The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-08-25
WELT0N, The TRAITOR
BY WILLIAM j. JACKSON.

iuiliar about that figure
Thomas Arkley, real estate broker,
was lighting his way home to supper
through the deep snow and the buster
OF squally winter night.
At the Baptist church corner he
glanced across High street before go.
ing over.
On the other side, in the half shell
ter OF wall-angle and under the glare
OF an electric light, he saw tail. heav.
iIy built figure of a man. slouch-hatted
and aWkwardly bent over. He was mi.
nus an oyercoat, and stood with his
hands thrust deep in his pockets. the
collar Of his sack coat futilely turned
up against the storm.
Possessed with the notion that he
Knew the man, Arkley passed close to
him
A bad night, friend the broker es.
sayed genially, at the same time peer.
Ing keenly into the face that was lift.
ed slightly at the sound of his voice.
jim Welton." he calculated with sud
den recognition. We'll, of all the
meetings in the world How are you,
JIM"
Arkley's hand had been thrust out
! with instant and genuine cordiality.
jim Nelton was one of the lads Ark
ley by sheer force of kindness, had
drafted into a Sunday school class
In former years He did not forget
those boys, good, bad or Indifferent,
and though it was five years since he
had shaken hands with Welton there
was no hint Of strangeness in his
greeting.
Welton's hand came out of his peck
ct very slowly. Arkley understood
perfectly When a man has been in
prison for five years he is, to say the
least, apt to be shy. But the hand
came, nevertheless. No one had ever
been able to resist the whole souled
broker Welton not only shook hands,
but, when Arliley linked arms with
him, suffered himself to be led
You re coming right home with me
to supper, Welton.' he declared Il
won't take No for an answer, unless, :"
he qualified unless I'm making nui-
sance of myself You haven't anything
on hand that it would interfere with,
have you?'
Il was just on my way to sea
friend" Welton admitted slowly. But
guess our business can wait for a
while
| He appeared content to let matters
shape themselves.
Good" Arkley approved Wen
have nice supper together and after
ward we'll smoke and talk over things.
! want to hear all about you
| Mrs. Arkley was ignorant of the
very first detail in the life Of Welton.
To her he was only a business aC-
quaintance OF her husband Wien the
two, after a meal in which Wclton
did not talk much, retired to the com
Portable room where the broker had
| business conferences on occasion, she
did not intrude
"Welton | always believed in you,
Arkley insisted, as he passed the CT
! CARS round 81 always thought you
! innocent he said Let's talk on that
/ basis
Welton nodded his understanding
and murmured his thanks
There are some who don't think
so, he grimly commented i met
Mrs. Greene this afternoon She rec
/ ognzrd me and stepped off the side
walk so quickly she nearly fell. You
would have thought a bumblebee had
stung her, the way the expression OF
her face changed Tom Gardner knew
, me too, but you wouldn't have thought
! it from the way he didn't look at me,
/ Welton continued,
1t was an unhappy subject for dis
cussion. Arkley FASTENED to change
! 1t.
What are you going to do?" he
aueried. 81 don't ask out of mere
curiosity; want to help you if can
Welton, putting hard on the cigar
got up and strobe across the room be
fore he replied AS he turned about
he burst out impetuously;
q have partly tested that question
Been-been out now about three
months. Had place clerking for
contractor for a week AT the end Of
that time / knew from his expression
when he paid me off that some plou'
rascal had given him my pedigree
That has happened twice. Three
times | have lost places just suited
to me for the want Of references, ah-
four Jobs have been taken from M
because | wasn't competent.
Arkley yentured a grunt Of sym
natby here and there as Hcltol
talked but he let the ex-conyict g
on without any more decided ntorrup
ton
TO tell you the truth, Nj Arkley
he confided, as he sat himself dow
suddenly in front Of his old teacher
y had given up when l met you 70
night OF course" he grinned il sell
nitv i've had lots Of chances to MAKE
money in the way jailbirds are sup
posed to prefer. Made some bushes.
acouaintances during my sojourn, anl