The Washington times., 1922-12-01
Seeker of Thrills Finds Himself
Mistaken for Another and Thereby
Becomes Enmeshed in a Maze
of Love and Mystery.
RUBY NJ AYRES
RUBY n. AYRES.
Copyright, 1899, by
The Wheeler Syndicate, Inc.

AHo "NccSoV S6N~eS~soS s"Ss
Continued From Yesterday
~ HE Joined him in the garden
almost at once, slipping q
~ hand shyly through his arm.
you're still here then! You're
real! When I woke this morning
was half afraid that I should
find it all a dream, and that you
had gone"
The Fortune Hunter smiled
wryly, remembering his resolu-
ton Of the night. "You slept
"And that's breakfast" Anne
and flushed.
"I never woke up once. And
youf"
"I never, closed my eyes," said
the Fortune Hunter grimly. my
guilty conscience. suppose"
Her fingers frightened about his
arm.
'T will not let you say that.
You promised me that there was
20 be no past-no looking back"
"It's not 50 easy to kill the
past as some Of us wish," he
answered rather drearily.
She interrupted swiftly
THE PAST Is DEAD!
"But It is killed-it is dead!
The past can not come back.
don't think Of it. I won't. I'm
going to look forward now-only
forward"
The Fortune Hunter made no
reply. but he thought Of the foxy
eyes Of the man Fernie whom
he had seen last night. and a
breath Of apprehension swept
through him.
"And that breakfast" Anne
said as a bell rang through the
house. "Are you hungry? I am
--and here's Tommy"
Tommy waited for them at the
house door; he looked at the For
tune Hunter with chagrined eyes.
1--WE shan't have to go to London
after ALL" he said, ito fetch your
baggage, I mean," he turned and
indicated pile of boxes in the hall.
"It's all Just come up from the
station" he added disgustedly.
The Fortune Hunter flushed
crimson. When he had first en-
tered upon this adventure it had
been more in the spirit Of a joke
which would last only for the mo-
ment than the manifold tragedy
into which 1t was slowly evolving.
He looked at the rather battered
and much labeled luggage with des-
perate eyes.
Tho initials "J. g." were painted
IN amateurish large letters on the
side of each box, and bore beside
the label of q well-known cross
Atlantic steamer. on which he him
self had once worked passage
home. He smiled bitterly at the
irony Of It all.
Breakfast is ready" Anne said
suddenly. She had been standing
by silently, and now she turned
and led the way into the dining
room.
Mr.. Harding was already seated.
He greeted the Fortune Hunter
cheerily.
THE BODY AGAIN.
"You won't mind my beginning
I'm in a hurry. They're going
90 hold an inquiry this morning
about that poor fellow we found in
the woods last night, ana I'm
rather Interested"
81 wonder who the poor man In
the woods will turn out to be-"
Anne said thoughtfully. you
don't think anyone-killed him,
uncle?"
'.Killed him! The words broke
from the Fortune Hunter in sharp
dismay.
Mr.. Harding laughed lightly.
~Dear me, no. He died Of heart
failure. 80 I hear. The poor fel-
low was in q very bad state, from
al accounts. The odd part Of 1t is
that there are no papers Of any
sort or marking on his clothes"
"A wanderer, perhaps" said the
Fortune Hunter grimly. with
every reason to hide his identity"
Anne blushed. the tears spring
ing TO her eyes, and the Fortune
Hunter realized how painful bis
words must have been to her. His
eyes shot her a remorseful apology
and she smiled.
Mr.. Harding seemed not to have
noticed; he nurriedly finished his
coffee and rose.
s-Youli excuse me IL run
away" he said. See you at lunch;
and, by the way, Anne, II Foster
calls this morning. tell him I want
20 see him, viii your"
Anne looked quickly at the For
tune Hunter. "Yea. I'll tell him."