The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, August 30, 1903, Page 3

draw before it was too late, but Monty was obdurate. They set it down to his desire to help Barbara’s father and ad- mired his nerve. ~] understand, Monty,” sald Bragdon, and beth he and Harrison went among the people carelessly asking one another if Brewster had come to withdraw his money. “No, he bas over 3200000, and he's golng to leave it,” the other would sy Each excited group was visited in turn by the two men, but thelir jurance seemed to accomplish but littl These men and women were there to save thelr fortunes; the situation was desperate. Colonel Drew, outwardly calm and se- rene, but inwardly perturbed, finally saw Brewster and his companions. He sent a messenger over with the request that come to the president's private office at once. je wants to help you to save 'y cried Bragdon at shows it's all up.” out every dollar of it, Monty, and waste a minute. It's a smash as s fate,” urged Harrison, a feverish ssion in his eyes. ewster was admitted to the colonel’s e office. Drew was alone and was the floor like & caged animai Sit down, Brewster, and don't mind I seem mervous. Of course we can hold but it is terrible—terrible. They think we are trying to rob them. They're mad—utterly mad.” “I never saw anything ltke it, colonel. ou sure you can meet all the de- s?” asked Brewster, thoroughly ex- The colonel's face was white and chewed his clgar nervously. “We can win out unless some of our heaviest depositors get the fever and swoop down upon us. I appreciate your feelings in an affair of this kind. coming eo0 swiftly upon the heels of the other, but 1 want to give you my personal assurance that the money you have here is safe. I led you in to impress you with the se- f the bank. You ought to know however, and I will tell you in ence that another check like Aus- which we paid a few minutes ago, would cause us serious, though tempo- y, embarrassment.” 1 came to assure you that I have not thought of withdrawing my deposits from iis bank, colonel. You need have no un- easiness—" The door opened suddenly and one of Is of the bank bolted inside, his white as death. He started to re he saw Brewster, and then s lips despairingly. is it, Mr. Moore?” asked Drew, as calmly as possible. “Don’'t mind Mr. Bre your in low tones. rp wants to draw two hundred thousand dollars,” said Moore ned tones. he can have it, can’t he?” asked onel quietly. Moore looked help- at the president of the bank, and lence spoke more plainly than words. “Brewster, it looks bad,” said the colo- turning abruptly to the young man. er banks are afrald of a run and t count on much help from them. Some of them have helped us and others e refused. Now I not enly ask you to m drawing out your deposit, 1 want you to help us in this crucial The colonel looked twenty ler and his volce shook percepti- ewster’s pity went out to him in can T do, Colonel Drew?’ he 1 not take my money out, but I t know how I can be of further assist- u. Command me, sir.” can restore absolute confldence, s, my dear boy, by increasing your sits in our bank,” said the colonel slowly and as if dreading the fate of the suggestion. “You mean, sir, that I can save the bank by drawing my money from other banks and putting it here?” asked Monty, slowly. He was thinking harder and faster than he had ever thought in his life. Co be afford to risk the loss of his entire fortune on the fate of this bank? What would Swearengen Jones say if he Geliberately deposited a vast amount of money in a tottering institution like the Bank of Manhattan Island? It would be the maddest folly on his part if the bank went down. There could be no miti- gating circumstances in the eyes of er Jones or the world if he swamped of his money in this cris 1 beg of you, Monty, help us.” The colonel’s pride was gone. “It means dis- grace if we close our doors even for an hour; it means & stain that only years can remove. You can restore confidence by & dozen strokes of your pen and you can save us.” He was Barbara's father. The proud ©old man was before him as a suppliant, no longer the cold man of the world. Back to Brewster's mind came the thought of his quarrel with Barbara and of her heartiessness. A scratch of the pen, one way or the other, could change the life of Barbara Drew. The two bank. ers stood flercely breathing. From outside came the shuffie of many feet end the muffied