The Washington herald., 1921-09-04
THE
FORTUNE
HUNTER
ANeu,G Gripping
Romance Serial
By RUBY AYRES
(centinusd Prom Yesterday

(continusd Prom YesterdayO
Fernie was strolling slowly be-
side him. $50 we're to have a we'd
ding, 1 hear" he said presently.
The Fortune Hunter smiled wryly.
.'oh, you've heard that, have
you?"
The old man looked up at him
ou mean I've heard wrong?" he
asked.
mo, not exaxctly." There was
little silence.
Quite a romance, Mr.. Smith,
Fernie said then, you coming back
after ten years and finding Miss
Harding waiting for you.
The Fortune Hunter stood still.
Look here" he said bluntly.
I'm perfectly well aware that you
know all about me, and the fact that
I once aid seven years. / heard
YOU announce the fact in the inn
down the road; but If you think I'm
in the very least afraid of you'
you're mistaken, and the sooner you
realize IL the better.
"I haven't knocked about the
| world for the best part Of my IRE
| without learning how to deal with
| men of your type, and II Ia been In
the least afraid of anything you
could do to injure me 1 shouloh !
have troubled to stop that horse Oh
yours-see?
well, so long as you understand.
Good morning" And he sauntereo
off, leaving old Fernie staring ai.er
him and muttering incoherently.
The little encounter had done the
Fortune Hunter good; ne always
felt at his best when he was meas,
uring swords with an enemy, any
he believed that Fernie. In spite W
the gratitude her had expressed tna'
day on the bridge, was his enemy
though why he quite iaileo "
, derstand.
trouble him. He had made many
enemies in his life, and the enec,
~ his few words with Fernie nae
hraced him surprisingly, makint
. him feel far more vigorous ane
ontinistic when at last he turne'
back to Cherry Lodge.
= A maid dusting the hall stared
him with round eyes az ne walke'
IN. sh. hated early rising herseil
E and could not understand anyone II
their senses going for a walk pc
5 CO.. breakfast. She answered M
I os norninr in a subdued way
a hronvht a letter from the hal
e table.
t FOR you. sir"
al .Eor mer" The Fortune Hunte
k Glanced down at the envelope the
a rn.d. a movement to hand IL oac
: agaIn He had almost begun TO sa
e .-Tbis Is not for me-" but checke
p himself in time. .Io,
"a The letter was addressed 10 Jun
- smith. Esq. Cherry Lodge some'
Ie ton -on-Thames."
- That IL was not for him ne kne
= well enough, but he knew also I'M
" he would have to open IL Anu
r took Il with him out into the 90
n den, walking away from tne nou'
- down the flower-bordered pa'hNs
e as he opened 1t.
He had received SO Few ieste
\ in his life. 1t would nave os'
% difficult during many OF ms roNit
,s years to have given anyone an ~
dress to which to write.
~ "Somewhere in Australia" In Il
IN .,rr,s of New York." I'm the Ian
20 and Acids Of England" 1t wou
Is have 70 have been something vag'
ls ana impossible like' that. And
"a gave him a curious feeling of r
snectability as he looked down
lg the obviously feminine writing tn
credited him with such an addre'
II HE opened the envelope, al
ep ,ook out its contents reluctantly.
ne "Dearest,-I have been in Lond
more than a week now, and so
vou have not kept your promise
written TO me, though / have ca
ried out everything yor sold ]
to do. and am at the address y
gave me. I would not have writ
%. even now, but that / am am at
he end of my tether. have hare
te - -. r,opay and Loudon'e