Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-06-29
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CHAPTER VI.

rison had leased until the Septem aber following one of the most expen- Ssive apartments to he found in New
 York city. The rental was S23, GOO, 3 and the shrewd financial representa- tive had saved S1.O00 for his employer
 by paying the sum in advance But
 when he reported this bit of economy to Mir. Brewster he was surprised that
 1t brought forth frown. T never saw ia man who had less sense about mon- ey.' muttered Hopper to himself ss. Why, he spends it like Chicago mil
 lionaire trying to get into New York -society. If 1t were not for the rest of { us he'd be pauper in six months < Paul Pettingill, to his own intense surprise and, 1t must be said, con- : sternation. was engaged to redecorate certain rooms according to plan sug- gested by the tenant. The rising young artist in great furry of excitement agreed to do the work for $500 and then blushed like schoolgirl when he : was informed by the practical Brew
 
 z one room alone would cost twice as much.
 Petty. you have no more idea of business than a goat" criticised Mont gomery. And Paul lowered his head in humble confession That man who calcimines your studio could figure on . piece of work with more intelligence than you reveal. I'll pay s2.5OO: It's only fair price, and I can't afford anything cheap in this place.
 At this rate you won't be able to afford anything" said Pettingill to himself
 And so 1t was that Pettingill and a corps of decorators soon turned the rooms into a confusion of scaffoidings and paint buckets, out of which in the end emerged something very distin- guished. No one had ever thought Pettingill deficient in ideas, and this was his opportunity. The only draw back was the time limit which Brew ster so remorselessly fixed Without that he felt that he could have done something splendid in the way of dec orative panels-something that would make even the glory of Puvis de Cha vannes turn pallid. With 1t he was obliged to curb his turbulent ideas, and he decided that a rich simplicity was the proper note. The result was gorgeous. but not, ,to9 gorgeous-it had depth and distinction.
 Elated and eager. he assisted Brew ster in selecting furniture and hang ings for each room. but he did not know that his employer was making conditional purchases of everything. Mir. Brewster had agreements with all the dealers to the effect that they were to buy everything back at fair price if he desired to give up his establish ment within a year He adhered to this rule in all cases that called for the purchase outright of substantial ne cessities. The bump of calculadveness in Monty Brewster's head was growing to abnormal proportions
 In retaining his rooms at Mrs. Gray's he gave the f1imsy but pathetic excuse that he wanted place in which he might find occasional seasons of peace and quiet When Mrs. Gray protested against this useless bit of extrava- gance his grief was so obviously gen uine that her heart was touched. and there was a deep, fervent joy in her soul She loved this fair faced boy, and tears of happiness came to Der eyes when she was given this new proof of his loyalty and devotion. His rooms were kept for him just as if he had expected to occupy them every day and every night. notwithstanding the luxurious apartments he was to main- tain elsewhere. The Oliver Optic books still lay in the attic. all tattered and torn. but to Margaret the embodi- ment of prospective riches. promises of sweet hours to come. She knew Mon- ty well enough to feel that he would not forget the dark little attic of old for all the splendors that might come with the new dispensation.
 There was DO little surprise when he T. His grandfather had been dead less than a month. and society was some what scandalized by the plain symp- toms of disrespect he was showing. No one had expected him to observe a pro ionged season of mourning. but that be should disregard the formalities was rather shocking. Some cf the older people. who had not long fo live and who had heirs apparent. openly denounced his heartlessness. It was not very gratifying 10 think of vhat might be in store for them if all memories were as short as Brewster's old Mrs. KetcheIl changed her will. snd two nephews were cut of entire ~. \ very modest and impecunious -sndson of Joseph Garrity also was . sustain q severe change of fortune b the near future if the cards spoke arrectly. Judge Van W0ort. who was not expected to live through tbe night. rot better immediately after hearing tome one in the sickroorn whisper that Brewster was to give a big dinner Naturally the heirs-tob he -ondemned young Brewster in no un- certain terms
 Nevertheless the dinner to be given ,y the grandson of old Edwin Peter Brewster was the talk of the town. and rot one of the sixty invited guests .ouid have been persuaded to miss 1t. 1.raorss ,s Co s.s rna0rf1carep uc-a lbrcad long before tfne night set for he dinDer One of them had if that it rss fa cost S.Insl nIafe From that ! 1