Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-01-31
THE FORTUNE HUNTER
BY RUBY M AYRES
Author of "The Bachelor Husband The Uouvanted etc
80 Copyright Wheeler Syndicate. mo
~ ot.p old mani" Fernic found
BY RUBY NJ. AYRES

Ia
- he recalled the Fortune Hunter
words.
DJ sball never see him again. oil,
Ternie thought, and his dragging step
( esme again to standstill, and onc'
more no looked back at the house behin'
the trees. He knew in his heart, wha
4 neither Mr.. Harding nor Anne la'
euessed. that in the morning the For
y tune Hunter would have gone-vanishct
from their lives as strangely and sud
denly as he had entered thcm-and will
.,dden determination he began TO re-
!. trace his steps, his teeth gripped tisht'
4 ly over the stem of his pipe, his browS
1 meeting in shaggy frowp'
4 .'He shall not go! III not nave my
.on kicked out as If he'd done some
thing 70 be ashamed Of" 80 the old
man argued, illogically to himself WILL
fully binding himself to the tact 'ha'
Tho Fortune Hunter had. done many
things Of which he must be ashamed
He went round by the road, keeping
As much as possible to the shadows ana
out Of the moonlight until. he reached
tbe rate Of Cherry Lodge garden
Then he looked up Mt the mousse,
rhoro vos n light in one window anG
ono in the study downstairs Out as
Tornie laid his hand on the iatch OF
!, the gate to lift it the downstairs ''sn'
fickered and went out.
well-he could wait. That was all
He had been up all night more times
hsfore than he could remember, and to-
night the game was well worth '"c
candle. He fumbled in the pocket OF
his Jacket for tobacco ana ma'ches'
reflled the empty pipe, and leaned back
against the closed gate, his eyes on the
light in the surrounding trees
Then the church clock on the river
struck twelve. Old Fernie coughcd
,neryously. rammed the tobacco further
down into the bowl of his pipe, but lie
never moved or altered his position
against the gate.
Some one else besides old Fcrnic had
kept watch during that long, misty
night, and, when the Fortune Hunter
dropped from his window into the gar
den below. Anne saw him steal away
across the lawn through the breaking
dawn.
She had not closed her eyes all night.
In her heart she had known that this
would happen, and r'thoht moments
hesitation, she caub.C up a wrap and
went out on to the landing.
There was no sound in the house,
but as she went swiftly down the stairs
some one moved in the shadow If the
study door and Mr.. Harding came to-
ward her.
"Annc! Where are you going
She stood quite sill, warning him
Of with shaking hands. Her voice was
wild when she answered him.
Hes gone; somehow | know he
meant 20, and | am going with him.
Let me go-oh, if you ever loved
me---" lie caught her hands in his
l,t chCcry face was full of hard dis
tIcss.
"My dear! Tbink what it means
It's the best for us all to let him go.
He know; that the whole thing is iID-
possible. II he stays, what happiness |
can there be for you with man you
cant trust-a man who has lied to
you, and"
She broke In passionately: Il love
him, and lie loves me. If he goes,
shall never be happy again.
The mans worthless. Hos taken
the best way out. Ask any one what
they think. My dear, I'd give the world
10 500 You happy, but this way is i'm
possible" ."
She hardly seemed TO hear she broke
from him and ran 20 the front door.
drawing back the bolts with trembling
fingers.
"Hou re keeping me; you're wasting
time. Oh, l don't care what you say
i makes no difference" She flung his
hand of when he would have detained
her. Let me 60. unless you want
me to hate YOU. You've all been against
him ever since he Came-you and Tom
n.y-yon We both tried to ruin my hap
pincss.'
Anne dragged the door open aud fed
INTO the gnr'lrn, the white wrap flying
around her like misty wings.
She "earhcd the cate brcathlcss aud
s0bbns, 1t was shut. ed for few
seconds she bungcd with the latch.
Which way had he gone? Which {
way! Was she too late already? She :
started TO run down tho road away !
rom the village, then stopped, sobbng :
earlesSIy and wringing her hands.
There was 10 sign or anybody or tho
ong, barren road, and. half dstr. ed l.
With dread, she had turned 10 70 lrk u
o,ward the village when she saw or- i,
lie.
His old face looked jadcd and ale I
n the morning li"nt, and there vas h
omething pathetic in his eyes A, he =
approached her, hat in hand. \
Anne broke out piteousy: oh.
which way did he go? Which VIZ, 2" T.
old Fernie pointed up the road with 4,
He thought ! didn't 500 him %. q
iiss Harding" he said hoarsely But n
hats the way he went. Ho laid his "a
and ON her. arm. Bring him back, h
ack." o''"h "'"' u
Anne could not answer She fed on 9,
p the deserted road and through the I I
title village. ''e " !
Too late Too late Something seemed o,
o speak the words mocklngly at her y
Wht' sat' why had she not been quicker? v
vvhhy had she hesitated a moment? II
vnet ala anything else In the world I,
,auer II she had lost him? Her l,ge o.
,"s strong enough to forgive the pa,t. +,
trong enough to face whatever ay "
her in the future. n