Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-08-24


Enthusiastically predicted that he could
get 500 apiece for them. Brewster
loved dogs, yet for one single horrible
moment nc longcd to massacre the
helpless little creatures. But the old
affection came back to him, and he
hurried out with Bragdon to inspect
the brood.
"And I've either got to sell them or
kill them," he groaned. Later on he in
structed Bragdon to sell the pups for
$25 apiece and went away, ashamed to
look their proud mother in the face.
Fortune smiled on him before the
day was over. however. He took Sub
way Smith for a ride In the green
juggernaut," bad weather and bad
roads Notwithstanding. Monty lost con-
troll of the machine aud headed for
subway excavation. He and Smith
saved themselves by leaping to the
pavement, sustaining slight bruises,
but the great machine crashed through
the barricade and dropped to the bot
tom Of the trench far below. To
Smiths grief and Brewsters delight
the automobile was hopelessly ruined,
q clear loss Of many thousands. Mon
tvs JOY was short lived. for It was
soon learned that three luckless work
men down in the depths had been bad
" injured by the green meteor from
above. The mere fact that Brewster
could and did pay literally for the re-
lief of the poor fellows afforded him
little consolation. His carelessness
and possibly his Indifference had
brought suffering to these men and
their families. which was not pleasant
to look back upon. Lawsuits were
avoided by compromise. Each OF the
injured men received $4,000.
At this time every one was interested
in the charity bazaar at the Astoria.
Society was on exhibition, and the pub
lie paid for the privilege of gazing at
the men ais1 women whose names
filled the society columns. Brewster
frcquented the booth presided over by
Miss Drew, and there seemed to be
no end to his philanthropy. The bazaar
lasted two days and nights. and after
that period his account book showed
an even profit" Of nearly $4,000.
Monty's serenity. however. was con-
siderably ruffied by the appearance of
new and aggressive claimant for the
smiles of the fair Barbara. He was a
Californian Of immense wealth and I'M
bounded confidence in himself. and
letters to people in New York had given
him certain cntree. The triumphs in
love and finance that had come with
his twOscore years and ten had de-
molishcd every vcstige Of timidity that
may have been born with him. He
was successful enough in the. world of
finance to have become four or five
times II millionaire, and he had Jared
SO we'll in love that twice he had been
a widOwer. Rodney Grimes was start
ing out to win Barbara with the same
dash and impulsiveness that overcame
Mary Farrell, the cook in the mining
camp, and Jane Boothroyd. the school.
teacher, who came to California ready
to marry the first man who asked her.
He was penniless prospector when he
married Mary, and when he led Jane
to the altar she rejoiced in having
captured q husband worth ut least
1000.
He We'd with Brewster in patronizing
Barbara's booth, and he rushed into
the conflict with an impetuosity that
seemed destined to carry everything
before II. Monty was brushed aside,
Barbara was pre-empted as if she We're
mining claim, and ten days after his
arrival in New York Grimes was tho
most talked of man in town. Brewster
was not the sort to be dispatched with.
out struggle. however. Recognizing
Grimes as an obstacle. but not as ri
val, he once more donned his armor and
beset Barbara with all the zest Of a
champion who seeks to protect and not
to conquer. He regarded the Califor.
MAN as an impostor, and summary ac
ton was necessary. II know all about
him. Babs," he said one day after he
felt sure Of his position. why, his
father was honored by the V. c. on the
coast in 40"
1.-THE Victoria CROSSE" asked Barbara
| innocently.
"No. the vigilance committee"
In this way Monty routed the enc
| my and cleared the field before the END
Of another week. Grimes transferred
his Objectionable affection. and Barba
ra was not even asked to he wife No
B. Brewster's campaign was SO ARDEN
that he neglected other duties deplora
bly,, falling far behind his mproviden
average. With Grimes disposed of. HI
once more fOrsoOk the battlefield Of
love and gave his harassed and undi
vided attention to his own peculiar
business.
. The fast and loose game displeaset
Miss Barbara greatly. She was Mt frs
surprised, then piqued. then resentful
Monty gradually awoke to the distress
Ing fact that she was going to be In
tractable. as he put 1t. and forthwith
undertook to smooth the troubled sea
To his amazement and concern, sh'
was not to be appeased.
"Does 1t occur to you. Monty" sh'
said, with a gentle GOODNESS that wa
infinitely worse than heat. that 70,
have been carrying things with pref
ty high hand? Where did you acquire
the right to interfere with my priv
leges? You seem to think that l an
not to speak to any man hut YOU"
"Oh. come. now. Babs," retorte,
Monty, 1--WE not been quite as un
| voocouohio TINT And vn,, Lnou