Part 32 (1/2)

XXVIII. ONE OF OUR SUFFERERS

There is no question before the country of more importance than that of National Health. In my own small way I have made something of a study of it, and when a Royal Commission begins its enquiries, I shall put before it the evidence which I have acc.u.mulated. I shall lay particular stress upon the health of Thomson.

”You'll beat me to-day,” he said, as he swung his club stiffly on the first tee; ”I shan't be able to hit a ball.”

”You should have some lessons,” I suggested.

Thomson gave a snort of indignation.

”It's not that,” he said. ”But I've been very seedy lately, and----”

”That's all right; I shan't mind. I haven't played a thoroughly well man for a month, now.”

”You know, I think my liver----”

I held up my hand.

”Not before my caddie, please,” I said severely, ”he is quite a child.”

Thomson said no more for the moment but hit his ball hard and straight along the ground.

”It's perfectly absurd,” he said with a shrug; ”I shan't be able to give you a game at all. Well, if you don't mind playing a sick man----”

”Not if you don't mind being one,” I replied, and drove a ball which also went along the ground, but not so far as my opponent's. ”There! I'm about the only man in England who can do that when he's quite well.”

The ball was sitting up nicely for my second shot, and I managed to put it on the green. Thomson's, fifty yards farther on, was reclining in the worst part of a bunker which he had forgotten about.

”Well, really,” he said, ”there's an example of luck for you. Your ball----”

”I didn't do it on purpose,” I pleaded. ”Don't be angry with me.”

He made two attempts to get out and then picked his ball up. We walked in silence to the second tee.

”This time,” I said, ”I shall hit the sphere properly,” and with a terrific swing I stroked it gently into a gorse bush. I looked at the thing in disgust and then felt my pulse. Apparently I was still quite well. Thomson, forgetting about his liver, drove a beauty. We met on the green.

”Five,” I said.

”Only five?” asked Thomson suspiciously.

”Six,” I said, holing a very long putt.

Thomson's health had a relapse. He took four short putts and was down in seven.

”It's really rather absurd,” he said, in a conversational way, as we went to the next tee, ”that putting should be so ridiculously important.

Take that hole, for instance. I get on the green in a perfect three; you fluff your drive completely and get on in--what was it?”

”Five,” I said again.