The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1910-05-20
The Verdict of the
Book
BY Emma f. Manning

1t was queer place, that secoilu-
hand bookstore. The battered vol
umes Of all possible shapes ana SIZES
were queer, and so were many vi
those who came to examine tienN'
prey to interest in some one SUBJECT
that was often almost mania. BOOKS
and callers were alike largely SNAP
by, and queerness reigned in the STORE
When Dorothy Clarke entered the
place as an attendant she had thought
the room sDooky and the books dlsa-
greeable ghosts, but the feeling wore
away, especially as not all the poohs
were ancient and not all the eallerS
eccentric. Alert, addressed men
came with others, searching for VOL
umes on practical subjects. She mad
been employed six months, When
young man of good appearance walked
briskly in during Mr.. Templemores
lunch hour. Bowling formally, he ad-
dressed her with courtesy.
Have you any old-time medlcal
works." he asked. you see, | am a
doctor, and | like to pass a part or
my leisure hours reading what phy-
sicians thought about medicine gener-
atoms ago. That will hardly appeal 10
you-please pardon me-"
She led the way and swept her hand
along the proper shelf.
"Whew!" he exclaimed. Ancient
wisdom by the yard"
His laugh rang out cheerfully, aft
er which he was immersed III lnVestl-
CATION for twenty minutes. In the
end he purchased an inexpensive
treatise and departed. He was only
one OF many customers, and she for
got him in a few moments, but 1t was
not his only call Those battered old
books, warriors of past battles with
disease, had such fascination for
him that he came often. His purchas-
es were few, but he examined large
ly, often asking questions in his po-
lite way.
An acquaintance was established be-
tween them in degree, and then she
had a surprise one Sunday at
church. Without warning a friend in
troduced her to CDR. Clifton" She
lifted her eyes and saw the young
man OF the bookstore calls.
After that they met often. He made
her church his, and, always cour-
teous, sought her presence persistent
ly. Her mother noticed the fact, made
inquiries, and saw no reason to OBJ
ject. Twice he took Dorothy to some
place OF amusement, though she was
not certain that she enjoyed herself
greatly. She was Of two minds as to
sponsible for her doubts Brief as
their acquaintance was he had half
assumed an air OF proprietorship
which she was not ready to concede,
and other things partly Offset his I'M
deniably good qualities. Her mind was
q scale in which she was weighing
him.
Miss Clarke" said Mr. Templemore
one afternoon, have you sold that
copy Of The London Dispensatory,'
printed by John Allen in 1902"
mo, SIR she answered.
MlSpldCou Ny SOulc CuoloulcI pIoD-
ably viii you look along the
shelves?"
She searched, but the volume was
not found. The proprietor betrayed his
vexation.
Another book thief" he grumbled,
land it was worth more than the SIS
asked for it. 1t was rare, rare!
Somebody was tempted beyond his
powers Of resistance"
With this he began unpacking
case Of books, but he left Dorothy
thoughtful. Two weeks before DR.. Cliff
ton had discovered The London Dis
pensatory," and grown enthusiastic
over 1t. but had shaken his head at
the price. Twenty-Five dollars, for
book not OF practical use looked large.
In spite OF that he came day after
day, taking the volume down, reading
greedily, and signing as he replaced
Il. Once, too, after replacing it on the
shelf, he had gazed at it's cover and
fallen into a deep study that lasted
several minutes. Clearly, he longed for
the ancient treatise.
Now 1t was gone. Dorothy won
dered-but 1t seemed absurd. The
Doctors social position ought to make
him free from suspicion, she argued.
Mr.. Templemore was not to be CON-