After this the interest in the tournament grew almost painful.
Overholzer and Watts were the other semifinalists, and we told them
plainly that they might as well resign from the club if they did not win
their matches. Overholzer spent a solid week practicing on his approach
shots, and Watts carried his putter home with him nights, but it wasn't
the slightest use. Windy tossed an 83 at Overholzer, along with a lot of
noisy conversation, and an 83 will beat Overholzer every time he starts.
Poor Watts went off his drive entirely and gave such a pitiful
exhibition that Kitts didn't need the rule book at all.
And there we were, down to the finals for the beautiful handicap cup,
sixty-two good men and true eliminated, and a pair of bounders lined up
against each other for the trophy!
"This," said Cupid Cutts, "is a most unfortunate situation. I can't root
for a sure-thing gambler and daylight highwayman like Wilkins, and as
for the other fellow I hope he falls into a bunker and breaks both his
hind legs off short! Think of one of those fellows carrying home that
lovely cup! Ain't it enough to make you sick?"
It made us all sick, nevertheless quite a respectable gallery assembled
to watch Wilkins and Kitts play their match.
"Looks like we're goin' to have a crowd for the main event!" said Windy,
who had put in the entire morning practicing tee shots. "In that case
I'll buy everybody a little drink, or sign a lunch card--whatever's
customary. Don't be bashful, boys. Might as well drink with the winner
before as well as after, you know!"
At this point Adolphus came in from the locker room and there was an
embarrassed silence, broken at last by Windy. "Somebody introduce me to
my victim," said he. "We've never met."
"You don't tell me!" exclaimed Cupid. "Of all the men in this club, I'd
think you fellows ought to know each other! Kitts, this is
Wilkins--shake hands and get together!"
Among the other reasons for not liking him, Adolphus had a face. I'm
aware that a man cannot help his face, but he can make it easier to look
at by wearing a pleasant expression now and then. Kitts seldom used his
face to smile with. As he turned to shake hands with Windy I noticed
that his left hip pocket bulged a trifle, and I knew that Adolphus was
taking no chances. That's where he carries the book of rules.
"How do," said Kitts, looking hard at Windy. "I'm ready if you are,
sir."
"Oh, don't be in such a hurry!" said Wilkins. "We've got a lot of drinks
comin' here. Sit down and have one."
"Thank you, I never drink," replied Adolphus.
"Well, then, have a sandwich. Might as well load up; you've got a hard
afternoon ahead of you."
"Thanks, I've had my lunch."
"Then let's talk a little," urged Windy. "Let's get acquainted. This is
the first time I ever had a whack at a cup, and I don't know how to act.
I play golf by main strength and awkwardness, but I get there just the
same. They tell me you're a great man for rules."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account