Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1905-11-24

Y In strict obedience to his
a n chiefs command hopper Har-
rison had leased until the Septem-
Der following one of the most eXpen-
sive apartments to be found in New
York city. The rental was $4,000,
and the shrewd financial representa-
tive had saved $1,000 for his employer
by paying the sum in advance. But
when he reported this bit of economy
to Mr.. Brewster he was surprised that
it brought forth frown. Il never saw
Il man who had less sense about mon
ey," muttered Hopper to himself.
"Why, he spends it like a Chicago mil
liOnaire trying to get into New York
society. If it were not for the rest of
US he'd be a pauper in six months"
Paul Pettingill. to his own intense
surprise and, it must be said, con-
sternation, was engaged to redccorate
certain rooms according to a plan sug-
gested by the tenant. The rising young
artist in a great furry of excitement
agreed to do the work for 5000 and
then bluShed like schoolgirl when he
was Informed by the practical Brew
one room alone would cost twice as
, much.
Petty, you have no more idea of
business than goat" criticised Mont
gomery. And Paul lowered his head in
humble confession. THAT man who
calcimnes your studio could figure on
a piece of work with more intelligence
than you reveal. I'll pay $1,000. It's
only fair price, and l can't afford
anything cheap in this place"
AT this rate you won't be able to
afford anything" said Pettingill to
himself
And so it was that Pettingll and a
corps of decorators soon turned the
rooms into Il confusion of scaffoldings
and paint buckets, out of which in the
end emerged something very distn-
guished. No one had ever thought
/ Pettingill deficient in ideas. and this
was his opportunity. The only draw
back was the time limit which Brew
ster so remorselessly fixed Without
that he felt that he could have done
something splendid in the way of dec
orative understanding that would
make even the glory of Puvis de Cha
vannes turn pallid. With it he was
obliged to curb his turbulent ideas
and he decided that a rich simplicity
was the proper note. The result was
gorgeous, but not too gorgeous-it had
depth and distinction
! Elated and eager, he assisted Brew
ster in selecting furniture and hang
ings for each room, but he did not
know that his employer was making
conditional purchases OF everything
Mr.. Brewster had agreements with al
the dealers TO the effect that they were
to buy everything back at a fair price
If he desired to give up his establish
ment within year. He adhered to this
rule in all cases that called for the
purchase outright of substantial ne
cessities. The bump of calculativeness
in Monty Brewster's head was growing
to abnormal proportions.
In retaining his rooms at Mrs. Gray's
he gave the fiimsy but pathetic excuse
that he wanted a place in which he
might find occasional seasons of peace
and quiet. When Mrs. Gray protested
against this useless bit of eXtrava
gance his grief was so obviously gen
uine that her heart was touched, and
there was a deep, fervent joy in heI
soul. She loved this fair faced boy
and tears of happiness came to hel
eyes when she was given this new
proof of his loyalty and devotion. His
rooms We're kept for him just as if he
had expected to occupy them every day
and every night. Notwithstanding the
luxurious apartments he was to main
tain elsewhere. The Oliver Optic
books still lay in the attic, all tattered
and torn, but to Margaret the embodi
ment of prospective riches, promises OF
sweet hours to come. She knew Mon
ty well enough to feel that he would
not forget the dark little attic of old