The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-05-02
CHAPTER XI.


caused his friends and his enc
i mics to regard him in a new light.
His profit had been quite small as
things go on the exchange in these
days. The mere fact that he had
shown such foresight proved sufficient
cause for the reversal Of opinion. Men
looked at him with new interest in
their eyes, with fresh confidence. His
unfortunate operations in the stock
market had restored him to favor in
an circles. The man, young or old,
who could do what he had done with
Lumber and Fuel well deserved the
new promises that were being made
for him.
Brewster bobbed uncertainty between
two emotions, elation and distress. He
had achieved two kinds Of success, the
desired and the undesired. 1t was but
natural that be should feel proud Of
the distinction the venture had brought
to him on one hand, but there was rea-
son for despair over the acquisition Of
$4,000. It made it necessary for him
TO undertake an almost superhuman
feat-increase the number Of his Janu-
ary. bills. The plans for the ensuing
spring and summer were dimly getting
into shape, and they covered many
startling projects. Since coniding
some of them to hopper Harrison that
gentleman had worn a never decreasing
/ look Of worry and anxiety in his eyes.
Rawles added to his despair a day or
two after the Stock Exchange misfor-
tune. He brought up the information
that six splendid little puppies had
come to bless his Boston terrier family,
and Joe Bragdon, who was present, en-
Enthusiastically predicted that he could
get $10o apiece for them. Brewster
loved dogs, yet for one single horrible
moment ne longed to massacre the
helpless little creatures. But the old
affection came back to him, and he
hurried out with Bragdon to inspect
the brood.
ssAnd pTe either got to sell them Or
Kill them,ns he groaned. Later on he in
.srueted Bragdon to sell the pups for
$25 apiece and went away, ashamed to
look their proud mother in the face.
Fortune smiled on him before the
day was over, however. He took Sub
way Smith for a ride in the green
iuggernaut,'' bad weather and bad
roads notwithstanding. Monty lost con-
troll of the machine and headed for a
subway excavation. He and Smith
saved themselves by leaping to the
pavement, sustaining slight bruises,
but the great machine crashed through
the barricade and dropped to the bot
tom Of the trench far below. To
Smiths grief and Brewster's delight
the automobile was hopelessly ruined.
q clear loss of many thousands. Mon
-ty's joy was short lived. for it was
soon learned that three luckless work
men down in the depths had been bad
" 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
anu 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 $1,000.
s At this tine every one was interested
in the charity bazaar at the Astoria.
Society was on exhibition. and the pub
Hcs paid for the privilege Of gazing at
the men and women whose names
filed the society columns. Brewster
freauented the booth presided over By
Miss Drew. and there seemed to be
no end to bis philanthropy. The bazaar
lasted two days and nights. and after
that period his account book showed
an even profit Of nearly $1,000.
Monty's serenity. however. was con-
siderably rufied by the appearance Of
a new and aggressive claimant for the
smiles CT the fair Rartara He was
Californian of immense wealth and I'M
bounded conGdeaee in himself. and
letters to people il New York had gwen
him certain eatree. The triumpls in
love and finance that had come with
his twoscore years and ten had de-
molished every vest;sc OF ti@iaity that
may have been born with him. He
was successful enough in the world Of
finance to have become four or five
times a millionaire. ard lie had fared
SO well in love that twice he had been
a widower Rodney Crimes was start
ing out to win Barbara with the same
dash and impulsiveness that overcame
Mary Farrell. the cook in the mining
camp, and Jane Boothroyd. the school
teacher, WHO came to California ready
to marry the first man who asked her.
He was q penniless prospector when he
married Mary. and when lie led Jane
to the altar s,le rejoiced in having
captured husband worth at least
$4,000.
he We'd with Brewster in patronizing
Barbara's booth, and he rushed into
~,