Evening star., 1922-07-22
EARLY Worm Always. Gets Caught.

Y YOUNG DIR. Leonard had entered
| " the Lindsays' spare bedroom
! somewhat jauntily on the
morning after the amateur
| thea tricals in which he had acted
with the Lindsays' pretty daughter
| in-law He approached the bed that
held his small patient in very Sood
/ humor with himself. He WASH | es-
! pecially pleased that the youngster
! charming mother hadn't welcomed
| him. but he felt rather satisfied with
/ himself until Rose Lindsay, who was
! sitting by, her small nephew's bed.
! took him down peg by coipletelS
! ignoring his performance OF the even
| ing previous and commenting en-
| thusia sticaIly about young Sheldon's.
/ We'll, we'll" he changed the sub
| ject testify. lets hear some more
! about those brides you were talking
! about, Master Dicky Bird
"I aren't a DickyBird." The little
| lads voice was still very husky from
! the sore throat that had badly fright
ened the family the night before.
/ II are a Dicky-Boy and you can look
down my froat all you want to. l
aren't afraid. / aren't.
niZing that Dick, too. was a victim
of his mothers artful diplomacy.
why. that's odd" He let his hand
rest on the boys pulse. "[ill the
time l thought You were Dicky-
Bird and l brought you a nice shiny
worm to eat" He shook his ther-
mometer Significantly.
'Morning's morning., Merriam bob
F., bed into the room. What's all this
about worms? Can't We discuss any
thing else this morning? Though II
YOU want Dicks sympathy you'll pre-.
tend you're the worm instead of the
bird because Dicky has been sym
pathizing with worms. He's Il bright
child. He's observed thus early in
life that the early worm is dGomed
to get caught. That's why make
it point to get up as late as l can
How's my boy?" She dropped her gay
raillery.
Much much better" The doctor
became professional and remained
very much SO until Rose and Ger
trude had excused themselves. Then
his eyes wandered. admring. to the
highly decorative young Mrs. Lind
say. How does Columbine feel this
morning." he asked. "Has anybody
ing about your wonderful acting last
night
"Pauvre town. to be fooled so easily
by a few mods and blinks." Merriam
dismissed the compliment. And
how's Harlequins feeling? And his
Chlorine this mawnin'?''
Her mimicry OF DR.. Leonards col
ored housekeeper, who had served
delicious impromptu supper the even
ing previous. brought her sons re-
proof.
You said not for us to talk that-a-
way, Merry" he remarked gravely.
You said JUS liz nigger boys talked
that-a-way.'
"Righto. SON" Merry saluted him
properly. Merry stands corrected.
How is dear-r cid Aunt Chlorine this
mor-rning?" she rolled her RS enor-
mously as she repeated her question.
Fit as a fiddle and also talking
about nobody save you. You should
hear her. 'Mm'um,' she said when she
brought my coffee to me this morn
ing. There's little lady that's quail
ity. that's sho' quality"
Merriam was beg inning to under
stand why the Lindsay family did
not like the young doctor.
Thinks he's i regular lady-killer."
she thought to herself, ironically.
and there's no firt worse than
small-town male flirt. Whatever
made me think he was interesting
yesterday"
The doctor was delightfully."- un-
aware of her change of feeling. He
was making himself very much at
home.
How about another little supper
party tonight" he asked. It's so
much easier to run across the street
10 my mouse than IT is for you to
come back here between rehearsal
and the evening show. Sheldon
thought we ought to rehearse once at
least" he added hastily, as she
frowned. And, of course. I'd be very
glad to have John come with us
tonight-or-er-an else you
might like-I-er-," he faltered
have already asked one or two per-
sons in who want the pleasure of
meeting you"
How hospitable of YOU" she said
demurely. But she was really think
ing. He just wants to show Off!
A sudden useful thought occurred
to her. She was really rather per-
picked about what to do about Kirk
Squires and his guests who were on
their way from Schroon lake at her
suggestion. Il really would like to
ask some folk, if you mean that
and I'd even impose on you still
further-'less you thought Aunt
Chlorine wouldn't like it. Rose says
there's no decent hotel in town, and
1 saw you had whale of a sleeping
porch. Could you bunk some friends
of mine for the night? They're
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