Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1905-12-01
CHAPTER XVII.

nREWSTER was comparatively
X well and strong when he re-
turned to New York In March.
- His illness had interfered ex-
tensively with his plan Of campaign,
and it was imperative that he redou-
bic his efforts, Notwithstanding the
manifest dlsmay of his friends. His
first act was to call upon Grant & Rip
ley. from whom he hoped to learn
what Swearengen Jones thought Of his
methods. The lawyers had heard no
complaint from Montana and advised
him to continue as he had begun, as
surfing him as far as they could that
Jones would not prove unreasonable.
An exchange Of kilograms just before
his operation had renewed Monty's
dread Of his eccentric mentor:
New York. Jan. g. 10.
Swearengen JONES' Butte. Mont:
How about having my life insuredt
Would Il violate conditioner
MONTGOMERY BREWSTER.
10 Montgomery Brewster. New York.
Seems to me your life would become an
asset In that case Can you dispose Of n
before Sept 23f JONES.
To Swearengen Jones. Butte, Mont:
On the contrary. think life will be .
debt by that time.
MONTGOMERY BREWSTER.
To Montgomery Brewster. New York:
II you feel that way about II, advise
you to take out . $500 policy. JONES.
To Swearengen Jones, Butte, Mont:
Do you think that amount would cover
MONTGOMERY BREWSTER.
To Montgomery Brewster. New York:
You won't be caring about expenses Il IT
comes to that. JONES.
The invitations for the second ball
had been out for some time, and the
preparations were nearly complete
when Brewster arrived upon the scene
Of festivity. 1t did not surprise him
that several old time friends should
hunt him up and protest vigorously
against the course he was pursuing,
nor did 1t surprise him when he found
that his presence was not as essential
to the success Of some other affair as 1t
had once been. He was not greeted rs
cordially as before, and he grimly Won
dered how many Of his friends would
stand true to the end. The uncertain
ty made him turn more and more often
to the unquestioned loyalty Of Peggy
Gray, and her little library saw him
more frequently than for months.
Much as he had dreaded the preten-
tious and Respondent ball, 1t was use
full to him in one way at least. The
profit" side Of his ledger account was
enlarged, and in that there was room
for secret satisfaction. The viennese
orchestra struggled into New York
headed by Elon Gardner, a physical
wreck, in time to make a harmonious
farewell appearance behind Brewster's
palms, which caused his guests to Won
der why the American public could
not appreciate the real thing. A care
ful summing up Of the expenses and
receipts proved that the tour had been
a bonanza for Brewster. The net loss
was a trifle more than $4,000 When
this story became known about town
everybody laughed pityingly, and poor
Gardner was almost In tears when he
tried to explain the disaster to the man
who lost the money. But Monty's
sense Of humor, singularly enough, did
not desert him on this trying occa-
sion.
Aesthetically the ball proved to be
the talk Of more than one season. Pet
tingill had justified bis desire for au-
thOrity and made name which would
last. He had taken matters into his
own hands while Brewster was in
Florida and changed the period from
the Spain Of Velasquez to France and
Louis QuinZe. After the cards were
out he remembered, to his consterna-
ton, that the favOrs purchased for the
Spanish ball would be entirely inap-
propriate for the French one. He wir-
ed Brewster at once Of this misfortune
and was astonished at the nonchalance
Of his reply. "But, then. Monty always
was a good sort" he thought, with n
glow Of affection. The new plan was
more costly than the old, for it was no
simple matter to build a Versailles
suit at Sherry's.
Pettingill was no imitatOr, but he
created an effect which was superbly
in keeping with the period he had
chosen. Against 1t the rich costumes,
with their accompaniment of wigs and
powdered hair. shone out resplendent.
With great difficulty the artist had Sc
cured for Monty costume In white