underwent
marvellous change. The crustiness
left it as If by magic. His countenance
radiated joy.
II owe you debt Of gratitude. Mr.
Smart. that can never be lifted. Ny
daughter has told me everything. You
must have put up with fearful lot of
nonsense during the weeks she was
with you. I know her we'll. She's
spoiled, and she's got temper. al
though, upon my soul. she seems diff
ferent nowadays. There is a change
in her, by George!'
"She's had her lesson" said l. "Be-
sides l didn't find she had a bad tenn
per-"
"And. say, l want to tell you some
thing else before forget it. l fully
appreciate your views on international
marriage. Allie told me everything
you had to say about it. You must
have rubbed it in. But l think it did
her good. She'll never marry another
foreigner if 1 can help it, If she never
marries. Well. we'll. am glad to see
you and to shake your hand. IL wish
could really tell you how feel to-
ward you. my boy, but IL don't seem
to have the power to express myself.
If p
tried to convince him that the pleas
ure had been all mine and then in
quired for Mrs Titus and the countess.
'"Theyre both here, but the good
Lord only knows where. Mrs. Titus
goes driving every morning. Roads
arc fine if you can stick to them.
Aline said something last night about
riding over to Fassifern this forenoon
with Amberdale and young Shelly.
Let's see, it's half past 10. Yes, they've
gone by this time. Why didn't you
write or telegraph Aline? She'll be
as mad as a wet hen when she finds
you've come without letting her know
II thought should like to take her
by SURPRISE" l mumbled uncomfort-
ably.
"And my son Jasper-why. he will
explode when he hears you're here.
Hes gone over to Covington to see
girl off on the train for Louisville.
You've never seen such a boy. He is
always going to Covington with some
girl to see that she gets the right train
home. But why are we wasting time
here when We might be doing few
holes before lunch? I'll take you on.
OF course. you understand I'm a
wretched player, but I've got one vir-
l never tell funny stories while my
opponent is addressing the ball. I'm
an old duffer at the game. but I've got
more sense than most dufferS."
We sauntered down to the club
house, where he insisted Oh buying me
a dozen golf balls and engaging
caddy for me by the week. Up to the
moment we stepped up to the first tee
he talked necessarily of Aline and
Rosemary. but the instant the game
that characterizes the man who takes
any enterprise seriously be it work or
play.
l shall not discuss our game further
than to say that he played in atrocious-
ly bad form, but with purpose that
let me to some degree into the secret
of his success in life If do say 1t my
self I am fairly good player. l don't
believe l was ever in better humor
than on this gay November morn.
even apologized for Mr.. Titus execra-
BILE foozles. 1 amfably suggested that
he was a little off his game and that
he'd soon strike his gait and give me
a sound beating after the turn. His
smile was polite, but ironic, and 1t
was not long before l realized that he
knew his own game too we'll to be at
fected by caiolery. He just pegged
away, always playing the odd or worse,
accomplishing, unresentful, as even
tempered as the May wind, and never
by any chance winning hole from
me. He was the rarest "duffer" it has
e.. L.