Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-01-25

day, Mt any rate. I had never seen
the woman in my life, and-the photo
graph was not mine. Then she wrote
that girl--and / was afraid Of, being
found out. She threatened to come
down TO Somerton, so j went to Lon
don to meet her, and Foster saw US
and you heard. 'ra. ...
''She wanted me to buy her of. !"
He laughed drearily. ''Buy her of.
when | had only sixteen shillings in che
world " He stopped again. and passed
a hand across his forehead, as IL trying
to remmeber what happened next.
And them" he went on. "Mr.
Harding offered to lend nie some money
and the temptation was too great.
took 1.-TWO thousand without
q hope in the world of paying 1t back,
and | sent 1t to her. i suppose l was
mad; I've never done dishonorable
thing like that in my life before, at any
late.
I've never deliberately taken what
was not mine. Then a letter came for
for the man / was pretending to be.
1e was rich, II seemed the letter was
from q firm of bankers; they said that.
a large sum of money had been paid to
my credit.
1T wes one way out. The chances
were that nobody would ever find out
the fraud--but-but even stopped
short at that. I've never touched n
shilling of the money; think 1 was
afraid"
He took out his handkerchief and
passed 1t across his lips. Things be-
gan to 60 wrong-I might have known
they were bound to. You began to dis
trust me; | saw It in your eyes long
before you said word and ! think
began to go to pieces from that mo.
meht. You see, i-rotter as / am
l loved you, Anne"
She neither moved nor spoke, and
he went on heavily once more. There $
nothing much else to tell you know the
rest, or most Of it. Yoi knew Fernie
always hated me; well, he's been spying
and watching me, and now-he knows,
too
Anne gave n little anguished cry at
that, and for the first time q painful
streak of color touched the Fortune
Hunters drawn face.
"Pd rather have died a thousand
times than had this happen" he said
hoarsely. I've no excuse. no defense.
except that love you. / shall love
you as long as l live, and afterward-
IL there is any afterward for n man like
me- he added harshly.
There was profound silence. then
Anne spoke for the first time.
And what about me? What about
meT she asked. Her voice was fiat
and eXpressionless, but her eyes were
piteous as she looked at the Fortune
Hunter. What is to become of me %
she said again.
The hot blood beat into his face he
took n quick step toward her and then
checked himself.
"Id give my life for you" he said.
III only there was something could
do to undo what has happened II
only you'd just say you forgive me II
only you'd say that you don't alto =
gether hate and despise me.'' His
voice was hoarsc and labored and when
She made no answer he turned away
with a gesture Of utter despair.
Presently ~ spoke again in cold
difficult tones, as il she were SLOWLY
coming back to keener realization OF
all that this meant to her.
And what am to say to every one ?
what will they think of me not to have
known! To have let you-a stranger.
man l know nothing about--make love
to me: lie TO me-" she broke off
chokingly; she beat her hands to-
gether. "Oh, II only died before this
thing happened -
The Fortune Hunter strobe across
to her then; he dragged her hands
away from her face, forcing her to look
at him.
And is my love nothing to you?'
he asked. Have you no pity for mo ?
You believed in that other man who
was not worth thought or a tear: Won
waited ten years for him, and he lied
to you and deceived you n thousand
times more than l have ever done. He
only pretended to care for you. while
Her pale face blazed with sudden
passion.
You darc-dare to say word
against him"' she broke out sobbing.
He was, the man I loved. He was
coming home to me when you-
you---" She could not go on.
lie was coming home to you because
he could do nothing else" the Fortune
Hunter said with cruelty born of his
pain. "lNhy should 1 hide the truth
of what he was when I've got to be
damned In your eyes for the rest of
my life? Ask your uncle. Ask Mr.,
Harding. He paid John Smith to 20
abroad when he came out of prison
because he hoped you would forget him,
The man didn't want you.''
She closed her eyes and swayed n
little in his merciless grasp.
'1ou We never once told me the truth
yet, y she said with white lips.
He let her go SO abruptly that she
almost fell. He began pacing up and
down the room like n madman: he
hardly seemed to realize that sbe was
suffering, too, and that he was stab
blng her afissh with every word he
spoke.
$50 You married him." he broke out.
mockinGly., You cared enough for him
to marry Lin, 9nd yet that couldn't
keep hin straight. Crooked through and
through h-worse than ! am, tell YOU"
he went on hardly conscious OF
what he said till suddenly, In his des-
perate pacing to and fro, he turned
sharply and came face to face with her
again. Then suddenly his mood changed
he gave n little choking cry md fell
on his knees before her, encircling her
with his arms.
Forgive me j. Forgive me-" he STAN
mcrcd. bad as | am, you did love me
for little while. Forgive me, Anne. :"
But even as he made his frantic ap-
peal he knew its futility. She did not
move; she just stood looking down at
his passionate face with eyes of cold
judgment. Presently he rose and stood
before her, passion fallen from him. n
curiously old, beaten look in his eyes.
Then suddenly he laughed.
well, what shall do? It's for you
tp say"
She put her hand to her forehead as
ii trying yainly.to collect her thoughts ::
she felt as il she were in the throes of
some terrible nightmare it was only