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Show I TflE I FORTUNE I HUNTER flrw l & ft m Novelized by mm Louis Joseph Vance B From the Play of the K Same Name by H WINCHELL SMITH K Copyright. I90. by Wlnchell Snitli and K Louli Joseph Vance K "Ah. nh. nil!" Nnt wnj;ged a reprov F lng forefinger "Nuuchty word, Uolyl IH. Careful or you'll Rour your chewing V "Now, snyl Do you think" V At this juncture Peto drowned tiW K words with mi liK'obi'ri'iit ronr, miring H apparently reached the conclusion that jR . tbu time had now nrrlved when It H would be his duty nnd pleasure to put K wuwuiiii i . ijij mmmmmmmmf:l LbIbK Lr1 v9Br x UCni if irtJBt'tOT IbH L ' tn jJkmmBU bbb'J -jfB bbLB r '' ' iBiBfc jbbbbLbW mmmWtPRT TvH Ev A " 4iBHsbbbbbbhHbbbbbH H 2HMHK9K9r H niS KICKED HOLAN1) OCT INTO TIIK HTtlKKT, I Hr Holaiid nllve Nnt saved the younj; jHs man by the lm rest Inch, lie gruppled J jH with I'ete nnd drew himself nslile jiist' H lu time B "Steady. I'ete!" he hiiKI quietly i B "Steudy. old mull Let Itolnnd ulone." , WBt "A.wrh. I ain't 'frnid of him!" splut- IDBj tercel I'ete H "Neither am 1. Oct out. wun't jou. jBflj and leave til id to tue?" H "Aw'rlght." I'ete beciime more Hj calm. "I'll leave him 'lone, but all 9bS the same 1 wan' It 'stliictly un'erstood B I Uln lick nny man In town 'ccptln' m' M wlfd. (' night, everybody." S lie Knthered himself together and by B9B a supreme effort lunged through the door and Into the deepening dusk. BSK "Well, Itoly?" Nat asked, turning Ills Ironic calm gave Itolnnd pause. B9K For n moment he lost bU bearings HR nnd stnmniercd In confusion. "1 como BK tn to tell you that me und you's apt 'BsK to have trouble," he concluded. K "Oh? And are ynu thinking or start- JK ln It?" jBsM "You bet I'll btart It, and I'll start It HVH, d quick If you don't leave Joslc HB Lockwood alone." BK "So that's the trouble. Is It?" com- BJBw mented Nnt thoughtfully. ISB "Yes, that's the trouble From now HH' on I wnnt you to let her alone, and BVbq you'll do It, too. If you know what's BBm best forVou." BjKr A suggestion of menace In his man- 9hYj nor, unconnected with any hint of BfflK physical correction, caught Nat's at- BaiGo' tcntton. lie frowned over IL. H(CB' "Just what do you mean by this (BraX:' line of talk?" he Inquired blundly BByK stepping nearer. Rflt, "1'" ,c" yu wunt ' mean." Roland ;P4m' clinched both lists nnd thrust his chin PJn out pugnaciously "I'd been a-goln' 9P' steady with Josle Lockwood for inoro'n VtBtt' n 7car beforo you come hero and EXll thought that on account of her money KSkK you could sneak In and cut me out" BBSS; "Was her money the reason you were BJTC nftcr her. Holy?" BKQ "yiint?" The question brought Rc HW land momentarily up In tbo wind. BHilM "'Taln't none of your business It it BjRBK was)" ho snapped, recovering. "But BJBW hero's what I'm gettln' at" He tapped BBVMj his breast pocket with a sneer of bu- Bw colic triumph "Just about ten months HnK ago." he continued meaningly, "they was a cushler skipped out of tho Long-1 acre National bank lu Noo York, and they ain't got no trace of him yet." ) So tills wns why Roland had been ' so assiduous a student of the back flics in tho Citizen otDcol "Indeed V "Yes, Indeed. I had my suspicions all along, but didn't say nothln', but I just today I got a description of him, and tho description just Qts, Mr. Mortimer Mor-timer Henry." "Just flU Mr. Mortimer Henry? Dut what has tbat"- "Ata, don't