The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-12-10
TIE DAILY
SHORT STORY
a Little Dos DaY.
By H. LOUIS kAYgoLD.

"A L4GCle lug 3 Ody.
ey H. LOUIS kAYBoLD.
Copyright 1919, Ivy the Mcclure I
Newspaper SyndicRte.)
IGST before Jim Houston went Il
France he took his most valued
y possession In his arms and had &
Iaart to heart talk with him, Little
tlog,' he said, I'm off to war and
while I'm away, I'm going to give YOU
to the dearest girl in the world.
can't ask her 10 be mine yet-me, Z
poor duffer with no prospects
1QnH you let anybody else have hei
until I'm back and get in the game
Rgain!" So saying, he sat down the
Thoroughbred little Boston TERROR and
putting on his leash, took him to Bet
ty Lancaster
IL Here, Betty" he said, rs re-
minder Of ne! But joking aside
hope once in q while he will make you
think OF somebody who, even if he's
getting whack at the boches, will be
thinking OF you AZ the time"
"0ll, the darling" cried Betty, get
ting down on her knees and tondlng
the dog, who did not object in the
least Indeed, don't need anything
10 remind me Of you, but love him
already and will take the best OF care
Of him until you come back" she con-
Guided wistfully This old school
chum's going oil meant more than she
dared let herself think. "I'Il write
you and III knit for you-and--"
Jim wanted to say the words that
tremblGd on his lips, but he had had it
out with himself the night before, that
he would not deem himself man 10
bind this girl whel the future was so
uncertain. So now, "Good-by, Betty
girl" was all he permitted himself,
and one last touch OF her hand. HIS
last glance back showed him Betty
standing, with saddened eyes, holding
fast the leash OF his dog.
Now he was back home When
<peace had come, he had thought joy
fully that now he could get back 10
Betty. She had kept her word, had
knitted socks and mulIlcrs and a
sweater and when he mad written her
Of his promotion to top sergeant, she
had replied how glad she was and add
Gu Ludl DIG uGu lG4ALlGu lliC llLAS NAO5
Sergeant"
Jim, through a lucky chance, was
able to return ahead OF his regiment
with a company of casuals. Betty did
not know of his arrival in this country
and he had no time to notify her.
When, upon reaching camp, he found
that he could have Il three days fur
Tough, he decided to surprise her
her whom he would now dare to ask
to marry him. For, even starting at
the bottom as nc would have to, the
wait could not be very long with such
goal to strive for.
1t was dusk when Jim got off the
train at Balton. He had to stop for
word with the station agent and then
was waylaid along the way uptown
to Betty's home by welcoming friends.
When at last the we'll remembered
stretch of maple trees came in view
shading the Lancaster lawn, his heart
beat unmanageably.
AS he drew nearer, he heard the
laughter and gay voices OF young
people sounding from the Lancaster
porch. He felt twinge of dsappoint-
meht at having to see his sweetheart
before so many. Already he looked
upon her as that very thing-his
sweetheart.
Wondering whether to go away and
come back later, or at the worst, early
next morning, Jim walked more slow
ly. AS he reached the gate, he heard
voice he recognized as that Of Billy
Van Norden, a sChoOlmate of his who
had been wounded and sent home.
Van Norden was saying: When
Toots and l are married, you'll have
to be very clever to bother us No
rice and old shoes for US, eh, Toots?"
a. mer-T girls laugh followed, But he
could not quite catch it. Who was
Toots?"
Then another voice broke in, "Heal
the man talking already about getting
married and he and Betty have only
been engaged two days!" More laugh
ter.
Jim's heart = the heart which had
carried him unafraid through patrols
on No Mans Land and over the top
almost failed him now.
Betty engaged = Betty engaged
Betty engaged" lie leaned against the
fence for support. Was she fascinated
by Van Nordens leutenant's uniform
pr the fact that he was wounded Or
no that wasn't fair, thought honest
Jim. Billy Van Norden was dandy
fellow, He deserved a corklng girl.
But his Betty!
Why had she not written? But they
had only been engaged two days! He
vas two days too late, provided things
hadn't gotten too far before that. He
hadn't dreamed
Well, he would go away as pnob-
.Irusively as he had comeback to
camp and then-anywhere but Bolton.
He might sign up for the regular army.
He might
what was this bounding down to the
gate? Good old doggie," whispered
Jim. "Good old doggie!" A suspicious
moisture gathered in his eyes. This
was the little dog she had played with,
had named for him. Sergeant" you