Evening star., 1923-07-01

she said. TITS your honor. Fire away.
and remember that you've got to
do this nine In ifty-three at the out
side"
Rollo's thoughts fitted wistfu1ly to
the snug surgery where DR.. Brown
was probably sitting at this moment
surrounded by the finest antidotes.
DO you know. think I ought
"Of course. you ought to-" said
Mary. "If you did tho first nine in
forty-six, you can't possibly take
fifty-three coming in"
For one long moment Rollo con-
tinued to hesitate moment during
v hich the instinct Of self-preserva-
ton seemed as IL 1t must win the
day. But there is a deeper, nobler
instinct than that Of self-preservation.
the instructive desire of a golfer who
is at the top of his form to go on and
beat his medal-score record. If. he
felt, he went of now to take anti
dotes, the doctor might possibly save
his life; but reason told him that never
again would he be likely to do the
first nine in forty-six.
Rollo Podmarsh hesitated no longer.
With a pale set face, he teed up his
ball and drove.
II were telling this story to a
golfer. nothing would please me bet
ter than to describe shot by shot
Rollo's progress over the remaining
nine holes. But these details would,
1 am aware. be wasted on you. Let 1t
- t. ln1
proach trickled onto the eighteenth
green he had taken exactly fifty
shots.
Three for it," said Mary Kent.
STEADY. now. Take 1t quite easy.
and be sure to lay your second dead. "
1t was prudent counsel. but Rollo
was now thoroughly above himself.
He had got his feet wet in a puddle
on the sixteenth, but he did not care.
His winter woollies seemed to be lined
with ants, but he ignored them. All
he knew was that he was on the
last green in ninety-six, and he meant
to finish in style. No tame three
puts for him. His ball was five yards
away, but he aimed for the back of
the hole and brought his putter down
with a whack. Straight and true the
ball sped, hit the dish. jumped high
in the air and fell into the hole with
a rattle.
"Oh" cried Mary.
*<*
u OLLO PODMARSH wiped his fore
N head and leaned dizzily on his
putter. He had achieved his life's
ambition, but what now? Already he
was conscious of a curious discom-
fort within him. He felt as he sup
posed Italians Of the middle ages
must have felt after dropping in to
take pot luck with the Borgias. II
was hard. He had gone round In
ninety-seven, but he could never take
the next step in the career which he
had mapped out in his dreams-the
money match with the lumbago-
stricken Col. Bodger.
Mary Kent was hutterfng round
him, bubbling congratulations, but
Rollo sighed.
Thanks" he said. "Thanks very
much. But the trouble is, I'm afraid
I'm going to die almost Immediately
I've been poisoned"
POISONED"
eyes. Nobody Is to blame. Every
thing was done with the best inten-
tions. But the fact remains"
But I don't understand"
Rolio explained. Mary listened
pallidly.
Are you sure?' she gasped.
--ll
"rhe arrowroot tasted rummy."
But arrowroot always does"
Rollo shook his head.
mo" he said. "It tastes like warm
plotting paper, but not rummy."
Mary was smiling.
Don't cry" urged Rollo tenderly
Don't cry"
But I must. And I've come out
without a handkerchief"
"Permit me-" said Rollo, producing
one of her best from his left breast
pocket.
"I wish had a, powder puff" saie
Mary. ~
"Allow me-" said Rollo. "And your
hair has become little disordered
II / may" and fr'om the same reser'
voir he drew a handful of hairpins.
Mary gazed at these exhibits with
amazement.
"But-but these are mine! she ex'
claimed.
"Yea I sneaked them from time
to time"
But why?"
Because I loved you," said Rollo
And in a few moving sentences which
I will not trouble you. with he went
on to elaborate this theme.
Mary listened with her heart full Of
surging emotions. The scales ha6
fallen from her eyes. She had thought
slightingly of this man because he
had been a little overcareful Of hi
health; and all the time he had hat
within him the potentiality oi
heroism
"Rollo" she cried, and flung her
self into his arms.
Mary" muttered Rollo. gathering
her up.
at told you 1t was all NONSENSE
said Mrs. willoughby. coming up al
this tense moment and going on witt
the conversation where she had left
of. "I've just seen Lefty, and she
said she meant to put you out of your
misery, but the chemist wouldn't sell
her any poison, so she let 1t CO."
Rollo disentangled himself from
Mary.
What" he cried.
Mrs. Willoushby repeated her re-
marks.
You're sureT' he said.
"Of course I'm sure"
"Then why did the arrowroot taste
rummyg"