her legs, the soreness of her hands, and the grimy, sweat-soaked blouse sticking to her wide, tired shoulders. Wearily, she stripped. the golfer's glove from her hand and looked at the permanent white scar it had left on her sunblackened skin. Why do I do it? she thought.

She paused before the ornate board where the scores of the competitors were posted and handed her card to the official in charge, exchanging a few meaningless pleasantries with him while he posted her 5 under par 70. Her mind automatically recorded the scores of the others. They were extremely good, even for Riverdale, which was not a difficult course. It's those dry, hard fairways, Dana thought, the ball never stops rolling-and I've never seen greens in more perfect condition. The heat is bad, but everyone is used to it, and there is no wind. This is going to be a tough one, practically everybody is under par. Well, another 70 tomorrow should do it. She smiled faintly. Another 70. I won't shoot another 70 tomorrow. Someone will, but I won't. Unless I get some rest, I may never shoot another 70 again.

Dana knew that the slim, blackhaired, dark-skinned girl was beside her before she felt the familiar hand on her wet back but she neither turned nor spoke until they were well away from the officials. Then she said, softly, still not looking at the girl, "Well, what happened to you today? 78, indeed!"

Toni Carver wrinkled her short nose and grinned ruefully. "Trap trouble again. I'm going to trade in my clubs for a pail and shovel."

one

"Don't do that yet. We'll work on those short irons again tomorrow morning."

I'm

"Save your strength, Dana. out of it anyway. And this one. you've just got to win."

Dana looked at her now and her heart turned over as it always did when she looked at this girl.

"Why?" she asked, although she

knew.

"You know why. If you don't win and make that Emerson bitch eat her words, I'll never forgive you. You've heard the nasty cracks she's been making all over the place."

Dana smiled. "That people like me should be barred from the game. because no 'normal' woman has a chance against me? Oh, Toni, if I had a dollar for every time I've heard that remark, I could retire in the lap of luxury! You're new in this cut-throat racket yet, but if you intend to make a career of it, you'd better learn right away that nasty cracks by your opponents are as much a part of the game as your clubs."

“Dana, if it were anyone else I wouldn't care. But you were the best friend she ever hadI've heard all the stories. Besides, what right has she to say the things she has when she's just as gay as we are?"

"No, she isn't, Toni. I was just an isolated episode in her life, one which I imagine she regrets so bitterly that she has almost convinced herself it never happened. When she quit the pros and came back home to Riverdale, she shut everything that had happened out of her mind and became a model of conventional Country Club respectability. Now she's