roll of volces. Again the door of the private office opened end a clerk excitedly motioned for Mr. Moore to hurry to the front of the bank. Moore paused irresolutely, his eyes on Brewster's tace. The young man / knew the time had come when he must belp or deny them. Like a flash the situation was made clear to him and his duty was plain. He remembered that the Bank of Manhattan Island held every dollar that Mrs. Gray and Peggy possessed; their meager for- tune haed been entrusted to the care of Prentiss Drew and his assoclates, and it was in . “I will do all I can, colon: *but upon ene condition. “That 1s?7" “Barbera must never know of this.” The colonel's gasp of astonishment was cut short as Monty continued. ‘“Promise that she shall never know."” *“] don't understand, but If it is your wish I promise.” Ineide of half an hour's time several bundred thousand came to the relief of the struggling bank and the man who had come to watch the run with curious eyes turned out to be its savior. His money won the day for the Bank of Man- hattan Island. When the happy president and directors offered to pay him an as- tonishingly high rate of interest for the use of the money he proudly” declined. The next day Miss Drew issued invita- tions for a cotilion. Mr. Montgomery Brewster was not asked to attend. ** sald Mon- XIV. MRS, DE MILLE ENTERTAINS. Miss Drew’s cotillon was not graced by the presence of Montgomery Brewster. It is true he received an eleventh-hour in- Vitation and & very cold and difficult lit- tie mote of apology, but he maintained beroically the air of disdain that had suc- ceeded the first sharp pangs of disappoint- ment. Colonel Drew, in whose good graces Monty had firmly established him- self, was not quite guiltless of usurping the role of dictator in the effort to patch up a truce. A few nights before the cotil+ lon, when Barbara told him that Herbert Alling was to lead, he explosively ex- pressed surprise. “Why not Monty Brew- ster, Babs?” he demanded. “Mr. Brewster is not coming,” she re- sponded calmly. “Going to be out of town?” “I'm sure I don’t know,” stiffly. “What's this?"” “He has not been asked, father.” Miss Dtew was not in good humor. “Not asked?” said the colonel in amaze- ment. “It’s ridiculous, Babs; send him an invitation at once.” “This is my dance, father, and I don’t want to ask Mr. Brewster.” The colonel sank back in his chair and struggled to overcome his anger. He knew that Barbara had inherited his will- fulness and had long since discovered that it was best to treat her with tact. “I thought you and he were—" but the colonel’s supply of tact was exhausted. “We were”—in a moment”of absent mindedness. “But it's all over,” said Ba a. “Why, child, there wouldn't have been a cotillon if it hadn’t been for—" but the colonel remembered his promise to Mon- ty and checked himself just in time. “I— I mean there will not be any party if Montgomery Brewster is not asked. That is all 1 care.to say on the subject,” and he stamped out of the room. Barbara wept coplously after her father had gone, but she realized that his will was law and that Monty must be invited. “I will send an invitation,” she said to herself, “but if Mr. Brewster comes ,ner he has read it 1 shall be surprised.” Montgomery, however, did not recelve the note in the spirit in which it had been sent. He only saw in it a ray of hepe that Barbara was relenting and was jubllant at the prospect of & reconcilia- tion. The next Sunday he sought an in- terview with Miss Drew, but she recelved him with icy reserve. If he had thought to punish her by staying away it was evi- dent that she felt equally responsible for a great deal of misery on his part. Both had been more or less unhappy, and both werey resentfully obstinate. Brewster felt hu and insulted, while she felt that he fiad imposed upon her disgracefully. He was now ready to cry quits and it surprised him to find her obdur: It he had expected to dictate the terms of peace he was woefully disappointed when she treated his advances with cool contempt. “Barbara, you know I care very much for you,” he was pleading, fairly on the road to submission. “I am sure you are not quite indifferent to me. This foolish misunderstanding must really be as dis- agreeable to you as it is to me.” ““Indee she replied, lifgyng her brows disdainfully. “You are assuming & good deal, Mr. Brewster.” “I am merely recalling the fact that you once told me