American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1919-05-16
Puzzling
Case

BY A. w. PEACH
Copyright, 1913, by tho Mcclure News
paper Syndleate)

u AlnGIl NH WIS u hiNNANA1 ~
moment he appeared at Mrs. Bates
boarding house. From the first he
kept to himself; while uniformly cour-
teous, he did not invite advances of any
kind. Next, II was discovered that he
spent many hours In the evening just
walking. "one of those physical u
ture bags old Doctor Greene said
grimly. and the boarding house nccept'
ed his conclusion.
But Ruth Taylor, looking as she ala
each day at the strong but haggard
face, reached a different conclusion.
The gray eyes lifted TO hers, as she
| chatted in the familiar way of the
house, were Swallowed. Each evening
after suppe she saw him &c out, his
tall figure swinging away into the
night and many times she heard him
returning at midnight. And analiy,
because her training as Il nurse had
helped her to look into human hearts,
she knew that he was walking TO FOR
get, hoping to leave behind somewhere
In his lonely strolls n memory That he
wished TO blot out.
nilt iliAhf VII nv UNIV w.
ed him grow thinner and more nag
gard that she must take n hand In
curing him. She decided she must
find out, first of all, what was wrong,
and she decided Ia take n bold step II
necessary. Her professional instinct
was aroused.
The next evening, as he stepped
from the door, she was waiting. MIR.
Hin, why don't you invite one of us
lonely females TO stroll with you some
evening?' She felt her checks glow
n bit with shame at the holiness OF
her request.
lie looked down ut her with grave
eyes. 81 have noticed that you, at
least, have plenty OF invitations from
others" He added quickly MS he saw
her vince, II would like to have you
come, but | am afraid you would lind
me o company. But do come lie
smiled this time, and the smile wor
her.
They started down the avenue nnC
the adventure began. To find his trou
BILE and to cure him was the task sh'
had set for herself. She made Httlt
progress that evening; but they chat
|, ted and wnlked-most of the time II
+, silence. When they returned she ma
made little gain IN her attempt TO solv'
him; but she found some satisfaction
in his goodnight words:
/ "You make II good comrnde. Pleas
join me II you can tomorrow. Nj,
a work has been changed, so ] shal
|, wander o bit In the afternoon"
Llghtness came into her feet rs sh
r mounted the stair. She had helpe
him n bit TO forget somethlng-what
A was she could not guess, unless
y might be some wrongdoIng that preye
upon him; hut the clean strength q
his lean face, the grave kindness OF hi
: eyes seemed to shut away all though
d Of crime.
The first link In the chain OF my
@ terry was broken the next afternoon
3 They were strolling together down III
8 brond, sunny central path Of the grei
', park when she saw coming towar
l. them Il graceful, pretty girl whose eye
n a~ulckcned with interest as she IA
3 them. She turned toward them.
& "Grcetings, Albert" she said TO hir
Ruth saw his face whlten and gro
stern, then take on n look Of hung
that vanished as quickly as II cam
y. And light began to dawn dlmly upC
il her.
- lie turned TO her with n word Of /
PRODUCTION, "Nliss DcnnisOn." IT
n girls nppralsing eyes swept her cool
q and turned 10 him.
y, When they went on again Ruth W
30 aware that the mystery was nearli
-, n solution. The conversation dragge
though he made an evident effort
keep II up hut his mind and haa
was elsewhere.
-, She determined TO use drastic met
DDS. for that night at the dining roo
-. table he looked wedrief aud more {
pressed Than ever. The pity that
bo hurt eyes had first aroused In her "
ho doubled many fold. She thought Oy
10 a plan and decided 10 put II into nctl'
She drew him aside into the quiet
Cd the reception room. She was a bit h
he liant just how 10 begin, but she beg
anyway.
Listen, ! want you to tell me son
"a. thing md tell me truly. ] have dec
an cd to hire myself as your doctor. Al
nal way. you need a mOther-or perhaps
nd sister"
1.-THE Lord knows I do" he 81
quietly.
lin 'Then-here II is-and forgive M
OF but did you love Miss Dennlson onc'
az lie drew q long breath and sank bi
into the shadow Of the corner.
,es was afraid he would not answer u
Ing the words came, touched with pa
ess ~ love her now-that's the troubl
he lie was silent for o little while II
his mans will broke and the VIII
bitter tale came out-a story Of ina
true love, given fully to a girl who e
II: and then when II had gone 80 far
to make ready a home, had been gl'
back.
" Ruth listened with pounding be
and understood. Worthy or not,
! T" was all IN al TO him for love d
not follow the cold loo &c Of facts or