Jasper County Democrat, Volume 13, Number 75, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 December 1910 — THE FORTUNE HUNTER [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE FORTUNE HUNTER

Novelized by LOUIS JOSEPH VANCE From the Play of the Same Name by WINCHELL SMITH

£} CHAPTER XIL DUNCAN went borne for bis midday meal. It wasn’t much of a walk from Sam Graham’s store to Miss Carpenter’s, and he didn’t mind in tbe least tWs particular day he was sincerely hungry. but he bad much to think about besldeSj and between tbe two he Just bolted bis food and made off hotfoot for the store. *v Naturally, knowing nothing Sam’s note, although he knew Pete Willing by sight as the sheriff and town drunkard in one. It didn't worry him at all to discover that gentleman tacking toward the store as he hurried tip Beech street, eager to get back to his Job The first intimation that be had of anything seriously amiss was when he entered, following Pete. Pete Willing, sheriff and born drunkard, is the best nnfured man in the world, as a general rule. Drunk or sober, Radville tolerates him for just that quality. On only two occasions is he irritable and unmanageable—when his wife gets after him about the drink and when he has a duty to perform in his official capacity. Tall, gaunt, gangling and loose Jointed, Duncan, returning to the store from lunch, found Pete standing in the middle of the floor, hands in pockets and a noisome stogy thrust into a corner of his mouth. “I’m sorry about this. Sam,* he bellowed, “but there ain’t no use wastin' words ’bout it. I’m here on business." “But what’s the matter, sheriff?’ Graham asked, his voice breaking. “Ah, you know you got a note due at tbe bank, don’t you?” "Yes, but”"Well, it’s protested. Y' understand that, don’t you? I’m here to serve the papers on to you.’ “But—but there must be some mistake." Sam clutched blindly for his hat “I’ll step over and see Mr. Lockwood. He’s always been kind, very kind." “Naw!” Pete bawled. “Mr. Lockwood don’t want to see you unless you can settle. Y’ can save yourself the trouble. Y* gottub put up or git out I got orders from him soon's I got Judgment to close y’ up. And that goes, see!" “To—to torn me out of the store, Pete?" Graham’s world had slipped from beneath his feet. He was over-

whelmed And it was with a child’s look of pitiful dismay and perplexity that he faced the sheriff The father who has fallen short of his child's trust aud confidence knows that look To Duncan its appegKwas irresistible. De had his hand in nis pocket, clutching the still considerable remains of what Kellogg had termed his grubstake, before he knew it. “But—there must be some mistake,” Graham repeated pleadingly. “It ean’t be. Mr. Lockwood surely wouldn't”— “Now. there ain't no use whinin’ about it!” Willing roared him into silence. “Law is law, and*’— Deceased quickly, surprised to find Duncan standing between him and his prey. “What”— he began. “Wait.”’ Duncan touched him gently on the chest with a forefinger, at the same time catching and holding' the sheriff’s eye. “Are you.” he in quired quietly, “laboring under the impression that Mr. Graham is deaf?” “What!” Duncan turned to Sam apologetically. “He said ‘what.’ Did you hear it air?” ' but by this time Pete was recovering to some degree. “What’ve you got to say about this?” be demanded crescendo. ~, ■ “I’ll show you." Duncan told him In the same quiet voice, “what I’ve

to say If you’ll just put the soft pedal on ahd tell me the amount of that note." “With interest and costs.” he said less stridently, "it Aggers op three hundred 'n' eighty dollars ’n’ eightytwo cents" There's no nse denying that Duncan was staggered For the moment his poise deserted him utterly. Fie could only repeat ns one who dreams. “Three hundred an<f eighty dollars!" His momentary consternation afford ed Pete the nfiening he needed. The room sb«*efc with bis regained sense of prestige “Yes. three hundred n' eighty dollars 'h'- Say. you l«*-k a here!" Again the calm for-fln -<-r tin-shed him and like a hypnotist’s pass checked the rolling volume of noise. “Listen.” lieggeil Duncan “If you’ve got anything else to tell me please retire to the opposite side of the street and whisper it Meantime be quiet.” Duncan turned and made for the soda counter, beneath which was the till Ilis scanty roll of hills was in his right band nod there concealed. He -r?~- •* :« . . * . vt f »- | st-pped behind tue counter told Sam watching him with an amazement no less absolute than Pete'si. pulled out the till, bent over ft with an assured air «nd poshed back the coin slide. Then quite naturally he produced with hl3 right band his four bundreci and

