, 1905-11-15

a clear loss Of many thousands. Mon
tvs joy was short lived, for it was
soon learned that three luckless work
men down In the depths had been bad
ly injured by the green meteor from
above. The mere fact that Brewster
could and did pay literally for the re-
lief of the poor fellows afforded him
little consolation. His carelessness
and possibly his Indifference had
brought suffering to these men and
their families, which was not pleasant
to look back upon. Lawsuits were
avoided by compromise. Each of the
Injured men received $4,000.
AT this time every n was interested
in the charity bazaar at the Astoria.
Society was on exhibition, and the pub
lie paid for the privilege of gazing at
the men and whose names
filled the society columns. Brewster
frequented the booth presided over by
Miss Drew, and there seemed to be
no end to his philanthropy. The bazaar
lasted two days and nights, and after
that period his account book showed
an even profit of nearly $4,000.
Monty's serenity, however, was con-
siderably rufiled by the appearance of
a new and aggressive claimant for the
smiles of the fair Barbara. He was a
Californian of immense wealth and un-
bounded confidence in himself, and
letters to people in New York had given
him a certain entree. The triumphs in
love and finance that had come with
his twoscore years and ten had de-
molished every vestige of timidity that
may have been born with him. He
was successful enough in the world of
finance to have become four or five
times Il millionaire, and he had Jared
so well in love that twice he had been
a widower. Rodney Grimes was start
ing out to win Barbara with the same
dash and impulsiyeness that overcame
Mary Farrell, the cook in the mining
camp, and Jane B%oothroyd, the school
teacher, who came to California ready
to marry the first mar who asked her.
He was a penniless p%rospector when be
married Mary, and when he led Jane
to the altar she rejoiced in having
captured a husband worth at least
$4,000.
He We'd with Brewster in ~patroniZing
Barbara's booth, and he rushed into
the conflict with an impetuosity that
seemed destined to carry everything
before it. Monty was brushed aside,
Barbara was pre-empted as if she We're
a mining claim, and ten days after his
arrival i'll New York Grimes was the
most talked of man in town. Brewster
was not the sort to be dispatched with
out Il struggle, however. Recognizing
Grimes as an obstacle, but not as a ri
val, he nee more donned his armor and
beset Barbara with all the zest of a
champion who seeks to protect and not
to conquer. He regarded the Califor-
man as an impostOr, and summary ac-
ton was necessary. Il know all about
him, Babs," he said n day after he
felt sure of his position. why, his
father was honored by the V. c. on the
coast in 40"
'The Victoria CROSSE" asked Barbara
in%nocently.
mo, he vigilance committee"
In this way Monty routed the enc
my and cleared the field before the end
Of another week. Grimes transferred
his Objectionable affection, and Barba-
IA was not even asked to be wife No.
3. BreWster's campaign was so ardent
that he neglected other duties deplora-
bly,, falling far behind his i%mprovident
average. With Grimes disposed of, he
once more forSook the battlefield of
love and gave his harassed and undi-
vided attention to his own peculiar
business.
The fast and loose game displeased
Miss Barbara greatly. She was at first
surprised, then piqued, then resentful.
Monty gradually awoke to the distress
ing fact that she was going to be in
tractable, as he put it, and forthwith
undertook to smooth the troubled sea.
To his amazement and concern, she
was not to be appeased.
Does it occur to you, Monty" she
said, with a gentle GOODNESS that was
infinitely worse than heat, that you
have been carrying things with a pret-
ty high hand? Where did you acquire
the right to interfere with my privi-
leges? You seem to think that l ann
not TO speak to any mar but you"
"Oh, come, now, Babs,' retorted
Monty, i've not been quite as II
reasonable as that. And you know
yourself that Grimes is the worst kind
Of a bounder.'
81 know nothing of the sort" replied
the lady, with growing irritation. You
say that about every man who gives