Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1920-08-11
STRAIGHT
PATH.
By WALTER DELANEY.
wright, 1920. Western Newspape5

Wade Denham was III DaQ company
and was ashamed of it. When he
looked back upon the time when he
was the trusted employee OF large
grain firm, socially recognized and
with apparently promising prospects,
and contrasted that condition with the
present he dropped his head humiil-
ated and disheartened.
The more so because the little home
like cottage at the door of which Ben
Devins, bold and aggressive, had asked
for something to eat had for its mis-
tress a refined, white-haired old lady
who scanned Ben in shrinking fear
some way, but plain pity came into her
face as her eyes rested upon his young
er companion, and she murmured
something about "better days" Then
she called:
''Myra, dear, come here"
Then had appeared young girl Of
perhaps twenty, fair Of form 'and fea-
ture. Her eyes, too, pierced the mask
of unkemptness Of the young fellow
whose rags and unshayen face showed
that he was not in his right element.
The young lady made no comment
but went back into the house and re-
appeared with some cold meat, bread
and butter and pitcher Of milk. Ben
proceeded to dispatch two-thirds OF
the lunch and then strolled carelessly
about the yard. Denham was finish
ing last crust of bread when the
young lady reappeared, a child OF
about seven, apparently her sister,
holding plate containing piece OF
pie.
.'Nellte insists on your having this"
spoke Myra Ward gently.
ooh, yes, the poor man looks 80
hungry prattled the little one.
'sWait," added the young lady, set
ting the plate upon the porch, and
fastened back into the house and
brought 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 as If to place 1t beside the letter
box for the mail carrier to take up re-
turned, and q minute later Ben beck
oned urgently.
"We'd better make tracks" he said.
and Denham could not understand his
haste. "This Is no good town II the
village constable spies U.s."
II want to reach Southport before
dark" Ben apprized him. We've been
living on handouts for week. want
something better"
For only few days Denham had
tramped 1t with Ben. When the firm
he had worked for so long failed he
had been unable to get on his feet
again. Then came spell Of sickness,
no work later and then absolute pow
erty.
When they reached the city Ben
still further surprised Denham by TAX
ing room In fairly respectable no.
tel. Denham noticed that he paid for
the same with ffty-dollar bill.
II had that slowed away all the
time" asserted mendacious and tricky
Ben. II wanted to surprise you.
There's five. Go around and enjoy
yourself until I come back" and he
did not reappear until midnight, al
most riotous as he showed an immense
package Of bank notes.
give hundred" he gloated my
luck at cards held firm. Now then,
partner, while I'm In funds I'm going
to get back to friends. I'm no piker,
50 I'm going to stake you to go where
you please. Here, I'll stow two twen-
ties In my old wallet. Take 1t, moth
ing but new fancy pocketbook will
do me Just now"
Denham could scarcely believe his
good fortune as he started for his
home town the next morning
But vast surprise greeted him. An
uncle had died leaving him small for
tune and lawyers had been seeking
for him everywhere. The transition
from poverty to wealth dazed him.
Then a strange discovery started him
on singular quest
/. In the old wallet he had found a
letter. 1t was all crumpled up and
was directed to Edwin Ward" 1t
told of an Enclosure of fifty dollars and
1t implored "dear brother" not to lose
heart, that, small as was the amount,
and spared with difficulty, 1t must be
made to 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. At once
Denham surmised the truth. Ben must
have overheard the girl and her moth
er discussing the contents of the let
ter, bad wickedly stolen it from. the
letter box and had appropriated the
Enclosure.
Wade Denham could not rest until
he had located Edwin Ward, to find
him striving to make his way in the
literary field. Just in time he reached
the discouraged one to save him from
abandoning all his cnerfSned ambi-
tons.
To the brother Denham told all, in
sistng that he allow him to help him
with his ample means. Six months
later, the invited guest Of his new
friend, Denham found himself once
more at Rose cottage, but under what
strangely contrasting circumstances
Myra Ward knew him at a glance.
She was apprized Of the truth and
all the truth. The real soul of him who