Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1918-10-11
THE BOOKWORsl
BY VINCENT G. PERRY.
Copyright, 1913 by Mcclure Newspaper
Syndicate.)


Raymond Walsh was 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
fact Sarah hoped no one 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 off 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, 'addlng to his
hobbies almost monthly.
Raymond did not find time for social
life. 1t did not interest HIN 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,
breathlessly, as she hurried into the
meeting of the T. G. G. (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?" Tho
discussion that followed did credit to
the volubility of the members of the
7. G. c. Little Miss Audrey Dunbar
from the city was an interested visi-
tor.
"Why, auntie, what is 1t all about?"
she asked. "Who is this man, and why
does everyone criticize him SO Sc
verelyY
They were 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 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 ami
NAL to her and examined its injured
foot. 1t was broken, she felt sure. II
was big. dirty cur, by all appear
ances, but nevertheless she picked it
up n her arms and walked boldly
through the gate that led to the Walsh |
home. She almost let tle dog fall as
she caught sight of 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.
'What has happened?'' he asked.
my dog has been injured" she said |
"Whatever will 1 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 took |
the dog from her and rested it on the
grass. mo, it is not broken" he an
nounced, "but needs attention"
Poor old Rover-FidO. l mean ~
Audrey corrected her mistake hur-
riedly. She hoped Raymond had not
noticed it.
Il will carry him to the kennels. l
have hospital equipment there" Ray
mond said, as he looked up from the
dog.
Fido seemed quite at home in the
Kennels All he required was the rest
cure, apparently, for Raymond left
him to show Audrey about the place.
st is wonderful" she told him en-
Enthusiastically. Everything is perfect.
You must be genius to have knowl-
edge of so many things"
He laughed. 1.-The villagers here
think am a lunatic. You are the first
outsider to go over this estate for five
years. Nobody takes any interest in
me.
Once the ice had been broken Au-
drey called OTTER to see how "Fido"
was getting on. She left him entirely
in Raymond's care. But visits don't !
last forever, and one day she an l
nounced that she was going home to
the city.
81 am sorry" Raymond said sadly. !
81 will miss you more than you can !.
realize"
"Will you?" she asked earnestly.
Il certainly Will" With an effort
he changed the subject. you win )
take dido home with you, of course. ;
He is right at home here"
Audrey lblushed furiously. -f1e Is
lot really my dog" she confessed. Il !,
never saw him before that day He is
ust poor dog picked up. l wanted :
o meet you, and that was the way / !
vent about it,"
Raymond was laughing. 81 knew il I !,
II along" he, too, confessed HE is "
ny deg-one of the best own, aren't -
ou, Jip, old boy?" The recovered Fido - -
anoed around his master in acknowl- y
dgment.
You must have thought I was ter u
ible," she cried. horror stricken. III
as a dreadful thing to do" >
ut was sweet thing to do. Every
hing you do and say is sweet. Just L
mink how happy your deception has
lade me. l love you. dear. and If IL
as not that knew you hated village
a.. 80 t,1uab 7 ruo,,,d och x,o,, a.. | 10