you cared. You would not promise anything, I know, but it meant much that you cared. A little dif- ference could not have changed your feeling completely.” “When you are ready to treat me with respect I may listen to your petition,” she sald, rising haughtily. “My petition?” He did not like the word and his tact quite deserted him. “It's as much yours as mine. Don't throw the burden of responsibility on me, Miss Drew.” “Have 1 suggested going back to the old relations? You will pardon me if I remind you of the fact that you came to- day on your own initiative and certainly without my solicitation.” “Now, look here, Barbara—" he began, dimly realizing. that it was going to be hard, very hard, to bring her to reason. “I am very sorry, Mr. Brewster, but you will have to excuse me. I am golng out.” “I regret exceedingly that I should have disturbed you to-day, Miss Drew,” he said, swallowing his pride. *“Perhaps I may have the pleasure of seeing you again.” As he was leaving the house, deep an- ger in his soul, he encountered the colo- nel. There was something about Monty's greeting, cordial as it was, that gave the older man a hint as to the situation. ““Won't you stop for dinner, Monty?” he asked in the hope that his suspicion was groundless. “Thank you, colonel, not to-night,”” and he was off before the colonel could hold him. Barbara was tearfully angry when her father came into the room, but as he be- gan to remonstrate with her the tears disappeared and left her at white heat. “Frankly, father, you don’t understand matters,” she sald with slow emphasis; “I wish you to know now that if Mont- gomery Brewster calls again I shall not see him.” “If that is your point of view, Barbara, I wish you to know mine.” The colonel rose and stood over her, everything for- gotten but the rage tnat went so deep that it left the surface calm. Throwing aside his promise to Brewster, he told Barbara with dramatic simplicity the story of the rescue of the bank. “You mee,” he added, “if it had not been for that open-hearted boy we would now be rulned. Instead of giving cotillions you might be giving music lessons. Montgom- ery Brewster will always be welcome in this house and you will see that my wishes are respected. Do you under- stand 7" “Perfectly,” Barbara answered In a still volce. “As your friend I shall try to be civil to him.” The colonel was not satisfled with so cold-blooded an acquiescence, but he wisely retired from the fleld. He left the girl silent and crushed, but with a gleam in her eyes that was not altogether to be concealed. The story had touched her more deeply than she would willingly con- fees. It was something to know that Monty Brewster could do a thing like that, and would do it for her. The exult- ant smile which it brought to her lips could only be made to disappear by re- minding herself sharply of his recent ar- rogance. Her anger, she found, was a plant which needed careful cultivation. It was In a somewhat chastened mood that she started a few days later for a dinner at the DeMilles’. As she entered in her sweeping golden gown the sight of Monty Brewster at the other end of the room gave her a flutter at the heart. But it was an agitation that was very care- fully concealed. Brewster was certainly unconscious of it. To him the position of guest was like a disguise and he was pleased at the prospect of letting himself go under the mask without re- sponsibility. But it took on a different color when the butler handed him a card which signified that he was to take Miss Drew in to dinner. Hastily seeking out the hostess he endeavored to convey to her the impossibility of the situation. “I hope you won't misunderstand me,” he gald. “But is it too late to change my place at the table?” “It isn't conventional, T know, Monty. Soclety’s chief aim is to separate engaged couples at dinner,” sald Mrs. Dan with a laugh. “It would be positively com- promising if a man and his wife sat to- THE Dinner was announced befors Monty could utter another word, and as she led him over to Barbara she sald, “Behold a generous hostess who gives up the best man in the crowd so that he and some one else may have & happy time, I leave it to you, Barbara, it that isn't the test of friendship.” For a moment the two riveted their eyes on the floor. Then the humor of the situation came to Monty. “I did not know that we were sup- posed to do Gibson tableaux to-night,” he sald dryly as he