The Washington herald., 1921-08-30
- THE
FORTUNE
HUNTER
ANew, Gripping
Romance Serial
By RUBY AYRES
tContinued From Yesterday.)

his hands on her shoulders, turning
her round TO him. What is it,
Anne? Are you angry with me?'
he asked swiftly.
She looked up, and away again;
she tried to laugh.
Angry because you stayed down
stairs with Tommy! OF course not.
How foolish" She put her hand to
her throat with a little sitting ges-
ture, It's so hot here-shall we go
downstairs?"
I'm a moment" he barred her way
TO the door. Something has hap
pened since I went downstairs" he
insisted. His eyes searched the
F5om swiftly for a clue. ANNE, tell
inc what II Is, dear?''
4 A., The tears rushed to her eyes at
the EentIeness of his voice. but she
brushed them angrily away.
There is nothing the matter.
nothing Please let me go down
stairs-it's so hot here, and my head
aches"
He stood aside then without n
word, and she passed him. her eyes
avoiding his.
yhe Fortune Hunter looked after
her with a frown. Something had
his shoulders though there was a
line of pain between his eyes.
Well. 1t would have to come
sooner or later, he knew: the first
doubt, the gradual estrangement
and then-then the sooner he
walked out of her life the better.
He went over to the gable window
and looked out: the road wound
away like a white ribbon through
the trees and towards the town:
the road by which he had come to
SOmertOn: the road which some day
he would take again-out into the
world. Tommy called again from
the bottom of the stair. John.
john"
coming" The Fortune Hunter
went slowly downstairs
"Vell-what is it?'
Tommy raised a preoccupied face
from the task OF arranging his bear
skin over a sofa at the foot of his
bed.
Nothing: only Anne asked me to
teal you that Geoffry Foster is COM
ing to dinner tonight" He shrugged
his shoulders. such a bore. I sup
pose well have to dress for dinner.
all OF us" He looked up with sud
den interest. Il say. have you got
dress suit?" he asked.
The Fortune Hunter smiled cynic-
Ally. "I believe I have" he said.
Tommy looked embarrassed. "Oh,
we'll. only asked" he said apollo
have had much use for one bear
shooting"
NO" the Fortune Hunter agreed
dryiy.
There wasn't exactly much use
for one there"
But he was rather pleased with
his appearance that evening when
he had fixed the last stud and
struggled his bow into place.
The mirror in his wardrobe door
showed him . tall. well-set-up man
with Immediately brushed hair and
weIl-cut dinner jacket. and he
made wry Srimace at his reflec-
tion before he turned away
IF things were only what they
seem" The thought went through
his mind with great bitterness as
he went down to be introduced to
C;coffry Foster.
'Geoffry'-it was Anne who in
troduced them-"this is John"
There was a shy sort of pride in
her voice. and the Fortune Hunter
was quick to see the unfriendly
CLEAN. in the other mans eyes as
they formally shook hands.
"Er-pleased to meet you" He
spoke with a slight drawl. Heard
so much about you. don't you know.
but never thought we should see
you at Somerton."
The Fortune Hunter met his gaze
steadily.
I've always had a reputation for
doing things that are not expected
Of me-. he said quietly, and turned
away to speak to Tommy, who had
Hmped into the room. looking very
cross and uncomfortable.
It's all rot" he growled as the
Fortune Hunter sat down beside
him. why should we all dress up
like idots, just because Foster
chooses to come to dinner"
You don't like him." Tommy
shrugged his shoulders.
"oh. hes got a decent launch" he
said svasively.
But il was very evident during
dinner that Tommy was not par
ticular friendly with Foster: he
hardly spoke to him, and when he
did IL was either to contradict
something he had said, or to raise
an argument about II.
Foster took it all good-naturedly:
he addressed most of his conversa-
tion to Anne.
so there will be a wedding in
Somerton soon. I suppose?" he said.
turning pointedly to the Fortune
Hunter. TT will be quite an event
In our sleepy village
The Fortune Hunter looked quick
" down at Anne. and was surprised
to see the distress in her face.
'T don't know that there will be
. wedding in Somerton at ALL" he
answered coolly. "I much prefer
the idea of going to London myself. |
] hate a lot Of fuss.
Mr. Harding broke in acitatedly. |
But, my dear boy. surely. you're |
not going to deny us the little |
pleasure down here. why. gracious
me. T've planned II all in my mind
I've even jotted down notes of the |
speech shall make"
."Oh, Uncle" said Anne. laughing. |
Tommy laughed too.
"UncIes loves a fuss in~the viii |
lage" he said. Don't you have ii, |
John: I'd hate II myself. Clear off |
20 London by the first train. that's
what would do and get fixed up |
with nobody in the church"
II don't see why we need talk /
aboUt IL. when there's nothing at all |
arranged" Anne said rather con-
strainedly. and anyway. there
seems to be plenty Of time" she /
ldded under her breath so that only /