The Washington times., 1922-12-29
A. Seeker of Thrills Finds Himself
Mistaken for Another and Thereby
Becomes Enmeshed in a Maze
of Love and Mystery.
(ContlnueA from Yesterday
4 NNE was sitting up now. her
AN hands clasped in her lap,
. - her face yhite and tense.

You, Mr.. Fernie"' she breathed.
and then as ne nodded she broke
cut agitatedly: But why--why?"
Old Fernie made no answer for a
moment, but he looked swiftly
across at the Fortune Hunter. then
said slowly:
well. I've my own reasons;
they. don't matter for the moment,
but I'm not such a poor man as
everyone In Somerton seems to
suppose. and l can well afford to
repay Mr.. Harding. II he will ac.
cept."
"But-but -" Mr.. Harding
spluttered. its all such an extra
ordinary thing! You told me you
hated John-:his man! You told
me that you meant to ruin him.
and now-good gracious. man!
What are your reasons? Have
you taken leave of your senses?"
Never mind my reasons. Mr..
Harding" Fernie answered, and
there was a certain dignity about
the old man as he stood there,
quite unmoved in the midst Of all
the excitement. There's my Of
Ter. Will you take it or leave IT."
The Fortune Hunter broke In
then. ITS not for MIR. Harding
to choose. it's for me to say II l
will allow you to pay my debts.
and refuse to allow you to do SO.
I absolutely refuse
His eyes blazed as they met
Fernie's "Td rather go to prison,
II that's where you're all so bent
on sending me-" he added reck.
lessly.
Mr.. Harding veered round again.
"And doesn't 1t occur to you that
you owe my niece some slight con.
sideration?" he asked sharply.
"If by accepting this mans offer
though for the life of me l cannot
understand why he has made it
you can save her In some slight
measure, isn't 1t your duty to &C.
capt? Haven't you any thought
Tor her At all?"
WANT HIM TO GO.
The Fortune Hunters face
whitened; he looked at Anne. IT'S
for Miss Harding to decide" he
ssjd after a moment with an ef.
fort 81 am willing to do as she
Wishes"
IL have no wishes in the mat.
ter" Anne rose to her feet: her
face was quite colorless. but she
waved Geoffry Foster away when
he would have supported her. "As
far as am concerned, this thing
Ia ended and done with" she went
on. and her voice was flat and ex.
pressionless.
Tiff it Is anyone's place to-
to prosecute this--gentleman'-
she wavered little-"it Is mine,
and I have no such wish or inten.
ton. ] only want him to 20: and
hope shall never see him
again."
There was a moments profound
silence. Tommy fidgeted from one
foot to the other, and shot the
Fortune Hunter triumphant
glance, and Geoffry Foster moved
forward with more confidence and
leaned over Anne. taking her hand
in his, as she sank back on to the
couch.
The Fortune Hunter seemed the
most unmoved of them all. He
stood there. his hands in his pock.
cts. his head thrown back defiant.
ly. a mocking smile on his lips.
Then suddenly Mr.. Harding
spoke. "She is right: 1t shall be
as she Wishes" he said.
He raised his hand and pointed
20 the door. his eyes fixed on the
Fortune Hunters defiant face.
60" he said, before I change
my mind"
The Fortune Hunter laughed
aloud. He turned swiftly on his
heel. and in another moment
would have gone, but that old
Fernie caught him by the coat.
You shall not CO." he said. and
there was ring Of command in
his voice that struck strangely on
the silent room. You shall not
go until I have had my say"
He crushed his old felt hat nerv.
ousIy in his hand. but he was self
possessed enough as he looked
steadily at Mr.. Harding.
This man IA my son." he said.
Tommy gave loud gasp. but
nobody else moved or spoke. Anne
had hidden her face in her hands
and Mr.. Harding stood like q man
turned to stone.
This man IL my SON." old
Fernie said again. his hand still