davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1922-12-18
THE FORTUNE HUNTER By Ruby M. Ayres

The strain was telling on them
both. more especially on him. and
but for one thing nothing could
have persuaded the Fortune Hunt.
Of to stay In the house . day long
or, and that wis-his passionate
jeaiousy Of 0eoffry Foster.
A CLIMAX.
Foster had been to the house
on several occasions that niEht
in the study. but he had always
treated the Fortune iIunter with
frisid politsnsss. and had naAs
no other aliusion to the past. 1t
was his veiisd sort Of proprietor
ship towards AnnS that drove the
Fortune Hunter To such = pitch
Of jsaiousy that sometimes ne
could hardly control himself. ana
It Wis the knowledge that 0sof.
frey Foster was only. waiting MI
opportunity that kept him obstinate.
ly where he va. Fear would never
have driven the FORTUNE Hunter
away; only the Desperate convic-
ton that ne could bear no more.
And then one evening the eli.
max came. Things hAd been
more Of less strained with Anne
during the day, and when dinner
time came her place was not
laid At the table.
The Fortune Hunter. entering
the room. stopped dead IN ths
doorway when he sAw the omis.
sion, and asked = sharp question.
"Anhe--whers u shsY"
Mr.. Harding looked up in sur.
priss Nf
"shs cent word shs would, not
be in to dinner that she had
Gont up the river. naturally
thought you wsrs with her.
John"
Mol -. Tommy
- IN el,bly.
.j,,e'a sons w.,n Fostei,--I saw
The Washington times., 1922-12-18
CHAPTER III.
The Ice Film.

A hall replied from somewhere
down the snow slope. Stephen
Gregg rose quietly and stood
alone looking across the noun.
tains. wythe and the guide ap.
peared. the Swiss slancing up
toward the darker cloud which
was drifting toward Kamuron
from the west. A sheet OF rain
fell from 1t, the drops splattering
upon the snow underfoot and
wetting the exposed rock. Ice
formed Immediately, and Breuil.
a. he discovered this. stopped
and fingered the rock. The
shower was past and no other
threatened: indeed. the sun was
shining in a few moments and
melting the new ice from the
exposed surfaces; but in the
shadow, the thin. slippery film
remained; and the Swiss glanced
down the eastern side Of the
mountain 40 he prepared for the
start Of the descent; the sleeper
rocks and the sheer were In the
shadow.
Breuil uncoiled the climbing
rope.
The Washington times., 1922-12-18

them 90 under the bridge In his
launch when I was coming home
just now"
There was 4 painful silence;
the Fortune Huntsr's face was
hvtl - he took his ssAt without
another word, and Mr.. Harding
plunged into haphasard convsrsa.
tion. II was impossible not to
feel sorry for ths man opposits
him. and whom Tommy had d.
parted Mr.. Harding leaned over
the table ana said awkwardiy:
III there has been 1 little mis-.
undertaking. John. I am SUR
you can put Things risnt. Just .
lovers quarrel-ehf - ANNE is
very sensitive. ana perhaps
you - T."
There has been no inisunder.
standing" the Fortune Hunter
said In . Voice or flint. and there
was something about him a hs
rose from the table that prevent.
ed Mr.. Harding from sAyine more.
He went out into the garden,
and walked Up and down In the
warm darkness, his testh clenched
on the stsn Of hiA pipe. his hands
knottsd together behind his hack.
Ths bssinning Of the snd--thas
u what It meant. ne knew, ana
he felt himssif TO b utterly IN.
Capable Of meeting and fisht.
ing Il.
He could kili her love for him
--lSt her weary 6f him. ana she
would turn IN her trouble to 0eof-
fry rsetsr. It would bs the
easiest Wy out for her. even II
II broke his own heart.
Pride would seoms to her res-
cue and help her 10 forget him,
ana Sns day shS would come to
MIN ana ten him that shs wanted
him no more, and then he could
70 back 10 the road ana his old
wsndssins life.
The Washington times., 1922-12-18
(Csutinued from Saturday,