odd dollars from the bill drawer, stood up and counted them with great deliberation— “ One. two. three, four.” He Bmlled wiuningly at Pete. “Four hundred dollars. Mr. Sheriff. Now will you be good enough to band over that note and the change and then put yourself and that pickle you're wearing in your face on the other side of the door?” “I ain’t got the note with me. Mr. Duncan” "Then perhaps you won’t mind going to the bank.for It?” Half suffocated. Pete assented. "Aw’ right I’ll go and git It. Kin 1 have the money?” “Certainly.” Duncan extended the bills, then on second thought withheld them “I presume you’re a regular sheriff?” he inquired Very proudly* Pete turned back the lapel of his coaf and distended the chest on frhjylj S?)£P P nickel plated bad"? of office Puncfln it with grave admiration. » y* he said, wit&'fi sigh. ‘ nere.” fjingerlv Pete mtsned the th unified them oVef lb ln.il e wefe mil and bolted as for his life, his coattails level on the l»reji*ze. There floated back to Duncan and old Sam his valedictory. “Waal, I’ll l>e dodgasted!” With ft short, quiel laugh Duncan tnude as though to go out to the back yard, where, the new stuck was being delivered. “I’m going.” he said hurriedly, “to find me a hatchet and knock the stuffing out of some of those packing cases Waht to get all that truck Indoors before nightfall, you know.” But old Sam wasn't to be put off by any such obvious subterfuge as that He put himself in front of Duncan. “Nat my boy.” he said, tremulous, “I can’t let this go through. 1 can't '•..allow yon”— ; ... —— • . ' :- •' “There, now.” Duncan told him unconcernedly. yet kindly, “don't say anything more. It’s over and done with” “But you mustn’t 111 turn over the store to you if”— “O Lord!” Duncan's dismay was as genuiiie'as his desire to escape Graham’s gratitude “No—don’t! Please don’t do that."* . .• “But 1 must do something, my boy I can't accept no great a kindness unless,” said Graham, with a timid flash of hope, “you’ll consider a partnership”—^ “That’s it!” cried Duncan, glad of any way cm of the situation. “That’s the way to do it—a partnership. No; please don’t say any more about It just now. W? can settle details later. We’ve got to get busy. Tell you what 1 wish you'd do while I’m bursting open those boxes. If you don’t mind going down to the station to make sure that every t king's”— i “Yes. I’ll go; I’ll go at once” Sam groped for Duncan's hand, caught aud

held it between both his own. “Is—ls fate or something hadn’t brought yon here today I don’t know what would have happened to Ftetty and me." “Never mind.” Duncan tried to soot he him. “Just don’t yon think about It.” Graham shook his head, still bewildered. “Perhaps.” be stumbled on. “to a gentleman of your wealth S4OO Isn't milch” “No.” said Duncan gravely without the flicker of an eyplash. “nothing.” He remembered well the few dollars that new represented all bis worldly goods Then he smiled cheerfully. "There, that’s all right" “To me it's meant everything. I —i only hope PH be a hie to repay you some day. God bless you, my boy! God bless you."’ He managed to Jam bis hat awry on bis white old bead and find his way out. bis bauds fumbling with one another. bis lips moving lnandibly. perhaps In a prayer of thanksgiving. -It was perhaps within tbe next thirty minutes that Betty (who had been left In charge of (he store wbilg Duncan. with coat and collar off and sleeves roiled above his elbows, hacked and pounded and pried and bange<| at the fracking cases in the back yard) sought him on tbe scene of his labors. “Pretty good work for a York dude — not?" ke laughed, There was a shadowy smile in her grave eyes “It’s an Improvement.*’ she said evenly ne shot her a cartons glance. “Ouch!" he said thoughtfully. “1 just came to tell you,” she went on. again immobile, “you're wanted in- . side". , “SometKKly wants to see me?" be demanded of her retreating back. “Yes." “But who”— “Blinky Lockwood.” she replied over her shoulder as she went into tbe bouse -Lockwood?” He speculated, for an instant puzzled, then suddenly '‘Fa-ther-in-law!’' tie <-n -d "Shivering snakes, he mustn't catch me like this— I. a business man!” Hastily rolling down his shirt sleeves and shruggirfg himself into bis coat, he made for the store, buttoning bis collar and knotting bis tie on the way . , He found Blinky nosing round the room, quite alone. Betty had peared. and tbe old scoundrel was having (piite an enjoyable time poking in to matters that did not concerj him and disapproving of them on general principles So far as ffce improvements concerned old Sam Graham's fortunes. Blinky would concede* no health in them But with regard to Duncan there was another story to tell. Duncan apparently controlled money to some vague extent. “You’re Mr. Duncan, ain’t you?” be asked, with his leer, moving down to meet Nat. ■ “Yes. sir. Mr, Lockwood. 1 believe?” “That’s me.” Blinky clutched his hand in a genial claw “I’m glad to meet you ” “Thank you.” said Duncan. •‘Something I can do for you. sir?” “Waal. Pete Wiltin' was tellin' me you'd Just took np this note of Graham’s?’ “Not exaAly, The firm took it up.” Blinky winked savagely at this. “The firm—what firm?” “Graham A Duncan, sir. I’ve been taken into partnership.” * “Have, eh?” Blinky grunted mysteriously and Ashed in his pocket for some bills and silver “Waal, here’s some change cornin' to the Arm. then And here.” he added, producing the document in question, “is Sam’s note.” “Thank yon.” Duncan ceremonious Iy deposited both in the till, going hind the rod a fountain to do so, and then waited, expectant Blinky was grunting busily in the key of one about to make an important communication “I’m glad yon’ye a-comln’ In here —***» c...~ - » • » T-Vr rp“i jrzJ-y” acid grimace that was meaLt tb bd a “Oil. it may be only temporary.” Nat to assume a seraphic expression and partially succeeded. “I’m devoting much of my time to

