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denied； but people only smiled and winked。 ‘‘You're not so sly as you
think；'' they said。 ‘‘No doubt she promised to keep it quiet； but you know
how it is with a woman。''
When he called at Brauner's at seven he was timid about going in。
‘‘They've heard the story；'' he said to himself； ‘‘and they must think I went
crazy and told it。''
She had been bold enough all day； but she was shy； now that the time
had come to face him and confessshe had been a little shy with him
underneath ever since she had suddenly awakened to the fact that he was a
real heroin spite of his keeping a shop just like everybody else and
making no pretenses。 He listened without a word。
‘‘You can't back out now；'' she ended。
Still he was silent。 ‘‘Are you angry at me？'' she asked timidly。
He could not speak。 He put his arms round her and pressed his face
into her waving black hair。 ‘‘MY Hilda；'' he said in a low voice。 And
she felt his blood beating very fast； and she understood。
‘‘Arbeit und Liebe und Heim；'' she quoted slowly and softly。
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CHAPTER X
MR。 FEUERSTEIN IS CONSISTENT
The next day Mr。 Feuerstein returned from exile。 It is always
disillusioning to inspect the unheroic details of the life of that favorite
figure with romancersthe soldier of fortune。 Of Mr。 Feuerstein's six
weeks in Hoboken it is enough to say that they were weeks of storm and
stress wretched lodgments in low boarding… houses； odd jobs at giving
recitations in beer halls； undignified ejectments for drunkenness and
failure to pay； borrowings which were removed from frank street…begging
only in his imagination。 He sank very low indeed； but it must be
recorded to the credit of his consistency that he never even contemplated
the idea of working for a living。 And now here he was； back in New
York； with Hoboken an exhausted field； with no resources； no hopes； no
future that his brandy…soaked brain could discern。
His mane was still golden and bushy； but it was ragged and too long in
front of the ears and also on his neck。 His face still expressed insolence
and vanity； but it had a certain tragic bitterness； as if it were trying to
portray the emotions of a lofty spirit flinging defiance at destiny from a
slough of despair。 It was plain that he had been drinking heavilythe
whites of his eyes were yellow and bloodshot； the muscles of his eyelids
and mouth twitched disagreeably。 His romantic hat and collar and
graceful suit could endure with good countenance only the most casual
glance of the eye。
Mr。 Feuerstein had come to New York to perform a carefully…planned
last act in his life…drama； one that would send the curtain down amid tears
and plaudits for Mr。 Feuerstein； the central figure； enwrapped in a somber
and baleful blaze of glory。 He had arranged everything except such
details as must be left to the inspiration of the moment。 He was
impatient for the curtain to risebesides； he had empty pockets and might
be prevented from his climax by a vulgar arrest for vagrancy。
At one o'clock Hilda was in her father's shop alone。 The rest of the
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THE FORTUNE HUNTER
family were at the midday dinner。 As she bent over the counter； near the
door； she was filling a sheet of wrapping paper with figurescalculations
in connection with the new business。 A shadow fell across her paper and
she looked up。 She shrank and clasped her hands tightly against her
bosom。 ‘‘Mr。 Feuerstein！'' she exclaimed in a low； agitated voice。
He stood silent； his face ghastly as if he were very ill。 His eyes； sunk
deep in blue…black sockets； burned into hers with an intensity that terrified
her。 She began slowly to retreat。
‘‘Do not fly from me；'' he said in a hollow voice； leaning against the
counter weakly。 ‘‘I have come only for a moment。 Thenyou will see
me never again！''
She paused and watched him。 His expression； his tone； his words
filled her with pity for him。
‘‘You hate me；'' he went on。 ‘‘You abhor me。 It is justjust！ Yet''…
…he looked at her with passionate sadness‘‘it was because I loved you
that I deceived you。 BecauseIloved you！''
‘‘You must go away；'' said Hilda； pleading rather than commanding。
‘‘You've done me enough harm。''
‘‘I shall harm you no more。'' He drew himself up in gloomy majesty。
‘‘I have finished my life。 I am bowing my farewell。 Another instant；
and I shall vanish into the everlasting night。''
‘‘That would be cowardly！'' exclaimed Hilda。 She was profoundly
moved。 ‘‘You have plenty to live for。''
‘‘Do you forgive me； Hilda？'' He gave her one of his looks of tragic
eloquence。
‘‘YesI forgive you。''
He misunderstood the gentleness of her voice。 ‘‘She loves me still！''
he said to himself。 ‘‘We shall die together and our names will echo down
the ages。'' He looked burningly at her and said： ‘‘I was madmad with
love for you。 And when I realized that I had lost you； I went down； down；
down。 God！ What have I not suffered for your sake； Hilda！'' As he
talked he convinced himself； pictured himself to himself as having been
drawn on by a passion such as had ruined many others of the great of
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earth。
‘‘That's all past now。'' She spoke impatiently； irritated against herself
because she was not hating him。 ‘‘I don't care to hear any more of that
kind of talk。''
A customer came in； and while Hilda was busy Mr。 Feuerstein went to
the rear counter。 On a chopping block lay a knife with a long； thin blade；
ground to a fine edge and a sharp point。 He began to play with it； and
presently； with a sly； almost insane glance to assure himself that she was
not seeing； slipped it into the right outside pocket of his coat。 The
cu