def read(*names):
    values = {}
    for name in names:
        value = ''
        for extension in ('.txt', '.md'):
            filename = (name + extension)
            if Path(filename).is_file():
                with open(filename) as in_file:
                    value = in_file.read()
                break
        values[name] = value
    return values
def read(*names):
    values = {}
    for name in names:
        value = 
        for extension in ('.txt', '.md'):
            filename = (name + extension)
            if Path(filename).is_file():
                with open(filename) as in_file:
                    value = in_file.read()
                break
        values[name] = value
    return values