. N&r041s4AesOo o9Sos oSvyI
uVHE Fortune Hunter looked
round. but made no
- answer.
mot tired Of somerton yet,
thenf" the elder man went on,
still in the same insinuatins voice.
The Fortune Hunter stood up
right. his eyes very fierce.
mot yet. Mr.. Fernie." he said.
sl0wly.
'.Humrhr' The old man grinned
ana nodded his head slowly. go
ips TO- give It another day Or two,
shf wen. I'm not sure that
dou't rather admire your pluck,
after all Good morning."
And hS sauntered off again whis-
ting softis.
The Fortune Hunter stood look.
ing aftsr him. his hands clinched.
then he laughed and shrugged his
Ahculdsrs; he was not afraid Of
Fsrhis: he was not afraid Of any.
one in the world except the woman
who loved him.
And during the next few days
the rift between them grew to ii.
most terrifying proportions. There
were moments when, haif-drivsn
mad with his own despair. the For
tune Hunter nearly threw up the
spongs And walked back to the
road again; moments when he felt
II would be easier newer to 80
hsr again than to go on meeting
the distrust Of her eyss. and see
the struggle she was making
against hcr love for him.
When they were together, which
was not very often. she always
kept the conversation to senerali-
ties: she never spoke of the past or
the future. and only when Tommy
or Mr.. Harding were present slid
she soften 4 little toward him In
a desperate effort ! make thingn
!. .. ar - be all rigid.
The Washington times., 1922-12-18
1ER THE SHEER BY EDWIN BALM
Story Of an Honest But Unspectacuar Lover Opposed
q More Spectacular Rival When a Great Crisis Came
That Meant Life, Death and Self Preservation

sheer. like a great double p4ndu.
lun. from him. EiattenSd aeainst
the rock above thu ledge, With
hands and feet straininG 1t his
clutch In the crack, alone no hsid
the two dangling on the rope
below.
"Oh! Breuil! The guide! You
saw thatl Good /0od. you sa~
that! He cut himself away.
When he couldn't do any more
he cut himself away to save
themr' The wonder Of that was
beginning to be tonSusd through
the thronS below. ''rhs Suide.
As he fell he cut himself away!
And the other 10 still holdins.
Wythe! Oh, look at him! wyths!
HurrAh! Hurrah, wythel Hold:
hold. old fellow! Good God. look
at him! Look at the fight he's
making! He's still holding both
Of them alone! Good dcd. see
him! Help him! wythe! o..
Wythe! Wythew'
But the fourth fisure--ths one
alone on the ledge and holding
the two others on the rope over
the sheer-was not wythe.
Though those below could not
guess that, wythe was the
second man. the man who slipped
first and whose fan caused the
disaster. The man now on the
ledge. holding the weight of the
two others. was Gregg.
tn Re ConfinueS To.uorpouvl
The Washington times., 1922-12-18
THE FORTUNE TELLER
STORY OF A QUARREL AND A KISS
And an Unhappy Young Mans Decision to
See if Gypsy Could Give Him
Any Help.
TELLER
Rel AND A KISS
Any Help.

Yes. yes: Go on"
And her name is-oh, 1t II -
hard to catch IL. Yes, ah. there!
Her name il Patricia Fuliervn."
Good Lord. You're uncanny.
How can you do IT."
Wait. I see 1t just as 1t hap
pened. ! see the room. You &C.
cused her Of carrying on q flirta-
tion with some other man. You
were enraged violently and left
her. 1t was her cousin from Colo.
RADIO you saw her kiss In the hall
~ you came up that night. ana
she was SO hurt because You
accused her Of kissing one man
when she was engaged to another
that she would not stop to ex-
plain"
"Oh. Patricia" the man groaned.
"Can / ever make her forgive YsSf
Help me, do"
Go to her house ana wait FOR
her. When she comes home ex.
plain. She Is noble and wilt for.
give. because she loves you much"
Elbrige threw a fivp-doiiar bill
at the woman and darted out OF the
tent. Hail an hour ister he was
pacing up and down the Fulieron
library. waiting Tor Patricia 10 r..
turn. '
After All, what a bsast,y accusa.
tion he had made, and aRatnst the
woman he was supposed 10 PRO.
tect. How could she forgive him.
But cortr,te repentance ana love
can work miracles together.
"r'll never be able to make It up
to you. dearest. he said an hour
later after shs had promised 20
forgive and FORGET.
you won't have to make Il up
TO mo. weri Just rub Il or the
slate and that win be the end"
She felt him trembling a. he held
her In his arms and q flood 1t
sympathy swept over her.
ALL Is FORGIVEN.
Forget II. dear. forget II. ie
YOU don't, I can't. you knew.
But. Herbert. tell me one thing.
How dM you find II outf"
Never mind how. I ana find
II out, anyway" ne laughed. but
what pusslss me Ia how on earth
did <he find It out?"
''Who7 Mamma? made hsr
promise not to tell. But IL she
did sucas aha thought IT, WAS
best OF us. and I can't ny she
wasn't right, because I never
could have swallowed my pride
enough to explain. not IL I'd
gone without you all the rest Of
my days" F't
mo. IT wasn't your mother.
dear"
Then whor" she asked a1ain.
but no amount Of pleading c6uid
coax Elbrige to confess that ne
had BEEN 20 childish and dupsr.
stitiods as to consult . 0ipsy for.
tune teller.
That night ~ Celins falamA
turned over on her tiny ct In
the tent she brsathed . prayer
10 her oipsy god.
II hope th~ pretty dark givl
dent tell the sad man - che
sAs here this ntterssoo~, And
bless 'ern both was xwpNt
children" e.
And ner prayer wits answ s,ea
The Washington times., 1922-12-18
(Csnsinued iron, Saturday,

