"My case is a somewhat singular one, gentlemen," the M.P. responded. "It is this:

"A public road leading to the clubhouse crosses the line to the second hole, and when John Smith and Isaac Rosenstein were playing this hole it happened that Isaac's bad slice landed his ball under the back seat of a motor-car standing still in the road, said car, curiously enough, being the new one which Rosenstein himself has bought this season, and which, it is suggested, he likes to "show off" with. Seeing where the ball had gone to, and having the price of ten balls on the match, a thought passed through his mind. Hailing the chauffeur in the car, he exclaimed, ' You mitherable vellow! Did I not tell you to geep that car in the garage at the back of the clubhouse, where it vould not be damaged. Be off vith you this very instant, or I vill sack you! Quick!' And before John Smith could speak the chauffeur was doing his forty miles an hour back to the clubhouse - with the ball still in the car. Smith and Rosenstein then wrangled for hours, the latter being greatly astonished because his opponent objected to his dropping a ball, and that without penalty, at the spot where he played his last stroke. The points presented for argument are these: (i) Shall Rosenstein drop without losing a stroke ? (2) Shall he drop and lose stroke and distance ? (3) Shall he not drop at all, but lose the hole ?

(4) Shall he play the ball from where it lies under the seat of the motor-car in the club garage, as, if he loses on the first two counts, he wants to do?

(5) What ought to have been done?"

"I trust that your friend Rosenstein will not offer himself as a candidate for membership of this club," observed the Colonel with a smile, "because you might tell him if he thinks of doing so that I have heard of this incident, and I happen to be on the committee."

"He is no friend of mine," said the M.P.

"Well then, gentlemen," the man of arms demanded, "what is your pleasure that we should do in the affaire Rosenstein?"

"I don't think there is very much doubt about that," observed the Parson. "We must be unanimous in this matter. I think we may safely leave it to you, Colonel, to make the award."

The M.P. and the Author assented, but it was understood that the former should have the privilege of sending the case back for re-trial if he disagreed.

"Then, gentlemen," said the Colonel, "I give judgment as follows:

"Rosenstein loses the hole. It was his duty to have played the ball from the place where it lodged in the car, and there is a strong suspicion that he knew it! He is not entitled to regard the car as an agency outside the match, since he controlled the car and ordered it away. By his own act he made it impossible for him to obey the rules. He loses under Rule 7, and it may be mentioned that the Rules of Golf Committee has already decided that a ball played into a motor-car must be played out of it, or the hole given up. Clearly the ball lying in the car in the club garage does not lie where it did before."

"I quite agree," said the M.P.

"But should not something be done with Rosen-stein?" the Parson asked.

"That is for his own committee to determine," the Colonel replied. "We have no jurisdiction. And now, Septimus, I am sure that the tit-bit of this sitting of the court will be submitted by you. We are anticipating that. I beg to move that if your case is not so pointed and interesting as those already presented, you shall be condemned to give such an order to the steward as will do something to stifle our disappointment, and take the chill from our blood on this wretched day. What do you think, my colleagues ?"

"It is an excellent and a most proper idea," the Author said, and the M.P. concurred.

"As you will," the clergyman assented. "Now the little problem that has arisen in my mind runs this way:-

"Dives said to Lazarus,' These are days of charity, my poor friend, but the cases must be deserving. The par of this course is 74. If you can get round in 68 I will give you one twentieth of what I have got.' Lazarus wept tears of gratitude, and forthwith began to take lessons and to practise exceedingly, three rounds a day, for his handicap was 24. And years passed by and he did not go round even in par; but one day, having great luck, a sensation was caused about the links, and the word was passed about that old Lazarus had got a 4 at the last hole to do 68. And he had. But he took 3 to get on the green, and then had a 10-yard putt for the 4 and 68, which was not an easy matter, particularly as the putt was downhill and there was a big slope from the left as well. Dives was watching and he smiled, but Lazarus was in sore trouble. Then he bethought himself of an idea, and he placed a ball to the left of his own and he tried to putt it to a point exactly a foot to the left of the hole. First he found that he borrowed too much, and then too little, and next that he was too strong, but eventually he got it right exactly, and his ball just got to a foot to the left of the hole. ' Now, I know,' he said, and then he putted his proper ball, and with great confidence, and it went into the hole! Whereupon Dives was much wroth, and said, ' Surely I will not give you a twentieth of what I have got, for you have offended against the law and the spirit of the game, and you did not go round in 68, but are disqualified.' Lazarus said, ' Master, I have not offended against the law of the game, and as for the spirit thereof I care not, for having gained the twentieth of what you have got I shall never play it more.' And when they heard what Lazarus said they were amazed, and they said they must have some proper judgment upon it. Does Lazarus come into his fortune after finding the line and strength of his putt in that fashion ?"

The Parson seemed pleased with himself when he had finished his statement.

"I believe the beggar's got off - Septimus, I mean!" the M.P. ejaculated.