"Not after he is through with his work," Bishop said, hesitating a moment. "But I can't have you folks takin' up his time as a regular thing when he should be out in the field. This thing to-day is all right enough, and I'm glad to accommodate Miss Lawrence and the rest of ye, but of course, as you know, Jack, it breaks up his day's work, and this is a busy season on a farm like this. But as a rule he is through his chores at half-past six, and there's lots of sunlight after that." I managed to get Wallace aside before we left the farmhouse. I told him of the club competition and of my desire to win the Harding trophy. "Mr. Bishop tells me your time is your own after half-past six in the evening," I said. "Would you be willing to give me a few lessons after that hour? I will bring clubs and balls and meet you where we were this afternoon." "I will tell you anything I know, Mr. Smith," he said, "but I fear I shall prove a poor instructor." "I shall expect to pay for your time, Mr. Wallace, and if you can improve my drive you will find it worth your while," I said, glad of a chance to do something in an honourable way for a chap who certainly has not been favoured with his share of good fortune. "If I accept pay I will become a professional golfer, will I not, Mr. Smith?" he asked, and for the life of me I did not know what to say. "I would be willing to pay you five dollars a lesson," I said, ignoring his question, trusting that the figure named would outweigh scruples, if he really had any. "It is more than I would take, though I thank you for the offer," he said. "I do not doubt that golf is an honourable profession--in fact I know it is--but for reasons which will not interest you I prefer to maintain my amateur standing. It will be a pleasure to play with you, sir, and to help your game if I can, but I would rather not accept money." "Very well," I said, "I'll find some other way to repay you. Suppose I take the first lesson to-morrow evening?" "To-morrow evening at half after six o'clock," he said, and we shook hands in parting to bind the agreement. I had already formed a plan by which I could even matters without the direct passing of money. It strikes me as odd that this farmhand should object to becoming a professional golfer, but it tends to prove the accuracy of my original opinion that he is some college chap, probably of good family, who is at the end of his resources. We had no sooner started from Bishop's than Miss Lawrence turned her batteries on me. "You think you are very sly, do you not, Mr. Smith?" she began. "In what way, Miss Lawrence?" "You think to steal my golf instructor from me," she declared. "That is just like a man; they are the meanest, most selfish things ever created." "Listen to me--"