Jasper County Democrat, Volume 13, Number 86, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 February 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. J9IC. by Winchell Smith and Louis Joseph Vance

CHAPTER XVIII. JOSIE LOCKWOOD came home again for the Easter holidays, but she didn’t return to finish her term in the New York school—just why we never discovered. The Lock woods furnished us with no really satisfying explanation. They said' that Josie didn’t like New York, but Tve always doubted that, especially’ since Josie married and insisted on moving straight away to that metropolis I suspect she didn’t get along with the class of young women with whom she was thrown at school, and I’m pretty certain she was uneasy about Nat all the time she was so far away from him. ' It was during this period, between the Easter vacation and the end of the spring school term, that Roland Barnette’s animosity toward Duncan became virulent Josie, of course, was prompt to oust Angie Tuthill from her place in the choir. After that she sang with Nat on Friday nights as well as Wednesdays and twice per Sunday. Between whiles she was a pretty constant patron of the store. There was no longer the least doubt in the collective mind of the town as to the inclination of Josie’s affections. The culmination came the day before Betty was to return—a day late in May, I remember, and a Friday at that It began along toward evening. Duncan, alone in the store, was busy behind the jwescription counter. Absorbed with his task, he thought himself quite alone until a well kenued voice reached his ear. “Well!” it said, unctuous with appreciation of the sight of him. “Old Dr. Duncan!” Lie let the pestle fall from his hand and jumped as if he had been stuck with a pin. His jaw dropped and his eyes bulged. “Great Scott!” he cried afid in a twinkling was round the counter, throwing himself into the arms of a man whom he hailed ecstatically. “Harry, by all that’s wonder full” He fairly danced with delight “Henry Kellogg, Es-quire!" he cried.

holding nim at arms' length and looking him over. "What in thuaderation are you doing here?” “On my way to Cincinnati on business Thought I’d drop off for a night and size you tip. How are you?” “Me? Look at me—picture of health. Harry, you've made a new man of me.” Duncan pranced round his friend in a mild frenzy. “No booze, no smokes, no swears—work! 1 feel like a two-year-old. 1 could do a Marathon without turning a hair. Watch me kick up my heels and neigh! And listen!" Nat crowed. ’’l’m a business man. Didn’t you believe it? Pipe my shop!" Kellogg turned to obey the admoni tion of Duncan’s gesticulations and took a long look round the store. “Gad!” said he. “I’m blowed if it isn't true! It was hard to credit your letters. But it’s great, old man. I congratuate you with all my “Just wait and I’ll tell you all aboui

1L But first telL me bow long you’re going to be here.” ( . . “Well. 1 plan to hang around with you a’ couple of days. My business in the west jsn’t pressing.” “Good! I wrote you about taking a new place for the Grahams?” J “Yes, and Bm mighty keen to meet ’em. The girl here?” “Betty ? No: she’s coming home tomorrow. But Graham himself is upstairs in the laboratory. Take you up in a minute, but not before I’ve had a good look at you.” Kellogg* found himself a chair. “Well,” he inquired, twinkling, "how’s

the scheme working put? Are you really living up to all the rules?” “Every singletary one.” “You have got a strong constitution. Even prayer meetings?” “The church thing? Honest, Harry, I own it.” “Bully tor you, Nat! But how does it work? Was 1 right?" “I should say you were. It’s so easy it’s a shame to do it. If this thing ever should get into the papers there’d be a swarm of city men lighting out tor the country so thick you wouldn't be able to see the sky.” “1 knew it: Trust your Lucie Harry.” Kellogg waited a time for further particulars, but Duncan seemed stuck. “And you've made a strong play for the fond affections of Lock-: wood’s daughter?” « “Certainly not!" “Not?” “You forget your rules.” Nat grinned, ■whimsical. “1 let her to make a play for me.” “Of course. My mistake. But how has it worked?” “Oh, immense!” Duncan’s tone, however, was wholly destitute of enthusiasm. He stuck his bands in his trousers pockets and half turned away from his friend, looking out of the window. Kellogg smiled secretly. “You mean you've won her already? Then you’re engaged?" Kellogg had understood perfectly, you see. “No, not yet. I’ve got two months left—almost.” “So you have. And since she’s so strong for you there's no burry. Let her take her time.” - “I Ohly'wish she' would.” Duncan removed one hand from the pocket the better to tug at bis mustache. It’s got beyond that—to the point where I have to keep dodging her.” “You don’t mean it! That’s splendid.” Kellogg got up and slapped Nat’s shoulder heartily, ‘’But don't overdo the dodging She might get her back up.” "Not she. She’d eat mu of my hand if I’d let her. You dou’t understand.” “What’s the matter, then? Aren’t you strong for her?" “1 wish 1 were.”

