The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1905-09-29

cost Of not less than 10000" groaned
hopper dolefully.
And there aren't coo I'm town." In.
mented Subway Smith. "Ali that glory
wasted on 200 rank outsiders"
You men are borrowing n lot OF trou-
ole, yawned Brewster, with q gallant
EFFORT to seem bored. "All ask of you
is to come to the party and put up a
good imitation Of having the time of
your nfe. Between you md me, I'd
rather be caught drinking Ice cream So
da than giving this thing. But
That's what we want TO know-but
what?" and Subway leaned forward
eagerly.
But" continued Monty, Il am in for
1t now, and 1t is going to be ball that
Is ball."
nevertheless the optimistic Brewster
could not fnd the courage to tell Peg
gy OF these picturesque extravagances
To satisfy her curiosity he blandly I'm.
FORMED her that he was getting Off
much more creaply than he had expect
ed. de laushingly denounced as untrue
the stories that had come to her from
outside sources, and before his con-
vlncing assertions that reports were ri.
diculously exaggerated the troubled e1-
preston IN the girls eyes disappeared.
must seem fool" groaned Mon
" as ne left the house after one of
these explanatory trials. "but what
VIII she think Of me toward the end of
the year when am really in harness?,
he FOUND 1t hard to control the desire
70 De straight with Peggy and tell her
the story Of his mad race in pursuit of
poverty.
Preparations for the ball went on
steadily. and In dull winter It had
Its color value for society. 1t was to
De Spanish costume ball, and at
many tea tables the talk Of It was a
g0dsend. Sarcastic as it frequently
was on the question Of Aionty's extray-
agance, ere was a splendor about the
Aladdin-like entertainment which had
charm. Beneath tho outward disap-
provnl there was a secret admiration
of the superb nerve Of the man. And
there was little reluctance to help him
In the wild career he had chosen. It
was so easy to 60 with him to the edge
OF the precipice and let him take the
plunge alone. Only the echo Of the
-e-atsessra -ro~rnra DTcwsrer. Tor ne had
silenced Harrison with work ana Pet
tinsill with opportunities. 1t troubled
him little. as he was engaged in jottlng
down items that swelled the profit side
of his ledge: account enormously. The
ball was bound to give him good lead
In the race once more despite tho
heavy handicap the Stock Exchange
had imposed. The Little Sons took
on their coats and helped Pettingill in
the work Of preparation. He found
them quite superfuous, for their ideas
never agreed, and each ma, had way
Of preferring his own suggestion. To
Brewster's chagrfn, they were united
In the effort to curb his extravaganza.
He'll be giving automobiles and
ropes Of pearls for favors II we don't
stop him." said Subway Smith after
Monty had ordered q vinRge cham
payne to be served during the entire
evening. "Give them two glasses first,
II you like. and then they won't mind
II they have cider the rest Uf the
night"
Monty Is plain dotty," chimed in
Bragdon. "and the pace is beginning to
tell on him."
As matter Of fact the pace was be-
ginning to tell on Brewster. Work and
worry were plainly having an effect OH
his health. His color was bad, his
eyes were losing their luster, and there
was listlessness In his actions that
even determined effort could not con-
ceal from his friends. Little fits Of
fever annoyed him occasionally, and
he admitted that he did not feel quite
right
Something is wrong somewhere" he
said ruefully, "and my whole system
seems ready to stop work through SYM
pathy."
Suddenly there was mighty check
to the preparations. Two days before
the date set for the ball everything
came to a standstiu and the managers
sank back IN perplexity and consterna-
tion. Monty Brewster was critically
| Ill.
Appendicitis, the doctors called 1t,
and IN operation was imperative.
THANK heaven it's fashionable"
laughed Monty, who showed no fear Of
| the prospect. How ridiculous IL 1t
had been the mumps or II the newspa-
pers had said, On account of the
whooping cough Mr.. Brewster did not
attend bis balip"
you don't mean to say-the ball Is
| of, Of course" And Harrison was real
| ly alarmed.
"Not bit Of 1t, Hopper" said Monty.
TITS what I've been wanting all along
| You chaps do the handshaking and
stay at home"
There was an immediate council OF