The Washington times., 1922-12-16
THE FORTUNE HUNTER By Ruby NJ. Ayres

seen ners ana ouo wa
simply dressed In q short dark
skirt and . wide blouse and made
hef look very young.
II meant to be up before you"
she said slipping her hand through
his arm. She raised her dark eyes
to his face. "Is It all right--stilIY"
she asked. flushing q little.
"Everything's always all right
II you love me-" he answered. They
went down to the river and walked
along the grassy bank.
"And what shall we DO today?"
Anne asked suddenly. DO you
know I feel a. II for the last two
days I've lost you somehow-and
that last night found you
again"
But even as she spoke. against
her will. she thought Of the letter
Tommy had put into her hands,
and . little tremble shook her.
The Fortune Hunter glanced
down in swift concern. You're
not cold?"
mo-" she laughed and shook
her head. Someone walked over
my grave"
He frowned. but made no an
swer, ana they walked on swiftly.
but the new quiet happiness with
which she had awakened that
morning was Already shadowed BY
the unwilling memory Of that other
girl.
She turned desperately 80 her
old excuse--thers was soms ex-
plsnation; no man could 20 10
liberatsly deceive the woman who
loved him! She would 20 on
trusting him no matter what hap
pensd. and some day perhaps
would come right.
But when she spoke again the
life seemed to have gone out Of her
voicer I'VE ought to turn--it must
be breakfast time"
The Fortune Hunter glanced
swiftly down At her grave face.
Last night she had said that
everything was all right-she had
said the same thing again this
morning. but the Fortune Hunter
knew that she was only deceivins I
herself. and that nothing could
ever be right for either of them
again.
NEWS FROM AUSTRALIA.
Mr.. Harding was already at
the breakfast table when Anne
and the Fortune Hunter entered
the room. He looked up from
some papers he was reading with
rather q preoccupied smile.
Morning, my dear-morning.
John-there's . letter for you"
For mer' TIE Fortune Hun.
ter caught the letter up sharply,
his facs flushing. There was only
one psrson who was In the least
likely to write to him. he knew.
AMI that was Irenie Clavsr. He
supposed 1t was an aclnowledg-
mont Of his chsQus. but the writ
Ing on the envelope was not hers.
He laid II down beside his
\ plate, face downwards. and took
his seat.
Reed II II you care to. john"
Anns said lightly. Were not
at all formal here. are ~. uncls?'
There's no hurry; II win wait
its only . busineAS letter."
The Fortune Hunter answered
hurrisdly; he felt confused. with.
out knowing why. Anne flushed
fAintiy.
''oh. well. II it's only 4 bust.
nsss letter." she said quietly.
Jsaiehsy was waking again in
her hsart--this letter was from q
woman. she wss SURE. eiss WY
could not John read II in the
ordinary way instead Of locking
% embarrassed"
Tommy late this morning?"
the Fortune Hunter asksd with
an effort. He knew quite we'll
what Anne was thinking and rs-
alixing that he had mAds an
other blundsr by not imm sdiatsly
opening the letter and reading
its contents.
Tommy nearly always 10 late"
Mr.. Harding sAid abssHtiy. II
am afraid we have spoilt him.
my dear"
The Fortune Hunter sianced
quickly At Anne and saw the sst
folds Of her pretty mouth and
the flush on. her cheeks, and ne
reaiissd with despair that the
bridge Of kisses they had built
last night was already lettering
to 4 fall.
He took up the letter lying be.
eide his plate and slit spen tine
envelope rsoklsssly.
1ts contents were brief ana
type-written. and sent from tina
head office OF 4 London bank:
Dear Sir: We have today re-