The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1906-05-17

1ARRlSON>S departure lett Brew
ster in sore straits. 1t forced
him to settle down to the ac-
Il Il tual management of his own af-
fairs. He was not .indolent, but this
was not the kind Of work he cared to
encourage. The private accounts he
had kept revealed some appalling facts
when he went over them carefully one
morning at o'clock after an all night
session with the ledger. With infinite
pains he had managed to rise to some
thing over $45OOOO in six months. But
to his original million it had been nee
essary to add $5S,55O which he had
realized from Lumber and Fuel and
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
$4,000 interest to consider
But luck had aided him in getting rid
Of his money. The bank failure had
cost him $113,46S.25, and Hopper Har-
100000. The reckless but determined
effort to give a ball had cost $4,000.
What he had lost during his illness had
been pretty we'll offset by the unlucky
concert tour. The Florida trip. includ-
ing medical attention, the cottage and
living expenses, had entailed the eX-
penditure Of S1S,5OO, and his princely
dinners and theater parties had footed
up $31 900. Taking all 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 yet 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 a sys-
tematic campaign of extinction. It 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 be 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
er side Of the Atlantic he hoped that|
new opportunities for extravaganza
would present themselves, and he fan
cied 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 spendthrifts.
A farewell consultation with his at
torneys proved encouraging, for to
them his chances to win the extraor-
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 his
daughter, whose involutions he found
hard to understand. Her summary of
the effort she had made to effect
reconciliation after hearing the story
had done her utmost, she said, to be
nice to him and make him feel that
she appreciated his generosity, but he
took it in the most disa greeable fash
ion. Colonel Drew knew that things
were somehow wrong, but he was too
strongly an American father to in
terfere in a matter of the affections.
1t distressed him, for he had a liking
for Monty, and Barbara's "society
Judgments as he called them, had no
weight 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 hands. ''that
you have a dollar or two with us?''
no. said Monty; mot exactly. And
shall be calling upon you for some of
1t very soon. I'm off on Thursday for
cruise in the Mediterranean
i've heard something Of it, They
had reached the main floor, and Colonel
Drew had drawn his companion out
of the crowd into the rotunda. ''The
money is at your disposal at any mo-
ment. But aren't you setting a pretty
lively pace, my boy? You know I've
always liked you, and I knew your
grandfather rather WE'LL He was
good old chap, Monty, and he would
hate to see you make ducks and
brakes Of his fortune''
There was something in the coloners
manner that softened Brewster, much
as he hated to take a reproof from Bar
bara's father. Once again he was
tempted to tell the truth, but he pulled
himself up in time. 'It's a funny old
world, colonel he said, land some
times ones nearest friend is a stranger.
l know I seem fool; but, after all,
why isn't it good philosophy to make
the most Of holiday and then settle
back to work?''
THAT is all very we'll, Monty''-and
Colonel Drew was entirely serious