The Washington times., 1922-12-28
The Story of an Adventurer, Who,
Finding a Body in the Woods, Had
the Identity of the Dead Man
'Wished Upon" Him.

Anne Harding.
He had not dared to look at
them until they had gone past
him some way along the road.
but then he stopped and stared
after them with scowling brows.
He'll die game, anyway" old
Fernie thought with a thrill Of
most unusual pride: then he
caught himself in with a jerk and
swore at what he chose to call
his weakness. as he replenished
the fire and tried to settle down
to his usual evening smoke.
But his pipe would not draw
and thought would not be banished.
and at last he rose reluctantly and
took down the photograph Of his
wife from the mantleshelf.
He wondered for the first time
now why he had kept it-why he
had let It stand on it's shelf for
so many years. but his hard eyes
softened in spite of himself as he
looked at the pictured face. Life
might have been very different II
she had stayed with him.
For the first time he wondered
how she had spent the remain
ing years Of her life. They could
not have been easy. he knew. for
he had heard years afterward that
the brother to whom she was sup
posed TO have gone in Australia
had died before she reached him
and that she had had TO work to
support herself and the child.
TOMMY LISTENING.
Not much of an up-bringing for
a lad. Fernie coughed again un-
comfortably. Small wonder. as the
Fortune Hunter had said. that he
had grown up a vagabond. His
son!
When the maid came to answer
It Tommy appeared behind her In
the hall, peering forward curious
ly to see who the visitor might be.
Hello. Mr.. Fernie." he said eager
ly when he saw the old man. Old
Fernie looked at him and past him.
"Is Mr.. Smith in?" he asked un.
compromisingly.
Tommy hesitated. He had al
ready been listening at the draw
ing room door. and had heard a
good deal of what had passed.
We'll. he is" he said at last.
I'll see him. then" Fernie
broke in abruptly, "and your
uncle, too. II he's at home"
"Oh. well; I'll tell him." Tommy
answered vaguely.
Fernie stepped into the hall.
and the maid shut the door. II
suppose Mr.. Smith is at homer
Fernie asked her bluntly, as
Tommy disappeared.
The girl flushed a little. IT
think so, sir, but I'm afraid
dinners been ready half an hour,
and" She broke off, evidently
not liking to say any more, and
at that moment Tommy returned.
You're to go in" he said.
His small eyes searched Fernie's
face cunningly. Uncle there,
and-Mr. Smith" He grinned.
Il say. there's no end of a row
on" he whispered excitedly.
Fernie stared him up and down
for a moment. There's no need
for you to look so pleased, any
way. young man. he said grim
ly, as he stalked past the boy
and into the drawing room.
Anne was lying In the big
chair, her head resting against
Mr.. Harding's shoulder; she had
just struggled back to conscious
ness.
Foster was lowering in the
background; he looked white and
nervous, but he kept his dis.
tance from Anne.
Fernie looked at them each
in turn and then at the Fortune
Hunter, and his hard face seem.
ed to tighten In a curious way as
he met the young mans reck.
less eyes; then he shut the door
behind him and came forward
into the room.
IF there's going to be trou-
ble," he said bluntly, looking at
Mr.. Harding, "and 1t seems to
me that it's started already by
the look of 1t, I'd like to have
my say. II nobody objects"
Mr.. Harding took his arm
gently from beneath Anne's head;
he was surprised to find how
distasteful the whole business
had suddenly become to him.
though he had deliberately plan.
ned to bring matters to a climax.
I'm BIRMINGHAM"
II think you know already
what the trouble is" he said