The herald., 1918-08-08
THE TRUE FRIEND
BY WALTER J. DELANEY.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

(CopyrtrAt, 1918. 10y Western Newspaper 'nLoL'
He was humble to the point Of sub
scrvicncy-a stranger in a strange
land, banlShed, odd-appcaring and i'll
most Of the time. WO TSin felt the
abnormal environment and allowed 1t
to crush him.
He seemed 10 cherish 1t as blessing
and mercy that fate had awarded
him the friendship Of two noble souls,
for into that II grew, despite their
widely separated social status. Wade
Burton was Il young and struggling
physician and Wo Tsin was a refugee
from the Samoan islands.
He looked neither kingIy nor opu-
lent the day he drifted into Spring
Vile in rags. tagged out, dusty and
fOotsore from long travel. II was his
good fortune 10 rest on the doorstep
of the home of John Merle. He dozed
there, hungry rs 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-
bcrer and proceeded to gather the dish
fun of ripe. luscious berries. She re-
entered the house by the kitchen door,
to add n palatahlc dessert To the lunch
she had prepared for herself On a
plate upon the little corner table she
set forth dainty but ample variety
Of ediLleS. carried a basin Of water,
towel and some soap to an outside
bench and went around to the front
of the house again.
The stranger reused mp Mt her foot
steps. 'T an sorry" he stammered
with difficulty gaining his feet. Il
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.
st loved a woman who betrayed me,
plotted with an enemy, and was BAN
ished-I, a kingI" he narrated. ut
Is death to go back, but still / am or
the old proud race. 1 have learned
your language. can make COCO
nut ornaments, much valued, when L
am well, but have been Ill and poor
and homeless for a long time"
"You shall be so no longer, I 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 a quiet, comfortable harbor for
his derelict spirit.
He found a new friend In Wade Bur-
ton. The f1ance 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 pensloner
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 US" remon-
strated Alma sorrowfully.
"It may have to be-" answered
Wade. "Old 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. he
had left a brief note. "Dear Little
Missy" it ran; "for your sake and that
of my good friend, Mr.. Burton, 1 am
gone. Some day I may return. The
good fortune will come to you-be
happy"
At the end Of that week town law
yer camesto Wade. He handed him
signed document from Doctor Kline
; transferring to him his practice.
!, at is bought and paid for by
friend whose name I am not at liberty
to disclose" said the attorney, ant
. left Wade in wonderment.
Two months later Wo Tsin reap
peared. Accompanying him was
!, shrewd-faced little man, whose keel
eyes proclaimed the sharp bargainer
doctor Burton" he said, II have
strange story to tell. This friend o
yours came to me In the city, askini
for a loan Of $1,000. 1 am a pawn
broker. He showed me, under hi
), clothing, rigidly riveted about hi
waist, a gold band studded with pre-
: cious gems. 1t seems this is an In
sigma Of his former kingship, fror
which he must never part, accordin
to the tenets of his people. He offere
to pawn himself, and It."
Because of love for the missy an
. her friend" murmured Wo Tsin, wit
!, q rapt look at both.
= "a week ago." proceeded the none
L loaner, "he saved the life Of my littl
family and nv wealth by Outwittin