280 Sporting Sketches 



street and the white sign in dispute. After what 

 felt like fifteen minutes, a board outside groaned, 

 and a moment later a very tall form moved dimly in 

 the street. There came a steady purring sound as 

 the figure advanced, and I chuckled, for only a tape- 

 line makes that sound. Presently the figure reached 

 the sign, there was a trifling crash. The white thing 

 moved a few feet in my direction, then lo ! it stood 

 stiffly in position, and I heard the winding-in of the 

 tape. It was now exactly forty-five yards away. 



After a bit he stole back, and I waited. Shortly 

 there was again a form in the road, again the meas- 

 uring, shifting of the mark, and winding up. 



" She's in the forty-two hole now, all right, but 

 she'll stand even forty when I get through with 

 her." I chuckled as I waited for the other fellow 

 to get asleep, or at least settle down. I can cat-foot 

 like the real thing, and the way I finally drifted 

 down to that tape and out to the post was a triumph. 

 The distance from the scraper to the sign was as 

 near forty-two yards as it could be made. In a mo- 

 ment the mark was shifted to the even forty. I 

 restored the tape to its place and regained my room 

 without creaking a board, and soon I was sound 

 asleep. 



"How about that sign-board hadn't you best 

 take a look at it in daylight ? " queried the host, after 

 breakfast the next morning. 



" I'm game to stick to my figure ; we'll measure 

 presently," I replied. 



" The same here," and " Here," said the parsons, 

 gravely. 



" Let me see," said the host to rrty parson " you 



