The Washington herald., 1921-09-14
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CCentinued from Yesterday


feet instantly; he went round to
where Amt sat. and. STOPPING. took
her hands, drawing her unwillingly
to her feet.
What have 1 done to be treated
like this he asked hoarsely. 'Tf
you are trying to drive me MAD
He broke off suddenly. re-
leasing her as someone tapped at
the door and a maid entered. She
lopksd at the Fortune Hunter.
IF you please, sir. Mr.. Foster
would like to speak to you. He Is
in the study. He says that he will
not keep you long"
Foster" The Fortune Hunter
echoed the name sharply, then he
laughed. shrugged his shoulders.
and without another look at Anne.
walked out of the room and across
the hall.
Geoffry Foster 5ad taken off his
outer garments and sat before the
study FIRE, smoking a cigarette.
He looked thoroughly at home,
and greeted the Fortune Hunter
with a casual nod.
Good evening"
The Fortune Hunter walked in
10 the room leaving the door wide
open behind him.
How do" Won't you come in
the drawing room? Miss Harding is
there"
Thanks, no! Ny business is with
YOU. The Fortune Hunter raised
his eyebrows.
Really! how extremely interest
ing"
He took a cigarette from a box
on the table. and made a great
business Of lighting II.
Foster watched him for a mo-
ment in silence. then he walked past
him. shut the open door with
bang. and came back to the center
Of the room.
There was a suppressed rage In
his eyes but his voice was even
enough when he spoke.
'T saw you in town this after
noon"
The Fortune Hunter glanced up
md smiled irritatingly. My dear
chap, I know that saw you, too"
There was a little silence dur
ing which the two men looked
steadily at one another. and then
Foster said again: i
The other night you mentioned
hat YOU had been in San Francisco. |
7 was there last spring. and like /
most visitors. out Of curiosity I
went TO the low quarters of the
~Itv-to have look at the gambling |
den. and such places"
Really have heen there my
self-seve-al times" the Fortune
Hunter said coolly.
Foster went on without needing
the interruption:
There was one man running
gambling place there who interest
ed me very much-partly perhaps
because he was not the usual type
one comes across in such places. and
I came to the conclusion that ne
was a gentleman down on his luck
perhaps a man who had been
forced 10 leave his own country to
escape the police.
There was a woman with him.
Foster went on. A handsome wo-
man who posed as his wife
The Fortune Hunter shrugged his
shoulders.
MY dear fellow, no doubt this is
all very interesting. but why on
earth you should tell 1t to me I
0uite fail to understand-" Geoffry
Foster flushed DULY. and for the first !
lime the bitter hatred he felt for
the Fortune Hunter shone in his
eyes.
Because you are the man I saw
IN San Francisco" he said savagely. !
Il had my suspicious the other night |
but I was not sure until this after |
noon. when I saw you in that wom-
ans company. recognized her at /
once" He laughed sneeringly. |
You've altered since those days! |
You've dropped the scallywag and |
turned gentleman"
, There was profound silence. |
then the Fortune Hunter turned |
round and looked him full in tina |
eyes.
And how are you going to prove |
all these interesting statements?"
he asked calmly. After all, it's |
only your word against mine, you |
knovI"
'Deny It," said Foster TT will
only be one more lie added to the |
many you have told since you came
TO Somerton."
For a second the Fortune Hunter
stood like a man turned to stone.
then he caught Foster by both
shoulders with savage hands.
Say that again-and T'll......"
Then all at once he fell back, shak-
ing in every limb and breathing |
hard. 'T beg your pardon-I beg
your pardon" he said hoarsely. He
stood for a moment. trying desper-
ately to recover his self-control.
then he walked to the door and
flung II open. Get out" he said.
thickiy. and again. Get out" and |
Geofrry Foster went. with a last
backward triumphant smile.
Ths4Ortune Hunter dropped into
Tommy came to the door and
peered inquisitively at him.
II say. John, what's up with
everyone tonightT' he asked un-
easily as the Fortune Hunter started
Up.
Nothing you need worry about,
Tommy" he said. He walked out Of
the room. leaving Tommy with a
queer expression of cunning on his
thin face.
Nothing need worry about.
eh7. he n uttered as he looked
after the Fortune Hunters tall
figure We'll Gee about that"
The Fortune Hunter looked every
where for Anne after Geoffrey Fos-
ter had gone, but the drawng-room
was empty, and the dining-room.
and II was only after inquiriing OF
one Of the maids that he was told
she had gone to bed with a head
ache
a headache! An excuse to be rid
Of him. not TO see him again that
night; the Fortune Hun ,er went up
stairs two at a time and knocked at
her door.
He was feeling desperate; he did
not fear Foster, or Fernie, or any
of b. nao1la NJ 4