“But why? Is there another”— •No.” Nat shook his head, honestly pelieving he was telling the truth. “Only I don’t look at things the way 1 did once.” “Just what do you mean by that?’ Nat, squaring himself to face Kellogg. was very serious now and troubled, “See here, Harry,” he said. “do you really want me to carry out the rest of the agreement?" ••Most certainly I do. Why not?” “Because I’m pretty well fixed here. The business is making good, and so am I. It won’t be long before I Can pay you back, with interest, as we agreed, without having to marry that poor girl and draw on her money to make good to you.” ‘ ~•. y “You want to go back on your agreement?” demanded Kellogg, with a show of disappoininent and disgust. “Yes and no. 1 won’t break faith with you. if you insist, but I'd give a lot if you’d let me off—let me pay back what you advanced and cry quits. When you outlined this scheme I was down and three times out. willing to take a chance at anything, no matter how contemptible. Now—well, it’sdif ferent." ■. : “Good heavens! Yon don't mean you'd be willing to live here?” Nat smiled, but not mirthfully. “I don't he hesitated. “I’m afraid I’m beginning to like it.” ' “You. Nat?” Kellogg’s amazement was unfeigned “You ready to spend your life here slaving away in, this measly store?" Duncan grunted indignantly. “Hold on, now Don't you call this a measly store. . There isn’t a more complete drug store in the state!” “Do you hear that?” Kellogg ap

pealed vehemently to the universe at large. “Is/ it possible that this is Nat Duncan, the fellow who hated work go hard he couldn’t earn a living? Gad, I believe I’ve arrived just in time!*’ “In time for what?” “To save you from yourself, old man. Here’s the heiress you came here to cop out, ready and anxlotis, everything else coming your way, and —and you’re more than half inclined to back out. You make me tired.” “I suppose 1 must. But I can’t help IL- I can't make you see how the thing looks to me. You know—l’ve written you all about everything—what this place has meant to me. Until 1 came here I never realized it was in me to make good at anything. But here I have. I’m doing so well that I’d actually have some self respect if I wasn’t bound to play this low down trick on Josie Lockwood. I’ve worked and succeeded and been of some service to people who were worth it”— “Who? Sam Graham?” “He and bis daughter”— “Oh, his daughter!”" u- , “Now. get that foolish idea out of your head. There’s nothing in it. Butty's just a simple, sweet little girl who’s bad a pretty hard time and never a real chance in life—until 1 managed to give it to her. And I’d feel pretty good about that if— Oh. there’s no use talking to you!” “No; go on You're very entertaining.” Kellogg laughed mockingly. “Well. I have tried to keep to the terms of our understanding. I singled out this Lockwood girl and worked all the degrees—didn't say much, you know -no lovemaking—just let her catch me !“oking sadly at her once in awhile.” ‘*That‘s the way to work it” “Yes, that’s the way.” Nat assented gloomily. Kellogg laughed with delight “Nat” he cried. “my poor crazy friend, listen to me. This working and church going and helping old Graham is all very noble and fine, and I’m glad you’ve done it. This drug store is a monument to the business ability that I always knew was latent In you. And clean living hasn’t done you any harm. But now you're due to come down to earth This place pays you a neat profit. Well and good. That’s all it’ll ever do It's new to you now, and you like the novelty, and you're having the time your life finding out you’re good for something; But pretty soon it’ll begin to stale on you, and before long you’ll find yourself hating it and the town, and then you’ll be back whereyou started. Now. I’m going to hold you to our bargain for your own sake. If you’re stuck on the town and the work you can keep right on just as well after you’re married, but when you do begin to tire of it you’ll want that fortune to fall back

on and do what you like with. Don’t let this chance slip— not on your life!” “But." Nat argued feebly, “think of the injustice to the girl. From the way I’ve behaved since I struck this burg she thinks I'm closely related to the saints." “Very well, then; I’ll concede a point. If you really think you're taking a mean advantage of her. when she proposes to you tell her all about yourself —just the sort of chap you've been You needn't mention our agreement, however Then if she wants to drop you I'll have nothing to say." “Thank you for nothing,” said Dun can bitterly. “A bargain's a bargain. I gave you my word of honor I’d go through with this thing, and I’ll stick to it. Bui I tell you I don't like if’ . “Oh. 1 know how you feel, Nat. But 1 know that some day yen’ll come to me and say. 'Harry, if you had let me back out I'd never have forgiven you;”’ 1 , “411 right,” said Nat impatiently “I presume you know best.” (To Be Continued.)

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“THOUGHT I’D DROP OFF FOR A NIGHT."

JOSIE WAS UNEASY EBOCT NAT WHILE SHE WAS AWAY

“OH, I KNOW HOW YOU FEEL, NAT.”