CoMETHING personally spec
- tacular---as when he climbed
~ the atterhorn--would be
helpful politically just now.
Kamuron, with the sheer right
In sight of the hotel. Is a most
spectacular mountain, but climb
ine Il himself would be nothing:
it's been ascended scores of times
ana once or twice alraady this
season: but taking girl over
the sheer is different; it's seldom
bssn done, and not at all this
year. That would make an event
70 be- telegraphed all over the
country and to be photographed;
the moving picture man would
be waiting for you at the return
to the hotel. So he takes you;
and you run She risk-and. oh.
II was . devilish risk for a girl
without experience and with fin.
gers hardly able to touch the top
crack. And you get nothing.
But he wins fame for the risk
he makes you rum"
II was tfraid down there. Mar
earet: I'll admit 1t. I was scared
half to death. But was angry,
too. that he'd take you there and
use you"
But she was on her feet and
looking down at him with blazing
eyes. Stephen she cried. IT
couldn't imagine you'd trump up
such a thing. I couldn't have
pictured you so-petty. But at
least you've relieved me about
what I ought to do"
She spun from him and faced
In the direction Of the northern
arste where wythe and the guide
had gone.
''Horacev' she called. where
are your Aren't you ever coming
back?"
The Washington times., 1922-12-18
Thrilling Story of Two Men Who Loved the Same Gin
and How She Finally Made Her Choice Between Them.
After a Life and Death Struggle on Glacier.

ION account Of the Ice. we had
better rope now" he directed,
attaching the cord first to Mar
garet's belt.
He roped wythe with her and
then tied Gregg at the end. He
himself took the other end Of
the rope beyond Margaret.
you've made q mistake"
wythe started to loose himself.
mo. monsieur"
IT Am not at the end"
"It is as I wish 1t, monsieur"
II am not at the end" wythe
repeated.
The Swiss gazed down the slope
to be descended. I'VE must 10
quick" he urged The descent
will be-different from the coming
up. There"-he motioned toward
the sheer-''we must require more
than care. I desire. at that point,
that he have the other end Of
the rope" Breuil pointed to
Gregg.
wythe dropped the rope from
him. what 10 the matter with
you, Breuil." Mr.. Gregg has
never climbed"
He climbed coming up here,
monsieur"
Wythe controlled himself while
he explained patiently; he had
climbed the Jungfrau. the Monch,
the Matterhorn. Breuil had heard;
also he had been q guide on the
Matterhorn: he had lived most Of
his life at zermatt; 70 he knew
that good guides could push and
pull anyone up and down, even
the Matterhorn. This was in re.
ply to some sarcasm from the
other side Of much acrimony.
Indeed. Breuil himself. with an
other guide. actually had brought
down an unconscious man from
close to the summit Of the Matter.
horn. Brsuil here was In charge
Of the party; ne would bring down
the party with least risk or the
others would descend without him.
He had observed both gentlemen
carefully. Monsieur Gregg was
not expert, but he knew It. At
the lodse-the traverse was al
most horizontal = Breuil would
lead; monsieur the Senator would
be roped next, a. his weight was
the greatest and. II he slipped,
Breuil would be in a position to
aid him. Mademoiselle would fol-
low; Monsieur Gregg would take
the end Of the rope: otherwise ali
would spend the night on the
mountain without food or shelter.
And monsieur must decide at
once. Breuil glanced at the sun
and took out his watch.
Down in the valley. the people
at the hotel were beginning to do
the same thing.
What can be the matter up
thers?" they questioned the ones
with field glasses.
Whatever It 10. it's over now"
a man at the telescope assured.
See them moving. They're
roped again on the sum-
NIT. The rain y,o,,sf hava vusAa
The Washington times., 1922-12-18
A STORY OF A GU.
BY CORONA REMINGTON.

