Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1922-07-06
ADJ ian Mobiles
Ret 'rmation
By WINIFRk.o DUNBAR
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I'm afraid we are 80, ne to IOi
our money, Abner."
Il hope not, Mary; S5h'k no
When we decided TO go INTO thl
business we agreed to stay by IL t
the last. 1t Is a long way 1SUnr
failure"
Yes sighed Mrs. Vance, "but shC
anxiety and slow worry is wearsAl
you down."
1t was "A peculiar position in which
the Vances found themselves. Tive
months previously they had sold Out
little general store business that had
given them bare living for twenty
years and enabled them to give their
only daughter, Helen, an excellent
musical education.
A relative In the South had been
the cause Of sudden determination
on the part of these worthy credu-
lous people that had altered the whole
current Of their lives. He had made
a lucky investment In a morton pie
ture show and was fast acquiring a
fortune.
Wen sell out, find a nice. respect
able location in some pretty home
town and 20 into the business" de-
cided Mr. Vance.
SO, pride and novelty carried the
Vances away from their usual sober
Judgment and here they were now,
discussing tile results as prOprietors
Of the ''Pance" photo playhouse at
Maiden.
Tie Fanccs had arranged some coy
living rooms at the rear of the play
house.
"What was that?" suddenly ex-
claimed Mrs. Venice.
TITS Helen - cried her husband,
and ran to the door, and his daughter
burst into the room
What is it?" gusped her mother in
alarm.
stumbled over man-maybe
dead, l don't know p shuddered Helen.
"A prowler or some one wandered
mp from those vile drinking dens on
TIE river" decided Mr.. Vance. "Tn
60 and see"
He returned In few moments stag
gering under the great weight of a
helpless human form.
ooh, dear dear!" exclaimed the
motherly Mrs. Vance, after a glance
at the white pulseless face of the I'M
conscious stranger-"a young man,
almost boy! Abner, this is pitiful !"
Helen stood regarding the rescued
wayfarer rs though gazing upon some
vivid camera scene.
They aroused the unconscious man
through their own ministrations, bur
they discovered that one limb seemed
broken. The doctor told them that
1t was bad fracture when he was
summoned by Mr.. Vance.
They knew the next day all that
the young man cared to tell about
himself HIS name was Adrian Noble.
He had been turned away from his
fathers door on account of his drink
ing habits. He had wandered to Nal.
den, in muddled condition, had
fallen from high sidewalk and here
he was-penniless, homeless and
friendless.
"The penniless part Of 1t needn't
worry you, If you are resolute to work
and reform" said Abner Vance In his
blunt, practical way. "As to being |
homeless, You are welcome here till |
you are better and we will be your
friends If you will let u.s."
In strange subdued manner, the
Young man grew into their family and
business lives. They fixed up a room
'or him behind the playhouse stage
md when he got so he could move
around on clutches placed him In
,harge Of the little ticket booth.
Adrian Noble would set his eyes upon
Helen as she practiced the music for
he entertainments.
When he could get around more
RELY, Noble began to take a rare
interest In the business. He suggested
in the character Of the
Inns, he was the distributor Of some
IniQue. advertising that brought In the
audiences.
With brighter business prospects.
dr. Vance still lOnged for the big hall
n the center Of the town. He talked
bout II necessarily and Il interested
VObfe. One day the latter came to
ielen with grave, earnest face.
"Will you write something for meY'
e asked.
"Certainly-what Is ItT', inquired
Ielen, flushing a trlne under his clear.
teady gaze.
"A temperance pledge. l am
through with the old folly. wan,
our hand to lnscribe the promise !
hall never break" II
Two days later Noble disappeared
lysteriously from the playhouse.
Telen never dreamed she could so
Hiss him. He walked in upon them |
list after the entertainment Saturday
light, new being in apparel and
,auAn-