eally know anything about the game,
or are the girls carried away with him because he is a handsome dog who
has seen better days and is now playing in bad luck?"

"I cannot speak for the young ladies," I replied realising that I might
as well tell the truth, "but I am smitten with the way he hits a ball,
and also with his genius in explaining it to me. Carter, I tell you this
fellow Wallace is a wonder!"

Carter was silent a moment.

"I wonder if he would like a job as golf professional?" he said.

"Golf professional?" I repeated. "Where?"

"Right here in Woodvale," declared Carter.

"To take Kirkaldy's place?"

"Yes, to take Kirkaldy's place. Kirkaldy handed me his resignation
to-night to take effect on Saturday. A rich uncle has died in Scotland,
and our young friend will buy his own golf balls in future, instead of
winning them from you and me. Now you and I constitute the majority of
the house committee, and if this Wallace is as good as you say, and I do
not doubt your judgment in the least, what's the matter with offering
him Kirkaldy's place? A man who can drive a dozen balls two hundred
yards and tell how he does it is squandering his time and cheating
humanity by serving as hired man."

I told him what Wallace said when I offered him money.

"That's all nonsense," declared Carter. "He can be a professional and
return to the amateur ranks after he has gone into some other avocation.
That is the rule not only here but in Great Britain. Kirkaldy can now
become an amateur, and doubtless will. Get your hat and we'll go over
and talk to this chap right now."

"How about LaHume?" I asked. LaHume is the third member of the house
committee.

"Never mind about LaHume," laughed Carter. "I imagine there are reasons
why LaHume might oppose the selection of Wallace, but if we are
satisfied LaHume will have to be."

The Bishops had retired when we reached the old house, but Wallace came
to the door, book in hand. Naturally he was surprised to see us at that
hour, and he was even more surprised when Carter told him the object of
our visit.

"We are not authorised to make you a definite offer to-night," said
Carter. "I am chairman of the committee, and if you care to consider the
matter seriously we suggest that you play a round with our present
professional, Kirkaldy, to-morrow afternoon. If your work is
satisfactory, as I have no doubt it will be from what Smith has said of
you, the place is yours at the same