~ ELINE PALAMA stood out
side her little brown tent
~ and watched the crowds 60
by. The high color in her face
and the long black iashes that
seemed to sweep across her big
brown eyes all did their bit to-
ward accentuatings her Oriental
type.
A State fair was an interest
ing place to be even for a fortune
teller. The gay crowds, the jest
ing and daughter and the ever
lasting music made her want to
dance and sing.
Come in, come in," she chant
ed, smiling invitingly at the pass
ing crowd. The people who came
to her were mostly giggling
young girls and young men a
the same type. who invariably
wanted to know when they were
going to marry and would he or
she be rich. Then there was an.
other class OF humanity--the ones
with real trouble. the unhappy,
the lonelyA those who recently
had had quarrels with their
sweethearts.
She touched the arm Of q young
man in the crowd and looked into
his worried face and he saw that
her eyes were full of sympathy--
almost caressink.
Let me help" she said again
In her soft. pleading voice.
The man flushed and followed
her into the tent.
you tell me the first letter Of
your first name. then spell II in
your mind and tap with your
right forefinger on my forehend
each time you say = letter. All
right, the first latter is1"
II"
Good. now spell iti on my fore.
head"
He put out timid finger and
barely touched the satiny olive
skin.
"All right. thought I felt
two Els in It. Did I not," she
said when he had finished.
The man nodded. tB
"Now. I tell you your name.
The first letter n, the next n.
the next r. the next 3. the next
.. the next r. the next r. Am
right?"
Yes, Herbert is right"
And your last name is---y"
'Elbrige."
FORTUNE TELLING.
I, Good. Now let me see the palm
OF the right hand. %. that y IT.
ah. here II an unhappy love affair.
Too bad the world should be 10
full of the grief when 10 much
could be prevented. But. then, you
win marry her yet--if you do the
right thing"
''Oh. help me. I'll do anyth' 'ng.
I've been through a thousand
deaths since we smashed up"
.'Calm. calm." she soothsd.
strckihs his hand. "wait. I tell
you Mr. name"
She closed her eyes ana thought
for second.
"she IL DARK and small" As
Yes"
"AnH RES pretty teeth. see
her Iaush.s
The Washington times., 1922-12-18

''Not today, my dear--soins other
time; perhaps you ana John vim
walk part Of the way ID the sta
tion with me. rt's iovsiy morn
Ing"
ANNE's GLANCE COLD.
II shall 30 delighted" the For
/. tune hunter said perfunctoriiy.
He was quite prepared for Anne
to refuse. but. to his amusement.
she won't 1t once to set her hat.
She looked very fair and sweet.
hs thought. when she Joined them
ct the sats. She wore q creamy
frock Of some aft material cut
into . v.shape At the throat. and .
shady hat with = wreath Of tiny
flowers round the brirn. n
Bat when she looked at him her
eyes we're cold And hard. and he
WINGED ~ ne turned away; It
sssnAsd = lifetime since she had
looked at him with iovs--a lifs-
time since he had held her in his
arms.
But II was tks only way he
knew. seeing that ne was too treat
. cowNrd to tell her the whdae
truth. and trust TO her iovs 10
stand bx him and forgive hifn. For
ths moment. At uii sventa. hs be-
li4vsd 4 would be easier f0f them
both n shs thought he ~ longer
cartd tor hsf. than n she knew
MIN to be Mar and y rhea
(Ts Be Csnsinsed Iomorrowl
The Washington times., 1922-12-18

ice ana the snow slopes Are slip
perry"
They've changed order 1 Bit.
too another called attention.
"Breuil is still leading. but that
fellow GreSg 10 next to him In.
stead Of Miss Alden. Then she
comes. The Senator'S At the
other end Of the rope, OF course.
Sec them! BY George, there must
bs Ice over everything up there!
sSs them siipI BY George. II Is
bad up therel Get everybody out!
Tell everyone they're coming
down! They're coming down fast,
too; they'll be at the sheer again
In 4 minutsr'
The veranda Of the chalet black
ened.
The four on the mountain, Just
coming again to the sheer. could
see the crowds pouring from the
doors out into the open the better
to witness their danger. They
could separate the lines OF men
and women waiting for their turns
at the telescopes the closer to fol-
low the precise manner in which
the mountain party would pals
this peril again. or. IL they fAlter.
ed. drop to death.
Margaret gaxed down ~ Breuil
went ahead alone to explore the
condition OF the ledge. and she
shivered in spite Of herself.
Don't look down. dear" wythe
bads her heavily.
ut isn't that I'm looking down,
It's because they're all looking up!
It's like-it's ~ though we were
being operated on In q clinic.
You've seen those picturss-the
subject being located while rows
and rows Of students look on ahd
see you suffer-"
The ice film over the rocks, upon
which all had slipped q little on
the ordinarily easy descent to the
ledge. already was working its
changes.
Breuil had forced wythe to rope
second In order for the descent.
ana since stephen. without protest.
had therefore accepted the fourth
position. neither Margaret nor
wyths had spoken to him. They
had not directly refused to; they
had simply refrained from sx-
changing comment with him; he
had recognised this and offered
none.
The Swiss finished his sxplora.
tion and returned.
Everyone must do just a. I say
ana move when I direct and also
stop at once. We are readyr'
Ready, Marsaretf" said the
Senator.
"fes; ready. Stephen" she pass-
Cd the word back.
Ready"
KEEP THE ROPE TIGHT,
Brsuil moved slowly and care.
fully out over the sheer: he stop.
ped. commanded wythe to follow
him; he halted wyths. moved a lit.
tie further himself; then ordered
Wythe farther out.
The Washington times., 1922-12-18
CHAPTER XXI.
An on Acquaintance.

