Omaha daily bee., 1921-12-21
By RUBY AYRES.
tCantinurd Prom Yesterday }

By RUBY AYRES.
/ tconiinued From Yesterday .~.
The Fortune Hunter met Anne's
eyes steadily. II have been in San
Francisco half a dozen times" he
answered her, but ! never have had
the honor OF running a gambling
saloon there-or OF being warned off
by the police" tst.
He looked at Fernie with ehal-
lenging smile. YOU'D be surprised
II You knew all the romantic stories
that have followed me TO Somerton.
Mr.. Fernie," he said coniidinely.
THE latest OF them is that once
made a fortune, or tried TO. by rum
ming a gambling he'll, in the COM
pany OF some dark-eyed houri, who,
suppose, is credited with having
acted as decoy for me- He laughed
and looked down at Anne, but she
had turned her face away and was
staring steadily into the fire.
"Humphl It's queer how tales
get about" Fernie said in his slow
way. 1--WE heard few myself,
Mr.. Smith"
And circulated a few, | dare
say!" the Fortune Hunter answered
good temperedly. 81 don't blame
you! Any OF you! After all, a
stranger must be very welcome in a
sleepy village like this! 1t gives
people something fresh 10 talk
about"
"a nine-days' wonder. in fact, eh?"
Fernie said dryly. well, you're
right there, Mr.. Smith; it isn't often
anything exciting. happens in SOM
erton. The finding OF that man in
the woods six weeks ago is still
something we're all interested in"
Anne shivered. "We shall never
know who he was now." she said.
"Old Fcrnie rubbed his chin and
looked up sideways at the Fortune
Hunter. We'll, Pm not so sure
about that, Miss Harding" nc said
I've known mysteries solved years
and years after most people have
thought them all done with and for
gotten"
He strolled over to the window
and looked out at the pouring rain.
'I'm afraid you'll have to stay for
bit" he said again. ITS going
to rain for an hour or more yeti.
Anne turned ooh, but we must
get home! Uncle will wonder where
we are; he knows we went on the
river
"Mr. Harding will know you're
sheltering somewhere" Fernie an
sWered casually. He came back to
where she sat and stirred the fire
into brighter blaze.
That's the worst of our English
weather, you know. Mr.. Smith," he
vert on. "You car never depend
on it! Fine one minute. And like
this the next! A bit different from
what you've been used to, row, II
De bound"
"a good deal better than some"
the Fortune Hunter answered dryly.
I once spent a winter UP in
Alaska"
The Fortune Hunter was wander
ing round the room restlessly.
81 think its clearing up a bit"
he said, and stopped abruptly.
Anne turned her head, and saw
that he was staring at something
on the mantleshelf above her head
with look of blank amazement and
incredulity in his eyes. She fol-
lowed his gaze apprehensiveIy.
What are you looking at?' she
asked.
He did not answer, seemed not
to have heard, but he put up his
hand, and took down the framed
portrait of a womap which had been
pushed rather to the back of tie
shelf and hidden by one of the
pewter pots.
1t was an old-fashioned photo
graph, and the woman, who was
young-not more than five and
twenty-wore her hair dressed in
the style of 80 years ago.
Her dress was old-fashioaed too,
with tight-fitting bodice, many
buttons, and high, frilled collar.
The Fortune Hunter stood star
ing at it, the color draining slowly
from his face; he seemed to have
forgotten everything but the portrait
he held in his hand, till Fernie
moved up, and stood beside him..
You seem interested, Mr. Smith,"
he said in his dry,sl tones.
Yes The Fortune Hunter
started, looked up dazedly at the
Old man, and back once more to
the portrait.
"A pretty face, eh?" Fernie said
ironically. "Is that what attracts
your notice, Mr.. Smith," - -
"Yes-no," the Fortune Hunter
answered incoherently. And then.
Who is it? Who is she?" he asked
jerkily.
Old Fernic laughed dryly; then
he pointed to the pictured face with
the stem of his big pipe.
She was my wife" he said. 'T
say was because she left ME 80
years ago, and | reckon | was more
pleased to get rid OF her than she
was of me-" ...-.
He replaced his pipe in his mouth
and sucked at it reflectively, and
l. 4 rJ-s