Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1905-12-28
there were others on which he spent
much less than 1000. but the average

much less than $1,000. but the average
was secure. Taking everything into
consideration, Brewster found that his
fortune had dwindled to a few paltry
thousands In addition to the proceeds
which would come to him from the sale
of his furniture. On the whole he was
satisfied.
The landing in New York and the
separation which followed were not en-
tirely merry. Every discomfort was
forgotten. and the travellers only knew
that the most wonderful cruise since
that of the ark had come to an end.
There was not one who would not have
been glad to begin it again the next
day.
Immediately after the landing Brew
ster and Gardner were busy with the
details of settlement. After clearing
ND all Of the obligations arising from
the cruise they felt the appropriate
ness Of a season of reflection. 1t was a
difficult moment-a moment when up-
delivered reproofs were in the air. But
Gardner seemed much the more melan
choly OF the two.
Piles of newspapers lay scattered
about the ioor of the room in which
they sat. Every one of them contained
sensational stories of the prodigaFs
trip, with pictures, incidents and pre-
d~ictions. Monty IA panied, humili-
ated and resentful. but he was honest
enough 10 aGMit the justification OF
much that was said Of him. lie read
bits Of il here and tEe.c2E1 then tlrew
the papers aside L nelessly. In a few
weeks they would tell another story
and quite as emphatically.
THE worst OF it. Monty, is that you
are the next thing to being a poor
man. groaned Gardner. i've Gone
my best to economic for you here at
home, as you'll see by these figures,
but nothing could possibly balance the
extravagances of this voyage. They
are simply appalling"
With the condemnation OF his friends
ringing in his troubled brain. with the
sneers of acquaintances to distress his
pride, with the gibes of the comic pa
pers to torture him remorselessly,
Brewster was fast becoming the most
miserable man in New York. Friends
of former days gave him the cut di-
rect, clubmen ignored him or scorned
him openly. women chilled him with
the iciness Of %unspoken reproof, and
all the world was hung with shad-
ows. The doggedness of despair kept
him up, but the strain that pulled
down on him was so relentless that
the struggle was losing its equality.
He had not expected such a home COM
ing.
Compared with his former self Mon
ty was now almost a physical wreck,
haggard, thin and defiant, a shadow
Of the once debonair young New York
err, an object of pity and scorn. Asham-
ed and despairing, be had almost lack
ed the courage to face Mrs. Gray. The
consolation he nee gained through her
he now denied himself, and his suffer
ing, peculiar as it was, was very real.
In absolute recklessness he gave din
ner after dinner, party after party. all
on a most lavish scale, many OF his
SuColo huEhihS ~ hihh VPthiJ "hA'N
they enjoyed his hospitality. The real
friends demonstrated, pleaded, did
everything within their power to check
his awful rush TO poverty, but without
success. He was not to be stopped.
At last the furniture began to go, then
the plate, then all the priceless brio
a-brac.. Piece by piece it disappeared
until the apartments were empty and
he had squandered almost all Of the
S40,350 arising from the sales. The
servants were paid off, the apartments
reiinquished, and he was beginning to
know what it meant to he ION his
uppers.' At tie banks he ascertained
that the interest on his moneys
amounted to $191A0.S6. A week be-
fore the 23d Of September the whole
million was gone, including the
amounts won i'm Lumber and Fuel and
other luckless enterprises. He still
had about $1,000 Of his interest
money In the banks, but he had a bill,
lion pangs in his heart-the interest on
his improvidence.