The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1918-10-03
the TRUE FRIEND
BY WALTER J. DELANEY.



Copyright 1918. by Western Newspaper Union )
He was humble to the point Of sub
serviency--a stranger in q strange
land, banished, odd-appearing and Ill
most of the time. Wo Tsin felt the
abnormal environment and allowed 1t
to crush him.
He seemed to cherish it as blessing
and 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 young and struggling
physician and Wo Tsin was refugee
from the Samoan Islands.
He looked 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 dozed
there, hungry as he was. Alma Merle
coming out of the house with a dish
m her hand, was somewhat startled
ut a sight Of the forlorn figure. He
was swarthy and Acknowledged there
was 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,
20 add a palatable dessert to the lunch
she had prepared for herself. On q
! plate upon the little corner table she
set forth a dainty but ample variety
of edibles, carried basin of water,
a towel and some soap to an outside
bench, and went around to the front
of the house again.
The stranger reused up at her foot
steps. 81 am sorry" he stammered
with difficulty gaining his feet. IT
was very tired"
Sand huncry?" 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.
81 loved a woman who betrayed me,
plotted with an enemy, and l WAS ban
: iShcd-I, a king" he narrated. 1T
is death to 90 back, but still 1 ain Of
the old proud race. I have learned
your language. I can make COCO
nut ornaments, much valued, when I
am well, but I have been i'll and poor
and homeless for 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 ut the little vii
lage store Walter Merle operated,
earned a quiet, comfortable harbor for
his derelict spirit.
He found a new friend in Wade Bur-
| ton. The tiance of pretty Alma was
young doctor. just graduated and
| commencing life with only patients
and courage as his capital. Wade took
sufficient interest in Alma's pcnsioner
to start him on the way to health, and
the responsive Wo Tsin was duly
grateful. One day Wo was ttering
about the garden while Alma and
Wade We're seated on the porch, He
fingered with an intelligent and
thoughtful face.
Il 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 us!" remon-
strated Alma sorrowfully.
ut may have to be-" answered
Wade. "Old Doctor Kline has offered
his practice for Sale.'
"Is the price high?" asked Alma.
"Three thousand dollars, and have
less than three hundred" was the de-
spending reply.
Next day Wo Tsin vanished. He
had left brief note. "Dear Little
Missy" it ran; "for your sake and that
Of my good friend, Mr.. Burton, I am
gone. Some day may return. The
good fortune will come to you-be
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.
1T is bought and paid for by a
friend whose name am not at liberty
to disclose" said the attorney, and
left Wade in wonderment.
Two months later Wo Tsln reap
peared. Accompanying him was a
shrewd-faced little man, whose keen
eyes proclaimed the sharp bargainer.
"Doctor Burton" he said, 81 have a
strange story to tell. This friend Of
yours came to me in the city, asking
for loan Of $4,000. am a pawn
broker. He showed me, under his
clothing, rigidly riveted about his
waist, a gold band studded with pre-
cious gems. 1t seems this is an in
sigma of his former kingship, from
which he must never part according
to the tenets of his people. he offered
to pawn himself, and it."
"Recouso Of love for the missy and