Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-01-11

d.. dno,nesd sdtstyessed, she 10 a Wor,an Whon,
fS', fSs Ssei smtih hod fne,on ~ hts ,9ander-
iSs and ,oires ne FSr'nns om tss ,6aw nsnt to
S ,gSo nod been beside the dead mans
conan CONAN sgs says she wiii Keep. the secret
gaDs Dsrs ar inc ,%rS. saTs ;ss soSS. % % %sss
.anayyies Anne. As he " ledving her ne
SSSssyi FC:;f ,:;;S ,S. o SSssSs ssysf.sSs
,n0 n,s Ms yetur1i to Anre's house.
AND HERE IT CONTINUES
t<r,oUGHLY--a quarter Of a mil
lion. believe. The moneys
there all right; it's only that just for
tnee s'i .v no more. I understand. You
.,.rISn't have left yourself with such
snVrll .mall margin, though. Come along
q nv study, and I'll let you have q
cpsSn, Thsv went back to the house to-
setber and Mr.. Harding unlocked his
Task and took out a checkbook.
"How much shall we say--a couple
OF thousand pounds" -,
The Fortune Hunter caught MS
breath with harsh gasp. Make it
more II you like" Mr.. Harding went
on casually, his face bent over his
writing. Look here, IN make it two
thousand five hundred; that viii see see
YOU through the wedding and all the
The Fortune Hunter tried to find his
voice. but failed. His enormous relief
uas almost outweighed by the dread
tnowledre that by accerting this money
he WAS adding to the load of debt and
deceit hc already carried; and yet
what could he do? There were but two
alternativcs-to throw up the sponge
and make q clean breast Of everything,
ar 40 on until he found himself trapped
IN the network Of his own lies.
with al effort he forced himself to
speak. ,r ~ i
don't know how to thank
YOU. I =" Mr.. Hsrding cut him
"rut. tut. I'm only too delighted.
Pits not as II you were never going to
pay me back"
He blotted the check and tore it from
the book. There you are, John, and
here's twenty pounds in notes. He
laughed. Fancy you with only five
sbiiIings in your pocket! What in the
world would Anne say If she knew"
He pushed the cheque and notes
across the desk, and the Fortune
Hunter took them up reluctantly.
"It's more than good of you---"
w would not listen. Nonsense! 1 wish
you'd come to me before. No wonder
you look worried to death. There-run
along and find Anne"
The Fortune Hunter turned slowly
away. He went up to bis own room,
put the chcque into an envelope, to-
gether with q hastily written note say
Ing that the remainder should be sent
as soon as possible, and addressed it to
lrenie Claver at the .Savov Hotel.
1t had given him another breathing
space at least and STAYED off the evil
day little longer.
But the stabbing pain in his temples
was maddcning, and he stopped for an
instant at the bottom Of the stairs
feeling sick and giddy.
One Of the maids CROSSING the hall
glanced at him curiously, them
"Oh, aren't you feeling well, sir?"
she asked, in concern.
The Fortune Hunter laughed.
"It's nothing-I've got beastly
headache. | wonder If you d take this
letter to the post for me?"
Certainly, sir-und cant I get you
ANYTHING, sir?"
He shook his head.
Good lord, no, Thanks all the same,
md Just post that letter your
self, will you?"
"Yes, sir.
The girl went straight out and across
the garden. Like the other maids in
the house, she admired the Fortune
Hunter immensely, and, though they
knew but little Of his story, they all
imagined a good deal, and found it very
rromant!c.
She had turned out into the road to-
ward the letter box when Tommy over
took her.
"lIullo. Going to the post.-herc,
I'll take it +" And, before she could
protest, he had snatcheG the letter from
her.
Mr.. Smith asked me to be sure ana
post it myself" she protested angrily ;
she did not like Tommy, and the boy
Knew 1t, which was partly why he had
taken the letter; he loved annoying
people.
MIR. Smith can trust me quite as
well as he can trust you," was the re-
tort 'I'll tell him if you like"
Inc girl turned indignantly away,
and Tommy glanced down ut the envcl =
Il ope in his hand.
London"
For a moment his thin face grew
plank with amazement, then the old
cunning look crept into his eyes as he
thrust the letter into his pocket and
turned back to the house.
lie saw his sister ut the end Of the
garden standing looking out across the
river, and with no thought for the pain
be was about to infllct upon her, only
DIS own triumphant knowledge that he
had discovered something to the dis =
credit OF the Fortune Hunter, he limped
after her.
Anne heard his step on the soft grass
wand turned eagerly, thinking II might
1De the Fortune Hunter: in her heart
She was longing to see him alone and
er,Ve away the vague shadow that had
tnllen between them last night; this
morning she was almost convinced THAI
u had never really existed save in her
Own Imagination, aud she was only too
3"liihg and eager to make amends.
~ one looked bitterly disappointed when
noniInF came eagerly M to her. Il
..mWotuieht, she began, then broke off g.
Where is J0hn?" she asked
ders. '' ''' A'''o" '"oD'
M GOODNESS knows. But lock here
wwnat I've got" lie pulled the letter
1tTm Ills poe kct and held 1t to her.
vt oohn gave this to Ethel to post, and
she gave 1t TO me" II was chnrnc.
miistc c of Tommy that he never todd
9I,te all the truth about anything, "IIe
nun mean me TO see it or YOU either.
pe''' lie pCcrcd down ut TIE ad.
sS on the. letter rs Anne tried to
@Ae II from him; he read It aloud trI.
ssn,phnty' - Miss Ircnie Claver,
ClN0N lInlnl - NJ - = ,