Jasper County Democrat, Volume 13, Number 96, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 March 1911 — THE FORTUNE HUNTER [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE FORTUNE HUNTER

Novelized by LOUIS JOSEPH VANCE

From the Play of the Same Name by • WIN£HELL SMITH CHAPTER XXIII. KELLOGG let his chair fall forward and rose, imprisoning Nat’s shoulders with two heavy but kindly hands. “And you’re right!” he cried heartily. “I’m glad you had the backbone to back out, Nat. It was a low down trick, and I’m ashamed of myself for proposing it. 1 did it, I presume, simply because I’m a schemer at heart and I knew it would work. It did work, but it’s worked a finer way than I dreamed of—it’s made ‘a man of you, Nat, and I’m mighty glad and proud Of you!” Nat swayed with amazement “What’s changed you all of a sudden?” he demanded blankly.

Releasing him, Kellogg resumed his seat, laughing. “Well, a number of things. Among others, I’ve talked with Graham, and I’ve met his daughter.”

“Oh-h!” “And that reminds me”—Kellogg changed the subject briskly—“l under- 1 stood from you that Graham was sole owner of that patent burner.” “So he Is.”

“He says not. I had a proposition to make him from the Mutual people, and he referred me to you, saying that you controlled the matter.” “I’ve not the slightest Interest in it,” Nat protested. “I know you haven’t, but Graham insisted you owned the whole thing. I pressed him for an explaMtiou, and he finally furnished one in his rambling, inconsequent, fine old way. He admitted that there wasn’t any sort of existing contract or agreement of any kind, even oral, between you, but just the same you’d been so good to him and his girl that he’d made up his mind —some time ago, I gather—to make you a present of the burner, but naturally he forgot to tell you about an insignificant detail like that.”

“Of course that’s nonsense. I wofildn’t and shan’t accept." “Of course you won’t. 1 did you the honor to discount that But he -wouldn’t say a word about the offer, yes or no—just left it all up to you. He says you’re a business man and that he’s often thought what a help you must have been to me before you left New York.” Nat laughed outright. “Can you beat that? But what is the offer?” “Fifty thousand cash and 10,000 shares of preferred stock—sloo par.” “What’s that worth?” “At the market rate when I left town 78.” Kellogg waited a moment “Well, what do you say?” “Say? Great Caesar’s ghost! What is there to say? Wire ’em an acceptance before they get their second wind. You don’t know how good this makes me feel, Harry. I can’t thank you

enough for wbat you've done. This’ll square me with Graham to some extent, and 1 can clear out”— , “No, you can’t, Mr. Smarty! You ;aih’t been .cute enough.” i Both men, startled by the interruption, wheeled round, to discover Roland Barnette dancing with excitement in the doorway, the while be beckoned frantically to an invisible party without. ‘‘Come on!”, be shouted. j“Here he is!” “What’s eating yon. Roly Poly?” inquired Nat too happy for the money to Cherish animosity even toward his one time rival. _ "You’ll find out soon enough,” snarled Roland “Mr. Lockwood’s got something to say to you, I guess.”

And on the heels of this announcement Lockwood strode into the store, Josie clinging to his arm, Pete Willing —a trifle more sanely drunk than he had been some hours previous—bringing up the rear. - , “So,” snarled Blinky, halting and transfixing Nat with the stare of his cold blue eyes—“so we’ve found you, eh?” “Oh? I didn’t know I was lost.” “No nonsense, young roan. I ain’t In the humor for foolin’." Blinky waa

unquestionably in no sort of humor at all beyond un evil one. “I come here to have a word with you.”

“Well, sir?” Nat’s tone and attitude were perfectly pacific.

“Ah, there ain’t no use beutin’ round the bush. You've behaved yourself ever since you come to Radville and inslnooated yourself Into our confidence, ’spite of the fact that nobody in town knows who you were before you came. But now Roland’s laid a charge agin you, and I want to know the rights to it.” “Well,” Roland interposed coekily, “I accused him of it tonight and he didn’t deny it.” “What’s more,” Lockwood continued, with rising color. “Roland says he can prove it.”

“Prove what?” Nat insisted. “Get down to facts, can’t you?” . “That you’re a thief, with a reward out for you.” said » Roland. “You’re that Mortimer Henry what absconded from the Longacre National bank in Noo York.”

There fell a brief pause. Nat bowed his head and tugged at his mustache, his Shoulders shaking with emotion variously construed by those who watched him. Presently he looked up again, his features gravely composed. “Roly.” said he. “Balaam must miss you terribly.”

“That ain't no answer." Lockwood put himself solidly between Nat and the object of his obscure remark, who was painfully digesting it. “I want to know about this. You got my daughter to say she’d marry you this evenin', and you’ve got to explain to me about this bank business before it goes any further.” “Yes?” commented Nat civilly. “Yes!” thundered Blinky. “Do you deny it? Answer me.” To Kellogg’s huge diversion Nat struck an attitude. “I refuse to answer.” said he. r.

“Aha! What’d I tell you?” This was Roland’s triumphant crow. “Nat!” Josie advanced, trembling with-excitement. “Tell me. wbat does this mean?”

