The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1920-07-22
THE STRAIGHT
PATH.
By WALTER DELANEY.

was TIE trusted tMpioNse 81 tufkt
grain firm. socially recognized and
with apparently promising prospects
and contrustod that condition with the
present be droored his head humIli-
ate,l and dlsheartened.
The more ~ because the little home.
Ike cottGgc az the door Of which Hen
Dcvlns. bold aud aggressive, had asked
for something to eat had for It's mis-
tress refined. whltehaired old lady
who scanned B.n la a shrinking, fear
some way, but plain pity came into her
face as her EYES rested upon his young.
or companion. aud she murmured
something about better days" Then
she called:
"Myra. dear. come here
Then had appeared young girl %
perhaps twenty. fair 81 form and fea-
ture. Her eyes. too. pierced the mask
Of unkcmptness 81 the young fellow
whose rags and unshaven face showed
that be was not In his right element.
The young lady made no comment
hut went back into the house and re-
appeared with some cold meat, bread
and butter and pitcher of milk. Rem
proceeded To dispatch two-thlrds 81
the lunch and then strolled carelessly
about the yard. Denham was finish
ing last crust 81 bread when the
young lady rcappeared. child ~
about seven. apparently her sister.
holding a plate containing "a piece 81
pie.
Nellie Insists on your having this"
spoke Myra Ward gently.
"oh. yes. the poor man looks 50
hungry :" prattlcd the little one.
walt" added the young lady. set
ting the plate upon the porch. and
FASTENED back into the house and
brought a silver fork.
There could be no more delicate
compliment or recognition. Denham
lowered his eyes. for the quick tears
came. The young lady. letter In her
hand, went around to the front Of the
house a. II 90 place II beside the letter
box for the mail carrier Ia take ~, re
turned aud a minute later Ben beck
Oned urgently.
WED better make tracks" he said.
and Denham could not understand his
haste. This IL no good town II the
village constable spies us"
II want 20 reach Southport before
dark" Ben appri1ed him. We've been
living on handouts for a week. ! want
something better"
For only few days Denham had
tramped 10 with Ben. When the firm
he had worked for 30 long failed he
had been unable 20 get on his feet
again. Then came a spell Of sickness,
no work later and then absolute pow
erty.
when they reached the city Ben
still further surprised Denham by TAX
Ing a room In fairly respectable ho-
tel. Denham noticed that he paid for
the sarne with hfty dollar bill.
Il had that slowed away all the
time" asserted mendacious and tricky
hen. Il Wanted TO surprise you.
There's a i've. 60 around and enjoy
yourself until come back" and he
did not reappear until midnight. al
most riotous as he showed an immense
package Of bank nons.
Five hundred" he gloated. MY
luck nc cards held firm. Now then,
partner. while I'm In funds I'm going
10 get back to friends. I'm no plker,
No I'm going TO stake you 10 10 where
you please. Here. I'll stow two TWEEN
ties IN my old wallet. Take H. moth
Ing but a new fancy pockethook will
do me Just now"
Denham could scarcely believe his
good fortune as he started for his
home town the next morning.
But a vast surprise greets< him. An
uncle had died leaving him small for
tune and lawyers had been seeking
for him eyerywher The transition
from poverty To wealth dazed him.
Then n strange discovery started him
on a singular quest.
In the old wallet he had found
letter. II was all crumpled up and
was hiTt'ttN 10 f-uNih "ufhs ~
told Of an Enclosure Of fifty dollars and
Il implored dear brother" not TO lose
heart that. small as was the amount.
and spared with difiiculty. IL must be
made 20 serve Its recipient TO carry
out his plans.
The letter was dated at the town
where the young lady had given Den
ham and Ben that free meal. AZ once
Denhhm surmised the truth ben must
have overheard the girl and her moth
er discussing the contents 81 the let
ter. had wickedly stolen II from the
letter box and had appropriated the
Enclosure.
Wade Denham could not rest until
he had located Edwin Ward. 10 ind
him striving 20 make his way In the
literary field. Just In time be reached
the discouraged one To save him from
abandoning all his enerNned ambi-
tions.
To the brother Denham told all. In
sisiing that he allow him 10 help him
with his ample means Sin months
later. the invited guest o. his new
friend. Denham found himself once
more nj Rose cottage, but under what