Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-12-31

! You didn't! How can you say such
things! You were quite right 10 be
angry. Tommy ought not TO have
opened your things, but he didn't mean
any harm"
II know. I'm sorry"
lie felt absurdly sore over the whole
incident. He had had no Intention of
ever opening those locked boxes in the
empty room upstairs there was a strange
sort OF superstition IN his heart about
them-but now his hand had been
forced, and he knew that. sooner or
later, the thing would have to be done.
Tommy sat through luncheon silent and
frowning, and all attempts to rouse him
failed. Afterward Mr.. Harding fol-
lowed the Fortune Hunter from the
loom md touched his arm.
I'm sorry Tommy annoyed YOU.
John; it was thoughtless Of him. lie
had no right to touch your boxes. I'm
afraid it was the bear skin that made
him so eager"
1T didn't matter in the least" was
the abrupt reply. 81 lost nv temper
Ike a fool! I'm sorry. Tommy shall
have his bear skin"
But. all the same, he could not bring
himself to 70 up t. the room where
John smiths luggage stcCd. and the
afternoon passed slowly away. The
beautiful morning had turned to gray.
showery weather, and the river looked
sullen and deserted.
Anne came downstairs after ten in n
mnckintosh and small wooden hat. "I'm
going into the village. VIII you come.
John?' she asked.
lie agreed readily: the house stiflcd
him; already he WAS beginning TO feel
that lie must be out of doors more. He
was so used to freedom that there was
something prison-like in having to con-
form to the Hardings' mode of living.
They walked together down the vii.
lage street. 1t was raining faster now.
Hadn't you better 60 back for n
coat Anne asked. You'll get wet
through"
II haven't got . ~ The Fortune
Hunter checked the words in time.
I'm used to all weathcrS." he said.
II nevcc take cold"
There was hardly anybody about. 4
horse with Il sack over itse back stood
riderleSS at the door Of the inn where
the Fortune Hunter had heard himstlf
discussed last night: some ducks wad-
dlcd about in the puddes and chuckled
cOntentcdly.
That S, Mr.. Fcrnic's horse" Anne
said, more for something to say than
because the matter was Of any interest.
She felt that the little outburst hc-
tween John and Tommy bad made m
Cstrangcment between herself and the
man she loved.
She C0uld not understand why ne
had been so angry; he might have seen
that Tommy had only been anxious u
please.
''Fernic geens 10 be IN importan,
man in The village the Fortune Hunt
or said rather wearily. lie glanced
apprehensivcly at the closed inn door
us he spoke.
lie was not in the least afraid oil
Ternie, though he fully realized that
the man might be an unpleasant fac
tor with which to reckon; he had never
been afraid of any one. 1t was his
proud boast that he was master of his
own fate.
They walked on through the viii
lage and across the bridge that Spanned
the river. The same s.ttlc steam launch
that had passed the island only that
morning came again chrgcing its way
ur the ?ivcr.
'Tour friend Foster" the Fortune
Hunter said dryly.
He leaned his elbows on the stone
rarapot of tho bridge and looked down
at the little craft with moody eyes but
this time the man in the bows did not
glance M or see them.
IL suppose ne hates me-" tho For
tune Hunter said cynically, when the
launch had passed beneath the bridge
and gone on its way.
He hus never seen you Anne an
swcrcd gently.
"Or heart &C me?' he asked dryly
She raised puzzled eyes.
"Of course he has heard of You.
told him when he asked Inc to marry
him that it was mpOsSiDlC-bccausc Of
ycu.'
so he did ask you TO marry him."
"Yes-you knew that" she said
rather painfully.
The Fortune Hunter leaned his back
against the stone parapet and looked
at her steadily.
"Iou would have done better to have
taken him and forgotten me-" he said
abruptly. lies rich man, and l."
lie broke of with harsh laugh.
Anne made no answer. She stood
there in the rain, her hands in the big
rotbsr nothetir bcncntb the IittIr woolcn
hot Sbn wos hcginnimy IN renIigc that
aIthom"h II, % ,he ,ovSJ tbis mon M VIII win cU"rr
hoat %f hrr laval hearr sLo iii nni
WndorstonJ Wr"s him "'O NV
SSa Enon wag,,oIv thot ,ho ost roor
o m""" "nd 'H p"n. In,
nnH' @ % NV tbmro NAVY ",ro,tD "u h' n'I w.
"i,u io HL '"v.n "troraor to h"r no ""vI ',.L NV
WAS ike htldlIscI 70 H'l HluH NIOlll