Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-09-07
inc Rocky mountains.
CHAPTER XVIII.

ster In sore straits. 1t forced
him TO settle down to the &C.
4 Il tual mana cement of HE own af-
fairs. He was not indoient, but this
was not the kind Of WORK he cared to
encourage. The private accounts he
had kept revealed some appalling facts
when lie went over them carefully one
morning at 4 o'cloSt after an all night
session with tho ledger. With initiate
pains he had managed to rise to some
thing over $45O.00O In SIX months. But
to his original million 1t had been nee
essary to add 358,b50 which he had
realized from Lumber and Fuel and
some Of his other unfortunate" op-
erations. At least $4,000 would come
to him ultimately through the sale Of
furniture and other belongings, and
then there would be something like
10000 interest to consider.
But luck had aided him in getting rid
Of his money. The bank failure had
cost him $113,4es.25, and Hopper Har-
rison had helped him to the extent Of
100000. The reckless hut determined
effort to give a ball had cost $50, 900.
What he had lost during his illness had
been pretty well Offset by the unlucky
concert tour. The Florida trip. includ-
Ing medical attention, the cottage and
living expenses, had eutailed the ex-
pcnditure Of $4,000, and his princely
dinners and tbeatcr parties had footed
M $4,000. Taking oil the facts into
consideration. he felt that he had done
rather we'll as far as he had gone. but
the hardest part Of the undertaking
was vet to come He was still in pos
session OF an enormous sum which
must disappear before Sept. %. About
$4,000 had already been expended In
the yachting project.
He determined to begin at once sys-
tomatic campaign of extinction. 1t had
been his intention before sailing to dis
pose Of many household articles either
by sale or gift As he did not expect to
return TO New York before the latter
part OF August this would minimize the
struggles Of the last month. But the
prospective profit" to he acquired
from keeping his apartment open was
not to be overlooked. He could easily
count upon generous sum for salaries
and running expenses. Once on the 9TH
err aide of the Atlantic he hoped tina
new opportunities for extrnva gance
would present themselves. crtl he fan
:'ed he could leave the final settlement
Of his affairs for the last month. AS
the day for sailing approached the
world again seemed bright to this most
mercenary of spendthrfts.
A farewell consultation with his at
torneys proved encouraging. for to
them his chances to win the eArraor-
binary contest seemed of the best He
was in high spirits as he left them,
exhilarated by the sensation that the
world lay before him. In the eleva-
tor he encountered Colonel Prentiss
Drew. On both sides the meeting was
not without its difficulties. The colonel
had been dazed by the ineXplicable
situation between Monty and hil
daughter. whose involutiOns he found
hard to understand. Her summary OF
the effort she had made to effect q
reconciliation after hearing the story
OF the bank was rather vague. She
had done her utmost. she said, to be
nice to him and make him feel that
she appreciated his generosity. hut hs
took it in the most disagreeable fash
ion. Colone, Drew knew that things
were somehow wrong. but he was toe
strongly an American father to in
terfcre in n matter OF the affections
1t distressed him, for he had liking
for Monty, and 3arbara's society
Judgments" as he called them, had NJ
weigh, with him. When he found him
self confronted with Brewster in the
elevator the old warmth revived and
the old hope that the quarrel might
have an end, His greeting was CHEEKY
You have not forgotten. Brewster
he said as they shook han6s, that
you have a dollar or two with us?'
mo" said Monty: mot exactly. And
I shall he calling upon you for some OF
it very soon. I'm OF on Thursday fol-
q cruise in the Mediterranean"
I've heard something Of It," They
had reached the main floor, and Colone
Drew had drawn his companion Out
of tho crowd into the rotunda. "Tht
money is at your disposal at any mo
ment. But aren't you setting pretty
lively pace. my boy? You know I've
always liked you. and l knew YOU
grandfather rather well. He was {
good old chap. Monty. and he woult
hate to see you make ducks an(
brakes OF his fortune"
There was something in the colonies
manner that softened Brewster. mucl
as he hated to take reproof from Bar
baras father. Once again he wa:
tempted to tell the truth, but he pulled
himself TIP in time. ITS a funny ole
world. colonel" he said. land some
times ones nearest friend Ia stranger
know l seem fool: but. after all
why isn't it good philosophy to make
the most Of a holiday and then settle
back to work?"
THAT 10 all very WELL Monty"-ant
Colonel Drew WAS entirely serious
"but the work Ia hundred times hard
er aiter you have played to the limit
You'll ind that you are way beyond it
It's no Joke getting back into the har
ness"
"Perhaps you are right, colonel bu
at least shall have something to lool
back upon even If the worst comes
And Monty instinctively straightcne,
his shoulders
| trhav turued "a Ioove tho huiilipu