Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-01-10

Foster went on without needing the
interruption.
Ihere was one man running n
gambling PLACE there who interested me
very mucb-bartly, perhaps, because he
was not the usual type one comes across
IN such places, and came to the con
clusion that he was u gentleman down
on his luck-perhaps a man, who had
been forced to leave his own country
to escape the police.
There was a woman with him. ~
Foster went on.
shoulders. ~"
MY dear fellow, no doubt this Is
all very interesting, but why en- earth
you should tell 1t to me ] quite fai' to
Inuerstand-' Geoffry Foster flushed
9uily,, and for the first time the bitter
shone in his eyes.
san Francisco" he said savaycly. ~
had my suspicious the other night. but
j was not sure until this afternoon,
when i saw YOU in that woman's COM.
rany. recognized her at once" Ha
since those days! You've dropped the
scallywag and turned gentleman"
u, Ihere was profound silence. then
me Fortune Hunter turned round and.
looked him full in the eyes.
And how are you going to prove
all these interesting statcments?" he
asked calmly. After all, it's ONLY
your word against mine, you know
Deny itn' said Foster. "It will
only De 5nc more lie added to the MANY
you have told since you came TO Som.
erton."
For \ second the Fortune Hunter
stood like man turned to stone, then
lie caught Foster by both shoulders
with savage hands.
Say that again-and III -"
Then all at once he fell back. shaking
IN every limb and breathing hard. II
beg your pardon--I beg your uardon,"
he said hoarsely. He stood for a mo-
lnent, trying desperately to recover hi,
self control, then he walked to the door
and flung 1t open. Get out" he said
thicklv. and again, Get out" nuc
Geofry Foster went, with last back
ward triumphant smile.
The Fortune Hunter dropped into
Il chair.
Tommy came to the door onl
peered inquisitively at him.
II say. John, what's up with every
one tonight?' he asked uneasily as the
Fortune Hunter started up.
sNothing You need worry about,
Tommy he said. He walked out Of
the room, leaving Tommy with a queer
expression of cunning on his thin face.
Nothing / need worry about. ch I:
~ he muttered as he looked after
the Fortune Hunters tall figure
I'VE III see about that ~
. The Fortune Hunter looked every
where for Anne after Geoffry Foster
had gone. but the drawing room was
empty. and the dining room. and il
was only after inquiring of one of the
maids that he was told she had gone
to bed with headache.
A headache. Ap excuse TO be rid
of him, not to see him again that night ;
the Fortune Hunter went upstairs two
at time and knocked at her door.
He was feeling desperate he did
not fear Foster. or Fernie, or any of
the people who might suspect him aud
make idle threats, but he was half mad
at the thought of Anne turning from
him.
"Anne Anne i -"
She did not answer at first, aud
it was only when he knocked again
lHdI nt HtuTn nPT
MY head aches--plcase leave me
alone. J. shall be all right in the
morning
Tommy, creeping inquisitiyely up
the stairs. saw the look Of despair on
the Fortune Hunters face as he turned
away and went to his own room, anG
he smiled. well pleased.
He had never rcnlly forgiven that
Hnir 81 hn nd thR hnS
his was curiously twisted sort of ma
turc that brooded over an imagine,
wrong long after broader minde
person would have forgotten all nbou'
it. and it seemed TO him, in spite
the patched-up peace between them
that 1t would be rather fine thing I,
get his own back on The Fortune
Hunter.
lie had overheard something Of the
conversation that evening in the. stud,
with Geoffry Foster. and his shrewd
mind had already made four out Of ess
than two and two.
His own room was next to the For
tune Hunters and for half the night
lying awake Tommy could hear the
sound Of restless pacing up and down.
up and down.
II was only when daylight came that
himself, still half dressed, on the bed
and fell into heavy sleep.
lie woke unrefrcshcd aud with
stabbing headache, and was late for
breakfast.
Couldn't you slccpI'' Tommy asked
grlnning. ~ thought heard YOU walk
ing about the room ever so late"
Tho Fortune Hunter answered
shortly:
I've got vile headache"
lie did not glance at Anne. or he
would have seen the look of tender con-
Germ that flashed into her eyes, though
she lowered them instantly.
She, too, had passed n wakefu night,
torn between the growing suspicion in
her heart which would not be killed and
her love for this man, which told her
that he would never lie to her or deceive
her or play her false
She saw that he looked i'll, and des-
perately unhappy, and her heart ached
for linn; she would have followed him
into the garden after breakfast, but
that Mr.. Harding forestalled her and
called to the Fortune Hunter to wait
for him as he strolled off alone across
the grass.
The Fortune Hunter turned bracing
himself with an effort, and Mr.. Hard
ing laid friendly hand on his arm.
rs anything the matter, john" he
asked in kindly fashion. "You don't
look yourself this morning
The Fortune Hunter tried to laugh,
but 1t was not much of success, and
Mr.. Harding went on:
"If it's anything to do with business.
and | can help you in any way, shall
be only too pleased" he glanced p
into the Young mans haggard face and
added Il hope you will look upon me