Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-01-07

esenS ny! inose OF the fortune Hunter
unfiinchingly; then she rose to her
feet. = -
II was right then" she snid. and
there was just the faintest touch OF
emotion in her voice. "You are not
John. Smith though you are suffi-
ciently like him to deceive--any one
who knew him less we'll than 1 do"
She stopped, her breath coming fast.
rs he-of course, he is--dead?" she
asked.
There was poignant silence; the
Fortune Hunter never took his eyes
from her face; he knew that the next
few seconds would decide his fate once
and for all. but she did no, even lose
color, though for brief moment she
closed her ey"s and her lips trem-
serenely.
Il am quiet and ready for lunch, II
you are" she said.
The Fortune Hunter caught his
breath on harsh sigh of relief. So
she had not cared for John Smith The
greatest danger Of all, then, had not
to be faced. He felt ten years younger
as he followed her to the luncheon
room.
At the door she half turned and
looked at him again.
Il booked n tablet was very sure
you would come, you see."
he half shrugged his shoulders.
1on gave me no option" he an
swered.
She laughed Mt that.
You are not very gallant! How
She took her seat opposite him at
small table at the side of the room.
she was perfectly rclf- possessed. IL
what she had heard had been a shock
to her she showed no sign Of It. She
ordered lunch and drew off her gloves,
carefully smoothing and patting them
into shape.
When the waiter had moved away she
said abruptly: You copied his hand.
writing well. but the signature was
wrong. You must be more careful in
future"
The Fortune Hunter flushed duly ::
SO she was taking 1t for granted that
he was nn adventurer, even before she
had heard one word of his story; 1t
was surprising how her attitude hurt
his pride, even though he knew it to
be deserved.
There is one thing must tell you"
he said curtly after moment, "and
that Is, that / have only about sixteen
shillings in the world. l hope you are
In better position financially.
She looked up, and laughed out.
right.
II like your candor," she said. "I
think we shall be friends. Yes, l think
| can manage to foot the BILL" She
took up the wine list. What will you
drink? / prefer champagne, in honor
Of, the. occasion. It's long time since
| lunchcd with ." she hesltat
then added deliberately, "A Fortune
Hunter"
The Fortune Hunter looked at her
curiously; he. was reluctantly obliged
to admit that there was something
, rather attractive about her: perhaps 1t
was her frankness, or perhaps her self
possession. but. at any rate. against his
will he began to be interested.
Who was she? what was she? and
what could she tell him of John Smith :
\ thousand questions crowded 10 hi
| lips. but he realized that 1t would be
better to allow her to take the lead, and
kept silent.
She chntted away on ordinary sub
iects for the first part of the meal; she
frankly. enjoyed her food, and It wa
only when coffee was brought that sh
| leaned her elbows on the table. an
with her chin in her clasped hands
looked steadily at the Fortune Hunter.
"Well-I think I'll hear your story
first" she said abruptly.
The Fortune Hunter smiled nervously
half struggling his shoulders.
There's not great deal to tell
ut least I'm not the type of
rdvcnturer I can soc you think am. "
he said slowly. i've knocked about
FOR years in every corner of the world.
Dut this is the first time I've ever
deliberately played a low down
trick, and this tme-well, I'm a be.
lever in Fate, and Fate forced me into
it.
Luck, I suppose. I've had some
arrow squeaks. The luggage came, you
ee, and II had to open it
1t appears there was bear skin for
Tommy" She nodded.
Eyes, l know" She smiled, meeting
his eyes. did you find some letters Of
mine, too?'
"Yes-I burnt them"
She frowned, then laughed suddenly.
"Well, what do you propose to do"
The Fortune Hunter knocked the ash
seconds before he answered, echoing
her words:
"What do you propose to do?'
w!" She spread her hands elo-
quently. 1--WE only one ruling passion
money
The Fortune Hunter paled a little.
~ have no money. told you" he
said constrainedly. She looked up, her
dark eyes family suspicious.
"John Swith was worth nearly q
quarter of Million" she said slowly.
The Fortune Hunter sat quite still,
his eyes fixed steadily on Irenie Claver's
face.
A quarter Of million so great a
sum- He had known in vague way
that John Smith had come into money
shortly before his death, hut he had
never dreamed that it would be such a
fortune.
"It's quite nice little amount"
Irenie went on casually. Quite
enough for the two Of us. anyway ="
why, what's the matterf'
The Fortune Hunters eyes were
hard.
"You mean--you are proposing that
- = calmly appropriate this money!
She laughed outright.
"My dear man, is 1t any worse than
what you have already done? You've
taken his name, and the girl he was to
have married. ." ="
"Oh, for Gods sake" he broke in
agitatedly.
She shrugged her shoulders.
"Oh all right, I'll say no more, but
it's rather splitting straws, isn't it.,
to jib at the last hurdle?" She took
another cigarette and carefully lit it,
watching him all the time. You'll have
to have money, you know" she added
carelessly.
"You mean that you WILL" he an
swered shortly.
"Yes--if you like to put it that way.