Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1919-01-16
THE BOOkWORM
By VINCENT q. PERRY.
Copyright, 1913. by Mcclure Newspaper
Syndicate.)

y =
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
+ Copyright. 1913. by Mcclure Newspaper
syndicate)
Raymond Walsh was a puzzle to the
villagers Of Willgreen. At the age Of
twenty-five he was not even giving
marriage 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
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 naush-
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.
Q0y uOIIllIiS uuu SuI III Iilc nulsA
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. @. (This might
have stood for Town Gossip club.)
Every member knew who she meant
but before they could offer a guess
1 ~ yTrto
| gerry! What do you think of it?" The
discussion that followed did credit to
the volubility Of the members of the
e. g. @. Little Miss Audrey Dunbar
| from the city was an interested visi-
FOR.
"Why, auntie, what is it all about?"
she asked. "Who is this man, and why
does everyone criticize him SO Sc
verely1"
They were only too glad to tell her
all about Raymond. After the meet
ing Audrey felt an Irresistible longing
4 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
dog limped toward her. Struck with
sudden thought, she coaxed the ami
NAL to her and examined its injured
4 foot. 1t was broken, she felt sure. 1t
was big, dirty cur, by all appear
ances. but nevertheless she picked 1t
up in her arms and walked boldly
through the gate that led to the Walsh
home. She almost let the 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 do? should not
have brought him from the city with
me. Oh, Is his leg broken? Do not
wggle so. dear Fido."
Raymond smiled family, as he took
J the dog from her and rested it on the
grass. "No. 1t is not broken" he an
nounced, sbut needs attention"
Poor old Rover-Fido, I meant
Audrey corrected her mistake hur-
I rledly. She hoped Raymond had not
J noticed it.
Il will carry him to the kennels.
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.
ut is wonderful" she told him en-.
I Enthusiastically. Everything is perfect
I You must be a genius to have knowl
/ edge Of so many things"
He laughed. 1.-THE villagers here
think am lunatic. You are the frs
t outsider to 60 over this estate for fiv,
s years. Nobody takes any interest IL
q me.
Once the ice had been broken Au
: drey called often to see how "Fido'
). was getting on. She left him entirel,
In Raymond's care. But visits dom
|. last forever, and one day she an
! nounced that she was going home t,
y the city.
II am sorry" Raymond said sadly
II will miss you more than you cal
realize
"Will you?" she asked earnestly.
] Il certainly WILL" With an effor
i, he changed the subject. you vii
take Fido home with you. of course
He Is right at home here"
Audrey blushed furiously. "He |
e, not really my dog" she confessed
). never saw him before that day. He
|. just poor dog picked up. l wante
ito meet you, and that was the way
went about It,"
Raymond was laughing II knew
oil along" he, too, confessed. "He
my dog-one of the best l own, aren
,. you, Jip, old boy?' The recovered Fid
:, danced around his master in acknow
y edgment.
"You must have thought | was tie.
t rible," she cried, horror-stricken. g
h. was dreadful thing to do"
ut was sweet thing to do. Ever,
thing you do and say is sweet. Jus
think how happy your deception he
made me. love you, dear, and if
was not that knew you hated villag
life so much would ask you to b.
Of come my WIFE,"
"Village life! What difference dot
:, that make? Of course l will becom
:, your wife, even If we had to live 9
n desert island
ey "You won't have to live here Away
hN~v At, a,