care to have everybody know it."

I assured her that wild horses could not drag from me any confidence
reposed.

"I want to borrow some of your clubs," she faltered.

"My clubs?"

"Yes; some old ones which you do not use regularly."

"You may have any or all the clubs I have," I assured her. "When do you
wish them?"

"Right now."

She was silent a moment, and I was too mystified to frame any comment.

"I am going to tell you all about it," she impulsively declared, laying
her little hand on my arm. "I want them for Mr. Wallace!"

"Mr. Wallace?" I repeated. At that instant I could not think whom she
meant.

"Mr. Bishop's assistant."

"Oh, yes!" I exclaimed. By a mighty effort I kept from smiling. It was
the first time I had heard a "hired man" called an "assistant," and I
have heard them called many names.

"Do you remember that at the dinner I said Mr. Wallace had promised to
teach me the St. Andrews swing?" she asked, her eyes bright with
excitement.

"Yes."

"I took my first lesson yesterday afternoon. Miss Ross and I went over
to Mr. Bishop's after dinner, as we arranged we should during the dance.
We put our clubs in my auto when no one was looking, and went by a
roundabout way to the big sheep pasture to the east of the farmhouse. Do
you know where it is?"

"Perfectly."

"It was still half an hour from sunset, and Mr. Wallace was there
waiting for us. Mr. Smith," clasping her hands, "you should see that
gentleman play golf!"

"I had an idea he could play from the moment he lofted your sliced ball
over the fence that afternoon," I said.

"Can you go with us?" she asked suddenly. "Miss Ross and I promised Mr.
Wallace we would come over this afternoon an I bring a set of men's
clubs with us, and it would be just splendid for you to go with us. Will
you go, Mr. Smith?"

I assured her it would be a pleasure. At that moment Miss Harding
appeared, and we quickly decided to let her into the secret.

"Mr. Wallace said he would arrange with Mr. Bishop to get away from his
work an hour or so any time we came over this afternoon," explained Miss
Lawrence, "so there will be no deception on his part."

"Oh, you should see him drive!" exclaimed Miss Ross, raising her eyes as
if following a ball which was travelling an enormous distance. "And he
did not dare hit them hard for fear of breaking my club. It was
perfectly lovely!"

[Illustration: "We ran the auto into the sheep pasture"]

"And approach