Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-08-17

was . stiffness, q gentle stealthiness,
about the house that NADIA him long
for more cheerful compa NJ 6nship. He
wondered dimly II q fortune always
carried the suggestion Of tuberOses.
The richness and strangeness Of II all
hung about him unpleasantly. He had
had no extrnvagant affection for the
grim old dictator who was dead, yet
bis grandfather was q man and had
commanded his respect. II seemed
brutal to leave him out Of the reckoning
to dance on the grave Of the mentor
who had treated him 30 we'll. The at.
titude Of the friends who clapped him
on the back, Of the newspapers which
congratulated him, Of the crowd that
expected him to rejoice. repealed him.
1t seemed a tragic comedy. haunted,
too, by memories and BY sharp regret
for his own foolish thong htlessness.
Even the fortune itself weighed upon
him Mt moments with q half defined
melancholy.
Yet the situation was not without
its compensations. For several days
when Ellis called him at he would
answer him and thank fortune that
he was not required at the bank that
morning The luxury Of another hour
Of sleep seemed the greatest perquisite
Of KNalth. His morning mail amused
him at first, for since the newspapers
had published his prosperity to the
world he was deluged with letters. Re-
quests for public or private charity
were abundant. but most Of his cor
respondents were generous and thought
only Of his own good
For three days he was IN a hopeless
state Of bewilderment. He was visit
ed by reporters, photographers and in
genious strangers, who benevolently
offered to invest bis money In enter
prises with certified futures. When he
was not engaged in declining a gold
mine in Colorado, worth $5.OOO,OO0
marked down to $3.50. he was avoiding
q guilelcss inventor who offered to sac.
ritce the secrets Of a marvellous de-
vice for $500 or denying che report that
he had been rendered the presidency
Of the First National bank.
Oliver Harrison stirred him out early
one morning and, while the sleepy mil.
lionaire was rubbing his eyes and still
lodging the bombshell that dream
anarchist had hurled from the pima.
Gle of bedpost, urged him in excited,
confidential tones to take time by the
forelock and prepare for possible
breach Of promise suits. Brewster sat
on the edge Of the bed and listened to
diabolical stories Of how constituencies
females had feeced innocent and even
godly men Of wealth. From the bath.
room between splashes he retained
Harrison by the year, month, day and
hour to stand between him and black.
mail.
The directors Of the bank met and
adopted resolutions lamenting the
death Of their late president. passed the
leadership on to the first vice president
and speedily adjourned. The question
Of admitting Monty to the directory
was brought up and discussed, but II
was left for time to settle.
One Of the directors was Colonel
Prentis, Drew. 'the railroad mag
nate" Of the newspapers. lie bad
shown fondness for young Mr.. Brew.
ster, and Monty had been a frequent
visitor at Ills house. Colonel Drew
called him my dear boy" and Monty
called him "a bully old chap" though
not in his presence. But the existence
Of Miss Barbara Drew may have had
something to do with the feeling be-
tween the two men.
AS he left the directors room on the
afternoon Of the meeting Colonel Drew
came up to Monty, who had notified
the officers Of the bank that be was
leaving.
"Ah, my dear boy" said the colonel
shaking the young mans hand warmly
"now you have a chance to show What
you can do You have fortune. and
with Judgment. you ought to be able
to triple it, II can help you in any
way. come and see me-"
Monty thanked him.
you'll be bored to death by the raft
Of people who have ways to spend your
money" continued the colonel. Don't
listen to any of them. Take your time
You'll have q new chance to make
money every day Of your life, 80 &C
slowly. I'd have been rich years and
years ago II I'd had sense enough Il
run away from promoters. They'll al
try to get a whack at your money
Keep your eye open. Monty. The rict
young man ia always tempting NOR
sell" After a moments reflection hi
added, won't you come out and dint
with 10 tomorrow night?"
CHAPTER III.