The Washington herald., 1921-10-09
THE FORTUNE HUNTER


came forward into the room.
If there's goins 10 be trouble,
he said bluntly, looking at Mr..
Harding, "and it seems to me that
it's started already by the look 81
II, I'd like to have my say, IL nobody
objects"
Mr.. Harding took his arm gently
from beneath Anne's head; he was
surprised to find how distasteful
the whole business had suddenly be-
come to him, though he had delib-
erately planned to bring matters to
a climax
"T think you know already what
the trouble is" he said constrained
ly. John, or rather-this man
The Fortune Hunter broke in
loudly: My names birmingham.
At least, that's the name l choose
to be known by. It's better than my
own, anyway" and he laughed as
he met Fernie's eyes. He knew that
everyone In the room was against
him, but he did not care. Anne had
refused her forgiveness, and nothing
else mattered.
The truth Is that this man Is an
impostor,p Mr.. Harding went on.
less confidently. you know what
there Is to know, Fernie. You helped
me sift matters to the bottom, and
I'm grateful to you. He has cruelty
and deliberately deceived this poor
girl here, and-what is worse, from
the point of view of the law at all
events-he has appropriated dead
mans money without the smallest
hope or intention of ever being able
to repay It,"
That's a He@ said the Fortune
Hunter sharply. He was pale to the
, lips, but his eyes flashed as he met
Mr.. Harding'ss That is lie'' he
said again. II have not touched
one penny of John Smiths money.
All l have had has been what you
yourself gave me-a cheque for two
thousand pounds and bank notes for
twenty, and those you practically
forced upon me, as n trap, / suppose,
though IT never occurred p me at
the time
The games up. I know that, and
you can do what you please. I've al
ready promised not to run away"
There was a bitter sneer in his
voice and for the first time Fernie
spoke.
There is one thing. Mr.. Harding
Although you know that this man
is not John Smith. you haven't yet
came from"
Foster broke in impatiently:
Does that matter ! saw him
year ago in Frisco, and know the
type he is-the character he had out
there"
That's a lie, too" he said vio-
lentIy. Il was not in San Francisco
last year and until the day you saw
me outside the Savoy l had never
in my life set eyes on the wOmaa :
/ was with then. am afraid for
once you are pinning the sins of a
dead man on to my shoulders. How
ever, ii it pleases YOU"
Anne gave a little stified moan,
and he broke off, turning away and
hitting his lip hard.
There's another thing, Mr.. Hard
ing, old Fernie went on with al
most painful slowness. I'm not so
sure-and neither are you-that We
are anxious for a scandal in Somer-
ton. 1t won't do anyone any good
to stir up all this mud in public,
and it will"-he glanced at Anne
and quickly away again-"it will
make it worse for Miss Harding to
bear"
Mr.. Harding flushed angrily.
Whats come to you. Fernie he
all this up in the first place, and
now you're trying to smooth mat
tiers over and hush them up. You're
trying to stop a scandal when you're
you've always been the first to make
them"
Old Fernie nodded That's true
enough" he admitted. But things
are different this time"
'IH be hanged IL they are" Mr.
Harding answered violently. "Ii
you think Tn going to let this man
go scot free. after the way he's come
into the house and made fools of us
all, you're mistaken. He shall pay
for his little game. and pay dearly
or my names not Clement Harding
Who is he to come here, worm
ing his way into my house, making
love to my niece?' His face was
purple with rage.
There's something in what Fer
ME says" Foster broke in. ''Wt
don't want a scandal here for al
our sakes. Let the fellow go and
Mr. Harding turned on him saw.
agely: he was infuriated by the way
in which he chose to consider Fer,
ME had let him down; he no longer
had the least pity for the Fortune
Let him go" he shouted. ~
fine thing! Let him goI And who
to repay my money, I should like tc
know-the money-the money hi
stole from me-the-'
Old Fernie took a slow step for
ward. Il will" he said quietly.
Father and Son.
II Fernie had thrown a bomb into
the middle of the room he coulC
not have created greater consterna
tion. He smiled sardonGally at thu
amazed faces before him.
Anne was sitting up now, he
hands clasped in her lap, her faet
white and sense.
You. Mr., Fernier' she breathed
and then as he nodded she brck
out sgitatedly: But why-why"'
Old Fernie made no answer fo
moment, but he looked swift,
across at the Fortune Hunter, thel
said slowly:
We'll, I've my own reasons; the,
don't matter for the moment. bu
I'm net such poor man as everyon,
in Somerton seems to suppose, an,
can well afford to repay Mr.. Hard
ing. II he will accept"
"But-but-' Hr. Harding splut
tered, Its all such an extraordinar,
thing, You told me you hated Johl
this man! You told me that yoI
meant to ruin him, and now-goo'