"I would be willing to pay you five dollars a lesson," I said, ignoring
his question, trusting that the figure named would outweigh scruples, if
he really had any.

"It is more than I would take, though I thank you for the offer," he
said. "I do not doubt that golf is an honourable profession--in fact I
know it is--but for reasons which will not interest you I prefer to
maintain my amateur standing. It will be a pleasure to play with you,
sir, and to help your game if I can, but I would rather not accept
money."

"Very well," I said, "I'll find some other way to repay you. Suppose I
take the first lesson to-morrow evening?"

"To-morrow evening at half after six o'clock," he said, and we shook
hands in parting to bind the agreement.

I had already formed a plan by which I could even matters without the
direct passing of money. It strikes me as odd that this farmhand should
object to becoming a professional golfer, but it tends to prove the
accuracy of my original opinion that he is some college chap, probably
of good family, who is at the end of his resources.

We had no sooner started from Bishop's than Miss Lawrence turned her
batteries on me.

"You think you are very sly, do you not, Mr. Smith?" she began.

"In what way, Miss Lawrence?"

"You think to steal my golf instructor from me," she declared. "That is
just like a man; they are the meanest, most selfish things ever
created."

"Listen to me--"

"I did listen to you," declared that young lady with a triumphant laugh.
"I did listen to you, and I have sharp ears. You are to have your first
exclusive lesson to-morrow evening. I make the discovery that Mr.
Wallace knows more of golf than all of you Woodvale boys together, and
then you seek to monopolise his skill. That's what he did, girls, and he
dare not deny it! What do you think of him?"

"Monster!" laughed Miss Harding, our fair chauffeuse on this return
trip, raising her eyes for an instant to mine.

"Ingrate!" hissed Miss Ross, leaning forward from the tonneau.

"What shall we do with him?" demanded Miss Lawrence.

"Make him take us with him!" they chorused, and I assured them that
nothing would give me more pleasure.

And thus it happened that Wallace acquired four pupils instead of one,
and for three successive evenings we had a jolly time in the old sheep
pasture taking our lessons from this most remarkable "hired man." We had
to let Mr. Harding into the secret the second evening, but