proffered his arm. “I don't understand,” and Barbara's curiosity overcame her determination not to speak. “Don’t you remember the picture of the man who was called upon to take his late flancee out to dinner?” The awful silence with which this re- mark was received put an end to further efforts at humor. The dinner was probably the most pain- ful experience in their lives. Barbara had come to it softened and ready to meet him half way. The right kind of humility in Monty would have found her plastic. But she had very definite and rigid {deas of his duty in the premises. And Monty was too simple minded to seem to suffer and much too filppant to understand. It was plain to each that the other did not expect to talk, but they both realized that they owed a duty to appearances and to their hostess. Through two courses, at least, there was dead silence between them. It seemed as though every eye in the room were on them and every mind were speculating. At last, in sheer desperation, Barbara turned to him with the first smile he had seen on her face in days. There was no emile in her eyes, however, and Monty understood. “We might at least give pression that we aze friend quietly. ‘“More easily sald than done,” he re- sponded gloomily. “They are all looking at us and won- dering.” “I don’t blame them.” “We owe something to Mrs. Dan, I think.” “1 know." » * Barbara uttered some inanity whenever she caught any one looking in their direo- tion, but Brewster seemed not to hear. At length he cut short some remark of hers about the weather. ‘“What nonsense phis Barbara,” he sald. “With any one else I would chuck the whole game, but with you it s dif- ferent. I don’t know what I have done, but I am sorry glve me.” “Your assurance is amusing, to say the least.” “But I am sure. I know this quarrel is something we'll laugh over. You keep forgetting that we are going to be mar- ried some day.” A new light came into Barbara's eyes. “You forget that my consent may be necessary.” she sald. “You will be perfectly willing when tire time comes. I am still in the fight and eventually ybu will come to my way of thinking.” “‘Oh! I see it now,” sald Barbara, and her blood was up. ‘You mean to force me to it. What you did for father—"" Brewster glowered at her, thinking that he had misunderstood. “What do you mean?’ he sald. “He has told me all about that wrtched bank business. But poor father thought you quite disinterested. He did not see the little game behind your melodrama. He would have torn up your check on the instant if he had suspected you were trying to buy his daughter.” “Does your father believe that?* Brewster. ‘ P “No, but I see it all now. His per- sistence and yours—you were not slow to grasp the opportunity offered.” “Stop, Miss Drew,” Mont commanded. His voice had changed and she had never before seen that look In his eye: “You nen} have no fear that I will trouble you again.” the fm- she sald I hope you'll for- XV, THE CUT DIRECT. A typographical error in one of the papers caused no end or anmiusement to every one except Monty and Miss Drew. The headlines had announced: *Magnifi- cent ball to be given Miss Drew by her finance,” and the ‘“Little Sons of the Rich” wondered why Monty did not see the humor of it “‘He has too bad an attack to see any- thing but the lady,” sald Harrison one evening when the “‘Sons” were gathered for an old-time supper party. “It's always the way,” commented the philosophical Bragdon. “When you lose your heart your sense of humor goes too. Engaged couples couldn’t do such ridiculous stunts if they had the least particle of it left."” “Well, if Monty Brewster is still fn love with Miss Drew he t a mighty peor way of showing Iit. “Subway" Smith’'s remark fell like a bombshell. The thought had come to every one, but no one had been given the courage to utter i{t. For them Brewster's silence on the subject since the De Mille dinner seemed to have something ominous be- hind it N “It's probably only a lovers’ quarrel,” sald Bragdon. But further comment was cut short by the entrance of Monty him- self, and they took their places at table. Before the evening came to an end they were in possession of y aston- ishing detalls in connectfon with the com- ing ball. Monty did not say that it was to be given for Miss Drew and her name was conspicuously absent from his de- scriptions. As he unfolded his plans even the “Little Sons,” who were imaginative by instinct