which looks out on the ninth green, was Mortimer. He was grovelling on
the floor, and I confess that, when I caught sight of him, my heart
stood still. I feared that his reason, sapped by dissipation, had given
way. I knew that for weeks, day in and day out, the niblick had hardly
ever been out of his hand, and no constitution can stand that.
He looked up as he heard my footstep.
'Hallo,' he said. 'Can you see a ball anywhere?'
'A ball?' I backed away, reaching for the door-handle. 'My dear boy,' I
said, soothingly, 'you have made a mistake. Quite a natural mistake.
One anybody would have made. But, as a matter of fact, this is the
club-house. The links are outside there. Why not come away with me very
quietly and let us see if we can't find some balls on the links? If you
will wait here a moment, I will call up Doctor Smithson. He was telling
me only this morning that he wanted a good spell of ball-hunting to put
him in shape. You don't mind if he joins us?'
'It was a Silver King with my initials on it,' Mortimer went on, not
heeding me. 'I got on the ninth green in eleven with a nice
mashie-niblick, but my approach-putt was a little too strong. It came
in through that window.'
I perceived for the first time that one of the windows facing the
course was broken, and my relief was great. I went down on my knees and
helped him in his search. We ran the ball to earth finally inside the
piano.
'What's the local rule?' inquired Mortimer. 'Must I play it where it
lies, or may I tee up and lose a stroke? If I have to play it where it
lies, I suppose a niblick would be the club?'
It was at this moment that Betty came in. One glance at her pale, set
face told me that there was to be a scene, and I would have retired,
but that she was between me and the door.
'Hallo, dear,' said Mortimer, greeting her with a friendly waggle of
his niblick. 'I'm bunkered in the piano. My approach-putt was a little
strong, and I over-ran the green.'
'Mortimer,' said the girl, tensely, 'I want to ask you one question.'
'Yes, dear? I wish, darling, you could have seen my drive at the eighth
just now. It was a pip!'
Betty looked at him steadily.
'Are we engaged,' she said, 'or are we not?'
'Engaged? Oh, to be married? Why, of course. I tried the open stance
for a change, and----'
'This morning you promised to take me for a ride. You never appeared.
Where were you?'
'Just playing golf.'
'Golf! I'm sick of the very name!'
A spasm shook Mortimer.
'You mustn't let people hear you saying things like that!' he said. 'I
somehow felt, the moment I began my up-swing, that everything was going
to be all right. I----'
'I'll give you one more chance. Will you take me for a drive in your
car this evening?'
'I can't.'
