The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-12-05

ana the rector preached the sermon.
Arkansaw, gazing for the first time
in several years on his old chum, saw
that he had grown sleek and parted
his hair in the middle. His sermon
was on the value Of correct interpre-
tation Of the Scriptures, and his IN
depreciation Of certain passages per-
+; tanning to riches were very comforting
/ to his congregation. Arkansaw was
| slightly disappointed in his friends de-
velopment, but his heart was still with
| spell-on his chum's part-had been
broken by marriage. At the end of
the service he waited at the church
door for the rector and his family to
come out Vinton on seeing him grasp
ed his hand cordially, but Mrs. Vim
ance. Arkansaw was dressed in south
western costume. His hat did not
shine as did the rector's, for the latter
was Of silk, while Arkansaw's was Of
felt, with a very wide brim.
"COme to my study tomorrow" said
vinton. 'This is, Of course, busy
day with me. Monday is for us of the
cloth our day Off shall expect you
by 8 o'clock"
| Then Vinton was hurried away by
his wife lest he should be seen talking
to the rawboned Arkansan.
/ Davis rather expected his old chum
| to take him home with him to dinner.
| Vinton did not dare to do so since he
knew the guest would be frozen out by
his wife. So the man from the south
west was thrown upon his own re-
sources for the rest of the day. After
dinner he sat smoking in the hotel Of
fee. A gentleman sitting near opened
conversation with him.
Before parting with this person
Davis learned disagreeable truth.
There was skeleton in the rectory of
Vinton's church Mrs. Vinton was ac-
cepting the attentions of man of
fashion. The congregation would have
already brought the matter before the
vestry except for their attachment to
their rector who was the only person
that appeared to be ignorant Of the
situation.
The next morning Davis and Vinton
met I'm the rector's study. Vinton, now
that he was alone with his old chum,
relapsed into the chum Of former days
But there was no invitation to the rec
tory. Mrs. vinton had put her veto on
Arkansaw.
GLOW long will you stay here. ArkT'
asked the rector.
"I'm not decided about my going
may be here day or two. and !
NAV 90 suddenly. so I'll say goodby
In case don't see you again"
Vinton pressed his friends hand
Davis saw that there was something
on his mind. but could not fathom 1t.
The same afternoon the tall south
erner appeared at the office Of one Il
Robinson Rhodes and sent In his card
The office boy who delivered 1t return
ed with the inquiry as to the nature
Of the callers business.
"Private," was the reply.
The boy went back and presently re
turned with the words "COme In" and
led the visitor to the Office door. Davis
saw a mau dressed in the height OF
fashion sitting at rosewood desk
Looking about to see that they were
alone, the southerner closed the dool
and turned the key. Mr.. Rhodes look
ed at him in surprise.
"What do you want with me, sirT
he said
"Sign that" replied Davis, laying q
paper on the desk before Mr.. Rhodes
1t read:
From this day I agree to forego an!
association with lady to whom / hav'
been paying marked attention. never agail
to call upon her at her house or to 5oiI
her elsewhere.
Mr.. Rhodes eyes were fixed upor
this paper long enough to have read II
! dozen times. He was thinking wha'
to do. He was no coward and resolved
to try to dominate the man who seem
ed disposed to interfere in his affairs
He turned upon Davis fiercely.
"Is this case Of blackmail?"
"You know that 1t is not"
81 don't know who is the lady t.
whom you refer, but If you intend tt
drag any lady into quarrel you are
contemplate"
"There is no necessity for dragging
the lady's name into quarrel. l have
not mentioned her in his paper"
Suppose l refuse to sign it?'
"You shall sign it."
. "How do you propose to compel meF
There is but one way l can compe
you without injuring others. If yo'
refuse shall seek you out In SOM
public place and insult you. l am no
known in this city, and no one Will sup
pose that my real motive is to proven
your bringing ruin upon my friend. hi
wife and his children"
There was something so quietly de
termined in the southerner's name
that his adversary saw there was M
escape for him What his course would
have been had he not had all to lost
and nothing to gain no one knows, blu
axvt, u IN