American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1918-11-01
THE B00kW0RM
BY VINCENT c. ERR


Syndicate.)
Raymond Walsh was a puzzle to the
villagers Of willgreen. At the age Of
twenty-five he was not even giving
marriage a thought. Nothing seemed
to interest him but books and his
estate. Sarah Morley, who had been
postmistress for thirty years (this was
a fact Sarah hoped no n could re-
member), kept the village posted on
his activities. The first year he had
been home from college he had taken
a correspondence course In law, then
he had switched of to shOrt-stOry
writing and later had studied the keep
ing Of bees and the culture of mush-
rooms. He was always trying some
thing new, but kept on with the old
things he had learned, adding to his
hobbies almost monthly.
Raymond did not find time for social
life. 1t did not interest him in the
least. He attended church every Sun
day morning and sat in the Walsh
pew all by himself.
What do you suppose he is study
ing nOw?" Miss Temple exclaimed,
b~reathlessly, as she hurried into the
meeting of the T. G. c. (This might
have stood for Town Gossip club.)
Every member knew who she meant
but before they could offer a guess
she had told them. veterinary sur
geryl What do you think of it," The
discussion that followed did credit to
the volubility Of the members Of the
T. G. G.. Little Miss Audrey Dunbar
from the city was an interested visi-
tor.
"Why, auntie, what is it all aboutT'
she asked. "Who is this man, and why
does everyone criticize him so Sc
verelyT
They we're only too glad to tell her
all about Raymond. After the meet
ing Audrey felt an irresistible longing
to meet this "oddity" of the village.
The sunshine suggested a stroll in the
direction Of the Walsh estate.
Just as she neared the Walsh estate
a dog limped toward her. Struck with
a sudden thought. she coaxed the anil
nal to her and examined it's injured
foot. 1t was broken, she felt sure. II
was a big, dirty cur, by all appear
ances, but nevertheless she picked it
up in her arms and walked boldly
through the gate hat led to the Walsh
home. She almost let the dog fall as
she caught sight of a tall, ~good-looking
, man wedding in the garden, but re-
gained her courage and kept right on.
He dropped his hoe as he caught sight
of her, and ran to meet her.
5 what has happened?" he asked.
my dog has beer injured" she said.
= Whatever will l do? l should not
have brought him from the city with
me. Oh. is his leg broken? Do not
wiggle so, dear Fido."
Raymond smiled family. as he tooh
the dog from her and rested it on the
grass. mo, 1t is not broken" he an
Z nounced. "but needs attention"
: Poor old Rover-Fido. 1 meant
; Audrey corrected her mistake hur
riedly. She hoped Raymond had not
noticed it.
4 Il will carry him to the kennels.
7 have hospital equipment there" Ray
i mond said, as he looked up from thu
4 dog.
1 Fido seemed quite at home In th'
kennels. All ne required was the res
cure. apparently, for Raymond lief
e him TO show Audrey about the place.
e 1T is wonderful" she told him en-
+ Enthusiastically. Everything is perfect
You must be a genius to have a knowl
edge OF so many things"
o He laughed. The villagers her
think l am a lunatic. You are the frs
outsider to go over this estate for fv
years. Nobody takes any interest il
q me
Once the ice had been broken Al
drey called often to see how "Fido
e was getting on. She left him entirel
in Raymond's care. But visits don
u last forever. I'D one day she ar
nounced that was going home
II the city.
Il am sorry" Raymond said sadl!
p, II will miss you more than you ca
realize
"Will your" she asked earnestly.
Il certainly will" With an efol
le he changed the subject. "You wi
take Fido home with you. OF cours'
He is right at home here"
te Audrey blushed furiously. HE
lie not really my dog" she confessed.
lie never saw him before that day. He
IS just a poor dog l picked up. l wante
ID 10 meet you. and that was the way
N went about it,"
Raymond was laughing. II knew
g, all along" he, too, confessed. HE
my dog-one of the best 1 owl. aren
X you, Jip. old boy?" The recovered Fid
&c danced around his master in acknow
le edgment.
You must have thought l was te
rible." she cried. hOrrOr-stricken. q"
a a dreadful thing TO do"
1T was a sweet thing to do. Ever
thing you do and say is sweet. Ju
think how happy your deception h;