Jasper County Democrat, Volume 13, Number 82, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 January 1911 — THE FORTUNE HUNTER [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE FORTUNE HUNTER

Novelized by LOUIS JOSEPH VANCE

From the Play of the Same Name by WINCHELL SMITH Copyright. 1910, by Winehell Smith and Loui* Joseph Vance

CHAPTER XVL SUMMER slumbered to its close. A drowsy autumn settled upon our valley. In which its traditional peace seemed but the more profound. Josie Lockwood announced that she was going away to school in New York for the winter. Pete Willing took the pledge and kept it almost a month. Will Bigelow secured time tables and laboriously mapped out his semiannually contemplated trip to the east—like the others, destined never to come off. Tracey Tanner went to work for Graham & Duncan. Roland Barnette paid ostentatious attentions to Bess Ga-

brielT who tolerated him simply because she didn't much like Josie; but, blighted by Josie’s supreme indifference, this budding passion drooped and failed by mutual consent of both parties concerned. Angie Tuthill became more conspicuously than ever the orb of Tracey's universe. Duncan walked home with Josie on two week day evenings and twice on Sundays and learned how to play halma and parcheesL The drug store prospered in moderation. Sothern & Lee vainly contesting its conquering campaign And Duncan grew thoughtful. One has more time to think unselfishly in Radville than in a great city, where there’s rarely more time than enough to think of one’s own concerns. And Duncan was making time to think about others, notably Betty Graham. The girl was, as usual, shy, reticent, reaerved. She kept her thoughts to h&helf, sharing the most intimate not even with old Sam, who would talk. But Duncan divined that she was unhappy. He saw her go and come, a wistful shadow on the borders of his occupations. self contained, a little timid, but at the same time brave in her own quiet uncomplaining fashion. And the distant look in those soft eyes he divined to be one of longing for that which she might not possess—the advantages that other girls had, socially and educationally; the pleasures they contrived, the attentions they received, the thousand and one slight things that make existence life for a woman. He saw her drooping insen sibly day by day, growing a little paler, a shade more aloof and listless. And he became infinitely concerned for her. He told himself he had solved the problem of her disease, but its remedy remained beyond his reach. The business was doing very well indeed, but it was still young and must be subjected to as few financial drains as possible. As it ran there was an in come sufficient to board, lodge and clothe the three of them, maintain the credit of the partnership and now and again admit of a slight but advantageous addition to the stock of fixtures. Things would certainly be bet ter in the course of time, but— It came to pfiss that be left the store early one evening, excusing himself on the plea of some slight indisposition, and lost himself for the space of two hours. He found himself shortly after 8 at pause by the gate to the Bo bun place. Ab aged negro butler, one ok the freed

slaves brought from - Virginia by the Bobnns. admitted him to the hall and took his card, smothering his owd won derment. for in those days nobody disturbed the silence and the peace of decay of the Boln/n mansion save its master Duncan had long to wait “Cnnnel Rohun will see yo\ snh.” the servant 3aid and ushered him into the library. ’ Bohan received the young man standing He whs as courteous beneath his own roof as he was impossible away from it. The colonel nodded “At your service, sir.” and waited grimly, Duncan had his own way of getting at things. “May I inquire, sir. if you are acquainted with the firm of L. J. Bartlett & Co. of New York?” “I have heard of it. Mr. Duncan.” “Then would you mind doing me the favor of writing to Mr. Henry Kellogg, the junior partner, and asking him about me?” The colonel stiffened. “May 1 ask why I should do anything so uncalled tor'/” “Because it isn’t uncalled for, sir. I mean you won’t think so after I’ve explained.” Bobun inclined his head, searching Nat's face with his keen, bright eyes. “You see. sir. it's this way. 1 want you to intrust me with a considerable sum of money, and naturally you would not do that without knowing something about me.” “1 incline very much to doubt that I should do it in any event, Mr. Duncan.” "Oh. don't say that You don’t know the circumstances as yet.” Nat jerked his bead earnestly at the colonel. “You see, you're said to la? one of the richest men in town, and I'm certainly one of the poorest, so of course 1 turn to you in a case like this.” Duncan could have sworn that the eyes were twinkling beneath the savagely knitted brows. “You must understand I’m in business here in Itadville—a partner in a growing and prospering concern—ah—doing—very well in point of fact” “Yes?" “But we haven't any spare capital. In fact, we haven't got any capital j worth mentioning. But the business is entirely sound and solvent." ”1 congratulate you, sir.”

‘Thank you very much. Now, I’m interested in a rather singular case, that of a young woman—a girl, I should say—daughter of my partner. She’s a good girl and wonderfully sweet and fine, sir. She.comes of one of the best families in these parts.” “On her mother’s side,” suggested the colonel dryly. “So I’m told, sir. But she’s been neglected. Circumstances have been against her. She hasn’t had a real chance in life, but she ought to have it, and I’m going to see that she gets it one way or another.” , ■ “You haven’t finished?” said the colonel coldly. “Not quite, sir,” sajd Duncam “Good sign,” he toid himself. “He hasn’t ordered me thrown out yet.” ‘To come down to cases, sir, she ougfit to be sent to a good boarding school for a few years. It’ll make a new woman of her—a woman to be proud of. She’s got that in her. It only needs to be brought out” “And before you leave, sir,” said the colonel with significant precision, “will you be so kind as to inform me why you think this should interest me?” “No.” said Duncan candidly; T haven’t got the nerve to. But what 1 wanted to propose was this—that you lend me SSOO to cover the expense of the first year on condition that I represent the money as coming from the profits of the business and, in short, keep the transaction between ourselves absolutely quiet. If you'll inquire of Mr. Kellogg he’ll tell you 1 can be trusted to keep my word. Furthermore”—he galloped, suspecting that his time was perilously short and desiring to get it all out of his system —“I’ll guarantee you repayment within a year and that you shan’t be annoyed this way a second time.” Bohun looked him over from head to foot, bowed in silen<;ej and, turning - both had stood throughout this pas-sage-grasped a bell rope by th* chim ney and pulled it violently. In the desolate fastnesses of that dreary house somewhere a bell tinkled discordantly. A moment later the white headed darky butler opened the door, “Suh?” he said. Colonel Bohun essayed to speak, cleared his throat angrily and indi-

eated Duncan with a courteous gesture. , “Seipio," said be. “this gentleman will have a glass of wine wilb me” , “Yassub.”’ stammered the negro. Bohun turned to his guest. “Won’t yon be seated. Mr. Duncan?” he said. “You have interested me considerably, sir. and I should' be glad to discuss'i the matter with you.” Speechless, Duncan gasped incoher

ently ,and moved toward a chair as the servant reappeared with ;a tray on which was a decanter of sherry and two old fashioned, thin stemmed crystal glasses. He placed this on the •ihrary table, filled the glasses and at t sign from Boh tin retired p r> * “Sir." said the colonel, indicating the tray, “to yon. I hold ft a privilege, sir, to drink to the only gentleman of spirit it’s been my good fortune to meet this many a year.” By way of an aside, it should be mentioned that this was the first and only drink Duncan took while he lived in Radville. . (To Be Cbntinued.)

BESS GABRIEL.

ANGIE BECAME THE ORB OF TRACEY’S UNIVERSE