Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-07-05
IcoNT1NuEp.1
CHAPTER Xv.

ucdUuucS udu dllHouuCeu, IhaSulilSChs Ball to Be Given Miss Drew by Her Finance" and the Little Sons of the Rich wondered why Monty did not see the humor of it.
 "He has too bad an attack to see any thing but the lady" said Harrison one evening when the Sons were. gathered for an old time supper party.
 Its always the way" commented the philosophical Bragdon. When you lose your heart your sense of humor goes too. Engaged couples couldn't do such ridiculous stunts if they had the feast particle of it left.'
 AWell, if Monty Brewster Is still in love with Miss Drew he takes mighty poor way of showing it." Subway Smiths remark fell like a bombshell The thought had come to every one, but no one had been given the courage to utter it. For them Brewster's si- lence on the subject since the DeMllle dinner seemed to have something om- inous behind it.
 Its probably only lovers quar- rel" said Bragdon. But further com ment was cut short by the entrance of Monty himself, and they took their places at table.
 Before the evening came to an end they were in possession of many aston ishing details in connection with the coming ball. Monty did not say that 1t was to be given for Miss Drew, and her name was conspicuously absent from his descriptions. As he unfolded his plans even the Little Sons, who were imaginative by instinct and reck- less on principle, could not be quite acquiescent.
 Hopper Harrison solemnly expressed the opinion that the ball would cost Brewster at least $125,OOO. The Little Sons looked at one another in con- sternation, while Brewster's indiffer- ence expressed itself in an unfatter- ing comment upon his friends vulgar ity. Good Lord, Nopper," he added, 'you would speculate about the price of gloves for your wedding"
 Harrison resented the taunt. Tt would be much less vulgar to do that, Monty, saving your presence, than to force your millions down every ones throat"
 "Well, they swallow them, I've no- ticed,' retorted Brewster, "as though they were chocolates. v ''--'0'H ''
 Pettingill interrupted grandiloquent- ly, "My friends and gentlemenr'
 (Which is which?" asked Van Win kle casually.
 But the artist was in the saddle. "Permit me to present you to the boy Croesus-the only one extant. His mar bles are plunlls, and his kites are made of fifty dollar notes He feeds upon coupons la Newburg. and his cham pagne is liquid golden eagles. Look at him, gentlemen. while you can and watch him while he spends S13,000 for howers!'
 "With Viennese orchestra for twen- ty-nine thousand"' added Bragdon. "And yet they maintain that silence is golden"
 And three singers to divide twelve thousand among themselves. That's ab- solutely criminal" cried Van Wrinkle. ''Over in Germany they'd sing a month for half that amount"
 "Six hundred guests to feed-total cost of not less than $40,O0o." groaned Nopper dolefully.
 And there aren't GOO in town" la mented Subway Smith All that glory wasted on 200 rank outsiders"
 You men are borrowing lot of trou- ble," yawned Brewster. with a gallant effort to seem bored. All ask of you is to come to the party and put ID a good imitation of having the time of your life. Between you and me. I'd rather be caught drinking ice cream so- da tian giving this thing. But
 That's what we want to know-but what?" and Subway leaned forward eagerly.
 But" continued Monty. T em in for ii now. and it is going to he ball that is ball"
 Nevertheless the optimistic Brewster could not find the courage to tell Peg gy of these picturesque extravagances. To satisfy her curiosity he blandlv in- formed her that he was getting of much more cheaply than he had expect ed. He laughingly denounced as untrue the stories tbst had come to her from outside sources. and before his con vincing assertions that reports were ri- diculously exaggerated tho troubled ex- pression in the girls eyes disappeared.
 "1 must seem q fOol.' grOaned Mon ty as he left the house after one of these explanatory trials. but what will she think of me toward the end of the year when I am really in harnessT' He found it hard 10 control the desire to be 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 s dull winter it had fits color value for society. It was to be a Spanish costume ball. and st many tea tables t,e talk of ft was godsend. Sarcastic as it frequently was on the question of MontT-s extrav- agance. there was SpIendor about the Aladdin-like entertainment which had charm. Beneath the outward disap- provsl there was a secret admiration of the superb nerve of the man And there vss little reluctance to help him in the wild career be had chosen Ii was % easy to go with him to che edge 0 the precipsce and lei him take the