The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1947-05-01
Play-Of
=
By WILLIAM RAINEY
Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.
WNU Features.


the paper on the bulletin board read
challenged the winner Of the cen
ter's golf tournament. At two p. m.
at the Level Hill Country Club.
Steve breezed oHt the gate and
fumed until the bus came along and
he elambered 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
winder behind 9 desk" he growled.
4 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 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 UNI
til he was tagged for shipment in the
other direction-Anzio A pretty bad
arm, but they did a neat reconstruc-
ton on il. He blessed them for that
When he won the tournament on the
center's course, he knew he'd be go
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
III win even with a cannon ball."
Steve assured him.
He wore brown fannels and hoped
the Navy would be in exercise
clothes too He looked at his wrist
watch. Three-ffteen. II 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 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
Lhing?" he called, grinning, as he
her.
The ball. The only one / had.
One measly repaint job and lost
t" She brushed long blonde hair
rom her face. Steve looked hard
or the ball. He looked at the girl
he same way. He stopped grum-
bling to himself about missing the
,lay-off
They couldn't locate the BAH.
steve produced one and bounced it
m the fairway Use this" heNof-
cred.
Thanks" the girl said. Il was
,laying better than / expected.
hen put this drive into the fence.
hats what happens when you stop
CONCENTRATING"
II know" Steve said.
play much goIf?" she asked.
Steve said he did, but hadn't until
ately. No use being a bore about
is pro efforts. He couldn't COM
letely suppress curiosity about how
his girl played the game, however.
Tut the way she looked in a gray :
Sirt and yellow blouse would justify
ny performance. It turned out that
er game was up to her looks. That
as apparent in the first shot she
lade with an iron straight to the 8
reen. She sank the first putt
At the ninth hole she said. I'm q
ay you through to the eighteenth. q
hat is, if don't lose the ball"
You'd better not" Steve jibed. q
was Ellen and Steve between them 3
wv. Neither one remained more 9
an two strokes up on the other for !
Try long. Steve was playing brisk .
and enjoying the companionship .
well as the sport. At the seven. .
enth they were even. =
Steve held out his hand. Last o
he, Ellen. hay the best girl win" D
n smile ssas very warTn, and they "
aged the final strokes carefully. "
lree apiece to the green. Ellen u
nned out In one putt. Steve =
ltched her fondly. A great part. :,
r, he thought. He took two. =
That's what happems when you e.
~ concentrating, Steve thought, "a
hey sat In the nineteenth hole Ii
n q pair Of frosty g1asses. But Il tr
q BEEN pleasure 20 see her win. d.
was wondering how to ask her 81
a date st