Omaha daily bee., 1921-11-12

"My Dear John:
, II know you will think that l hav,
been long time answering you
last letter. but now you will s.
soon be home again ! am begin
ming to be afraid.
Then years is long time-an,
| was only Is when you went away
Supposing you don't like me an,
more? Supposlng don't like you
oh, know there has been nobody
else for either OF us since, but
am afraid all the same. ] was
child when you went away, ant
now | am woman. though dom
feel SO very mulch older, except
when / look back on the days with
you and realize how far away they
really are.
"You must be patient with me
won't you? Don't expect too great
things from me at first. although
in spite OF the fear. | am longing to
see you, and somehow in my heart
| think--I feel sure-it will be all
right. ! shan't write again
you will be home before you could
get another letter. So it's just an
revoir. dear-Anne
The Fortune Hunter shrugged
| his shoulders and glanced again at
the heading on the paper.
Cherry Ledge, somerton-on-
Thames
Not so far away then! He had
a vague idea that he had seen a
signpost to Somcrton as he had
tramped the last weary mile. He
thrust the letters and shabby case
into his pocket and turned on to the
main road
Somehow, in my heart | feel sure
it will be all right" The words
echoed through his mind rather
piteously.
Well, whoever "Anne" was, the
dreaded meeting with John Smith
would never take place now, for
John Smith lay dead in the silent
wood. with the tall branches bend
ing above him.
Odd how deserted the road was.
1t stretched before the Fortune
Hunter dusty and empty as he
quickened his tired steps, anxious
now to be rid Of the responsibility
, of his discovery. But in half mile
he had failed to meet one pedestrian.
though the road had curlcd about
until it had brought him parallel with
the river flowing silently by, bathcd
in the late evening light
Some distance ahead the figure
OF girl in a punt was clearly sill
houetted against the sky. and the
Fortune Hunter gave little growl
of satisfaction as he realized that he
could not now be far from vii
lage.
He watched the girl with a curl
Gus sense of satisfaction; she and the
quiet river scene were so typsically
English, and he felt all at once how
good it was to be home again--if
one could call a country home where
in man had neither friends nor
money.
The girl wore white frock with
short sleeves, and the rays of the
sinking sun glittered on her hair,
turning it to gold, as her slim body
moved with slow grace, propelling
the little punt upstream.
There was someone with her-a
man or boy. The Fortune Hunter
could not be sure which, for the
figure was STOPPING over the side
of the punt, watching something in
the water; and across the silently
flowing river the man on the roadway
could hear their voices distinctly
through the still evening.
If you'd only sit still Tommy.
You can't reach them-do, please"
And then came shrill scream and
a stifed cry, as the punt seemed to
lurch violently.
The girl swayed dangerously, only
recovering herself with tremendous
effort, but the other figure tumbled
headlong into the water, without ap-
parently making the least attempt to
save itself
Serve him right!" thought the
Fortune Hunter grirnly, and stood |
still for moment waiting for it
to reappear.
But the seconds passed, and be-
yond sort Of swirl where the boy
had disappeared there was no sign.
The girl was on her knees in the
punt now, screaming helplessly, and |
all at once the Fortune Hunter SEEM
ed to realize that the matter was
serious and that the boy was in dam
ger of drowning.
He ran along the road till he was
almost abreast Of the drifting punt,
then he kicked off his shoes, flung
his jacket aside and plunged into
the river.
The girl saw him and stretched
agonized hands to him. ooh, save
him-save him He can't swim
he's cripple"
The Fortune Hunter was pow
erfvl swimmer and the distance was
nothing to him, but when he reached
the boy-a lad Of about l7-it was
not such an easy matter to bring him
to shore.
But he managed it at last, and |
clambered out with the weed in his
hair and water dripping from him.
The girl had regained her self
control and brought the punt to the
bank, but she was very pale and
her voice shook as she knelt down
beside the exhausted boy.
"Oh, Tommyl Oh, are you all
right? Oh, TOMMY was so ter
rlhed
She tried TO put her arms round |
the boys 'drenched figure but he re-
PEELED her almost roughly.
Shut upp he choked. Leave me
alone. 1t was your fault; you ought
TO have balanced the beastly boat
better"
He looked miserable enough OBJ. |
Ject as he sat there in the long
grass. shivering and shaking, and |
the Fortune Hunter felt a wave of |
contempt as he picked up the coat