Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1915-11-11
THURMONT FREDERICK COUNTY, MD, THURSDAY, MOVE

set himself to attempt to win the re.
ward offer ed for the oblong blue
wallet. Noble was not 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
21, that he had scanned every hole in
the sidewalk, had probed under it, and
had peered into areas and past drain
age gratings, hoping to find clue.
"It's like looking for a needle in
haystack!" he sighed rather disap.
pointedly, as, for the fiftieth time per-
haps, he came to halt in front of
Sign 21.
It was a large framework of smooth
boards covering the front Of fifty.
foot lot between two brick buildings.
1t was about twenty feet high.
1--WE got an ideal" suddenly ex.
claimed the young man. Suppose the
thief threw the wallet over the top
of the sign into the vacant lot be-
yond-why not? All! little door.
This may be worth investigating"
Way down at one corner end of the
big sign, sure enough, a narrow door
showed. The poster sheets covering
1t had been cut so the door would
swing inwards. Noble pushed 1t open.
He supposed this was a convenience
for the owners Of the signboard, 80
they could get behind the sign to re-
pair it or strengthen it's supports when
necessary. What was his surprise,
however, to find steps leading down
into the vacant lot about it's middle
wandering tool shed, made over into
a quite presentable living structure.
And what the further surprise of
the young violinist struggling for
living, to observe neat attractive flow
er beds in front Of the little house,
and seated in its doorway charming
young girl, sewing. She looked
startled as the young man somewhat
embarrassed came towards her, his hat
in his hand, an apology for intruding
upon his lips.
Naturally Adrian Noble explained
to the young lady his mission. She
was Immediately interested and heard
Of the case for the first time. She was
drawn irresistibly towards her hand
some, bright-faced visitor. She even
joined him in the search for the blue
wallet, but the quest was fruitless.
Gradually Noble learned her strange
history. Her father owned the lot.
1t was valuable but he had spent all
he had in litigating with claimant.
All the time in their humble abode
however, he had kert in possession.
Mr.. Warren worked in factory near
by. Zelia helped by keeping house
and sewing for department store.
They had managed to clear the lot
between them, but the taxes were be-
hind. Another thousand dollars saved
and they could borrow enough to build
a store structure and receive good
income from the Investment.
After that Adrian Noble forgot all
about the blue wallet in becoming a
regular visitor to the place. Those
two innocent spirits seemed made one
for the other and John Warren did
not object to their new friend.
One evening Noble arrived at the
lot to find the sign in ruins, severe
windstorm had blown 1t down. The
sign owners had given 1t to Warren
for kindling wood and were going to
build an entirely new one. Noble as
sisted in pulling the mass apart and
piling up the loose board. Suddenly
he uttered a wild cry.
"The blue Wallet" he shouted.
Yes, there it was-pasted under the
poster sheet as a hiding place by the
dead thief and come to light at last.
And so the reward was gained, Civ,
ing to John Warren the means of re-
trieving his adverse fortune, to Adrian
Noble enough to marry on and be
happy.