The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-11-18
x THE @ FORTUNE HUNTER
Novelized by LOUIS JOSEPH VANCE From the Play of the
 Same Name by WINCHELL SMITH
Copyright. 1910. by Winchell Smith and
 Louis Joseph Vance


 and puffed audibly in the pauses, a singular testimony to his devotion to Angie Tuthill. who just sang' with the others chiefly because she was Jo- sie's nearest friend.
 Nat had settled down to a pretty steady correspondence with Kellogg. chiefly on business matters. Kellogg was investigating old Sam's burner and seemed quite impressed with it's Roland's friend Burnham on Duncan's representations and ordered him out of the offices of L. J. Bartlett & Co.,, it seemed. Later he opened up negotia- tions with a corporation known as the Modern Gas company, 1 believe, 8 competitor of Consolidated Petroleum. and in due course representatives Of both concerns came to Radville. exam, ined the burner and retired. noncom- initial. Then Bartlett sent requisi- ton for model and supplied the funds for making it, thus demonstrating his confidence.
 As for old Sam, he had risen to the dignity of a frock coat and felt him. self an arist0crat for the first time in his life.
 I don't remember just how soon 1t was. but 1t was shortly after the for nation of the firm of Graham & Dun can that the young man received his first invitation to dinner at the Lock woods. He accepted. of course, wheth- CT he wanted to or not, for there could be no excuse for his refusing Sunday bid. and the Lockwoods made quite an event of it. The Soules were invited because they were Araminta Lock woods brother and sister-in-law, and the Godfreys came over from West eriy to grace the board as representa- lives of the Lockwood strain.
 At the conclusion of the meal. which endured throughout two interminable hours. the, elder men folk withdrew to the garden and the lawn. Nat was left to Josie, who conducted him to the side porch. out of sight of every ybody. and planted herself in a baggy ham, mock there. She was gay. even bril- liant within her limitations. arch, naive, coquettish, shy, petulant, by turns, animated by a sense of con- quest. She supplied the major part of the conversation. chatting voIubly on the thousand subjects she didn't un- derstand. the dozen she did. Tn the most ingenious manner imaginable she laid herself open to advances. not once, but a score of times. and when he failed to respond according to the code of Radville had the wit to mask her chagrin. did she feel any Very prob ably she laid his lack of responsive ness at the door of his shyness Ca quality he was wholly without and liked him the better for it.
 It was on this day that she extracted from him his promise to join the choir. Ee acceded through apathy alone.
 'I don't care whether you can sing or not" she confessed. with a look. ''But I do want somebody to walk home with me that like"
 ''Thats nice way of putting it." Duncan considered without emphasis.
 'Roland Barnette's always walked home with me. but I think he's just tiresome"
 "Why" inquired the young man. with some interest.
 She averted her head, plucking at the strands of the hammock. "Oh. you know" she said diffidently.
 "Oh? Nat was enlightened. '9Then Pm sorry for Roland"
 "Why?"
 h1nv i'm, I-v 1T couldn't help this The time. the place. the girl. inspired-indeed, incited-one to banality.
 "Whys" she persisted.
 "Oh, you know" He caught the in tonation of her previous words pre- cisely.
 She had the grace to blush and hang sidelong glance.
 "Ah. Aren't you awful to talk that way. Mr. Duncan"
 "Yes." he admitted meekly.
 "Then you will join the choir?"
 "Oh. yes" he agreed listlessly. "T'm so glad" He thanked her. but avoided her eye.
 eve might s well begin tonight ,'' she suggested presently. with diffident, downcast eyes. "What-the choir?' He was startled. "Oh. I couldn't without a rehearsal"
 "No. 1 didn't mean that"
 "NoY'
 "t mean about Roland" She was paying minute attention to the lace in sertion of her skirt.
 ~About Roland"-
 "Yes; I mean You know what mean, MT. DuncanY -1 assure you I do not, Miss Lock wood" About not walking home with him any more. I don't want to. l wish you'd commence tonight instead of choir practice night. I'd much rather walk home with you" After evening service. you mean?" She nodded. It'll be a great pleas ure."
 'Really?" She gave him her eyes now.
 Really" he assured her. "Ah. don't believe you mean that" "But indeed do" rx.+ ,,-$iI ra~~I- o.afoay- %I,