Smyrna times., 1918-07-24
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THE TRUE FRIEND
BY WALTER J. DELANEY.

(COpyright. 1918. BY western Newspaper Union.)

SerNlency-a stranger in strange
land, banished, odd-appearing and i'll
most of the time. WO Tsin felt the
abnormal environment and allowed it
to crush him.
lie seemed to cherish it as blessing
and Il mercy that fate had awarded
him the friendship Of two noble souls,
for into that it grew, despite their
widely separated social status. Wade
Burton was a young and struggling
physician and Wo TSin was a refugee
from the Samoan islands.
He locked neither kingly nor Opu-
lent the day he drifted into Spring
vile in rags, tagged out dusty and |
footsOre from long travel. 1t was his |
good fortune to rest on the doorstep |
of the home of John Merle. He dozcd |
there, hungry as he was. Alma Merle, |
coming out of the house with a dish !
in her hand, was somewhat startled |
at sight of the forlOrn figure. He |
was SWarthy and Acknowledged. there
was a certain oriental suggestion.
Alma stole silently past the slum-
berer and proceeded to gather the dish
full of ripe, luscious berries. She re-
entered the house by the kitchen door,
to add Il palatable dessert to the lunch
she had prepared for herself. On a
plate upon the little corner table she
set forth a dainty but ample variety
of edibles carried a basin of water,
a towel and some soap to an outside
bench. and went around 70 the front
of the house again.
The stranger reused up at her foot
steps. "I am sorry" he stammered
with difficulty gaining his feet. 81
was very tired"
"And hungry?" intimated Alma,
sympathizingly. "COme, you are my
guest"
The plaintive-eyed refugee viewed
her with a sort Of mute alteration as
she sat opposite him at the table. the
generous, welcoming hostess complete.
In struggling, faulty words he made
her clearly aware of his situation.
''T loved woman who betrayed me.
plotted with an enemy and I was ban
iShPd-I, a king" he narrated. "It
is death to go back, but still I am Of
the old proud race. I have learned
your language. 1 can make coco
nut ornaments, much valued, when l
am well, but have been i'll and poor
and homeless for a long time"
"YOu shall be so no longer, am
sure" encouraged Alma. "When my
brother comes home he will surely feel
helpful towards you" And this was
| how it was that WO TSin, working
| about the place and at the little vii
lage store Walter Merle operated,
earned quiet, comfortable harbOr for
his derplict spirit.
He found a new friend in Wade Bur-
ton. The fiance of pretty Alma was
a young doctor, just graduated and
commencing life with only patients
and courage as his capital. Wade took
sufficient interest in Alma'S penSiOner
to start him on the way to health, and
the responsive WO Tsin was duly
grateful. One day WO was pOttering
about the garden while Alma and
Wade were seated on the porch. He
fingered with an intelligent and
thoughtful face.
81 see a long, arduOus struggle to-
wards getting on my feet here" Wade
was saying. 81 fear my only resource
is to establish myself in the city"
'But that would part u.s." remOn'
strated Alma sOrrOwfully.
at may have to be-" answered
Wade. "OId Doctor Kline has Offered
his practice for sale"
as the price high?" asked Alma.
"Three thousand dollars, and have
less than three hundred" was the de
spending reply.
Next day WO TSin vanished. HI
had left a brief note. "Dear Littl'
Missy" 1t ran "fOr your sake and tina
of my good friend, Mr.. Burton, l an
gone. Some day 1 may return. TIL
good fortune will come to yOu-b
happy"
At the end of that week a town law
yer camestO Wade. He handed him
signed document from Doctor Kline
transferring to him his practice.
"It is bought and paid for by
friend whose name am not at libert
to disclose" said the attorney, an
left Wade in wOnderment.
Two months later Wo Tsin real
peared. Accompanying him was
shrewd-faced little man, whose kee
eyes proclaimed the sharp bargaine
doctor Burton" he said 81 have
strange story to tell. This friend
yours came to me in the city, askin
for a loan of $4,000. am a paw
broker. He showed me, under h
clothing, rigidly riveted about h
waist, a gold band studded with pr
cious gems. 1t seems this is an Il
sigma of his former kingship, fro
which he must never part, accOrdir
to the tenets Of his people. He Offert
to pawn himself, and it,"
Because of love for the missy ar
her friend" murmured Wo Tsin, wit
q rapt look at both.
ga NUaoly 400 " DrOcppdpd thp mOnt