, 1905-10-18

electric car to Fortieth street and
Broadway and then walked eagerly Off
into the street of the mineral. He had
not yet come to the point where he felt
like scorning the cars ever though a
roll of bank notes was tucked snugly
away in a pocket that seemed to swell
with sudden affiuence. Old Hendrick.
faithful s~ervitor through two genera
tons, was sweeping the autumn leaves
from the sidewalk when Montgomery
came up to the house.
Hello, Hendrick," was the young
mans CHEEKY greeting. Nice lot of
leaves you have there"
"So?" ebbed from Hendrick, who did
not 60" so much as look up from his
work. 4Iendrick was Il human clam.
Mrs. Gray in?'
A grunt that signified yes.
you're as loquacious as ever. Hen
drick.'
A mere nod.
Brewster let himself in with his own
latchkey, threw his hat on a chair and
unceremoniously bolted into the libra
ry. Margaret was seated near Il win
dow, a book in her lap. The first evil
dence of unbiased friendship he had
seen in days shone in her smile. She
took his hand and said simply, 1--WE are
glad to welcome the prodigal to his
home again."
81 remind myself more of the fatted
calf"
Her first self consciousness had gone.
sT fhp,,nht Of that hIIt 7 diIy't do 20
say it," she laughed. lone must be
respectful to rich relatives"
Hang your rich relatives, Peggy.
II l thought that this money would
make any difference l would give 1t up
this minute"
Nonsense, Montyw she said. "How
could it make a difference? But you
must admit it is rather startling. The
friend Of our youth leaves his humble
dwelling Saturday night with his sal
airy drawn for two weeks ahead. He
returns the following Thursday a daz-
zling millionaire"
I'm glad I've begun to dazzle any
way. l thought 1t might be hard to
look the part"
"Well. l can't see that you are much
changed" There was u suggestion of a
did not prevent him from seeing the
quick mist that fitted across her deep
eyes.
"After all, it's easy work being a mil
Monaire," he explained, when you've
always had million dollar inclinations.'
"And fifty cent possibilities" she
added.
REALLY, though, I'll never get as
much joy out of my abundant riches
as 1 did out of financial embarrass-
ments."
But think how fine 1t is, Monty, not
eyer to wonder where III winters
o%yercoat is to come from and how
long the coal will last and all that"
"Oh, I never wondered about my
oyercoats. The tailor did the wonder
ing. But I wish l could go on living
here just as before. I'd n heap rather
live here than at that gloomy place on
the avenue"
That sounded like the things you
used to say when we played III the
garnet. You'd a heap sooner do this
than that, don't you ~remember?'
That's just why I'd rather live here.
Peggy. Last night l fell to thinking of
that old garnet, and hanged if some
thing didn't come up and stick in my
throat so tight that l wanted to cry.
How long has it been since we played
up there? Yes, and how long has it
been since l read Oliver Optic to you,
lying there in the garnet window while
you sat with your back against the
wall, your blue eyes as big as dollars?"
"Oh, dear me, Monty, it was ages
ago-twelye or thirteen years, at
least" she cried, a soft light in her
eyes.
I'm going up there this afternoon to
see what the place is like" he said ca
gerly. And, Peggy, you must come
too. Maybe l can find of those
Optic books, and we'll be young
again"
Just for old times sake,' she said
impulsively. you'll stay for luncheon
too"
"I1l have to be at the-no, | won't
either. Do you know, 1 was thinking 1
had to be at the bank at 1870 to let
Mr.. Perkins go out for something to
eat? The millionaire habit isn't so
firmly fixed as 1 supposed" After a
moments pause, in which his growing
seriousness changed the atmosphere,
he went on haltingly, uncertain of his
position, 1.-The incest thing about hay
ing all this money is that-that-we
won't have TO deny ourselves ANYTHING