The Washington herald., 1921-09-13
e.. sCho 3
OrfHne
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ST. by
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tContinued from Yesterday

rive thousand pounds! Wncfe IN
the wide world was he to ind such
a sum: he might just as well have
made II Ave million while he was
about It, He walked out into the
Strand and looked about for. Fos-
ter; IL was rank bad luck that he
should have turned up just at that
moment; of course. he would take
the nrst opportunity to tell Anne
OF the unfortunate meeting. But
there was no sign of Foster any
where. and the Fortune Hunter got
on to a bus.
When he had paid his fare. It
left him with but IS. in the world
and a return ticket to Somerton,
and yet he had given his word of
honor-if Ii was true that there
was such a thing as honor among
thieves!-that he would send 1renie
Claver $4,000 in a weeks time.
He laughed drearily at the very
thought; he might as well have
promised her the moon.
There was no train to Somerton
for an hour. and il was six o'clock
when he walked up the village to-
wards Cherry Lodge.
He was thankful to get back; 1t
seemed an eternity since he had
left that morning; he was longing
to see Anne; with the knowledge
of her love he felt himself ready
to fight the world; without her
well. nothing mattered.
But Anne was in her room.
Tommy met him in the hall.
You've got back. then" he said
aff 1r hnFrU
dinners at seven tonight. Uncle
Clem's going out to play that ever
lasting bride"
The Fortune Hunter went up to
his room; he hurried through his
dressing and downstairs, hoping to
find Anne alone, but the house
seemed deserted.
1t was only when the gong sound
ed that he heard her bedroom door
open and her step 'on the stairs.
He was out in the hall in mo-
ment. his handsome face alight with
eagerness. but something in the
cool little smile with which she
4seeted him touched his heart like
a cold hand
You've got back. thenT' she said.
"'Yes-I the eager words
died on his lips as Mr.. Harding
came down the stairs behind her.
Got back safely. john" he said
breeziIy We'll, and how's London
looking?"
About the 90 same-I rushed
through my business and got back
as soon as possible.
"Ahi <here's no place like the
country. though when 1 was your
age I thought London and the big
worth a visit"
The Fortune Hunter laughed
cynically, his eyes on Anne's avert
ed face.
aT'vs seen all the big cities \
want to see." he said.
"Ah-yesi OF course! forgot
for the moment what a great trav-
eler you've been My dear, where's
Tommy!'
Tommy came in from the garden
at that moment, and they all went
in 70 dinner.
Most of the conversation fell to
Tommy and Mr.. Harding. Anne was
pale and silent, and IL seemed to the
Fortune Hunter that she carefully
avoided looking at him.
He knew, although he tried to
deny il to himself. that already the
seed. of distrust and suspicion had
been sown in her heart. There was
the affair of the photograph; the
mistake he had made in playing the
piano, and, probably. a hundred and
one other small instances in which
he had unconsciously given himself
away.
Every nerve in his body felt like
n wire stretched TO swapping point
He could think of nothing but the
half-kindly, haIf-mocking smile in
Irenie Claver's eyes, and her last
words 20 HIM
'T shall hear from you in a weeks
time, them"
Five thousand pounds! The sum
danced before him in letters Of FIRE
Twice Mr.. Harding spoke to him.
and he was too lost in his unhappy
thoughts to reply till Tommy
touched him on the arm.
Have you gone to sleep. John?"
There was an amused grin on the
boys thin face. and the Fortune
Hunter came back to a realization
Of the present with a tremendous
start, flushing hotly.
aI beg your pardon, sir. I'm
afraid ] was dreaming"
He looked appealingly at Anne,
but her eyes were downcaSI.
"I was saying" Mr.. Harding re-
heated, rather dryly, that IL you
care to come with me tonight-Im
going down to DIR. Gilmore's-if you
care TO come and have a game Of
bridge. am sure they will be de-
lighted to see you"
The Fortune Hunters face hard
ened. He wondered IL this had been
Anne's suggestion in the frst place.
II It was he had no intention of be-
ing disposed Of in such an easy
fashion.
"Thanks-thanks very much" he
said. But as I've been out all day.
would rather stay with Anne" he
looked at her appealingly, and she
laughed.
"Oh. please don't consider me. I
can easily amuse myself"
II would rather stay with you"
the Fortune Hunter insisted OBJ
srinately.
."As you like. Of course" Mr.
Harding said. casually. And
think. n you'll excuse me, my dear.
7 won't wait for sweets tonight"
He arose from the table, laid a
~eFessinC hand on Anne's shoulder
as he passed. and walked out Of the
room.
There was an uncomfortable
Silence when he had gone. then Tom
my looked across at tire Fortune
EInnfar and wfnked