of a devil with the wimmen.  Monty goes over an’ tells Beulah—­that’s Ed’s wife—­that Ed is goin’ to have for caddie the lovely Miss Dorothy with the goo-goo eyes.  I reckon this was some disrespectful, but with all doo respect to Miss Dorothy she has got a pair of unbridled eyes.  Mebbe it’s just natural for her to look at a feller like that.  Oh, it’s all right; I’m not sayin’ any-thin’!  I know it’s all proper an’ regular for girls back East to use their eyes.  But out hyar it’s bound to result disastrous.  All the boys talk about among themselves is Miss Dot’s eyes, an’ all they brag about is which feller is the luckiest.  Anyway, sure Ed’s wife knows it.  An’ Monty up an’ told her that it was fine for her to come out an’ see how swell Ed was prancin’ round under the light of Miss Dot’s brown eyes.  Beulah calls over Ed, figgertively speakin’, ropes him for a minnit.  Ed comes back huggin’ a grouch as big as a hill.  Oh, it was funny!  He was goin’ to punch Monty’s haid off.  An’ Monty stands there an’ laughs.  Says Monty, sarcastic as alkali water:  ’Ed, we-all knowed you was a heap married man, but you’re some locoed to give yourself away.’  That settled Ed. He’s some touchy about the way Beulah henpecks him.  He lost his spirit.  An’ now he couldn’t play marbles, let alone gol-lof.  Nope, Monty was too smart.  An’ I reckon he was right about brains bein’ what wins.”

The game began.  At first Madeline and Dorothy essayed to direct the endeavors of their respective players.  But all they said and did only made their team play the worse.  At the third hole they were far behind and hopelessly bewildered.  What with Monty’s borrowed coat, with its dazzling effect upon Ambrose, and Link’s oft-repeated allusion to Ed’s matrimonial state, and Stillwell’s vociferated disgust, and the clamoring good intention and pursuit of the cowboy supporters, and the embarrassing presence of the ladies, Ambrose and Ed wore through all manner of strange play until it became ridiculous.

“Hey, Link,” came Monty’s voice booming over the links, “our esteemed rivals are playin’ shinny.”

Madeline and Dorothy gave up, presently, when the game became a rout, and they sat down with their followers to watch the fun.  Whether by hook or crook, Ed and Ambrose forged ahead to come close upon Monty and Link.  Castleton disappeared in a mass of gesticulating, shouting cowboys.  When that compact mass disintegrated Castleton came forth rather hurriedly, it appeared, to stalk back toward his hostess and friends.

“Look!” exclaimed Helen, in delight.  “Castleton is actually excited.  Whatever did they do to him?  Oh, this is immense!”

Castleton was excited, indeed, and also somewhat disheveled.

“By Jove! that was a rum go,” he said, as he came up.  “Never saw such blooming golf!  I resigned my office as umpire.”