American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1919-01-17
"ALIMON"
BY FLORA Handy.


manager of the dry goods store of
Hogskins & Smith; Addie was a
jolly girl, and wherever she appeared
at the Corner" she was always
surrounded by a bevy of young folks.
and usually, if there were any of the
masculine sex among the crowd. Ben
nie would stand glarlng out of of
the big plate-glass windows ut them.
He had been walking home with Addie
for a year now, and she was consid-
cred lin that country town. his girl.
Then appeared on the scene a city
bred young gentleman. He had been
Cd the stage and in a circus; he could
dance on his head, hands, or feet, and
at q party, during dancing. he could
call out "Alimon left or right" In such
a way that he won the admiration of
everybody. though no one knew what
alimon meant. Addie being the best
dancer and prettiest girl, naturally the
new city chap devoted his atten-
ton most exclusively to her, and she
was, II anything, a tease, and delight
ed in seeing Bennie's glaring eyes on
the new beau. OF course, she was only
teasing him, so Matte Dean assured
Bonnie one night. when he. came burst
ing into her parlor as she sat with
Lem Barry, Bennie's best friend. She
was ready for the concert up at the
hall that q stray minstrel company
was to give. "Oh. Bennie," she laugh
ed, don't. let Addie see she is
teasing you sol" "ITl let that beast
she is flirting around with see
so pretty soon, though" Benni an
swered, ruffilng his blond tresses In
football style over his head; and with
his pouting lips and flushed cheeks he
looked not unlike a big peeved baby.
Hes q coward, and everyone around
here knows It," Bennie went on. Look.
this winter how he ran when Bob
Leavitt got In the lake and called for
help! He ran home fast ms his bow
legs could carry him and left one fell
low to get Bob out alone And who
was the fellow that got Bob out?"
Matte asked, with a smiling wink at
Lem.
Bennie kicked the footstool away
from the chair where he sat. Hes a
coward, that's all 7" he declared. "A
r~ascally coward" "Why don't you
prove It to Adder That's all you
would have to do" Lem said in his
his slow, deep drawl. "If I could y
Bonnie exclaimed, his eyes flashing.
"Oh !" cried Matte. 81 have it. Ben
| ME. Where is that bearskin you
dressed up In New Years as a Call
thumpian? Can't you put that on and
scare him2 He wasn't here New
Years and never saw you in 1t, and
Addie did. 1t wouldn't brighten heI
and ii is moonlight tonight"
"When they come from the concert
you could wait until they got to the
lonely corner at the foot of the lane
and then growl like you did New
Years. My, what growls you did give
| thought And that will prove to Addi'
J what a coward he is. for he wOult
run. The snow is deep and he couldn'
go very fast; you could chase him.
g They all laughed. "By Jove. | Will,
d Bonnie said you see | can't leave
s. the store, and take her around TO nj
these entertainments, and she dom
e like 1t, but that can't be helped.
have to tend to business. Say, there1
lr be fun tonight. though. Mattie-you'v'
&. a head on you like a brick Lem
you've got one fine girl there, and II |
- wasn't for Addie-" "You go now,
re growled Lem, cor I'll be dressing "
70 as n bear too" Bonnie went on laugh
e. ing. During a lull In the concert Mat
h tie whispered to Lem: 81 told Addi
ID Bonnie was going to dress as q bea
and scare Ralph Durkin, and sh
laughed" "You told her; why?" Lei
~ asked slowly. well" Matte sighed
m you see she has been altogether to
~ friendly with that new fellow. and
will show who she cares most for.
she tells Ralph about 1t, why she care
20 Il ct for him; II she don't tell hin
o. WIN she cares most for Bonnie
oL u mph," commented Lem, 'ths
scan q is not to be compared with Bel
Iamil she will be a fool, hut then
think YOU did right. Ralph was nea
ing th lane with Addie. and bendin
low he said: "You are the fairei
"A girl ] e er met" etc. Addie Iaughe
and answered gayly: REALLY. NJ
Durkin, you are n great hatterer
Then all of a sudden a terrible moi.
arrested their attention. Rail-
On stopped still In the road. Standlr
~ over the broken wall In the clei
,oo moonlight, was a horrible monst'
hear. his white teeth cleaning in
snarl and emitting hair-raisil
growls. "What-what." choked RaIp
nv "~Y-e-a-u-o-w," he yelled. "Help-rI
for your life; It's a bear" Al
suiting the action to the word, he d
run
% AddIe stood In the rosd al
screeched with laughter. and along Z
road farther there were suppress
gIggIes from a couple hid behind
tree. To help Ralph in his sprintir
Lem gave n fierce growi, worse IN
any yet. and the city chap yelled la !
~ frar annhFnu nnvu aud usffh 4