you try to seem too darn' Innocent," Roland snarled. "Yon can't fool mel" A light dn'tued upon Nat, and laugh tcr flooded his being, although outwardly out-wardly he remnlned Imperturbable merely mildly curious. But his On gcrs were Itching. ' "So you think I'm tho absconding I cashier, eh. Roly?" , "You keep awny from Josle 'r you'll And out what I think." Nat's placid j Ity deceived Itolnnd, who drew the ( wholly ..erroneous conclusion that ho j hnd succeeded In frightening his rival, and consequently tin ml u few U-iiuiIh fitriJti-i in 111? lipid 'Vh. if I w to V' Ml Lo'l.vMind mid tell liUu you re Moiinner )i-tir . iiIImh Nut Imiii cup' "Tliut will do" lll Thnl will It-nil It-nil li'n lliN ieiitiit: ihiinks ' , ",n von iriitn -in iiiili i-liiiwlu after J(WtV "I'll ticKlii ciuisti(: nftcr you il ou dou'l i lent oil ol Here." "You liotti i iiurro"- .IiinI tlieie the siurm hurst Ton sec oiiiN Inter Itolnnd. with n eon fined Impression of having hen Ulcl.ed by n mule. i)(l;ed himself up out ot the dust in tin- middle of the -unet mid stared siipldl. buck ill llle stole "Here's yum lint. Itoly." culled Nut TiissIiil' lilm the hut. Nut turned con tP!iiitiloiisy He p:in-ed lu the middle of the store mid felt ot Ids necktie It proved to be ii little mil of pluce. but otherwise I be wns us iiiiinuculuie us was his wont He reviewed the encounter und Iniicli ed quietly , "There's no cure for n fool." lie mused 1 The leleptimie bell roiicd til in from his reverie lie weiil over to the m Ktrumeiil. sut down mid put the re I celver to his ear "Hello"' he snld "Oh. hello. Josle WlintV' tlint? That's rlghl. but I'm ! not used to It yet. you know Well. I'll to iiculii Now ready?" I He schooled his voice to n key of heartrending sentiment "Hello, dur ling How's that? Told your father? Told lilm whutV Oh. about the en gngemenl? Wns he angry? Oh. lie I wnsu'L eh? What did he sny? Wnsn't that nice of him!" Conscious of n slight noise In tin-store, tin-store, he looked up A youiiK woman , had Just entered. She paused Just In- side the-door, smiling ut hltn a little timidly I Without another word to,hls fluncee Nut, put down the telephone nnd hooked hook-ed up the ns-elver "Uelty!" he cried wonderlngly. CHAITKIt XXI. BKNHA I'll the brim of her dainty lint, with veil thrown back, I Hetty's durk hair waved back, glossy with the sheen of per feet well being, from a face serenely charming, tho more so for ber slightly deepened flush, und the eyes tliut shone Into Nut's danced with tho light, of enjoyment, bred of his supreme astonishment. Her father, who hud left Kellogg und come lu to get Nut's advice' regarding some lurge orders received that day, greeted her warmly, gave her a pnrt- 1 Ing hug and retired "Nat. I'm so g!ud to see you nguln!" "It's such n surprise. Hetty!" "1 knew Ii would be. I Just couldn't I wait, Nat. when I found I could get hero by the night train Instead of tomorrow to-morrow morning I haven't been BBBBBBBl piw vim w-"--,Bb 'jr isBBBBBBBBBBBBr trfRi "''bbVbbbk J x! tV IPjbbbbbbb U:-. bW 3 1 BBBBBMBTi &&,- Z7BBBBBBBBH 1 ? K FB i g Vj.y ViViVBBBBBBBM t i iL 'jtMt '"'lBBBBBBH l i XiK BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBj $ '''4.v . fjimmmmmmmmf Br . iBBBBBBBBBl BBff BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBjV BJ BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB HPBpFbbHbf '- ' fl vBBV M '","- t 1 f K BBBBkBl f.A$i" rl JBBBBVu4 i -' LAgflHBBVBBBBVuuJ HUH FATIIEn