The Washington herald., 1921-08-22
THE
FORTUNE
HUNTER
AMew, Gripping
Romance Serial
BY RUBY AYRE
(caatf.osA froa ysscsclayl

She was frowninG q utle a. II
something had upset her. Il hate
that man Fernie.- she broke out
vehemently. I've always got the
kind Of feeling that some day he
will do me an injury. Oh. I don't
know why he should: he's nothing
in the world to do with me, but I've
got the feeling, all the same. It's
the way he looks at me, I suppose.
The Fortune Hunter laughed.
You're too imaginative" he said
NO, I'm not; I'm not q bit. I've
never had that feeling before. but
I've had IT about Fernie ever since
he came to Somerton-"
Has he been here longr
He bought the Long-end Cot
tage the same summer 1 came to
live with Uncle Glenn"
And that was-how many
years ago?" the Fortune Hunter
asked casually, even while he
hoped that she would tell him.
Just nine years." she answered
readily. John. you never could re-
member dates"
One day has generally been the
same to me as the next" he an
swered grimly. The chief excite
ment in my life for years has been
in wondering where the next meal
Is to come from"
The admission was out before he
realized what he had said. and IL
was only when he saw the amazed
look in her eyes that he laughed
and tried to cover his own serious
ness.
I was as hard up as q church
mouse for a long time after 1 went
abroad. you know" he added.
Were you?" Her voice was pitt.
full. You never told me. 1 always
thought your mother sent you
money"
Ny motherT' The Fortune Hun
ters heart gave a thump of appre-
hension.
Yes" Anne was unconscious Of
his agitation. She used to write
to me-you know that-and
thought she always sent you money.
1 tried to myself. but when Uncle
Glenn found out he stopped my al
Iowance." Her voice was angrily
reminiscent
have loved to see you again; she
you
The fortune Hunter turned
abruptly away. He wondered saw
sagely how much deeper into the
rnire he had got to walk before he
could find a way out; he could not
trust himself to meet Anne's eyes.
John. You're not angry with
me?' she asked after a moment.
Angry? No." He laughed and
Jumped down into the punt beside
her what about this famous is
land? You don't seem very anxious
70 show II to me after all"
They crossed the river some way
down the stream and worked round
a backwater till they came out 70
the main stream again, and close
to a tiny island fringed with droop-
ing willows and covered with
bracken.
Here 1t Is" Anne said This is
where I used to come when 1 felt
particularly lonely and write TO
you" She looked up at him, and
quickly away again. Tie the punt
up. John; and we'll go and explore"
She sprang on to the bank with
out waiting for him, and the For
tune Hunter secured the boat.
There was a little sick feeling at
his heart. and he purposely lin
gered, unwilling to rejoin her.
Whittier were they drifting, he
and she? What would she think of
him when she knew. as she must
inevitably know sooner or later.
He wished he had died before he
had entered into the monstrousness
OF this deception. Guilty or not
guilty, the John Smith TO whom
death had come in the woods had
been a finer man than he; honor
able enough to go abroad and give
the girl who loved him a chance
for freedom, whilst he
Anne called to him from the is
land: John" The Fortune Hun
ter hesitated; then he made a quick
gesture Of angry impatience and
turned to follow her.
She was standing in a space from
which the ferns had been cleared
and where the ground was carpeted
with moss.
This Is where ] wrote my last
letter to you," Anne said eagerly.
Tt wasn't summer then, Of course,
but spring. The 14th of May, /
think. and a lokely day. The trees
were just coming out. oh. John!
Aren't you longing to see another
English spring? i think II is the
most beautiful time of all the
year"
The Fortune Hunters eyes dwelt
wistfully upon her. Every time of
the year will be the most beautiful
II l am with you," he said, then
flushed darkly at his own unwonted
eloquence.
He put out his hand and caught
hers
You're turning me into a poet"
he declared. Il swear to you that
before last night could never have
said a thing like that, even II my
life depended on It"
But you did-years ago." she
said.
Did II" He frowned. We'll.
then. must have forgotten"
You wrote the dearest letters"
she said swiftly. eager to chase the
shadow from his eyes. John! I've
kept every single letter you ever
wrote me. Have you kept mine?"
He pulled her toward him almost
roughly. pressing her cheek to his
shoulder so that she could not see
his eyes.
Some day I'll tell you a great
many things" he said. Some day
-" He. broke OF, releasing her
abruptly. How long is II since
as IL / have always been with
you.''
That's how it seems to me, too"
she said shyiy. Just as II you've
never been away. John, do you like