and reckless on principle, could ! not be quite acquiescent. ““Nopper” Harrison solemnly expressed the opinfon that the ball would cost Brewster at least $125000. The “Little Sons” looked at one another in conster- nalon, while Brewster’s indifference ex- pressed itself in an unflattering comment , “you would speculate about the price of gloves for your wed- ding.” Harrison resented the taunt. “It would be much less vulgar to do that, Monty, saving your presence, than to force your millions down every one's throat.” ““Well, they swallow them, I've noticed,” retorted Brewster, “as though they were chocolates.” Pettingill interrupted grandiloquently. “My friends and gentlemen!" “Which ts which?” asked Van Winkle, casually, But the artist was in the saddle. “Per- mit me to present you to the boy Croesus —the only one extant. His marbles are plunks and his kites are made of fiff dollar notes. He feeds upon coupons: a . la Newburgh, and his champagne is liq- uid golden eagles. Look at him, gentle- men, while you can, and watch him while he epends thirteen thousand dollars for flowers!"” ‘“With a Viennese orchestra for twenty- nine thousand!” added Bragdon. *‘And vet they maintain that silence is golden.” “And three singers to divide twelve thousand among themselves! That's ab- SUNDAY CALL. eolutely criminal” cried Van Winkle “Over in Germany they'd sing a month for half that amount.” “BIX hundrea guests to feed—total cost of not less than forty thousand dollars,” groaned “Nopper,” dolefully. *'And there aren’t six hundred in town,” lamented “Subway” Smith. “All that glory wasted on two hundred rank out- siders.” ou men are borrowing a lot of trou- yawned Brewster with a gallant ef- fort to seem bored. *All I ask of you is to come to the party and put up & good imitation of having the time of your life. Between you and me, I'd rather be caught at Huyler’s drinking icecream soda than giving this thing. But—" “That's what we want to know, but what?’ and “Subway” leaned forward eagerly. ; “But,” continued Monty, “I am in for anu it ig going to be a ball that Nevertheless the optimistic Brewster could not find the courage to tell Pegey of these picturesque extravagances. To satisfy her curiosity he blandly informed her that he was getting off much more cheaply than he had expected. He laugh- ingly denounced as untrue the stories that had come to her from outside sources. And before his convincing assertions thi reports were ridiculously exaggerated the troubled expression in the girl's eyes dis- appeared. - “I must seem a fool,” groaned Monty, as he left the house after one of these explanatory trials, ‘“but what will ‘she think of me toward the end the year when I am really in harnes: He found it hard to con- trol the desire to be straight with Peggy and tell her the story of his mad race in pursuit of poverty. Preperations for the ball went on stead- 1ly, and in it had its color to be a Span- ish costume ball, and at many tea tables the Yalk of it was a godsend. Sarcastic as it frequently was on the question of Monty’s extravagance, thers was a splen- dor ‘about the Aladdin-like entertainment which had a charm. Beneath the out- ward disapproval there was a secret’ ad- miration of the superb nerve of the mani And thers was little reluctance to help him in the wild career he had chosen. It was so easy to go with him to the edge of the precipice and let him take the plunge alone. Only the echo of the criticism reached Brewster, for he had silenced Harrison with work and Pettin- glll with opportunities. It troubled him little, as he was engaged In jotting down items that swelled the profit side of his ledger account enormously. The ball was bound to give him a good lead in the race once more, despite the heavy handl- cap the Stock Exchange had imposed. The “Little Sons” took off their coats and helped Pettinglll {n the work of prep- aration. He found them quite superflu- ous, for their ideas never agreed and each man had & way of preferring his own suggestion. To Brewster's chagrin they were united in the effort to curb his_extravagance. “He'll be glving automobiles and ropes of pearls for favors if we don’t stop him,” sald “‘Subway” Smith, after Monty had ordered a vintage champagne to be served during the entire evening. ‘“Give them two glasses first, if you like, and then they won’t mind if they have cider the rest of the might.” “Monty is plain dotty,” chimed in Brag- don, “and