QAVK II BK A CAUI'INO UVO. homo, you know, hut I couldn't rcnUt-tho rcnUt-tho temptation to stop In hero and see What the more looked Ilko after all these months Besides, I thought that you or father"- Her eyes fell, and she fnltared. withdrawing her hands. By now he had himself In band "Why," he laughed, "yim nearly took r , my breath away. Even now I tun hardly believe it." "Believe what, flat?" he asked quickly. ' "That you're till miuie little Betty Graham I never w su' h u change." "It's a change for the better. Isn't It. Nnt?" she nsked. with n smile hnlf wistful. "1 should think It wns. It's Just marvelous." "Did I seem so very nwful, then?" "Nouseuse You know you didn't, ouly iiiiw"- "Then you think father will be plensed?" "If be Isn't I'm blind." Phe looked nwny. embarrassed nnd touched by his Interest and his feel In;.. "And does It tnako you n little proud. Nut?' i'rnudl" he exelnlmed blnnkly- "Hecnuse you know you've done It nil If there's nny Improvement In Betty C.rntinui today It's because of you If II hadn't been for you" She sinsik her bend very decidedly, scntlnt: hdrself on one of the chnlrs by the soda fountain. "Why. Nnt. don't in p"mii T&j- t BBBK?v-lEi.Xlrl "TOMOUT I I1KCAMB KNOAnKU TO JOSIB LOCK WOOD " you suppose 1 huve nny memory?" she went on "You begun iiiiiUIiik me u better girl the very llrst duy we met here In tin- store by the things you said to me And ever sluce I've been watching you while you weru uiuklng life n heuveii for futher und me nnd thinking that if 1 were n mnn I'd try to be us near like you us I could." "Oh, don't say that!" he pleaded wretchedly. "It's true. And when you sent me awny to school I promised myself I'd try to repay yiiu for the sacrifice jou must be uiuklng for me: that I'd follow fol-low your example us nearly us ever I could; that I'd work hard und trj to treut people the way you do kindly, Nut, und considerately und bravely und tenderly and honestly" He dropped Into u chair near her und burled Ids head lu his hands. "Dou't!" he beggod huskily. "Pletise. Betty, don't!" 'She bcnl forward und took one of lila bunds, patting It softly. "Nnt, I I tiilnk you're the very best man In tho whole world!" "Dou't!" he groaned. "Dou't. for heaven's sakel" "Ob, I know. Nut 1 know jou dou't Ilko mo to miy this, but 1 must. Just , tho same, tell you the truth about my- , self. It's so spleudld to live the life I you do You're ull unconscious of It, ' but I want you to realize It uud know that I do too You've made everybody lovo you. und"- But confusion silenced her, aud she gently replaced his hand. For several moments neither spoke. Then Nat broke tho tension with n short, bard laugh. "That's right," he said Inscrutably; "that was the Idea." "Nut, what do you mean?" Ho turned to her. "Betty, does it tnnkc you-feel thut way toward mo?" I Sho colored divinely. "Why, .Nnt, I of course Why, every ouu" "That's why I came here, Betty," ho, pursued, blind to her embarrassment embarrass-ment "I cam here with the Idea of ' getting married." I He wus staring gloomily at the (lour and could not see the light that dawn ed upou tlie girl's face. "You never guessed that, did you?" "No," she breathed brokenly "No. Nat, 1"- "Well, It's the truth, and" He rose and moved away "But I can't tell ' you Just now not now." "No, not now, Nat." Betty, too, got up. "I think I'd better go home and seo father. I mustn't forget" She faltered, half blinded by the mist of