The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1903-09-13
CHATTER XXI.

Soon after noon on the I'D of Septem-
Der, Monty folded his report 70 Swear
engen Jones, stuck IL into his pocket and
sailed forth. A parcel delivery wagon
had carried of mysterious bundle few
minutes before Mrs. Gray could not con-
ceal her wonder, but Brewster's answers
10 her questions threw little light on the
mystery. He could not tell her the big
bundle contained the receipts that were
10 prove his sincerity when the time came
to settle with Mr. Jones. Brewster had
used his own form of receipt for every
purchase. The little stub receipt books
had been made to order for him and not
only he but every person in his employ
carried one everywhere. No matter how
trivial the purchase the person who re-
ceived a dollar Of Brewster's money
signed a receipt for the amount News
boys and bootblacks were the only
beings who escaped the formality;
tips TO walters. porters, Cables. etc,
were recorded and afterward put into a
class by themselves. Receipts for the
few dollars remaining in his possession
were to be turned over on the morning
Of the go and the general report was not
TO be completed until 9 o'clock on that
day.
He kissed Peggy good-by. told her to
be ready for a drive at 4 O'Clock, and
then went off to find Joe Bragdon and
Elon Gardner. They met him by ap-
pointment and to them he conflded his
design to be married on the following
day.
You can't afford it, Monty" exploded
Joe, fearlessly. Peggy is too good girl.
By CAD, it isn't fair to her"
I'VE have agreed to begin life to-mor-
row. Wait and see the result 1 think il
viii surprise you incidentally IL is up to
me to get the license to-day and to en-
gage a minister's services. 1t is going to
be quiet, you know. Joe, you can be my
best man il you like and, Gardie, I'll ex-
pect you TO sign your name as one of the
witnesses. Tomorrow evening Wen have
supper at Mrs. Gray's and among those
present will not comprise a very large
list, I assure you. But we'll talk about
that later on. Just now I want to ask
you fellows to lend me enough money to
get the license and pay the preacher. III
return IL tomorrow afternoon"
well, I'm damned" exclaimed Card
ner, utterly dumfounded by the nerve Of
the man. But they went with him to get
the license and Bragdon paid for it,
Gardner promised TO have the minister at
the Gray house the next morning Monty's
other request-made in deep seriousness
was that Peggy was not TO be told OF the
little transaction in which the license and
the minister figured so prominently He
Ripley. The bundles Of receipts had pre-
ceded him.
HAS Jones arrived in town." was his
first anxious question after the greetings
He is not registered at any of the no.
tells" responded Mr.. Grant, and Brewster
did not see the troubled look that passed
over his face.
He'll show up tonight, I presume"
said he. cOmplacently. The lawyers did
not tell him that all the kilograms they
had sent to Swearengen Jones in the past
two weeks had been returned TO the New
York Office as unclaimed in Butte. The
telegraph company reported that Mr.
Jones was not to be found and that he
had not been seen in Butte since the Sd
OF September. The lawyers were hourly
expecting word from Montana men to
whom they had telegraphed for informa-
ton and advice. They were extremely
nervous, but Montgomery Brewster was