"But how can I drive while he's hopping up and down behind me? He puts me all off my swing!" "I'm glad my protest has some effect on you," said Wally. "Now I understand that some of you are members of the Greens Committee of this club. As a member of the said club, I wish to make a formal request that we be allowed to pass." "Denied," said Watlington. "Drive, Jim." "Do you mean to say that you refuse us our rights--that you won't let us through?" "Absolutely," murmured old Peebles. "Absolutely." "But why--why? On what grounds?" "On the grounds that you're too fresh," said Colonel Peck. "On the grounds that we don't want you to go through. Sit down and cool off." "Drive, Jim," said Watlington. "You talk too much, young man." "Wait a second," said Wally. "I want to get you all on record. I have made a courteous request----" "And it has been refused," said old Peebles, blinking at both of us. "Gentlemen, you can't go through!" "Is that final?" "It is--absolutely." And Watlington and Peck nodded. "Drive, Jim!" This time it was Hamilton who spoke. "Pardon me," said Wally. He skipped out in front of the tee, lifted his cap and made a low bow. "Members of the Greens Committee," said he, "and one other hog as yet unclassified, you are witnesses that I default my match to Mr. Curtiss. I do this rather than be forced to play behind four such pitiable dubs as you are. Golf is a gentleman's game, which doubtless accounts for your playing it so poorly. They tell me that you never let any one through. God giving me strength, the day will come when you will not only allow people to pass you, but you will _beg_ them to do it. Make a note of that. Come along, Curtiss. We'll play the last nine--for the fun of the thing." "Oh, Curtiss!" It was Watlington speaking. "How many did you have him down when he quit?" The insult would have made a saint angry, but no saint on the calendar could have summoned the vocabulary with which Wally replied. It was a wonderful exhibition of blistering invective. Watlington's thick hide stood him in good stead. He did not turn a hair or bat an eye, but waited for Wally to run out of breath. Then: "Drive, Jim," said he. Now I did not care to win that match by default, and I did everything in my power to arrange the matter otherwise. I offered to play the remaining holes later in the day, or skip the eighth and begin all square on the ninth tee. "Nothing doing," said Wally. "You're a good sport, but there are other men still in the tournament, and we're not allowed to concede anything. The default goes, but tell me one thing--why didn't you back me up on that kick?" I was afraid he had noticed that I had been pretty much in the background throughout, so when he asked me I told him the truth. "Just a matter of bread and butter," said I. "My uncle's law firm handles all the Midland's business. I'm only the junior member, but I can't afford----" "The Midland?" asked Wally.