The Nevada County picayune., 1922-06-01
Adrian Noble's Reformation
By WINIFRED DUNBAR

I'm afraid we are going to lose our money, Abner"
 T hope not, Mary; think not. When we decided to 90 into this business we agreed to stay by 1t to the last. It is q long way from failure"
 Yes" sighed Mrs. Vance, but the anxiety and slow worry is wearing you down."
 It was a peculiar position in which the Vances found themselves. Two 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 a sudden determination on the part of these worthy, credu- lous people that had altered the whole current of their lives. He had made lucky investment In 8 notion pie ture show and was fast acquiring . fortune.
 Well sell out, find q nice, respect able location in some pretty home town and go into the business" de cided Nr. Vance.
 So, pride and novelty carried the Vances away from their usual sober judgment and here they were now, discussing the results as pr0prietors of the Palace" photo playhouse at Maiden.
 The Vances had arranged some cosy living rooms at the rear of the play house.
 What was that7' suddenly ex- claimed Mrs. Venice.
 "It's Helen!" cried her husband, and ran to the door, and his daughter burst into the room.
 What Is itY" gasped her mother in alarm.
 dead, don't know! l" shuddered Helen.
 "A prowler or some one wandered up from those vile drinking dens on the river," decided MT. Vance. "I'll go and see"
 He returned in few moments stag gering under the great weight of helpless human form.
 "Oh, dear! dearw exclaimed the motherly Mrs. Vance, after glance at the white pulseless face of the Ln- conscious stranger-"a young man, almost a boy! Abner, this Is pitiful !"
 Helen stood regarding the rescued wayfarer as though gazing upon some vivid camera scene.
 They aroused the unconscious man ] through their own ministrations, but i they discovered that one limb seemed l broken. The doctor told them that 1t was a bad fracture when he was summoned by MT. 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 a high sidewalk and here he was-pennless, homeless and friendless.
 "The penniless part of it 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 us"
 In strange. subdued manner. the young man grew into their family and business lives. They fixed up a room for him behind the playhouse stage and when he got so he could move around on crutches placed him in charge of the little ticket booth.
 Adrian Noble would set his eyes upon Helen as she practiced the music for the entertainments. l When he could get around more freely, Noble began to take rare , interest in the business. He suggested improvements in the character of the films, he was the distributor of some unique advertising that brought in the audiences
 With brighter business prospects. Mir. Vance still longed for the big hall in the center of the town. He talked about it necessarily and 1t interested 1 Noble. One day the latter came to Helen with a grave, earnest face.
 twill you write something for mef" he asked.
 |
 "Certainly-what is itT inquired Helen, flushing a trifie under his clear, steady gaze.
 "A tamperanee pledge am