Omaha daily bee., 1922-01-02

dlHRt anu " sccnns 70 nc that IL
started already by the look OF IL. I'd
like 10 have my say, II nobody OBJ
jeets"
Mr., Harding took his arm gently
from beneath Anne's head; he WAS
surprised to find how disiasteful the
whole business suddenly had become
TO him, though he deliberately had
planned TO bring matters 10 a climax,
u think you know already what
the trouble is" he said constrained
y. John, or rather-this man"
The Fortune Hunter broke in
loudly; MY names birmingham. AZ
least, that's the name ] choose TO be
known by. It's better than my own,
anyway" and he laughed as he met
Fernie's eyes. He knew that every
one in the room was agains, him, but
lie did not care. Anne had refused
her forgiveness. and nothing else
mattered.
"The truth is that this man is an
impostor," Mr.. Harding went on, less
confidently. "You know what there
is to know, Fernie. You helped me
sift matters TO the bottom, and I'm
grateful to you. He has cruelty and
deliberately deceived this poor girl
here, and what is worse, from the
point OF view OF the law at all events
he has appropriated dead mans
money without the smallest hope or
intention of ever being able to re-
pay it"
THAT is a lie! said the Fortune
Hunter sharply. He was pale to the
lips, but his eyes flashed as he met
Mr.. Harding's. THAT is liel' he
said again. Il have not touched one
penny of John Smiths money. All
| have had has been what you your
self gave me--a check for 1000
pounds and banknotes for 20, and
those you practically forced upon
me, as a trap, suppose, though it
never occurred to me at'the time.
"The games up. | know that, and
you can do what you please. I've
already promised not to run away"
There was a bitter sneer in his
voice, and for the first time Fernie
spoke. ...
There is one thing, Mr.. Harding
Although you know that this man is
not John Smith, you haven't yet dis
covered who he is or where he came
from"
Foster broke in impaticntly: Does
that matter? l saw him a year ago
in Frisco, and l know the type he
is--the character he had out there"
That's a lie, tool" the Fortune
Hunter said violently II was not in
San Francisco last year, and until
the day you saw me outside the
Savoy l had never in my life set
eyes on the woman ! was with then.
am afraid for once you are pinning
the sins of a dead man on to my
shoulders. However, if it pleases
you-"
Anne gave a little stifled moan.
and he broke off, turning away and
biting his lip hard.
There's another thing, Mr.. Hard
ing old Fernie went on with al
most painful slowness. Pm not so
sure-and neither are you-that we
are anxious for a scandal in Somer-
ton. 1t won't do anyone any good
to stir up all this mud in public, and
it will"-he glanced at Ance and
quickly away agair-"it will make it
worse for Miss Harding to bear"
Mr.. Harding flushed angrily.
Whats come to you, Fernie?" he
broke out. "It was you who stirred
all this up in the first place, and
now you're trying to smooth mat
tiers over and hush them up. You're
trying to stop scandal when you've
always been the first to make them"
Old Fernie nodded. That's true
enough" he admitted. "Bu. things
are different this time
'Ill be hanged if they are" Mr.
Harding answered violently. IF you
think Pm going to let this man GO
scot-free, after the way he's come
into the house and made fools of us
all, you're mistaken. He shall pay
for his little game. and pay dearly,
or my names not Element tlardlrS
who is he to come here, worming
his way into my house, making love
to my niece?" His face was purple
with rage.
There's something in what Fernie
says" Foster broke in. I'VE don't
want scandal here for all our sakes.
Let the fellow 60 and" ...-
Mr.. Harding turned on him saw
agely: he was infuriated by the way
in which he chose to consider Fernic
had let him down; he no longer had
the least pity for the Fortune Hunt
er
LET him go!" he shouted. "A
fine thing! Let him go! And who's
to repay my money, | should like to
knoW-the money-the money he
stole from me-the-"
Old Fernie took slow step for
ward. Il WILL" he said quietly