the pace is beginning to tell on him.” As a matter of fact the pace was be- ginning to tell on Brewster. Work and worry were plainly baving an effect on his health. His color was bad, his eyes wers losing their luster and thers was asked a listlessness in his actions that even “"determined effort could not conceal from his friends. Little fits of fever annoyed him occasionally and he admitted that he did not feel quite right. “Something is wrong somewhere,” he sald, ruefully, “and my whole system seems ready to stop work through sym- pathy.” Suddenly there was a mighty check to the preparations. Two days before the date set for the ball everything came to andstill and the managers sank back in perplexity and consternation. Monty Brewster was critically Il Appendicitis, the doctors called it, and an overation was imperative. “Thank heaven, it's fashionable,” laughed Monty, who showed no fear of the prospect. ‘‘How ridiculous if 1t had been the mumps, or if the newspapers had sald, ‘On account of the whooping cough, Mr. Brewster did not attend his ball.”” “You don’t mean to say—the ball is off, of course,” and Harrison was really alarmed. e ““Not a bit of it, Nopper,” said Monty. “It's what I've been wanting all along. You chaps do the handshaking and I stay at home."” There was #n immediate council of war when this plece of news was announced, and the “Little Sons” were unanimous in favor of recalling the invitations and declaring the party off. At first Monty was obdurate, but when some one sug- gested that he could give the ball later on, after he was well, he relented. The opportunity to double the cost by giving two parties was not to be ignored. “Call it off, then, but say that it is only postponed.” A great rushing to and fro resulted in the canceling of contracts, the recalling of invitations, the settling of accounts, with the most loval effort’ to save as much as possible from the wreckage. Harrison and his associates, almost fra .tlc with fear for Brewster's life, mang aged to perform wonders in the few hours of grace. Gardner with rare fore- sight saw that the Viennese orchestra would prove a dead loss. He suggested the possibility of a concert tour through the country, covering several weeks, and Monty, too 1l to care one way or the other, authorized him to carry out the plan if it seemed feasible. To Monty, fearless and less disturbed than any other member of his circle, appendicitis seemed as Inevitable as vac- cination. “The appendix is becoming an impor- tant feature in the Book of Life,” he once told Pegey Gray. He refused to go to a hospital, but pa- thetically begged to be taken to his old' rooms at Mrs. Gray's. With all the unhappy loneliness of a sick boy, he craved the care and com- panionship of those who seemed a part of his own, Dr, Lotless had them trans- form a smal bedchamber into a model operating room and Monty took no small satisfaction in the thought that if he was to be denied the privilege of spending money for several weeks, he would at least make his illness as ex- pensive as possible. A consultation of eminent surgeons was called, but true to his colors, Brewster installed Dr. Lotless, a “Little Son,” as his house surgeon. Monty grimly bore the n and suffe: ing and submitted to the operation which alone could save his life. Then came the struggle, then the promise of victory and then the quiet days of convalescence. In the little room where he had dreamed his boyish dreams and suffered Lis boy- ish sorrows, he struggled agalist death and gradually emerged from the iulsts of lassitude. He found It harder than he had thought to come back to life. The burden of it all seemed heavy. The trained nurses found that some more pow- erful stimulant than the mediciny was needed to awaken his ambition, and they discovered It at last In Peggy “Child,” he sald to her the first time she was permitted to see him, and his eyes had lights in thun; “Jo you know, this isn’t such & bad old world after all. Sometimes as I've laln hers. It has looked twisted and queer. But there are things that straighten it out. To-day 1 fesl as though 1 had a place In it—as though I could fight things and win out. What do you think, Peggy? Do you suppese there is something that I could do? You know ‘what I mean—something that some one else would not do & thousand times bet- ter.” But Peggy, to whom this chastenod mood in Monty was infinitely pathetic. would not let him talk. She soothed him and cheered him and touched his hair with her cool hands. And then she left him to think and brood and dream, It was many days before his turbulent mind drifted to the subject of money, but suddenly he found himself hoping that the surgeons would be generous Wiuli their charges. He almost suffered a re- lapse when Lotless, visibly distressed, informed him that the total amount would reach $3000. “And what {s the additional charge for the operation?”’ asked Monty, unwiling to accept such unwarranted favors. “It's included in the $3000,” sald Lotless. “They knew you were my friend and it was professional etiquette to help keep down expenses.” For days Brewster remained at Mrs. Gray's, happy In its restfulness, serene vnder the charm of Peggy's pres- ence, and satisfled to be hope- lessly behind in his daily expense account. The interest shown by the inquiries at the house and the anxiety of his friends were soothing to the profiigats. It gave him back a little of his lost self-respect. The doctors finally decided that he would best recuperate in Florida, and advised a month at least in the warmth. He leaged at the proposition, but took the law Into his own hands by ordering General Man- ager Harrison to rent a place, and Insist- ing that he needed the companionship of Peggy and Mrs. Gray. “How soon can I get back to work, doo- tor?’ demanded Monty, the day befors the special train was to carry him South, He was beginning to see the dark glde of this enforced idleness. His blood again was tingling with the desire to be back in the harness of a spendthrift. “To work?’ laughed the physician. “And what is your occupation, pray?”’ “Making other people rich,” responded Brewster, soberly. 5 ‘“Well, aren’t you satisfled with what you have done for me? If you are as charitable as that you must be still pretty sick. But be careful, and you may be on your feet again in five or six weeks.” Harrison came in as Lotless left. PB‘X smiled at him from the window. She h: been reading aloud from a novel so gar- rulous that it fairly cried aloud for inter- ruptions. “Now, Nopper, what became of the ball I was going to give?’ demanded Monty, a troubled look in his eyes. “Why, we called it off,” sald “Nopper,” in surprise. “Don’t you remember, Monty?' asked Peggy, looking up quickly, and wondering if his mind had gone tralling off. “I know we didn't give it, of course; but what date did you hit upon?” “We dldn't postpone it at all” said “Nopper.” ‘How could we? We didn't know whether—I mean, it wouldn't ha: been quite right to“do that sort of thin “I understand. Well, what has become of the orchestra, and the flowers, and all that?"” “The orchestra is gallivanting around the country, quarreling with itself and everybody else, and driving poor Gardner to the insane asylum. The flowers have lost their bloom long ago.” “Well, we'll get together, Nopper, and try to have the ball at mid-Lent. I think I'll be well by that time.” Peggy looked appealingly at Harrison for guidance, but to him silence seemed the better part of valor, and he went off wondering if the {llness had completely carried away Monty's reason. XVL IN THE SUNNY SOUTH. It was the cottage of a New York mil- Honalre which had fallen to Brewster. The owner had, for the time, preferred Italy to St. Augustine, and left his estate, which was well located and lavishly equipped, in the hands of his friends. Brewster’s lease covered three months, at a fabulous rate per month. With Joe Bragdon installed as manager In chief, his establishment was transferred bodily from New York and the rooms were soon as comfortable as their grandeur would permit. Brewster was not allowed to take advantage of his horses and the new automobile which preceded him from New York, but to his guests they offered unlimited opportunities. ‘“Nopper” Har- rison had remaimed in the north to re- new his arrangements for the now hated ball and to look after the advance detalls of the yacht crulse. Dr. Lotless and his sister, with “‘Subway” Smith and the Grays, made up Brewster's party. Lotless dampened Monty's epirits by relentlessly putting him on rigid diet, with most dis- couraging restrictions upon his conduct. The period of convalescence was to be an exceedingly trying one for the invalid. At first he was kept indoors, and the hours were whiled away by playing cards. But Monty considered ‘‘bridge” the “‘pons asinorum,” and preferred