Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1920-03-25
LITTLE DOGS
DAY
By H. LOUIS RAYBoLD

III u tiny wings tuChcu away unuonS
green hills late one afternoon a big.
high-powered a came honking along
the smooth state road, its sole occu-
pant an elderly man who had evil
IDENTIFY walked with prosperity all his
life.
"This must be the place." he decid-
ed, as his glance fell upon a tidy, COM
Portable looking farmhouse under the
trees.
Alighting at the gate he made his
way to the front porch where sat an
old man in his shirt-sleeves.
"Tm a New York lumber dealer. l
came up to look wei some ,wood-lots
in the neighborhood," 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 that
long," he replied. "I1l e what Betty
says"
He disappeared for a moment with
in the house, then called out from the
doorway: "You jest drive your car
round to the barn."
Colonel Burton obeyed with q feel
ing of extreme satisfaction. There
was a sweet, wholesome atmosphere
about the place that made 1t far pre-
ferable to any country hotel he had
ever known.
When he entered the house, Betty,
a pretty, slender girl in blue gingham,
met him with a 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 a CIR
so innocent and sweet.
Presently, as a firm step crossed the
kitchen floor, she turned quickly, hel
whole face transformed by the ex
preston that went over 1t. Interest
ed and curious, Colonel Burton
glanced through the half-open door
barely sitting an exclamation as h
did so. 1t 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 ha'
been hiding for a year and a hall
The ~colonel's brow darkened and hi
hands clinched. All these months h
had hoped for a meeting like this.
The fellows status in the househol
was easily guessed-the hired man
But of course these good people ha
no suspicion that they were harbo.
ing a theft "Of all houses in thi
village, 1t Is curious that / shoul
have been directed to this one," tn
colonel thought gloatingly.
Meanwhile Tom Dudley had com
to a sudden halt just across til
threshold. His face went paper-whii
under his tan, and he reached out bot
hands gropingly as If seeking SON
support.
J "Tom! Toni What is it," erie
! Betty in alarm. "You r Ill |"
: Her very tone was a caress.. It tol
Colonel Burton that she had given Il
: priceless treasure Of her love to Il
graceless young scamp. There W,
something in her expression. as 81
sprang forward, that went to Il
: worldly mans heart. For a momel
9 he hesitated; then he did a most su
I prlsing thing. Instead of denouncl1
the rascal, he pushed forward a cha.
, "Better sit down. young man, un'
L you get over It."
Pouring a glass of water he held
to Toms lips, wondering at himst
d as he did so. The latter drank gul
n ingly, looked up wildly and beseec
ingly into the stern face bending ov
: him.
sit was hot in the field" he mi
tered after q moment. "Guess I'd b.
ter go and lie down."
eyes. do" said Betty, giving b
her strong young shoulder to lie
upon.
The ~colonel's brows knitted as
gazed after them. Something In [
attitude Of the two bridged a gulf
forty years. His hard face soften
a little as he met the imploring 10
with which the young man dis,
peared.
II am getting chicken-hearted,"
muttered. Il couldn't make up
mind to speak before that girl. Their
something beautiful In such trust
love. The old man win have to b,
the tale"
Aloud he said:
"That young fellow was taken v,
suddenly Ill"
ut never happened afore," return
the unsuspecting farmer. atom
strong al an OK. Does the work o. t
men about the place."
"You seem fond Of him."
II couldn't git along without II
I'm all doubled up with rheuma
you see, an since the war good b
can't be had for love or money.
Tom looks arter everything-ke
the place tidy and shlpshape. He
Guido me when It comes to raj!