The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-08-02

player to him.
| I'm fact" he had added insolent-
j ly, I'D be willing to bet five hun
dred dollars that you can't beat
me, and Pm never below eighty
five"
| reminded him that l had play
ed but little in recent years, and
that had no doubt that he could
beat me. Whereupon he had sneer-
ed and remarked that he always
found it thus; people talked low
golf scores, but when it came to
reinforcing conversation wi h
money, they usually crawled into
their holes. His tiance, Miss Ker-
nochan, applauded his statement. |
regretted that courtesy toward an
elderly man had led me into the
lndlscretion of joining his table.
For kernochan was as vulgar as
his daughters lover. And sud-
denly, when Vantine began telling
everyone within earshot that he
had called my bluff" an unrea-
sonlng anger possessed me. | ac-
cepted his challenge.
So, here l was upon the first
tee, the cyncsure of large gal
lery, many of whom privately
wished me luck, but all of whom
were hopeless of my ability to de-
feat man who l had learned last
night was the best player in the
resort. He had lied when he stated
that his best game was eighty-five
According to my informants, and
well-wishers of today, Vantine was
capable of seventy eight. He had
won a great deal of money by
taking unfair matches with strang-
ers, gcaGng them into wagers.
Well, it was my own fault, l
asked sympathy neither from the
gallery nor from myself, but play
ed the best golf | knew. 1t was
not good enough to beat Vantine;
1t was not good enough, so lack
ing was | in practice, even to give
him an argument. The match end
ed six and five, on the thirteenth
green. acted becomingly, l hope,
l promptly congratulated Vantine,
and Immediately paid him the
wager. He took it without shame.
Nor did kernochan or his daughter
seem to think that Vantine had act
ed otherwise than as a gentleman
should. In fact, people told me
that it was Kernochan's habit to
engage in match with any new
conner to the hotel, and then praise
the strangers play to Vantine,
Who would promptly badger hin.
into IA match and a bet.
But | smiled AS these things were
told to me. | had been silly, and
being silly is apt to prove expen-
slye. | never mourn spilled milk.
Instead | look for a dairy.
That night l was as cordial at
dinner as though nothing untoward
had occurred. Miss Kernochan in
vited me to make a fourth at |
bridge, and | accepted. We played !
in the kernochan apartment, and |
won a few dollars. But | did !
more than that. l won the liking |
Of old Kernochan, and even the |
sour-featured daughter and her
pop-eyed lover were quite cordial.
kernochan, like all parvenus-he
was obviously that-talked con-
of his wealth. | learn
ed that he was retired broker,
and that Vantine was the chief
owner of a detective agency that
bore his name. This. latter fact
came out when Kernochan showed
me, as proof of his great wealth,
a ring which he had given his
laughter upon her engagement to
Vantine. He brought it from an
inner room.
"The setting is a little loose, so
Alice ISN'T wearing it," he told me.
Il shall have it fixed in New York
next week."
| admired the ring. An enormous
ruby, it was worthy of the warm
est admiration. And /, who had
dealt so successfully with another
ring. net SO long ago, eyed it with
onging appreciation. l encourag:
I'd the old vulgarian to tell me
about the stone.
, CONTINUED in Our Next Issue)