Jackson County journal. (Sylva, N.C.) 19??-19??, 1915-10-22

the recovery Of blue oblong VALE.
bearing the initials in gilt. "R. W.
and containing viii signed by Abne,
Waldron.
Just one week after the sbootine
of the criminal young nan passed
and repassed Sign 81 Of the Universal
Advertising Syndicate Ten tines
twenty times, in fact all through the
| long afternoon this Individual went
over the brief route that Barley
Flynn had followed Always his ewes
| were on the ground
This was Adrian Noble, and he had
set himself to attempt to win the re.
ward offered for the oblong blue
wallet. Noble was not a detective.
but an accidental acquaintance with
one Of the officers who had pursued
Flynn had put him in full possession
OF all the circumstances Of the case.
SO impressed was he with the convic-
| ton that in some mysterious manner
the thief had secreted his booty be-
tween the point Of robbery and Sign
y, that he had scanned every hole IN
the sidewalk, had probed under :, and
mad peered into areas end past drain
age gratings, hoping to find clue.
It's like locking for needle in a
naystack.' ne sighed rather disan-
polnted1y, as, for the fitch tir1e Der-
laps, he cane tc a halt in front Of
Sign FL.
1t was '~-~e framework of smooth
E1ardS coT----g the front Of a fety
loot 10. between two brick buildings.
1t was about twenty feet high.
NC Cot Gn 5dea?" srdIe~-v OK
cla1T'od the young man. "SapDose the
tn1c4 threw the wallet over the ION
OF the sign into the vacant 1ot he
yoIo-"hy not? All! a little door.
ms may be worth investigating"
way down at enc corner end of the
Dig sign, sure enough, a narrow door
moved. The poster sheets, covering
Il had oeen cut SO the door would
SWING 1nwards. Noble pushed !. onen
tie supposed this was a convenience
lor TIE owners Of the signboard, SO
they could get behind the sign to re-
pair It or strengthen it's supports when
necessary. What was his sunrise
however, to find steps leading down
INTO the vacant lot, about it's middle p
wandering tool shed, made over into
= quite presentable living structure
AAo what the further surprise of
.ne young 71cl1n1st struggling for a
iv1ng, TIC observe neat attractive flow
er beds in front Of the little house.
and seated in its doorway q Charming
young girl, sewing. She looked |
s'artiec as the young man somewhat |
embarrassed came towards her. his hat |
In his hand, an apology for intrudine |
upon his lips.
Naturally Adrian Noble explained |
70 the young lady his mission, She
was Immediately interested and heard
OF the case for the first time. She was
ura"n 'rresistibly towards her hand
some bright-faced visitor. She even
Jolheo MIN in the search for the biue
wallet. but the quest was frui+less
Gradually Noble learned her STRANGE
~ DRY, Her father owned the lot
II was valuable, but he had spent all
ne mao ln lltlgating with a claimant
All the time in their humble abode
however, ne had kept in possession.
I"r warren worked in q factory. near
ny. zella helped by keeping house
ana sewing for O. departm store
lney had managed to clear the LOT
between them, but the taxes were he
n1nd. Another thousand dollars saved
ahd they could borrow enough to b1i1d
store structure and receive a good
'ncoHle from the Investment.
After that Adrian Noble forgot Gil
about the blue wallet in hecominr .
regular visitor to the place. Those
TWO innocent spirits seemed made one
[oT the other and John. Warren did
not object to their new friend.
Quo evening Noble arrived at the
OF TO find the sign In ruins, q severe
"1ndstorm had blown it down. The
Sign owners had given il to Warren
or klndling wood and were going to
'u1ld an entirely new one Noble az.
sisted In pulling the mass apart and
'1llng up the loose board. Suddenly
he uttered wild cry.
the blue wallet" he shouted
Yes, there it vas-pasted under +ho
'oster sheet as a hiding place BY the
lean th1ef and come to light at last.
AND SO the reward was gained. civ.
ng to John Warren the means ~ "a
r1ev1ng his adverse fortune, to Adrian
SoDle enough to marry on and he
Apply. :