Omaha daily bee., 1921-12-07
BY RUBY AYRES.
tContinued Prom Yesterday J


ly away. He went up to his own
room, put the check into an enyel-
ope, together with a hastily-written
note saying that the remainder should
be sent as soon as possible, and adj
dressed it TO lrenie Claver at the
Savoy hotel.
II had given him another breath
ing space at least and STAYED off the
evil day a little longer.
| But the stabbing pain in his tem-
pies was maddening, and he stopped
Tor an instant at the bottom OF the
stairs feeling sick and giddy.
One OF the maids crossing the hall
glanced at him curiously. then
"Oh, aren't you feeling well, sir!'
she asked in concern.
The Fortune Hunter laughed.
"lt's nothing-Ive got beastly
headache. l wonder il you'd take this
letter to the postofiice Tor mcs'
Certainly, sir, and can't | get you
anything, sir?
He shook his head.
Good Lord, no Thanks all the
same, and. Just post that letter
yourself, will you?"
YES, sir"
The girl went straight out and
across the garden. Like the other
maids in the house, she admired the
Fortune Hunter immensely, and,
though they knew but little of his
story, they imagined good. deal
and found it very romantic.
She had turned out into the road
towards the letterbox when Tommy
overlook her.
"Hullo Going to the post-here
I'll take i,!' And, before she could
protest, he had snatched the letter
from her.
Mr.. Smith asked me to be sure and
post it myself" she protested angrily;
she did not like Tommy, and the
boy knew it, which was partly why
he had taken the letter; he loved
annoying people.
"Mr. Smith can trust me quite as
we'll as he can trust you," was the
retort. "I'll tell him if you like"
The girl turned Indignantly away,
and Tommy glanced down at the ell
velope in his hand.
Miss Irenie Claver-Savoy hotel,
London"
For moment his thin face grew
blank with amazement, then the old
cunning look crept into his eyes as
he thrust the letter into his pocket
and turned back to the house.
He saw his sister at the end OF
the garden standing looking out
across the river, and with no thought
for the pain he was about to inflict
upon her, only his own triumphant
knowledge that he had discovered
something to the discredit of the
Fortune Hunter, he limped after her.
Anne heard his step on the soft
grass and turned eagerly, thinking
It might be the Fortune Hunter; in
her heart she was longing to see
him alone and drive away the vague
shadow that had fallen between them
last night; this morning she was al
most convinced that it had never
really existed save in her own mag
nation, and she was only too will
ing and eager to make amends.
She looked bitterly disappointed
when Tommy came eagerly up to
her. II thought" she began, then
broke off. "Where is John?' she
asked. 'tr &C..
Tommy .hunched his narrow
shoulders.
Goodness knows! But look here
what I've got" He pulled the
letter from his pocket and held it
to her. John gave this to Ethel
to post and she gave it to me-" 1t
was characteristic of Tommy that
he never told quite all the truth
about anything. "He didn't mean
me to see it or you either, I'll bet!'
He peered down at the address on
the letter as Anne tried to take it
from him; he read it aloud trium-
phantly: "'Miss Irenie Claver, Savoy
hotel, London Who is she, sis?
Do you know herr" He glanced up
at Anne's white face and was sud
denly silent. ooh, | say Is this
what all the rows about?" he broke
out again presently. "Of course, !
knew something was wrong, but L
never thought he was such a mean,
lowdowr--
"How dare you?" she painted.
"How dare you? Whatever John
does is right! How dare you take
his letter and bring it to mel? You
ought to be ashamedI' g..
Tommy looked aghast.
"Why, l thought" he began help
lessly; then: What are you gong
to do with the letter." he asked
blankly.
Anne turned away without an
swering. In spite OF her loyal de-
fense of the Fortune Hunter, she
was sick with dread and jealousy;
but she went across the garden and
out into the road, never stopping or
looking back till the letter was safe
ly posted.
Then all at once her courage SEEM
ed to give way; she trembled so that
she could hardly walk, and the
sunny road swan before her eyes.
He had sworn that he did not
know who Irenie was, and now he
had written to her--she had seen
the letter with her own eyes.
Why had she posted it? She wish
er she had kept it back, and yet.
what would have been the use?
Nothing but his own will and desire
could made the man she loved true
to her. All the tears and upbraid-
ings in the world could not restore
her beautiful faith in him.
He should not know that she
cared. She would not let him know
that the letter had ever fallen into
her hands. She stayed away from
the house until she felt she could
trust herself to go back as if nothing