Evening star., 1926-04-04

began the afternoon llldl
Young Rene d dAuriac knocked
Samuel Bullock, the younger,
off the sand bunker and into
the water hazard on the Valley Fair
golf course. This incident excited an
ill-concealed satisfaction not only
among the club members but the
toWnsfolk generally, despite the fact
that Samuel Bullock. senior, had been
largely interested i'll laying out the
links which were the scene of the
tragedy. AS however, an attractive
young lady was involved, the matter
was hushed up, especially since every
body knew that Rene was courtins
Helen Peyton, although their respec'
tive fathers did not speak.
The feud between Maj. d'Auriac and
County Judge Peyton was one of the
traditions of the Blue Grass en-
tWined in the post-bellum history OF
the State and with the romantic mem
ory of certain celebrated beauty
who in their boyhoodS had encouraged
both gallants to love her and had
ended by marrying neither Oh course
it was AZ bottom the ma aJor'S fault,
hut the judges pride was also partly
10 blame. Each in his own way. these
old men were the two leading citizens
of Valley Fair, and as each had his
Observation-Disclosures and CapuletS OF
affection-it was felt that their aloof-
ness added a certain distinction to
local society. At any rate 1t gave
people something to talk about, par
ticularly when it became common
knowledge that Rene d'Auriac had
fallen under the spell of Helen
Peyton'S languid charm.
The secret might have been kept
for a long time had it not been for
old Duke For Old Duke, perhaps be-
cause he was a d'Auriac and there
fore an aristoCrat, had made it evident
that he thought very little of the
Bullocks.
OF course Old Duke should not have
followed Rene on to the Valley Fair
golf course and noZzled the junior Bull
locks ball on the putting-green, but
the links were built on land purchased
from the d'Auriacs and Old Duke had
careened over it from puppyhood. The
Bullock family were playing a two
some when Helen ana Rene overlook
them at the eleventh and sat down on
the adjacent bunker to wait for them
TO hole-in, while Old Duke stood at the
edge of the green. The elder Samuel
putted and missed; the younger
Samuel putted and missed, and his ball
rolled confidingly between the hound S
paws. What more natural than that
any hammered dog should ac-
knowledge the little strangers pres
ence by first smelling of it and then
giving it a gentle push with his nose?
The younger Bullock, who had made
a f1agrantly bad shot, glanced with a
scowl to where Rene sat.
"1'l thank you to keep your dog off
the green he remarked, insolently.
Rene Sprang to his feet.
"Ill thank you to keep civil
tongue In your head" he retorted.
The youth Redeemed and turned
savagely to where Old Duke was toy
ing with a beetle on the side of the
bunker.
Get out of my way* Get off the
course, you"' he cried. kicking the
dog violently in the ribs.
Old Duke uttered a whine of pain.
Next instant Rene had seized Bullock
Junior by the collar of his tweed golf
Jacket, yanked him to the top of the
bunker and hurled him into the water
hazard. Bullock senior leaped toward
Rene. brandishing his mashie, but
stopped short at sight of Old Duke
Crouching between, every hair on end
and fangs exposed.
I'm get you for this roared the
father. You and your internal dog"
"Quiet. Duke" cautioned Rene.
Leave him alone, Come here. boy.
From the piazza of the golf club.
200 yards away, the elite of Valley
Fair watched the bedraggled scion Of
the house of Bullock scrambling on
hands and knees to safety. A faint
cheer echoed across the links.
The elder heard it and shook his
fist in the direction of the clubhouse.
"I'Il get 'em!" he muttered. That
stuck-up young popinjay and the old
popnjay, his father, and that cursed
dog-the entire outfit. Just let 'em
wait"
x j; * <
JUDGE PEYTON sat waiting on his
- piazza for his daughter to come
home. He was a pink old man. run
ming to fat. with thin streaks of
silvery hair radiating like fringe from
a central point on the top of his head.
and he wore an alpaca Jacket and
wrinkled, white cotton socks.
"Drat the girlt' thought the Judge,
knocking the ashes from his corncob
into the crack of the steps. Where
can she be-"
Then he removed his feet from the
railing and descended into the
garden" There was a brisk tapping
of a cane upon the sidewalk and the
figure of Maj. d'Auriac came into view.
Each step. each click of the cane,
brought his enemy nearer, Should he
turn and flee. ignominiously? Not
much, He would look the Major
squarely in the eye Another moment
and the Major was almost beside him.
For second they regarded each other,
the Judge flushing slightly, the Ma
ior's chin stiffening. The next instant
l.. 4 TOa,f a
ffeeting second the Judge had expert
enced a pang. He had not imagined
Louis would look so old. Did he look
Lilo that him Selfo He had q rnnnen-