to play piquet with Peggy. It was one of these games that the girl interrupted with the ques- tion that had troubled her for many days. “Monty,” she sald, and she found it much more difficult then when she had rehears- ed the scene in the silence of her walks; “I've heard a rumor that Miss Drew and her mother have taken rooms at the ho- tel. Wouldn't it be pleasanter to have them here?” A heavy gloom settled upon Brewster's face, and the girl's heart dropped like lead. She had puzzled over the estrange- ment, and wondered if by any effort of her own things could be set right. At times she had had flashing hopes that it did not mean as much to Monty as she had thought. But down underneath, the fear that he was unhappy seemed . the only certain thing in life. She felt that make sure. And together with uman desire to know the worst, was the puritanical impulse to bring it about. “You forget that this is the last place they would care to Invade.” And in Brewster’s face Peggy seemed to read that for her martyrdom was the only wear. Bravely she put it on. « “Monty, I forget nothing that I really know. But this is a case In which you are quite wrong. Where is your sporting blood? You-have never fought a losing fight before, and you can't do it now. You have lost you nerve, Monty. Don’t you see that this is the time for an aggressive campaign?’ Somehow she was not say- ing things at all as she planned to say them. And upon her. “You don't mind, do you, Monty?" she added more softly, ‘“this sort of thing from me? I know I ought not to interfers, but I've known you so long. And I hate to see things twisted by a very little mistake.” But Monty d!d mind enormously. He bad no destre to talk about the thing any- ‘way, and Peggy's anxlety to marry him Off seemed a LIt unnecessary. Manifestly her own Interest In him was of the cold- est. From out of the gloom he looked at her somewhat sullenly. For the moment she was thinking only of his pain, and her face said nothing. “Peggy,” he exclaimed, finally, re- senting the necessity of answering her,” “you don't in the least know you are the girl broke in. “Not at all.” Brewster took It up. “She has no faith in me. She thinks I'm an ass.” ‘“Perhaps right,” she exclaimed, & little hot. “Perhaps you have never dis- covered that girls say many things to hide their emotions. Perhaps you don't realize what feverish, exclamatory, fool- ish things girls are. They don’t know how to be honest with the men they lo and they wouldn't if they did. You are little short of an idiot, Monty Brewster, i you belleved the things she sald rather than the things she looked.” 5 And Peggy, flery and determined and deflantly unhappy, threw down her cards and escaped so that she might not prove herself tearfully feminine. BShe left Brewster still heavily enveloped in mel- ancholy; but she left him puzzled. He began to wonder if Barbara Drew aid have something in the back of her mind. Then he found his thoughts wandering off toward Peggy gnd her deflance. He had only twice before seen her in that mood, and he liked it. He remembered how she had lost her temper once when she was 15, and hated a girl he admired. Suddenly he laughed aloud at the thought of the flerce little picture she had made, and the gloom, which had been s0 sedulously cultivated, was dissipated in a moment. The laugh surprised the man who brought in some letters. One of them was from “Nopper” Harrison, and gave him all the private news. The ball was to be given at mid-Lent, which arrived toward the end of March, and negotiations were well under way for the chartering of the Flitter, the steam yacht belonging to Reginald Brown, late of Brown & Brown. The letter made Brewster chafe under the bonds of inaction. His affairs were getting into a discouraging stal The {liness was certain to entall a of more than $0.000 to his business. His only consolation came through Harri- son’s synopsis of the reports from Gard- ner, who was managing the brief Ameri- can tour of the Viennese orchestra. (Continued next Sunday.) HAdmire Women With a Lovely Not You Be Admured 2 Corsets for the exacting. GChin People W]ade Fat and Fat Peo- ple Y)ade Chin by wearing these: NEMO') 7§ Self-Reducing CORSET VAN ORDEN LA GRECQUE Stout figures are lengthened into shapeliness, slender fig- ures gain an added round- ness by wearing these. $1.50, $2.75, $3.50 JOE ROSENBERS TN HOME OF GO0D CORSES 816 Market St. And Il O’Farrell St.