The Washington herald., 1921-08-12
THE
FORTUNE
HUNTER
ANeu,Gripping
Romance Serial
By RUBY AYRES
coErun rRnH xEzInDkH.

There was . hint Of nervousness
in her voice. and the Fortune
Hunter followed her with = family
amused smile in his eyes
She was very beautifu1. ne
Thought. and he liked her white
rock and shoes and stockings anu
the pretty waves Of her hair
Ther. were wine and biscuits on
the table and she pressed him 10
take some a..
NV uncle 10 out she said. "or
know he would make you wei
come. 1 cannot thank you enough
for what you have done Ii 20.
had not been there Tommy Wonio
have drowned
II am glad I was there then ne
answered smiling
There was a moments
the girl was fdgeting nerVousiy
with her handkerchief; then quite
suddenly she raised her eyes
will you-win you tell me your
name?- she asked
The Fortune Hunter hesitated
n. had answered to so many dn-
farsnt names during his lifetime
few Of them his owrthen ne nan
what did a name matter!
-Nv name is John Smith, ne
said deliberately, with cynical mem
orr Of that moment in the woods
whom he had taken the pocketoooK
from a dead man.
But he was totally unprepared
for the stified cry which broke
from the girls lips, or for the lutte
eager steps she took toward MIN
her hands outstretched. =,
IF knew knew IL was you'
she said with a sobbing laugh
The hot blood beat into the For
tune Hunters face and Tor mo
ment he stood -helplessly staring at
her. then uechapically' he took her
har,ds in his and held them fast
"I knew it was you" she sald
arain. with tremulous happiness in
her voice. And you always said
that would not recognize you.
She held back from him at arm
length scanning his hot face, smh-
ing through her tears.
why, you haven't altered so
very much" she declared RIO"
could you tell me that you have!
oh: and to pretend that you dldn
know who 1 was. oh, john II
that you're here again.
She was too excited to notice
his silence and she weH- on: You
were coming TO us, Of course, weren't
ycu?"
The Fortune Hunter hesitated for
moment groping for the words
that would leave him free to make
his escape and yet not hurt her
feelings. =,
81 wanted - se" you at once
lie began, then StoppeH abruptly. as
a deep, vigorous voice called from
=. below, interruptiag him.
"AnneL Anne"' called the man be-
low, who evidently had just entered
the lower hall. The girl whirled
around and ran down the stairs
her face alight with joy, exclaim-
ing:
"oh! It's Uncle Clement"
But the Fortune Hunter, follow
ing more slowly, felt no such ex-
uItation. Things were beginning to
be a bit difficult to manage.
The Fortune Hunter was a shrewd
man. During his rowing. eventful
life he was proud to feel that ne
had seldom made a mistake in his
summing up of a man or woman.
But he made one now. as he shook
hands with Clement Harding, and
believed that he knew exactly the
type of man with whom he had
to deal.
An inonensive old country gen.
tlcman, who took the obvious for
granted, and troubled no further;
so the Fortune Hunter would cas-
uaIly have described him. But for
snce in his life he was wrong.
The twinkIing eyes that Deeped
cut from the rosy. wrinkled face
we're the shrewdest eyes in the
world. and the hearty manner. and
simple, almost boyish laugh were
but a disguise provided by nature,
for the wonderful gift Of instructive
foresight and understanding.
so you're the wonderful John
Smith" CIem Harding said, as he
wrung the Fortune Hunters hand.
We'll. well, 1 never believed in
me-. snne and have had over
you. Why. only last night-wasn I
it, my dear?-I bet her S25 that
none of us would ever see you in the
flesh: that something would keep
you away from Somerton at the last
moment Ha! Ha. / was wrong,
and I'll pay my debt gladly"
He stood back, hands thrust into
his pockets, and looked the For
tune Hunter UP and down with
kindly, expansive gaze.
My clothes don't fit you very
well. do they? We must send for
your own luggage wherever it is.
Meanwhile, help yourself to my
wardrobe. A bit short in the leg,
eh? And a bit to big round the
waist? He laughed again infec-
uously. and the Fortune Hunter
laughed too.
They might be a worse fit," he
declared. stretching his long arms
to show the absurd shortness of the
coat-sleeves. TT was unfortunate.
Tommy falling into the river" He
b: ought the name out boldly. But
I'm glad I was there, and able to be
Of use," he went on.
I'm more than glad,'' Clem
Harding said gravely. IF any
thing had happencI 20 tnat boy
we'll; we could never have filled
his place, eh Anne?"
1--WE been trying to thank john"
the girl said shyly.
The old man touched her cheek
affectionateIy. You'll do il bet
ter IL I'm out of the way" he said.
He turned to the door. looking back
wren he reached it to ask: And
your luggage? It's at Somerton
Station. / suppose7