my studies.” he pursued primly, “but nevertheless feel I should be earning something too ” - 1 “That’s right—that's the kind of spirit I like to see in a young man. Ton always go to church, don’t yon ?’ “No, air—Sundays only:*

7 ■ “That’s what I mean D* yon drink?' "Oh. no. sir.” Duncan parroted glil> ly, “don't smoke, drink, swear, and on Sundays I go to church.” The bland smile with which be faced Lockwood's keen scrutiny disarmed suspicion > ~7.7 “I'm glad to bear that” Blinky told him “I'm at tbe bead of the temp’ ranee movement here, and I hope you’ll join us and set an example to onr fast young men ” “1 feel sure I could do that.” said Duncan meekly Lockwood removed his hat. exposing the cranium of a baldheaded eagle, and fanned himself “Warm today.” 1 he observed In an endeavor to be genial that ail but sprained his temperamenL Indeed, so great was the strain that he winked violently. 7 Duncan observed this phenomenon with natural astonishment not uumixed with awe. “Yes. sir; very,” he agreed, wondering .what it might portehd “I believe I’ll have a glass of sody.” “Certainly.” Lhjncan. by now habituated to the formufa of soda dispensing, promptly produced a bright and shining glass. “I see you’ve been Axin' this place lip some.” 7 “Oh, yes,” said Sat loftily. “We expect to have the best drug store in ths state. What sirup would you prefer?” “Just sody,” stipulated Lockwood. His spasmodic wink again smote Duncan’s understanding a mighty blow. Unable to believe his eves, he ! I hedged -and stammered Could it be? This from the leader of the temperance movement in Badville? “I beg pardon?" His denseness irritated Blinky slightly, with the result that the right side , of his face again underwent an alarm- ! ing convulsionT “I say.” he explained carefully, “just—plain—sody " “On the level?' “What?” grunted Blinky. and blinked again. j A smile of com prehension irradiated Nat’s features “Pardon." he said. “I’m a little new to the business.” Blinky. fanning himself industriously. gland round the store while Duncan. turning his back, discreetly found and uncorked the whisky bottle He poured out a liberal dose of raw red liquor. Then, with his Angers clamped tightly about the bottom of the glass.

the better to conceal its contents from any casual but inquisitive passerby, be quickly filled it with soda and placed it before Blinky. accompanying the action with the sweetest of childlike smiles. I.ock wood, nodding his acknowledgments. lifted the glass to his lips. Duncan awaited developments with some apprehension. To his relief, however. Blinky. after an experimental swallow. emptied the mixture expeditiously into his system and smacked his thin lips resonndinglr. “How.” be demanded, “can any one want intoxicatiu’ flkkers wheg" they can gel such a bracin’ drink~as that?*’ “I pass.” Nat breathed, limp with admiration of such astounding hypo^ banky reluctantly pried a nickel loose from his finances and placed it ©n thi counter. Ixincan regarded it with disdain. “Ten cents more, please.” he suggested tactfully. “What for?” “Plain sody.” The explanation was accompanied by a very passable imitation of Blinky’s blink. (To Be Continued.)

“YOU GOT A NOTE DUE AT THE BANK.”

PETE TURNED BACK THE LAPEL OF HIS COAT.

“YOU'RE MR. DUNCAN?" HE ASKED.

“I SAY. JUST—PLAIN—SODY.”