The Press., 1917-09-06

her lover could see In him to admire. Perhaps this is the main reason why VintOn parted with his chum without the regret that was to have been ex- pected.
 Davis inherited an estate that rem dered him independent of work, but 1t would have been impossible for him to be idle. An office in the gift of the people of his state becoming vacant and it being desirable that man not stained with political iniquity should be elected, Davis was waited on by a committee from both parties who ask ed him to run for the office. promising him a sure election. He was too dum- founded for awhile to reply, then said that a better man than he was needed for the duties involved. But the com mittee would not accept his refusal and left him assuring him that he would be elected whether he ran or not
 This was the beginning of political career that was thrust upon Davis, but 1t lasted only short time, for he be- came disgusted with politics, and when his friends proposed to nominate him for an important state office he fiatly refused. ..
 One summer five or six years after he had parted with Vinton he resolved to go north for a visit, taking in his old chum by the way. The truth is he had learned to love the north in sum- mer while at the boys camp and long osI ko a1r 3rkn hnn nCAa territory where he could enjoy the cool woods and waters.
 One Saturday evening a lanky man with 3 strong southern accent register ed at hotel in the city where Frank VintOn was rector of the most fashion able church. Edward Davis was the name entered. and his residence was Arkansas. Sunday morning he went to tue church ln which his old chum preached. He noticed that the congre- gati0n was made up of the elite and all were dressed in the height of fash ion. An assistant read the service, and 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 a correct interpre- tation of the Scriptures, and his tn- depreciation of certain passages per. taining to riches were very comforting to his congregation. Arkansaw was slightly disappointed in his friends de- velopment, but his heart was still with T. .I Ia. 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 ton could not conceal look of annoy 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. a busy day with me. Monday is for us of the cloth our day off. I shall expect you by 9 o'clock.
 Then NiAtOn was hurried away Dy 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. YintOn 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 flee. A gentleman sitting near opened with him.
 Before parting with this person Davis learned a disagreeable truth. There was a skeleton in the rectOry of VfntOn's church. Mrs. VintOn was ac- ,epting the attentions of a man Of ashion. The congregation would have Llready brought the matter before the 'estry except for their attachment to heir rector. who was the only person hat appeared to be ignorant of the ituatiOn.
 The next morning Davis and Vinton net in the reotOr's study. Vinton. now