'll do! I'll back him for ten
dollars against any man you've got."

"I am not eligible to play in Woodvale," observed Wallace, a peculiar
smile hovering on his lips, "so it is useless to discuss that."

"You shall play as my guest," declared Miss Lawrence. "I have a perfect
right to--"

"I should be glad to extend that courtesy to Mr. Wallace at any time," I
interrupted, fearing that she might say something which would be
misconstrued.

"I thank both of you, but it is out of the question," said Wallace with
quiet dignity, and Miss Harding with her usual tact changed the topic by
asking Wallace to illustrate a certain point relating to the short
approach shot.

On our way back to the auto I walked with Mr. Bishop, and of a sudden a
thought occurred to me.

"I am in an important competition for a trophy presented to the club by
Mr. Harding," I explained, "and I wish you to do me a favour."

"What kind of a favour?"

"If I can arrange with Wallace to give me a few lessons in driving and
approaching, will you have any objections? It would put some extra money
in his pocket."

"Not after he is through with his work," Bishop said, hesitating a
moment. "But I can't have you folks takin' up his time as a regular
thing when he should be out in the field. This thing to-day is all right
enough, and I'm glad to accommodate Miss Lawrence and the rest of ye,
but of course, as you know, Jack, it breaks up his day's work, and this
is a busy season on a farm like this. But as a rule he is through his
chores at half-past six, and there's lots of sunlight after that."

I managed to get Wallace aside before we left the farmhouse. I told him
of the club competition and of my desire to win the Harding trophy.

"Mr. Bishop tells me your time is your own after half-past six in the
evening," I said. "Would you be willing to give me a few lessons after
that hour? I will bring clubs and balls and meet you where we were this
afternoon."

"I will tell you anything I know, Mr. Smith," he said, "but I fear I
shall prove a poor instructor."

"I shall expect to pay for your time, Mr. Wallace, and if you can
improve my drive you will find it worth your while," I said, glad of a
chance to do something in an honourable way for a chap who certainly has
not been favoured with his share of good fortune.

"If I accept pay I will become a professional golfer, will I not, Mr.
Smith?" he asked, and for the life of me I did not know what to say.