The Prescott daily news., 1920-01-03
A Joyous Helper
 n0
Copyright. 1918. western Newspaper Union
By GENEvIEvE LUNAR

aunt announced to him that she had made up her mind to apportion to him the part of her estate she had intend ed to leave him by will, he whistled volubly in his natural impetuous style.
 You have shown yourself to be a sincere and contented young man, and shan't keep you waiting for dead mans shoes." she observed definitely.
 q certainly never made any calcu- lations on yours" declared Laurence. "What's more, I'm perfectly satisfied and happy with my present lot. Pm earning a living everybody seems to like me, like everybody"
 "Well, my lawyer will tell you what I have done for you, and I am glad have done it."
 The first thing Laurence thought of after he found himself independent and rich was to take vacation. The first person he planned on visiting was Dudley Vernon.
 I've pretty warm spot in my heart for dear old Dud." he told himself. He helped me to get through college; he saved my life once"
 So Laurence went down to Westport and became guest at the house of Dudley's widowed sister, with whom Dudley lived.
 A few days after he had arrived at Westport. Laurence got Mrs. Aston alone and sat down for confidential chat.
 T am worried nearly to death about Dudley" he said, he is so changed. Won't you relieve my mind and put me in the way of helping him?"
 Dudley has been that way since he returned from a months stay at Adrian" said Mrs. Aston. T will tell you all I know. It doesn't come from him, but from an accidental discovery I made. Dudley seems to have fallen in love with young lady during his vacation. I do not know her name, only that she lives at Adrian. In his waste basket few days since found a photograph torn in two. Here are the fragments"
 "I say!" ejaculated Laurence. scan- ming the Joined pieces of cardboard, If had picture like that I'd wear it over my heart"
 T also found parts of letter ap- parently from the father of the young lady. It informed Dudley that he could not look upon their engagement with favor, as he had learned conf dentially that Dudley. business was at the point of failure"
 'Is that true?" inquired Laurence.
 T fear that it is His lawyer, MT. Ames, tells me SO"
 Laurence visited the lawyer to find that ten thousand dollars would place his friend beyond the power of busi- ness disappointment. He went to Adrian seeking for young lady whose name even he did not know. Her love- ly face, however. was wildly impressed upon his mind
 Fortune favored Laurence's plans. He was traversing residence street of Adrian when he came upon a large wallet lying on the pavement. Lau- renee picked it Up to find it filled with papers and money. Turning corner he nearly collided with a hurrying fig ure, flushed. excited girl.
 Found at last" he breathed with intense satisfaction as he recognized her, and then observing that she was scanning walk and street with eager eyes he spoke aloud: Excuse me, miss, but have you lost something?"
 Yes, oh yes-a wallet containing some >g valuable papers I was talk ing 10 my fathers office from the house."
 'Is that it?' questioned Laurence. and Miss Amalie Dutton took the wal let rendered with joyous cry.
 The incident led to their becoming acquainted more fully, and within q week Laurence was an accepted vis- itor at the Dutton home. Through wary investigation he learned that Amalie knew Dudley Vernon, but she did not seem to be intensely interested when he was mentioned. Persistently. however, Laurence brought up the name of his friend on every possible occasion, particularly before the par ents of Amalie. He lauded Dudley, he told of recent business troubles now all adjusted. and Dudley on the way to become q millionaire. Then one day there came vast surprise when Amalie propounded the query:
 'Mr. Colby. why is it that you are always speaking of afr. Vernon? told my friend, Virginia Bland, about 1t, and she cannot understand your deep interest in her fiance."