Graham guardian., 1920-07-30
A LITTLE DOGS
DAY
By II. LOUIS RAYBoLD

pant an elderly man who had evl'
IDENTIFY walked with prosperity all us
life.
"This must be the place" he decid'
ed, as his glance fell upon tidy, com
Portable looking farmhouse under the
trees.
Allghting at the gate he made his
way to the front porch where sat an
old man In his shlrt-sleeves.
I'm a NeN York lumber dealer,
came up to look over some wood'lots
In the nelghborhOod," he explained.
expect to be here Two or three days
was told back yonder that maybe
you would take care Of me. now that
the only hotel In the place is closed
for repairs"
Farmer Grimes got TO his feet with
many rheumatic grunts.
Guess we can put you up for thai
long" he replied. "Tll see what Betty
says"
He disappeared for moment with
in the house, then called out from the
doorway: "You jest drive sour car
round to the barn"
Colonel Burton obeyed with feel
ing OF extreme satisfaction. There
was, sweet. wholesome atmosphere
about the place that made II far pre-
ferable to any country hotel he had
ever known.
. When he entered the house, Betty.
a pretty, slender girl In blue ginghnm,
met him with shy and charming
smile. She had eyes bluer than her
pretty gown-the trustful look OF one
unacQuaInted with guile, The city
man thought he had never seen girl
so innocent and sweet
Presently, as firm step crossed the
kitchen floor, she turned quickly. her
whole face transformed by the OK
preston that went over II. Interest
ed and curious, Colonel Burton
glanced through the half'open door,
barely stifllng an exclamation as he
did so. II was no stranger upon whom
his startled gaze rested-thIs broad-
shouldered young man approaching
with a confident tread.
How strangely things come about
So this was where Tom Dudley had
been hiding for year and half
The colonel's brow darkened and his
hands cllnched. All these, months he
had hoped for meeting like this.
The fellows status In the household
was easily guessed-the hired mani
But of course these good people had
no suspicion that they were harhor-
ing theft "Of all houses In this
village, II Is curious that should
have been directed To this one" the
colonel thought glontlngly.
Meanwhile Tom Dudley had come
TO sudden halt Just across the
threshold. His face went pnpcr-whte
under his tan. aud he reached out both
hands gropingly as II seeking some
support.
"Toml Tom! What is III" cried
Betty IN alarm. "You are mr.
Her very tone was a caress. II told
Colonel Burton that she had given the
priceless treasure OF her love TO the
graceless young scamp. There was
something in her expression, as she
sprang forward, that went to the
worldly mans heart. For moment
he hesitated; then he did n most sur
prlsIng thing. Instead Of denouncinC
the rascal. he pushed forward chair.
Better sIi down. young man, until
you get over It."
Pouring q glass Of water he held II
to Toms lips, wondering at himself
rs he did so The. intter drank gulp.
ingly, looked up wildly and beseech-
ingly into the stern face bending over
him.
"It was hot In the field" he NUT
tered after moment. "Guess I'd bet
ter go and lie down."
"Yes, do" said Betty. giving him
her strong young shoulder to lean
upon.
The colonel's brows knitted as he
gazed after them. Something In the
attitude Of the two bridged a gulf of
forty years. His hard face softened
little as lie met the imploring look
with which the young man disap-
peared.
81 am getting chicken-hearted, he
muttered. II couldn't make up NV
mind to speak before that girl. There's
something beautiful In such trusting
love. The old man will have to hear
the tale"
Aloud he said:
THAT young fellow was taken very
suddenly ILL.,"
ut never happened afore," returned
the unsuspecting farmer. "Tom Is
strong as an OK. Does the work O. two
men about the place"
"You seem fond of him."
II couldn't git along without Tom
I'm all doubled ~ with rheumatic,
you see an since the war good help
can't be had for love or money. But .
Tom looks nrter everythlng-keeps |
the place tidy and shlpshape. lie can !
outdo me when Il comes 10 rnlsIn'
crops, for all he's a new hand at slch
work"
"Humphi" said Colonel Burton. And
:hen, after a moment, he asked: "How
was II when he first came to you?
Did he have plenty Of money!"
"Well-er--hardIy," answered Farm.
er Grimes. "Guess he'd had hard luck
o. some sort Anyhow, he was
strapped But what o. thatf I wanted
help, an he wanted stlddy job. We
both got what we were arter."