Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-06-27

Since his grandfather's death he had I been staying at the gloomy old Brew ster house in Fifth avenue paying but two or three hurried visits to the rooms at Mrs Gray's where he had made his home The gloom of death still darken- ed the Fifth avenue place. and there was a stiffness, a gentle stealthiness, about the house that made him long for more cheerful companionship. He wondered dimly if fortune always carried the suggestion of tuberoses. The richness and strangeness of it all hung about him unpleasantly. He had had no extravagant affection for the grim old dictator who was dead, yet his grandfather was a man and had commanded his respect. It seemed brutal to leave him out of the reckoning ito dance on the grave of the mentor who had treated him so well. The at titude of the friends who cIapped him on the back, of the newspapers which congratulated him, of the crowd that expected him to rejoice, repelled him. It seemed a tragic comedy, haunted too, by memories and by sharp regret for his own foolish thoughtlessness Even the fortune itself weighed upon him at moments with a 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 wealth. 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 his money in enter prises with certified futures. When he was not engaged in declining a gold mine in Colorado, worth $5,00O.0OO, marked down to S450. he was avoiding a guileless inventor who offered to sac i rifice the secrets of marvellous de vice for $500 or denying the 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 i Gonaire was rubbing his eyes and still dodging the bombshell that dream anarchist had hurled from the pima cle of a 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 l diabolical stories of how conscienceless 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.
 1 The directors of the bank met and adopted resolutions lamenting the death of their late president passed the 1 leadership on to the first vice president and speedily adjourned The question of admitting Monty to the directory was brought up and discussed, but it 1 was left for time to settle.
 +--One of the directors wus Colonel 1 Prentiss Drew. the railroad mag nate" of the newspapers. He had shown fondness for young Mir. Brew ster. and Monty had been a frequent visitor at bis 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 he 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 a fortune, and. with judgment you ought to he able to triple it. If can help you in any way. come and see me"
 Monty thanked him.
 You'll be bored 10 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 new chance to make money every day of your life. so go slowly. I'd have been rich years and years ago If I'd had sense enough to rln away from promoters. They'll all { try 10 get whack at your money. Keep your eye open. Monty. The rich young man is always a tempting nor sell After a moments reflection he added. Wont you come out and dine with us tomorrow nighti"
 CHAPTER III. K IRs GRAY lived in Fortieth