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THE FORTUNE HUNTER
mean just friend。''
‘‘I know you are； Otto；'' she replied with tears in her eyes。 ‘‘You
are indeed my friend。 I've counted on you ever since youever since that
Sunday。''
‘‘Then you won't think wrong of me if I ask you a question？ You'll
know I wouldn't； if I didn't have a good reason； even though I can't
explain？''
‘‘Yeswhat is it？''
‘‘Hilda； isis Mr。 Feuerstein coming back？''
Hilda flushed。 ‘‘Yes； Otto；'' she said。 ‘‘I haven't spoken to any one
about it； but I can trust you。 He's had trouble and it has called him away。
But he told me he'd come back。'' She looked at him appealingly。 ‘‘You
know that I love him； Otto。 Some day you will like him； will see what a
noble man he is。''
‘‘When is he coming back？''
‘‘I didn't ask him。 I knew he'd come as soon as he could。 I wouldn't
pry into his affairs。''
‘‘Then you don't know why he went or when he's coming？''
‘‘I trust him； just as you'll want a girl to trust you some day when you
love her。''
As soon as he could leave her； he went up town； straight to the German
Theater。 In the box…office sat a young man with hair precisely parted in
the middle and sleeked down in two whirls brought low on his forehead。
‘‘I'd like to get Mr。 Feuerstein's address；'' said Otto。
‘‘That dead…beat？'' the young man replied contemptuously。 ‘‘I
suppose he got into you like he did into every one else。 Yes； you can
have his address。 And give him one for me when you catch him。 He
did me out of ten dollars。''
Otto went on to the boarding…house in East Sixteenth Street。 No； Mr。
Feuerstein was not in and it was not known when he would returnhe was
very uncertain。 Otto went to Stuyvesant Square and seated himself
where he could see the stoop of the boarding…house。 An hour； two hours；
two hours and a half passed； and then his patient attitude changed abruptly
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THE FORTUNE HUNTER
to action。 He saw the soft light hat and the yellow bush coming toward
him。 Mr。 Feuerstein paled slightly as he recognized Otto。
‘‘I'm not going to hurt you；'' said Otto in a tone which Mr。 Feuerstein
wished he had the physical strength to punish。 ‘‘Sit down hereI've got
something to say to you。''
‘‘I'm in a great hurry。 Really； you'll have to come again。''
But Otto's look won。 Mr。 Feuerstein hesitated； seated himself。
‘‘I want to tell you；'' said Otto quietly； ‘‘that as the result of your going
away so suddenly and not coming back a wicked lying story is going
round about Hilda。 She does not know it yet； but it won't be long
before something will be saidmaybe publicly。 And it will break her
heart。''
‘‘I can't discuss her with you；'' said Mr。 Feuerstein。 ‘‘Doubtless you
mean well。 I'm obliged to you for coming。 I'll see。'' He rose。
‘‘Is that all？'' said Otto。
‘‘What more can I say？''
‘‘But what are you going to DO？''
‘‘I don't see how I can prevent a lot of ignorant people from
gossiping。''
‘‘Then you're not going straight down there？ You're not going to do
what a man'd do if he had the decency of a dog？''
‘‘You are insulting！ But because I believe you mean well； I shall tell
you that it is impossible for me to go for several days at least。 As soon as
I honorably can； I shall come and the scandal will vanish like smoke。''
Otto let him go。 ‘‘I mustn't thrash him； and I can't compel him to
be a man。'' He returned to the German Theater； he must learn all he
could about this Feuerstein。
‘‘Did you see him？'' asked the ticket…seller。
‘‘Yes； but I didn't get anything。''
Otto looked so down that the ticket…seller was moved to pity； to
generosity。
‘‘Well； I'll give you a tip。 Keep after him； keep your eye on him。
He's got a rich father…in…law。''
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THE FORTUNE HUNTER
Otto leaned heavily on the sill of the little window。 ‘‘Father…in…law？''
A sickening suspicion peered into his mind。
‘‘He was full the other night and he told one of our people he was
married to a rich man's daughter。''
‘‘Was the name Brauner？'' asked Otto。
‘‘He didn't name any names。 Butlet me thinkthey say it's a
daughter of a brewer； away up town。 Yes； GanserI think that was the
name。''
‘‘Oh！'' Otto's face brightened。 ‘‘Where is Ganser's place？'' he asked。
‘‘I don't knowlook in the directory。 But the tip is to wait a few days。
He hasn't got hold of any of the old man's money yetthere's some hitch。
There'll be plenty for all when it comes； so you needn't fret。''
Otto went to the brewery； but Peter had gone home。 Otto went on to
the house and Peter came down to the brilliant parlor； where the battle of
hostile shades and colors was raging with undiminished fury。 In answer
to Peter's look of inquiry； he said： ‘‘I came about your son…in…law； Mr。
Feuerstein。''
‘‘Who are you？ Who told you？'' asked Peter； wilting into a chair。
‘‘They told me at the theater。''
Peter gave a sort of groan。 ‘‘It's out！'' he cried； throwing up his thick；
short arms。 ‘‘Everybody knows！''
Shrewd Otto saw the opening。 ‘‘I don't think so；'' he replied； ‘‘at
least not yet。 He has a bad reputationI see you know that already。 But
it's nothing to what he will have when it comes out that he's been trying to
marry a young lady down town since he married your daughter。''
‘‘But it mustn't come out！'' exclaimed Ganser。 ‘‘I won't have it。
This scandal has disgraced me enough。''
‘‘That's what I came to see you about；'' said Otto。 ‘‘The young lady
and her friends don't know about his marriage。 It isn't necessary that any
of them should know； except her。 But she must be put on her guard。 He
might induce her to run away with him。''
‘‘Rindsvieh！''