John Henry Smith

by W. W. Jacobs

  Produced by Robert Shimmin, Graeme Mackreth and the Online DistributedProofreading Team.

  "... and I got it"]

  John Henry Smith

  A Humorous Romance of Outdoor Life

  By

  FREDERICK UPHAM ADAMS Author of "John Burt" and "The KidnappedMillionaires"

  Illustrated for Mr. Smith by A.B. FROST

  NEW YORK Doubleday, Page & Company 1905

  Copyright, 1905, by Doubleday, Page & Company Published June, 1905

  _All rights reserved, including that of translation into foreignlanguages, including the Scandinavian._

  DEDICATED TO MY DAUGHTER Olive Marie Adams

  TO THE READER

  John Henry Smith has requested me to revise and edit his diary, and, touse his own expression, "See if I can make some kind of a book from it."It was his idea that I should eliminate certain marked passages, anddisguise others, so as to conceal the identity of the originals. SinceMr. Smith is abroad I can do as I please. Aside from renaming hischaracters, I have left them exactly as he has drawn them. This may leadhim to do his own editing in the future.

  I have also taken the liberty of reproducing some of the sketches madeby Mr. Smith. In addition to literary, artistic, and athletic gifts Mr.Smith has had the rare good fortune to--but I must not anticipate hisstory.

  THE EDITOR

  Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y.

  CONTENTS

  ENTRY NO. PAGE

  I. Miss Harding is Coming 3

  II. Mainly about Smith 21

  III. Mr. Harding Wins a Bet 29

  IV. Bishop's Hired Man 44

  V. The Eagle's Nest 54

  VI. I Play with Miss Harding 65

  VII. Two Boys from Buckfield 77

  VIII. Downfall of Mr. Harding 91

  IX. Mr. Smith Gets Busy 102

  X. The Two Gladiators 115

  XI. The Barn Dance 136

  XII. The St. Andrews Swing 154

  XIII. Our New Professional 176

  XIV. Myself and I 188

  XV. The Auto and the Bull 199

  XVI. Miss Harding Owns Up 219

  XVII. The Passing of Percy 235

  XVIII. Mr. Harding's Struggle 253

  XIX. The Tornado 258

  XX. Fat Ewes and Sharp Knives 281

  XXI. I am Entirely Satisfied 300

  XXII. I am Utterly Miserable 303

  XXIII. A Few Closing Confessions 317

  THE CHARACTERS

  JOHN HENRY SMITH, who tells the story. Heir of his father, lives inWoodvale club house, devoted to golf, becomes interested in Wall Street,and falls in love with Grace Harding

  GRACE HARDING, only daughter of Robert L. Harding, visitor in Woodvale

  ROBERT L. HARDING, millionaire railway magnate, who first despises golfand then becomes infatuated with it

  MRS. HARDING, the matter-of-fact wife of the above

  JIM BISHOP, farmer near Woodvale, who knew Harding when the two wereboys in Buckfield, Maine

  WILLIAM WALLACE, Bishop's hired man, later golf professional inWoodvale, and later something else

  OLIVE LAWRENCE, pupil to William Wallace

  PERCY LAHUME, in love with Miss Lawrence

  JAMES CARTER, wealthy member of Woodvale, who knows how to keep a secret

  MISS DANGERFIELD, who makes a collection of golf balls

  MISS ROSS, who is very pretty

  MR. and MRS. CHILVERS, and MR. and MRS. MARSHALL, estimable youngpeople, who enter into this narrative

  BOYD, LAWSON, DUFF, BELL, MONAHAN, ETC., members in good standing in theWoodvale Golf and Country Club