The Washington herald., 1921-10-02
THE FORTUNE HUNTERS

'No-I'm not wasting my time
telling you things you know al
: ready"
its not by any chance" the old
man went on-"that the man who
died In the woods six weeks ago
was John Smith, and that you've
been passing yourself OF on his
place ever since and fooiinS Miss
Harding. and taking his money!"
The Fortune Hunter drew 3 hard
breath. His hands were clenched
into fists. and IL was with the
gfeatest dificulty that>he controlled
himself As Fernie went on In the
same sneering voice.
IT'S not by any chance that
you're an impostor. Mr.. Smith! Now
is II? A vagabond imposter, who
the police win have something 60
say to when. :"
He stopped, the pipe Gathering
from his hand to the floor. as the
Fortune Hunter took a quick step
forward and caught the old mans
arm in q grip Of steel. his face was
As white as death. and his eyes
blazing.
"And IL am an impostor, as
you say!" he said hoarsely. IF am
an imAostor. I'm something else as
well. that concerns you more deep
ly. I'm your son. do you hear?
Your son! . And now what
have you got to say to that!"
For q moment Fernie stared up
into the Fortune Hunters passion
ate eyes without moving. Then
slowly the mocking look faded. and
stckly pallor crept into his
wrinkled face. He fell back q step.
his thin lips moving though no
words escaped them. his hands
shaking as II he had suddenly been
stricken with palsy.
When the Fortune Hunter re-
leased him he fell heavily into q
chair. and for q moment the silence
was unbroken save for the crack
ling Of the fire: then: II don't be-
ieve Tits a lie-a lie, like every
thing else you've told since you
came here"
The words broke from Fernie
painfully. He passed a shaking hand
across his eyes: then suddenly he
started up Prove 1t! prove it," he
almost shouted.
Coming here blackmailing me
with your cock-and- story!
Prove II, I say!"
The Fortune Hunter took the
framed portrait down from the
mantel-shelf and the faded photo
graph from his pocket.
Look at them-look at them to-
gether." he said. You told me this
morning that this woman was Your
wife and that she left you thirty
years ago. Well. she's my mother.
She died In Australia when / was
seventeen"
Old Fernie took the two portraits
In his trembling hands and looked
at them side b. side: then he let
them fall nervelessly to the rug az
his feet. looking up at the handsome
face of the man standing above him
with something like terror in his
eyes. There was a long silence.
"So-you're using this-to save
your own skin" he said at last. And
all the vigor seemed to have gone
out Of his voice. He spoke like q
very old man.
The Fortune Hunter laughed. He
took up his hat from the chair and
turned to the door.
Tn not sure that wouldn't
rather be hanged" he said bitterly,
than owe my salvation to you. I
know how you treated my mother. I
know that you've probably never
done anyone . decent turn in your
life, and I'm not fool enough to
think you'll do me now. but"
Old Fernie rose to his feet; his
face was purple with passion as he
pointed to the door.
Get outr' he shouted hoarsely.
Get out OF my house. and be hanged
to you-that's all I've got to say.
Your mother.was no good to me, and
you're enough like her to"
HeN never finished his sentence.