Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1922-07-13
Adrian Mobiles
Reformation
By wINIFRED DUNBAR

I'm afraid we are gong 20 loss
our money, Abner."
Il hope not Mary; / think not.
When we decided to go into this
business We agreed to stay by It to
the hast. 1t is a long way from a
failure"
Yes" sighed Mrs. Vance, "but the
anxiety and SLOW worry is wearing
you down"
II was peculiar position in which
the Vances found themselves. Two
months previously they had sold out
a 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-
IOus people that had altered the whole
current of their llyea He had made
a lucky Investment In a motion pic
ture show and was fast acquiring Q
fortune.
"Well sell out, find a nice, respect
able location In some pretty home
town and go 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 the results as proprietOrs
of the palace" photo playhouse at
Maiden.
The Vances had arranged some cOzy
living rooms at the rear OF the play
house.
"What was thatr' suddenly ex.
| claimed Mrs Venice.
ITS Helen !" cried her husband.
and ran to the door, and his daughter
burst into the. room.
what is itT gasped her mother in
alarm.
'T-stumbledA over man--maybe
dead, l don't know !" shuddered Helen.
"A prowier or some one wandered
up from those vile drinking dens on
the river" decided Mr.. Vance. "IlI
go and see."
He returned In a few moments stag
gering under the great weight of a
helpless human form.
"Oh, dear! dear!" exclaimed the
motherly Mrs. Vance, after glance
at the white pulseless face Of the I'm.
conscious stranger-"a young man,
almost a boy Abner, this is pltiful !"
Helen stood regarding the rescued
wayfarer as though gazing upon some
vivid camera scene.
They aroused the unconscious mar
through their own mlnistrations, bu.
they discovered that one limb seemed
broken. The doctor told them thai
1t was a bad. fracture when he wal
summoned by Mr.. Vance.
They knew the next day all tha'
the young man cared to tell abou
himself. His name was Adrian Noble
He had been turned away from hi
fathers door on account Of his drink
ing habits. He had wandered to Nal
den, in q muddled condition, haC
fallen from high sidewalk and herr
ne was-penniless, homeless ant
friendless.
1.-THE penniless part Of 1t needn'
worry you, If you are resOlute to WORK
and reform" said Abner Vance in hi!
blunt, practical way. "As to beint
homeless, you are welcome here til
you are better and we will be you
friends If you will let u.s."
In q strange, subdued manner, th'
young man grew into their family ant
business lives. They fixed up a POon
for him behind the playhouse stag
and when he got so ne could mOv'
around on clutches placed him II
charge Of the little ticket booth.
Adrian Noble would set his eyes upos
Helen as she practiced the music 70
the entertainments
When he could get around NOR
freely, Noble began to take rar
improvements in the character Of thu
films, he was the distributor Of som,
unique advertising that brought In tn
audiences.
With brighter business prospects
Mr.. Vance still longed for the big hal
In the center Of the town. He talke,
about 1t necessarily aad 1t intereste,
Noble. One day the latter came t
q Helen with grave, earnest face.
xviii you write something for met
be asked. f
} ''Certainly-whAt is ltY inquire
Helen. flushing trihe under his clear
|, steady gaze X
"a temperance pledge. l al
, through with the old folly. wan
your hand to insctibe the promise
shall never break"
Two days later Noble dlSappeare
riysterlouslyy from the playhouse
Helen never dreamed she could 8
miss him. He walked in upon ther
Just after the. entertainment Saturda
night new being in apparel an
manner M
"Thers Is the lease Of the hall 70
. . -. eli rata Rnr anA rnAfsa ont 4,