the bapptuess before her eyes. "No-walt" She stopped to And his gaze full upou her. For tho first time I he comprehended that sho bad not , understood that, worst of all, she bad misunderstood. "I must tell you." he . blurted desperately; "I must" ' Instinctively sho moved a step to- , ward htm. Ho hung his head. j "Tonight, Betty this evening, Just a little wlillo ago, I became, engaged I to Joslo Lockwood." ' She stood as if petrified throughout a wnlt thnt seemed to both interminable. intermi-nable. J "Oh, Nat, dear," sho said, "I'm no glad for you 1 wish you all tbo Imp- ' pin ess In the world I-t Good night." The hand slipped out of Nat's, lie did not move, hut waited there with his ompty pnlm outstretched, despair In his eyes nnd hell In his heart, while sho walked quietly from tho store. Atcer some time he awoke to the knowledge thnt she wns gone. "Blllhorlug fooll" ho growled. "Whj didn't I know 1 loved her like this? Liu took it turn to and fro. distracted "Aud now I'vo mude n mess of everything every-thing Good Lord, what enn I do? I ; umsi do something or go uindl" He bvuiug round behind tho Bodn fountain cuuuter uud seized a bottle, "1 know v. hut! The rules nro off I 1 can have a drink! I can have two drlnksl I cuu huve a million drinks If 1 want cm!" Pouring a generous dose of raw whisky Into the glass, ho lifted It to his lips nnd threw bnck his head. But the heavy bouquet of the liquor was j stifling In his nostrils, und the first mouthful of It n I most choked lilm. In I a fur he Hung the gluss from Id in so i thut It crushed nnd splintered upon tho floor. "Urent hem ens," he cried. "1 i dou't like tho stuff nny more! But" , his j,:i:e fill upon the cigar case- "1 enn lu.ve a smoke. That'll help some!" Willi tcwrlsh hnste he snatched a I clgai frmn the nearest box, gnawed I off one end aud, thrusting the other Into the ulcohul lighter, puffed vigorously vigor-ously But to h!s renovated palate the i potent funics of the tobneco were no less repugnant t'.i.ni the whisky had been. Half sti.ttu'.cd. he plucked the cigar from liM'im u.h and stamped on IL "Oh." he .rlcd wildly. "I'll be I'll bo dnmncd'" lie limited. Mm In;' ittinntly it nothing noth-ing "An I eun that duesn't do any good' God hetp me. I've forgotten how to s" ear!" To n't, In this overwrought state cnine Triiey. lumbering cheerfully In, hb iniiuili shaped for a whistle At slpt i of Vat he pulled up lis If hit by n i h . I' "mii" Mr Duncan. . Whut's tho inal'ei' ,, I'.i i' i "i Nnt brought bis gaze to bear I, mi Hie Imv nnd comprehended comprehend-ed Ills eit-'' II-1' "Ain't von fct'lln' well. Mr Duiicnn?" "No rolteii'" "Whut's I Ik- nmller?" "No' long'" Nal shouted ferociously "Any i him: I kln"- "No"' At Unit Itisiiiut Kelloi-g nppi'.ired "Hello, Nui' Wlisif' been keeping you? I came down to bring yon home to supper" "Gn to blii7es Willi jour supper! Keep nwuy from me! Don't tit IU to me! I don't want niiythlng to do with you. d' you understand' You and vour confounded s stems huve pot llle Into nil thls"- Ile cuught sight of his hut abruptly, ceased tnlUtng. grabbed the hat and Bjyrt"ii.ffiinjBrAi I Wlmmy! rmt IBM BUh a "nxnsl noLD on I wnsnn Ann you going?" go-ing?" jammed It on his head, muttering, then started on a run for tho door. "But what's tho matter?" demanded Kellogg, thunderstruck. "Here! Hold onl Where nro you going?" "To tho only place I can get any con solution. I'm gong to churchl" (To bo Continued.) |