The Washington herald., 1921-08-16
THE
FORTUNE
HUNTER
ANew, Gripping
Romance Serial
BY RUBY AYRES
tcsnanasd from Ysst.rd.y.)

dear" as she tried to interrupt
You are looking happy; and II II
because he's here. so why shouldn't
say IL, may / ask?
He slipped a hand through the
arm Of each of them, and began
to stroll back 20 he house
You're seeing Somerton at its
best and protest. John" he said.
we don't stay here in the winter;
it's toe damp you know. The gar
denis under water half the time,
but Just now" his merry eyes rest
ed fondly on the house before him
wei, it's rather a nice little spot.
isn't it?' he asked casually.
The Fortune Hunter laughed.
"a man could ask nothing bet
ter" he said. 'Hullo! what's the
excitement"
They were passing the garden
gate that opened directly on to the
main road along which an excited
crowd of people were hurrying.
hustling together and talking care
lessly.
Anne gaye<a little cry.
"Oh, look! They're carrying some
body. Oh. dear! What can IL beg
The Fortune Hunter took quick
step forward and caught her by the
arm, swinging her round away from
the gate almost roughly as she
would have run forward.
IF it's an accident, you don't
want TO look. I'll go and see what
IL Is Please, stay where you are.
She was too much surprised to
disS5ey. She stood with fear in
her eyes and her hands pressed agi-
tatedly to her lips, as the Fortune
Hunter went quickly forward and
out into the road
He caught the arm Of man
hurrying to keep with the little
crowd and spoke to him sharply.
What is It? What's the matter?
The man looked over his shoulder.
then stopped.
Someone they've found in the
ROAD man"
'Dead?" The question came with
the sharpness of a pistol shot.
Yes: been dead for hours. SO
they say. They sent for a doctor
and the police"
who is the man? Do you known"
A shake of the head was the
reply. 'rNo-a stranger here-shab-
by-Iooking man, too"
The Fortune Hunter relaxed his
grip of the other mans arm.
But there must have been papers
on him-letters. something" he
asked.
Another shake of the head.
NO, that's the odd thing, there's
clothes. We had a similar case
here years ago-a man found in the
river"
And did they never ind out who
he was?"
No. never: and it's years ago
12 years, should think"
The man went on down the road,
and the Fortune Hunter turned
round slowly and looked back at
the garden gate. where Anne stood
waiting for him
] She made a very charming pic
ture against the background of
trees in her white frock, and the
Fortune Hunters heart quickened
with little beat Of excitement
Was his luck going to hold, after
all?
He went back TO her with slow
steps Was 1t an accident" she
asked anxiously. Who was it.
JohnT'
He could not meet her eyes.
AZ man: some poor devil they
found in the woods. He was dead.
- "Oh, how sad. l wonder who he
was"
They don't know-there were
n" papers or anything to identify
him"
She half-turned. looking down the
road, where the tragic little process
sion was disappearing.
Poor man. she said gently, 81
eEpeet there is someone, someuh here,
-:..-,,,,I--,
who loved him"
Fh6 Fortune Hunter made no
answer and it was with the excuse
p that he must make some ATTEMPT
to tidy himself for dinner that he
presently escaped to the room al
lo1eds tO him and sat down on the
side Of the bed to think things out.
He was angry with himself be-
life he was failing to enjoy this
adventure.
Three hours before, when he sat
on the five-barred gate and won
dered what on earth was to be-
come of him. he had hoped for
something - anything matter
how wild and preposterous, that
would for the time being, at all
events land him in comfort again.
and a peaceful night between clean
sheets as he had never longed for
anything on earth, but now that
he had had the one, and there was
every prospect of the other. he was
wishing himself back home on the
stile again, footsoFe and homeless.
The hospitality which the For
tune Hunter had received at
Cherry Lodge had made him
ashamed. They had accepted him
without question, and taken him
into the family circle, not merely
as a friend. but as the lover of
the girl whose blue eyes seemed
to scorch him with their faith and
happiness
How long could he stand IT?
Even supposing the dead man in
the wood told no tales, how long
could he stand 1t? he asked him
self as he cat on the side of the
bed and stared round the dainty
room with moody eyes.
1t was a very charming room.
like all the others in the house
which he had seen.
70 looked out on the garden and
the river, and there was an old
fashioned yellow rose climbing the
wall and peeping its scented in
quisitive head in at the window.
Go De continusd.)
TWO ID. C.. ESTATES