The Washington herald., 1921-09-02
THE
FORTUNE
HUNTER
ANeu,G Gripping
Romance Serial
! BY RUBY AYRES
tosatiansd Frsm Ys.tsrd.y.)

TO ny, i made mp my mind would
just 60 on. and let things put them
selves right. and SO would have
done. II it hadn't been for something
that--that happened today she
added slowly.
He turned quickly at that.
Something that happened today
You mean-this afternoonT"
Yes"
The Fortune Hunter felt as II an
icy hand had touched his heart;
this was the first roll of the drums,
the warning that the end was in
sight
He sought desperately for some
clue. What could Lave happened?
What did she mean
Tell me what it was" he said,
She drew away from him; there
was something very forlorn and pa
thetice about her at that moment,
and the Fortune Hunter felt as If
his heart would break as he looke1
at her.
With all his love he could only
bring her unhappiness and suffer-
ing. and for a moment he was
tempted to tell her the whole truth
then and there, and stand by the
consequences.
Surely il would he better than
eoing on from day to day, getting
more deeply implicated, and making
IL more impossible TO escape with
even a shred of honor.
Then Tommy called from the
drawing-room window. and the mo-
nRNN
Clem says it's too cold for you out
there"
Anne turned readily; she seemed
glad OF the interruption, but the
Fortune Hunter caught her and
held her for a secord.
You will answer my question"
She struggled agai>ist him. Not
now. oh. please! let me CO.
You will tell me tonight
Very well, I promise, when Mr..
Foster has gone"
The Fortune Hunter released her.
Damn, Foster" he said savagely.
They went back TO the drawing
room together. Tommy was yawn-
ing over a book of travels. and Mr..
Harding and Foster were talking in
desultory fashion.
The old man looked up apollo
dear. I'm afraid it too damp out
in the garden for you"
I'm not cold. Uncle" but she
shivered as she spoke.
The Fortune Hunter had strolled
over to the piano; he sat down on
the stool, idly turning the sheets of
the song which still stood on the
rack
For there's no friend along the
highways
Fr a Vagabond-"
With sudden impulse he began to
play the air. his hands running
lightly over the keys.
when you're jog. jog, joggin' along
the white road
With your luck all upside
down"
Tommy began to hum the song
under his breath. and Anne sat up
with swift attention. Il never
knew you could play. john" she
said sharply.
The Fortune Hunter broke OF in
the middle of a chord and swung
round, his face flushing DULY.
Didn't you? I can strum a lit
tle." he said lightly. It came in
rather useful once or twice when I
was down on my luck. I vamped in
! saloon in Frisco once for a month
until something better came along
"'Friscoi' Foster struck In
quickly. what year were you
there7"
The Fortune Hunter shrugged his
shoulders, he got up from the piano
and lit a cigarette with hands
that were not quite steady.
I've been there half a dozen
times he said carelessly
I-was there in tbs spring of last
year, r,"zFoster said quietly: his eyes
were fixed on the Fortune Hunters
face with a vague sort of bewil-
derment.
'ReallylNI don't like the place."
the Fortune Hunter said casually:
he flung the dead match out of the
window, and sat down beside
Tommy!
After a moment Foster rose.
Well. I think I'll be getting along"
he said.
Its early yet.' Mr. Harding OBJ
jected. What about a game of
bridge; you play. John?'
The Fortune Hunter looked UP,
his face twitching nervously.
He knew that he had walked into
o trap over the music, and he
dreaded that this apparently harm
less question might prove to be an
: Aher.
He was spared a reply by Foster
himself. Thanks, not tonight, sir.
must really be getting along"
: He said goodnight, and Mr.. Hard
ing and Tommy followed him to the
door.
The e-Fortune Hunter went over to
Anne at once.
Now, then-what did you mean?
What has happened today to make
you distrust me?"
She would not answer. She tried
10 evade the question. Tommy and
uncle will be back in a minute.
Please let me go-I'm tired-I-'
His face famed with sudden pas
. sion.
~If you think you can say as
fnuco as voU nave done, and then
refuse TO explain, you're mistaken.
can stand a great Zeal, but when
81 ZONES tG your telling that-that-
cad Foster-
-John!' Ther qu-te suddenly she
broke into a storm of tears and
,sraping from his grasp turned nd
lss away into the shadows Of the
garden.
gs Be consiHu.d ronorrov1
Vfr0inidns Married