The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-04-01

involved. Unctuous and fuli-mouthed,
Jim pulled out five-dollar bill.
Give the change to the waiter" he
directed grandiloquently.
One week later, Weary Jim came
out of the mansion he had inherited,
by way Of the rear door and with a
scared look on his face. He almost
ran until he reached a point some
squares distant.
"Whew!" he painted, I'm out of that
for good-Tve escaped"
What Jim had escaped" from was
misery. For him wealth had brought
torment. A bath had made him ten
der and the flannels irritated him.
Rich food gave him the toothache.
with consequent loss Of appetite. He
missed the dozy atmosphere OF the
hayloft and the cheap lodging house,
lying in his luxurious feather bed.
But the browning terror of his
life had become acknowledgement
Sharp, the attorneys daughter. Like
a werewolf she pursued him. She
was bound to marry him-or rather
his money. At the thought of this
tremendous responsibility Jim had re-
solved to sacrifice all. He thought
of the happy-go-lucky life of old, and
then Of her, and shuddered and-de-
campe6.
Jim had his plan. Long and dill
gently he searched for an old partner
of the road-Crippled Joe. He found
his friend in poor lodging house. He
astonished the helpless hobo comrade
with proffer Of home, fortune,
friends. He took Joe to a lawyer and
transferred to him legally all of his
uncle's bequest except $4,000 in cash.
Poor fellow! I've put it over on
Joel" murmured Jim, but maybe
he'll escape Hyacinth."
Then Weary Jim plunged back into
the old life. For time, although the
frowsiest of them all, he ran a free no
tel for his compatriots, and expended
$1,000 in that phjlanthropic venture.
The result was q riotous household,
patrons, and the police closed the
place.
One day Jim saw Cripple Joe and
| the peerless Hyacinth flash by in an
auto. He knew they were man and
wife from the panied, furtive expires.
sion on the face Of Joe.
Sold into slavery" chuckled Jim,
and gloried in his rags and freedom.
The remaining $1,000 was burden
to Jim. Its possession hurt his pride
as a down-and-outer. One day he took
long tramp. 1t was to a place he
had never forgotten. and the end OF
his pilgrimage landed him at the door
of quaint, rustic cottage.
The place looked poor, and the love
ly young girl who came to the door
was neatly but plainly dressed. A
young man. her lover, just leaving her
was evidently workman.
Il wanter to see Doctor Adams" eX
planned Jim, ard his face fell as he
was informed that the physician had
been dead for several years, leaving
his family very poor.
Such good men do said Jim sor
rowfully, and then he told how, IL
years before, the doctor had nursed
him through a two weeks sickness
he. a poor, homeless waif-and jim
had never forgotten 1t.
He told a great lie as he placed hi
$1,000 into the hands of the young
lady. He had made q fortune in {
mine and wore poor clothes so hi
would not be robbed. And then HI
fitted away, leaving Rose Adams fair
ly astounded.
The time came when Weary Jim fell
he was all in His uselessness wal
over" as he comically put it. He wa,
up one day, down another. Somehow
an indefinable longing sent him tramp
ing 1t to the cottage home Of his deat
benefactor's daughter.
1t was dusk when he approached
the open window. Within the room
were husband and wife and swee
little girl in her night robe. She wa
saying her prayers, and they ende,
with:
And, dear God. bless Mr.. Newton
who brought mamma and papa tn
blessing of their life
At the sweet cherub in pure whit
the old tramp gazei, then at his ow
attire.
Il won't spoil the pretty picture" h
said, and he went YEARLY to a she
tered corner of the garden and la
down and slept-and died.
Thus they found him, and tenderl
cared for the poor she'll of grea
soul. And in the quiet village grav'
yard there is tombstone readin
simply: Weary Jim-Tramp, q
4 Rest -