Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-07-08

1 Italy than anywhere else He studied the outlook from every point of view, but there were moments when it seem 1 ed hopeless. Baedeker was provoking 1 ly barren of suggestions for e1trava- gance, and Monty grew impatient of the , books small economies. Noticing some chapters on the Italian lakes, in an in- spired moment he remembered that Pettingill had once lost his heart to a villa on the lake of Como. Instantly a new act of the comedy presented itself to him. He sought out Pettingill and demanded description of his castle in the air.
 "Oh, it's wonder exclaimed the i artist. And his eyes grew dreamy. Tt shines out at you with its white ter races and turrets like those fascinat- ing castles that MaXfeld Parrish draws for children. It is fairyland. You ex- pect to wake and find it gone"
 Oh, drop that. Petty" said Brew ster, "or it will make you poetical What I want to know is who owns it and is it likely to be occupied at this season."
 | Tt belongs to a certain marouise, who is a widow with no children. They say she has a horror of the place for some reason and has never been near it. It is kept as though she were to 1 turn up the next day, but except for the servants it is always deserted"
 The very thing declared Brewster Petty, we'll have house party
 You'd better not count on that. Mon ty. A man I know ran across the place once and tried for year to buy it But the lady has ideas of her own" ''Well, if you wish to give him hint or two about how to do things, watch me. If you don't spend two weeks in your dream castle I will cut the crowd and sail for home''
 He secured the name of the owner and found that Pettingill had even remote idea of the address of her agent. Armed with these facts, he set out in search of a courier, and through Phi lippe he secured Frenchman named Bertier. who was guaranteed to be sur prisingly ingenious in providing meth ods of spending money. To him Brew ster confded his scheme. and Bertier realized with rising enthusiasm that at last he had secured client after his own heart. He was able to complete the address of the agent of the mys- %n-iN t,a-x fyy- immediately telegraphed to him.
 The agents reply would have been discouraging to any one but Brewster. It stated that the owner had no inten- ton of leasing her forsaken castle for any period whatever. The prohigate learned that fair price for an estate of that kind for a month was 10000 francs, and he wired an offer of five times that sum for two weeks. The agent replied that some delay would be necessary while he communicated wi;h his principal. Delay was the one word that Brewster did not understand. so he wired him an address in Genoa, and the Filter was made ready for sea.
 
 account would compare favorably with that of an ocean liner. Philippe was breathless with joy when he was paid in advance for another month at the hotel on the assumption that the party might be moved to return at any mo- ment The little town was gay at part ing. and Brewster and his guests were given a royal farewell.
 At Genoa the mail had accumulated and held the attention of the yacht to the exclusion of everything else. Brewster was somewhat crestfallen to learn that the lady of the villa haughti- ly refused his princely offer. He won the lifelong devotion of his courier by promptly increasing 1t to 100000 francs. When this, too, met with re- iection there was a pause as well as a serious consultation between the two.
 "Bertier," exclaimed Brewster, T must have she thing now. Whats to be done: You've got to help me out"
 But the courier. prodigal as he was of gestures. had no words which seem- ed pertinent.
 There must be some way of getting at this marquise." Monty continued re- flectively. What are her tastes: Do you know anything about herr"
 Suddenly the face of the courier grew bright T have it." he said. and then he faltered. But the expense. mousieur-ir would be heavy"
 Perhaps We csn meet it." suggested Monty quietly. Whats the idea:"
 It was explained. with plenty of &C., ton 10 make it clear. The courier had heard in Florence that madame la rarquise had a passion for automo- hiles. But with her inadequate for rUne and the many demands upon it it was weakness not readily grati- fed The machine she had used dur ing -he wister was hy no means up 10 date. Possibly f monsieur Yet it was too much. So villa
 Bu- B-.wS-e-'s decision was made. "Wira tha fellow he said. that I will add to ny i7S- offer a French machine Of the latssr model and the best make. Say. too. that I would like immediate possession
 He secured lt. and the crowd was transferred st once 10 fairyIand. There were protests. of course. but these Brewster had grown to expect and he vas learning 70 carry things with a hlSh hand The travellers had been preceded by Bertier. and The greeting they received from ths stew