Duncan perforce avoided her gaze “Don’t ask.” he said sadly. “Is it true?” she insisted. “You heard what Roly said,” he replied, with a chastened expression. “Then you admit it?’. “I admit nothing.” “Oh-h!” The girl drew away from him as from defilement. “I —I hate -you!’’ she cried in a voice of loathing. “That's all-right.” be told her serenely "I’ve despised myself all evening.” • The girl showed 'him a scornful back. “Papa"- she began. “Don’tf thank me. Josie. Roland done aH. He pot on to him.” Lockwood “continued to watch Duncan with the air of a cat,eying a mouse Impulsively Josie moved to Roland's side and caught his arm. He drew himself up proqdly. “I do thank you, Roland. 1 can never be grateful enough. I’ve been so foolish.” “That’s all right” Roland tucked the girl’s hand beneath ifis arm and oatted It down “You wasn't to blame

I never seen any one from Noo York yet that wasn’t a crook." “Won’t you please take me away from this—place Roland?'’ she 1 appealed. “I’ll be Brightly glad to see you home, Josie,” he assured her generously, turning. V In the act of leaving Josie caught Nat’s eye. She hung back for an instant, withering him with" a glare “Oh-b!” she cried. “How did you dare pretend to care for me?” He bowed politely. “It was one of the rules, Josie.” “There’s no need to tell you, I guess, that the engagement is broken.” “None whatever. Miss Lockwood. Good evening.” » “Come, Roland T* Arm In arm they left, with the haughty tread of the elect, while Pete Willing lurched to Duncan’s side and caught his arm.

“Come ’long to jail, Misb’r Duncan,” he said, with sympathy. “Mush bessher.”

“You look after him, Pete.” Lockwood turned to leave with a final shot for Duncan. “I’ll tend to your case Id the (hornin', ybung man, and I’ll make you wish you never came to this town.”

“You needn't trouble. I feel that way about it already. Good nlgnt” Lockwood left them, snarling. Nat caught Kellogg’s eye and began to giggle. But Pete was still holding him fast, partially, beyond doubt, for support

“You've been saved just In time, Mish'r Duncan.” he commented. “Y’ are mighty lucky man Now. lissen; you better make tracks, i ain’t got no warrant to hold you, ’nd I wouldn’t if I had.”

“You're a good fellow, Pete, but you needn't worry I'm not the man they think me. and it’ll be easy to prove.” “Waal," said Pete, ’’jus’ the same, you better git out \r you may have to marry her aft* all.” “No. f won’t”

“Thank Gawd fT that!” Pete exclaimed in maudlin gratitude. He swung widely toward the door and by a miracle found iL “G’ night, Mish’r Duncan' I feel s’ good ’bout ttish I’m goin’ try goin’ home ’nd face m’ wife. G‘ night.” “Good night, Pete.” “Well.” said Kellogg after a pause, “that was a bit of luck!” “Luck!” Xat seized his hat and began toTurn off the lights. “It’s more luck than I thought there was In the whole world. Come along.” “Where are you going?” “First to see Lockwood and have It out with him.”

“No, you aren’t,” Kellogg laughed as Nat locked the door. “YOu’re going to leave Lockwood to me. I’ll manage lo ease his mind. You’ve got infinitely more important matters to attend to, and the sooner you find her the better, Nat!” As Duncan hurried homeward the rolling of the thunder grew sharp, more instant upon the flashes. When there was no wind the air seemed to quiver with terror, as a dog cringes to the whip. But of this Duncan was barely conscious

He gained the gate in the fence of wood paling, opened it and entered. The lawn and house were lit with the unearthly radiance of moonlight threatened by eclipse. He could see the light in Graham’s study and through the open doors the faint glow of the hall lamp. But there was no one visible.

He hurried up the path, tortured by impatience, fear, longing, despair. Then he saw what seemed at first a pale shadow detach itself from darker shades in the shrubbery and move toward him. “Nat. is it you?” “Betty!”

His whole heart was in that cry. The girl thrilled to its timbre as

though a master hand had struck a chord upon her heartstrings. “Nat. what—what is it?” “Betty, 1 want to tell you some thing.” She came very slowly toward Mm, torn alternately by fear and hope. What did he mean? “Do you happen to remember that 1 told you awhile ago I was engaged to Josie Lockwood ?’ ~ “Nat! Could 1 forget? Why?” “Because it's broken off. Retry ’’ “Broken ofr Ho#? Why?" “Because it had to be, sweetheart—because I love you.” - r ! She was very close to him then. Her : uplifted face shone like marble in the fading light. “Nat. I—l don’t understand.” “Then listen. I must tell yon. ft was all a plan, a scheme, my coming here. Everything I did, said, thought, was part of a contemptible trick. I meant to marry Josie Lock wood, whom I’d never seen, for her money Now you know what I was.

dear. But It’s different now. I’m not the same min who came to Radvllle ten months ago. I’ve learned a little to understand the right, I hope. I’ve learned to io. e and reverence goodness and purity and unselfishness, and—and I want to be a man, the kind of man you thought me, a f man worthy of you and your love, Betty, because I love you. I want you to be my Wife. And—oh, Betty, Betty—l need you to help me!” ' , His voice broke. He waited, every nerve and fiber of him tense for her answer. While he had been speaking the onrush of the storm had blotted out the moon. There was only darkness there in the garden—deep, dense darkness—so thick he could not even see the shimmer of her dress.

Then suddenly she was in his arms, shaking and sobbing, straining him to her. “Oh, Nat, my Nat! I’ve loved you from the first day I ever saw you! You know I have.” “Betty—sweet heart!” There came an abrupt, furious patter of heavy drops of water beating upon the foliage, splashing and rebounding from the house. “Forever and ever, Nat?” “Forever and ever and a day, my dear—my dear!” A little later an anxious voice—old Sam’s—hailed them from the house.

but was drowned by the downpour. They were as unconscious of it as of the storm. So that presently old Sam had to run down the path with a big umbrella to shield them until they should come to their senses. THE END.

"SO WE’VE FOUND YOU, EH?"

“BOLT,” SAID HE, “BALAAM MUST MISS YOU TERRIBLY."

“BECAUSE I LOVE YOU.”

THEY WERE UNCONSCIOUS OF THE DOWNPOUR.