The following days were wretch.
Cd ones for everybody 1t Cherry
Lodge. for, though n6 opsh az
Agreement took place between
Anne ana the Fortune Hunter.
there was something electrical In
the air.
The Fortune Hunter hAd been
right In his judgment OF Anns's
character when he thought that
The Washington times., 1922-12-18

siAok was taken bstwssn wyths
and the sirl. The Swiss himself
advanced to keep the rope taut b.
tween himself And wyths.
Come. now Again, madsmoisslis!
That 10 well. HAITI Rest asaiRr
With her facs to the rock tc
which she cluns only by finger
and toe tips, Margaret now was
mctionisss; twenty feet farther on
Wyths likswiss chung, and stiIi
fArthsr ahead Brsui bracsd him.
self.
Now. monsisur!'
orssg. stspptns from the safe
rock thrust . toe into the lower
The Washington times., 1922-12-18
HOUSE IN THE HILLS
A STORY OF LIFE WIPED OUT 3
How Happiness Found by Man and q
Woman Vanished and Left
Him Alone.

which almost stopped the beating
OF his heart that she had been us-
ing a deadly poison in the preserva-
tion of some moths Of which she
vas making q collection.
She looked up At him with .
wild appeal In her dark eyes
and cav the hopelsssness in hie.
He turned his faoe away and
Sroantd. With youth. love. chill
dren. and all things which count
for the best Of life. ana she was
dying through her own careless
ness. And out in the sunshine
some one was singing GODS in
His Heaven AIRS Right with the
World"
He rushed to the door and
called for help, knowing that she
was past help. Then he returned
to the stricken woman. and TAX
Ing her in his arms, held her
close against his hot. rebeilious
heart.
Death came speedily. for which
he was thankful. She went out
suddenly like the flame Of 4 can.
die which had burned low.
Across the table he saw the
broken caks-just that small
cake between him and the siSSp
which he covstsd. He put out
his hand and touched Il. but
drew II back ~ he remsmbersd
the babies.
They found him with the dead
woman elapsed In his arms. his
cheek against her rumpied hair.
II wa only when the doctor tried
to unclasp his stiff fingers that
he was conscious OF her presence.
He turned nsrcsly on the, doctor.
"shs % mine-minsr' he cried.
you shall not separate W. I
claim her In death a In life"
Then the pattsr Of tiny fest on
the stair. and the frightened chill.
dren crspt to his side. His eyes
moistensd ~ he Sathsrsd them
into his arms. There was no
time for selfish sorrow.
He soothed them with words OF
love, and when the nsighbors
gathered around the dead, he
took them for q walk. his pain 70
great that their innocent prattie
increased his torture. He feared
the coming days-the dreAry rou-
tine Of llfeless hours to be
dragged through death seemed
sweet. but he prayed. God. let
me live; they need me-"
They buried her among the
hills she loved. The music Of the
pines swept down from the
heights. and life flowed on. The
little ripple which had for a mo-
mont disturbed It's calm surface
was lost In the sreat onrush. One
life did not count to the millions
who remained to laugh. to toll, to
struggle, and to suffer. =
The Washington times., 1922-12-18

the rope taut between himself and
Wythe. Move a. she advances
over the ledge" Brsuil called TO
Gregg. Keep the rope tight b.
tween your
Stephen stepped slowly along.
Twenty feet ahead Of him. at the
full length Of the line between
them. Margaret edged her way
over the sheer. her slim arms
strainins high for the mint hold in
the Icy crack above her head, hss
small boots sliding along in the
slippery fissure lower.
REST" Brsuil cried. He guided
wyths's advance then tin the