Omaha daily bee., 1921-12-15
BY RUBY AYRES.


I Nonttnu~d from Nesserdstl
The gong for dinner had sounde,
through the house before Mr.. Hard
ing returned from London.
He came in breathlessly. and me
Anne in the hall.
so sorry I'm late, my DEAR" h
apologized. Il lost the train in
tended to catch home. Has the gonl
gomez ! hurried all could. | won
bother to change tonight
He hurried upstairs and Ann,
went on to the dining room.
Her vague apprehensions OF the
morning were still with her, ane
she was freshly conscious OF some,
thing restrained and unnatural in
her uncle's manner.
She looked pale aud worried as
she sat down to table, and the white
froek she wore added TO her delicate
appearance.
"Unclc has only just come in" she
said TO the Fortune Hunter. 1--WE
won't wait for him; and he will
be here directly,
"He is late home,' Tommy said
with curious intonation. II should
think his business must have been
jolly important"
When Mr.. Harding came into the
room her eyes sought his with quick
suspicion.
II must apologize to everyone,
I'm sure" he said smilingly. IL
lost my train-did Anne tell you.
John-and we arc not blessed with
a very good service 10 Somerton.
! had to change at Slough and wait
there for a quarter OF an hour"
Anne looked at him steadily.
Did Mr.. Fcrnie come back with
your" she asked.
Mr.. Harding's face changed and
his smile faded. "Fernie-did you
say, my dear?" he asked uncer-
tainly.
Il saw him go into the station
with you this morning, after you
left US on the road" Anne said
quietly.
Mr.. Harding shrugged his shoul-
ders.
"Ah, yes, to be sure; SO he did.
We travelled up together. Not
often Fcrnie goes to London. is i?
Why, he was telling me that he
hasn't been in a railway train for
i forget how many months"
did he come back with you,
too?' Anne persisted quietly.
"Wcll, yes, as you ask me, we
did come down together Mr..
Harding admitted reluctantly. But,
my dear Anne--why this sudden
interest in Fernie?"
81 am not interested" she an
swered. Il hate him--I don't trust
him"
Il think you rather flatter the
man." the Fortune Hunter put in,
calmly. Hes a vicious old brute,
certainly. but ! don't think he would
be capable of doing anyone much
harm if it came to the poirt.
Mr.. Harding looked at him sharp
ly.
"Fernie is a very shrewd man."
he said. a
81 have met great many men
of his type during my wanderings,"
he said. "They are generally all
bark and no bite"
"You don't know much about him
and I do" Tommy said. "And l
shouldn't care to make an enemy
of him myself"
The Fortune Hunter looked across
at the boy amusedly.
Wouldn't you? But, then, you
are very young" he said tolerant.
ly. "Now, making an enemy OF
Fernie is just what l should thor
oughly enjoy. AS a matter Of fact,
am afraid | am not particular
favoritc Of his already"
There was a little silence. Anne
had made no attempt to touch her
dinner, and her dark eyes were
rather piteous as she looked from
her uncle to the Fortune Hunter.
As soon as the dinner was ended
she went up to her room; her
every instinct was to 60 to the For
tune Hunter and warn him of the
danger which she was sure threaten
cd him. and yet-how could shee
She did not understand her own fear.
50 how could she explain It to him?
What danger could be threaten
ing? She felt lost in a mist Of trou-
blcs and unrealities.
IF only he loved me as love
him! If only / could trust himH
From the window she saw him go
out of the drawing-room window into
the garden; she could hear him
,vh;stIinp softIy TO himself as IL nc |