you hadn't managed to get it out yet? Yes, that is a little awkward for
you. I'm afraid it means that you lose the match.'
'Lose the match?'
'Certainly. The rules are perfectly definite on that point. A period of
five minutes is allowed for each stroke. The player who fails to make
his stroke within that time loses the hole. Unfortunate, but there it
is!'
Arthur Jukes sank down on the path and buried his face in his hands. He
had the appearance of a broken man. Once more, I am bound to say, I
felt a certain pity for him. He had certainly struggled gamely, and it
was hard to be beaten like this on the post.
'Playing eleven hundred and one,' said Ralph Bingham, in his odiously
self-satisfied voice, as he addressed his ball. He laughed jovially. A
messenger-boy had paused close by and was watching the proceedings
gravely. Ralph Bingham patted him on the head.
'Well, sonny,' he said, 'what club would you use here?'
'I claim the match!' cried Arthur Jukes, springing up. Ralph Bingham
regarded him coldly.
'I beg your pardon?'
'I claim the match!' repeated Arthur Jukes. 'The rules say that a
player who asks advice from any person other than his caddie shall lose
the hole.'
'This is absurd!' said Ralph, but I noticed that he had turned pale.
'I appeal to the judges.'
'We sustain the appeal,' I said, after a brief consultation with Rupert
Bailey. 'The rule is perfectly clear.'
'But you had lost the match already by not playing within five
minutes,' said Ralph, vehemently.
'It was not my turn to play. You were farther from the pin.'
'Well, play now. Go on! Let's see you make your shot.'
'There is no necessity,' said Arthur, frigidly. 'Why should I play when
you have already disqualified yourself?'
'I claim a draw!'
'I deny the claim.'
'I appeal to the judges.'
'Very well. We will leave it to the judges.'
I consulted with Rupert Bailey. It seemed to me that Arthur Jukes was
entitled to the verdict. Rupert, who, though an amiable and delightful
companion, had always been one of Nature's fat-heads, could not see it.
We had to go back to our principals and announce that we had been
unable to agree.
'This is ridiculous,' said Ralph Bingham. 'We ought to have had a third
judge.'
At this moment, who should come out of the hotel but Amanda Trivett! A
veritable goddess from the machine.
'It seems to me,' I said, 'that you would both be well advised to leave
the decision to Miss Trivett. You could have no better referee.'
'I'm game,' said Arthur Jukes.
'Suits me,' said Ralph Bingham.
'Why, whatever are you all doing here with your golf-clubs?' asked the
