The Washington herald., 1921-09-09
THE
FORTUNE
HUNTER
ANeu,Gripping
Romance Serial
By RUBY AYRES5
(Ceatinued from Yesterday


Fortune Hunter unflinchingly; then
she rose to her feet.
IT was right then" she said, and
there was just the faintest toucn
Of emotion in her voice you are
not-Johp Smith! though you are
sufficiently like him to deceive
anyone who knew him less well than
I do" She stopped, her breath
coming fast. rs he-of course. ne
is-deadr" she asked.
Yes"
There was a poignant silence, the
Fortune Hunter never took his eyes
from her face: he knew that the
next few seconds would decide his
fate once and for all. but she did
not even lose color. though for
brief moment she closed her eyes,
and her lips trembled a little. Then
she looked at him serenely.
"T am quite ready for lunch'
You are" she said.
The Fortune Hunter caught his
breath on a harsh sigh Of relief. 50
she had not cared for John Smith!
The greatest danger of all, then'
had not to be faced. He felt ten
wears younger as he followed her
to the luncheon-room-
At the door she halI lurneu anu
looked at him again.
IT booked a table, was very
sure you woul come. you see
He half shrugged his shoulders.
You gave me no option ne
answered.
She laughed at that.
You are not very gallant! HOW
ever. I forgive you"
a small table at the side of the
room she was perfectly self-pos-
sessed. II what she had heard had
been a shock to her she showed no
sign of It. She ordered lunch and
drew OF her gloves carefully
smoothing and patting them into
shape.
when the waiter had moved away
she said abruptly: You copied his
handwriting well, but the signature
was wrong. You must be more
careful In future"
The Fortune Hunter flushed DULY:
so she was taking II for granted
that he was an adventurer. even be-
fore she had heard one word Of his
story; It was surprising how her
attitude hurt his pride. even though
he kknew It to be deserved.
There Is one thing / must tell
you," he said, curtly. after a mo-
ment, "and that is that have only
about 16s. in the world. / hope you
are in a better position financially.
She looked up. and laughed out
right.
II like your candor." she said. Il
think we shall be friends. Yes.
think / can manage to foot the bill'
she took up the wine list. What
will you drink? I prefer champagne
in honor Of the occasion It's a
long time since I laughed with
she hesitated. then added deliberate
ly, "A Fortune Hunter.
The Fortune Hunter looked at her
curfously: he was reluctantly
Obliged to admit that there was
something rather attractive about
her; perhaps II was her frankness'
or, perhaps. her self-possession; but
at any rate against his Will ne De-
gan to be interested.
wb was she? What was sne!
And what could she tell him of
John Smith? A thousand questions
crowded to his lips but he realized
that II would be better to allow her
10 take the lead. and kept silent.
subjects for the first part Of the
meal; she frankly enjoyed her food.
and II was only when coffee was
brought that she leaned her elbows
ON the table and with her chin In
her clasped hands looked steadily
at the Fortune Hunter.
"weIl-I think I'll hear your
story first" she said, abruptly.
The Fortune Hunter smiled nerv-
ously, half Struggling his shoulders
"There's not a great deal to tell
at least I'm not the type
of adyenturer I can see you think l
am" he said. slowly. I've knocked
about for years in every corner OF
the world, but this Is the first time
I'VE ever deliberately played a low-'
down trick. and this time-weI. I'm
a believer in Fate, and Fate forced
me into II"
narrow soueaks. The luggage came
voa see, and IL had to open II.
II appears there was bear
skin for Tommy She nodded.
"Yes. I know" She smiled. meet
Ing his eyes. Did you find some
letters Of mine, too?"
"Yes-I burnt them"
she frowned, then laughed sud
denly. We'll, what do you propose
70 do?"
Tn. Fortune Hunter knocked the
tsh from his cigarette, and 1t was
some seconds before he answered
schoing her words:
What do you propose to do?"
.T~ She spread her hands elo-
uuenrly. i've only one ruling pas
sion-money."
The Fortune Hunter paled a lit
tie.
'T have no money, told you" he
said, constrainedly. She looked up.
her dark eyes family suspicious.
"John Smith was worth nearly a
quarter of a million" she said
slowly.
JOHN SMITHS HISTORY.
The Fortune Hunter sat quite still,
his eyes fixed steadily on Irenie
CIaver's face
A quarter Of a million! So great
a sum- He had known In a vague
way that John Smith had come into.
money shortly before his death. but
he had never dreamed that 1t would
be such a fortune.
IT'S quite a nice little amount"
Irenie went on. casually. quite
enough for the two Of ps. anyway
+. why, what's the matter?"
The Fortune Hunters eyes were
hard.
You mean = you are proposing
that i calmly appropriate
this money!"