The Washington times., 1922-12-26
The Story of an Adventurer, Who
Finding a Body in the Woods, Had
the Identity of the Dead Man
'Wished Upon" Him.

And please, miss, she said to
Anne. could cook speak to you
for q moment?"
Anne put down her coffee cup.
Certainly. I will come now.
She went out Of the room. and
Tommy looked maliciously across at
the Fortune Hunter. Hasn't any
ono called to sec either Of us3"
he asked with sarcasm. The For
tune Hunter made no answer.
This was the opportunity ne had
wanted; he went into the hall.
took his hat and coat from the
rack, and let himself out OF the
front door.
He could hear voices from the
study. as he passed. but he hardly
noticed them: he went quickly up
the village and across the bridge
till he saw a light in the kitchen
window Of Lons End Cottage.
He slackened his speel little
then and drew a long breath
The last throw OF the dice. He
had come to Fernic to put his
trump card on the table. and II
that failed. He shrugged his
shoulders and walked up to the
cottage door.
There was a sound OF chair
being scraped back inside and
heavy feet shufflinS across the
floor; then the door opened and
Fernie stood there in the lamp
light.
There was a moments silence.
and the old mans face changed
a little and he smiled in an un.
pleasant sort Of way as he said:
do you know. Mfr. Smith.
thought somehow you'd be com
ing to call on me tonight"
"You thought right, then the
Fortune Hunter said calmly Il
suppose | can como in?'
Fcrnic shrugged his shoulders
and turned back into the kitchen,
loavSng tho door open.
The Fortune Hunter walked in,
nut his hat dow OIL chair ana
shu, the door behind him.
There WIS moment Of pro.
found silcrccs Fcruic carefully
rcfillcd his pipe. lit it with pa.
pcr spill from tho nant"l shelf
and looked around AT the younger
man, an ctil smiln in his eyes.
We'll. and now you've come.
what have you got TO say?' he
asked.
Tho Fortune Hunter was stand
ing by the fire. his hands In his
coat pockets, his face q little
strained.
First of all. I've come to ask
what It IL you've got against me?'
he said quietly.
For n moment Fernie looked
rather taken aback. then he laugh
ed.
well, now. that's a tall ques-
tion, Mr.. Smith" he said, "and one
that I don't see that I'm bound to
answer"
THE first night I came to Som
erton." the Fortune Hunter went
on, disregarding him, II went into
that inn-beerhouse, or whatever
II is-down the village, and l heard
you talking to the landlord. You
knew nothing about me. except
what you'd heard from a lot OF
idle gossip, but you'd made up
your mind even then to ruin me IL
II was possible to do II.
"I know. the type OF man you
are-a man with nothing to do but
mind other peoples business; a
man with a naturally nasty. sus-
picious mind, and at first I thought
that accounted for the dislike you'd
taken to me. Now-I know differ
entity"
Fernie looked up.
"Oh. you do, do you?" he said,
with an effort at jauntiness.
Yes. I do" The Fortune Hun
ter's voice was less calm. and
there was a deeper flush in his
face. II know that behind my
back you've been plotting and
planning to ruin me. and ] know
that you've been more successful
than you even hoped. You
needn't think that / am here to-
night because I'm In tho least
afraid of you--a dozen men like
you wouldn't scare me into NOV.
ing q yard IL I didn't choose to