Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1920-09-08
The Roads End
By oTILLIA r. PFEIFFER

10 your c00Q, ana IFS QOWnWarO
path. and you will soon reach its end
Archibald Wayne made gesture Of
dismissal. final and severe. His son
Virgil responded with a look Of des
peration rather than contriteness.
"You won't help me out-for the
last timer I'm through with the folly,
Il you Will give me new start be
said.
You have the effrontery to ask that
after all I have done for you, wasteful.
II, fruitlessly. I disown you. More than
that, not penny more Of my hard
earned money will you ever get"
The young man shrugged his shoul-
ders and tried to assume an air Of
reckless indifference. He wheeled face
about and started down the road, In.
deed, as II that was the menacina
thoroughfare itself which his father
had indicated.
Virgil Wayne. young, handsome, ath.
letic, with q good home and favorable
prospects had he not imperiled and
sacrificed them, had something serious
to think about. Graduating as an en-.
gineer he had come home from q tech,
meal college to enjoy brief rest, az
he termed It His father was away
for his health. He had left with his
lawyer the power to provide what mon.
ey Virgil needed, and as the latter had
left college with high distinction he
was quite proud OF him Never was
father more disappointed and shock
ed than Mr.. Wayne when. six months
later, he returned to learn that his
sons name had become a by word in
the town. Virgil had Joined it, wild
est set Of young men. He had thought
Ct nothing but pronigacy and pleasure
and had run into debt for over two
thousand dollars.
Thrice since then had Mr.. Wayne
settled up his sons newly acquired
debts. At last the limit was reached.
Virgil had gone with some Of his chos-
en- friends to horse race at q dis
tance. He had been Induced to risk 3
large amount Of collections ne had
made for his father, and this last act
Of unfaithfulness had led to his present
situation.
Virgil Wayne started down the road
vowing that he was done with the
past and his evil associates forever.
he had no Idea as to his destination
Moodily, sturdy he tramped on.
About the middle Of the afternoon he
entered a restaurant in little rail.
road town and his attention was at
tracted to two young men at the next
table, one Of whom was waving a tele-
gram Ia riotously excited and de-
lighted manner
'The next train back for both Of
u.s." he exclaimed "You see what II
says Drop the Dayton work. We
have closed the big tunnel contract and
need you here"
"Yes, but what will this Robert Day.
ton think Of your not coming, Whar-
tonY propounded the other.
'.What he pleases. Think I'll vege.
tate at hundred a month way of
here, while double and treble promises
on the tunnel contract"
Virgil rested awhile and resumed his
tramp. Just before dusk he came to
a halt where the road was blocked.
A post bore the sign: "No thorough.
fare-Private Road" He took side
highway to face the same sign halt
a mile further on.
'.Well, 1t seems that have come to
the end of the road" he soliloQuized.
At a little distance was solitary
house. It set back among grove Of
trees and he made his way to Its porch.
"A young girl sat there at a table, a
number Of blank and written sheets
spread cut before her.
"I'm wondering where am" spoke
Virgil. II seem to be In labyrinth,
with no way out"
"Oh, you mean the blocked roads?"
inquired the young lady. my father
owns the land for miles beyond here
and has purpose in segregating 1t.
You are not the engineer, are you,
whom he was expecting?"
mo, am not" replied Virgil, "but
engineering is my profession" and
then as he glanced at the sheet near
at hand he observed that the girl had
been copying surveying transcripts and
map details. A bluff, hearty-looking
man appeared from the house. He
had overheard virgil's declaration and
1t seemed to interest him. Abruptly he
questioned:
"Are you Mr.. wharton and as vir.
gil disssnted he also referred to the
man Of that name he had seen at the
restaurant and recited the incident.
"And you're in the same line?" said
Robert Dayton. "A queer coincidence.
Maybe we can turn 1t to account.
want new survey Of some ten thou
sand acres Of land / own and some
engineering work besides. You see,
hold the key here to supply electric
utilities for fifty-mile district. Tn
willing to pay well for expert counsel
and help to put 1t In shape"
Virgil Wayne accepted the PROPOSE
ton rendered him.
He was so fascinated with the prof.. |
ect of the old man, so encouraged In
realizing that his technical education
had found its practical opportunity at
last, so enchanted with Blanche, so
liked by both her and her father that
he willingly agreed to become per
manent partner in the vast enterprise
under exploitation.
There came a day when Virgil
Wayne proudly welcomed his son with
gladness and the old parental love all
the dark past forgotten. and Blanche.