The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1945-08-02
Play.Of
By WILLIAM RAINEY
Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.
WNU Features,

T. STEVE WESTWIN'S pass al
~ lowed him to leave the GONZALES
cent center at two-thirty p. m. He
boiled. He'd be late. Ensign Davis,
the paper on the bulletin board read,
challenged the winner of the cen-
ter's golf tournament. At two D.. m.
at the Level Hill Country Club.
Steve breezed out the gate and
fumed until the bus came along and
ne clambered in. He griped about
the situation to the bus driver as they
rolled over the warm southern
countryside. always you have to
do business with some red tape
wlnder behind a desk" he growle6.
I won the tournament, fair and
square. I accepted this Navy up
starts challenge for today at two
O'Clock. The recreation committee
sent word I'd be there. Then they
gave me a pass to leave at two
thirty! Don't they want the honor
OF the Army upheld?"
Maybe it's part OF the idea to
keep you boys relaxed. Not in a
hurry" the bus driver said. seeking
soothing words.
"How's your boy?" Steve asked.
Had a letter yesterday. Still in
the Pacific" the man said.
Steve had had no experience in
that theater of operations. He had
eaten desert dust, and moved on un-
til ne was tagged for shipment in the
other direction-Anzio. A pretty bad
arm. but they did a neat reconstruc-
ton on it. He blessed them for that.
When he won the tournament on the
center's course, he knew he'd be CO.
ing back some day to professional
golf.
Now this Navy challenger, this
pretender to the golf crown between
the convalescent center and the Ma
val Hospital nearby-Well, Steve
was confident.
The bus ground to a stop at the
country club. Keep your left ell
bow straight and watch the ball."
said the driver. whose loyalty was
with the Army.
I'll win even with a cannon ball."
Steve assured him.
He wore brown hannels and hoped
the Navy would be in exercise
clothes too. He looked at his wrist
watch. Three-ifteen. 1t might be
too much to expect the Navy to be
there at all.
Extensive inquiry at the clubhouse
brought Steve no knowledge of the
presence or whereabouts of Ensign
Davis.
He decided the center would have
to send a formal apology for his late
ness and went out to the first tee
alone. The course looked inviting.
He played good golf to the sixth
hole. A girl. also alone, was leav.
ing the green ahead. Steve holed
out and walked to the next tee. The
girl had driven. She was hallway
down the fairway, searching the
ditch against the fence. Steve wait
ed. Then he skipped his own drive
and walked down. Lose some
thing?" he called. grinning, as he
approached her.
THE ball. The only one I had.
One measly repaint job and l lost
it," She brushed long blonde hair
from her face. Steve looked hard
for the ball. He looked at the girl
the same way. He stopped grum.
bling to himself about missing the
play-off.
They couldn't locate the ball.
Steve produced one and bounced il
or the fairway. Use this" he of.
fered.
Thanks" the girl said. Il was
playing better than l expected.
Then I put this drive into the fence.
That's what happens when you stop
concentrating"
Il know" Steve said.
PLAY much golf" she asked.
Steve said he did. but hadn't until
lately. No use being a bore about
his pro efforts. He couldn't com,
pletely suppress curiosity about how
this girl played the game. however
But the way she looked in a gray
skirt and yellow blouse would justify
any performance. 1t turned out that
her game was up to her looks. Thai
was apparent in the first shot she
made with an iron straight to the
green. She sank the first putt.
At the ninth hole she said, III
play you through to the eighteenth
That is, if I don't lose the ball"
You'd better not" Steve jibed
1t was Ellen and Steve between them
now. Neither one remained more
than two strokes up on the ether fol
very long. Steve was playing brisk.
ly and enjoying the companionshir
as well as the sport. At the seven,
teenth they were even.
Steve held out his hand. Las
hole, Ellen. May the best girl win.
Her smile was very warm. and the,
played the final strokes carefully
Three apiece to the green. Eller
canned out in one putt. Steve
watched her fondly. A great part
--. ~ <L~,,rIt IL <~Olr x.,.