The Washington herald., 1921-08-18
THE
FORTUNE
HUNTER
AMew, Gripping
Romance Serial
nuRI1RY AYRES
BY RUBY AYRES
(continued from Ysstsrd.y.)

many questions: but you see, she's
my only sister" HIS voice was
earnestly apolOgetic.
The Fortune Hunter smiled
broadly. in spite of his attempts TO
be serious.
4 quite understand" he said
dryIy. Please don't mention it,"
They went on into the dining
room together.
In spite Of the fact that he had
dreaded it, the dinner passed on
with perfect ease and friendliness.
The conversation was kept to gen.
eral matters. and no unexpected
questions were asked
Anne was very silent, but the
Fortune Hunter was conscious of
her eyes often upon him. and for
the life Of him he could not meet
their gaze.
He was thankful when the meal
was ended. and Mr.. Harding said:
You young people would like
little stroll in the garden. I expect
hut don't stay out too long. It's
September, you know, and there's
river mist rising already.
Standing up, he touched the For
tune Hunters arm as he passed.
Later on. come to the study. and
we'll have a little chat" he said In
a friendly fashion.
The Fortune Hunter followed
Anne into the hall; he would have
given a great deal to avoid this
tete-a-tete, but il was SO obviously
expected Of him that he dared raise
no objection.
But she seemed instinctively to
feel his unwillingness. for she
turned and looked up at him with a
little hurt look in her eyes.
Perhaps you would rather not
go Uut?"
He answered hurriedly:
No no. 1 should like it; the
house is so warm"
The garden was palely mOonlit,
but as Mr. Harding had said. the
\ river mist was already rising, and
Everything looked as il il were
filed in gOssamer grey.
The Fortune Hunter glanced
wn at the girl beside him. You
ght to have a wrap. You'll take
ID" he said
she answered mechanically.
Ny cloak is in the hall, IL you
HI fetch it"
6 the cloak from a chair and
rOSght it to her. She let him fold
her nit silently, and they walked
|on, down the sloping lawn, till they
stood by the waters edge.
There were twinkling lights from
a housebOat on the opposite bank,
and the muffled sound of a gramo-
phone, otherwise the night was per-
fectly still. save for the lap, lap of
the water against the bank.
The Fortune Hunter looked up at
the misty moon. and his thought
slipped back along the chain Of
years that were gone, with a half
wistful, half cynical amusement.
Who would have thought that
fate would ever land him here? in
an ideal English hcme, amid every
comfort and luxury-he, a vagrant
fortune hunter, who had run the
gamut of life, and who bore its
scares on his very soul. He won
dered what the girl at his side was
thinking: what she would say il he
could take her with him in his
thoughts, step by step, and show
her the dark places of his life
through which he had struggled.
He felt her shiver and turned
quickly.
You are cold"
Yes. 1 should like to go in"
Her voice was strained and hurt,
and the Fortune Hunter frowned
heavily in the darkness and bit his
lip. He put out his arm and would
have drawn her into its circle but
that she resisted
II don't understand you; you are
so strange! thought-after all
your letters :" Her voice broke
on a sound of tears, and she stopped
for a moment, trying desperately
to recover herself.
Then she went on more quietly.
Il suppose. in spite of everything,
i must seem a great deal changed
to you: but 1 did warn you, and
you said 1t would make no differ
enee. And I thought when / saw
you that we were just going to take
things up where we left off-that's
how it seems as il it ought to be
.me, but -
The Fortune Hunter made a
passionate guesture of helpless
ness; the pain in her voice angered
him. and he took the only way he
knew by which to soothe her doubt
and fear-he put his arms round
her and held her fast to his heart.
Il suppose I'm afraid of you," he
said. and his agitation was real
enough I suppose all the time
I'm wondering why it is anyone so
-so-sweet as you are could even
look at "a man like me. I'm not
worth caring about II you only
knew l
She laid her hands on his lips.
silencing him.
of it again, it's all done with and
forgotten. You're here and-I love
you.D
Her voice sank to a whisper, and
she hid her face on his breast.
For a moment the Fortune Hunter
stood silent. then he deliberately
put his hand beneath her chin; he
raised her face and bent his head,
kissing her again and again pas
sionately.
Z love you. too" he said. I
love you, too"
There was a little rapturous
silence. then she looked up at him
in the moonlight, her face radi-
ant once more. Now I'm quite,
quite happy again" she said.
John, are you happy, tooT' X
He pressed her head down. to his
shoulder so that she could not see
his face as he answered:
"Happier-God knows-than de-
serve to be-"
And then presently he sent her
back to the house.