The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-05-09

acquiescent.
Hopper EaESison solemnly expressed
the opinion that the ball would cost
Brewster at least $125,0O0. The Little
Sons looked at one another in con-
sternation, while Brewster's indiffer-
ence expressed itself in an unhatter-
ing comment upon his friends vulgar
ity Good Lord, Nopper," he added,
you would speculate about the price
of gloves for your wedding"
Harrison resented the taunt. 1T
would be much less vulgar to do that,
Monty, saving your presence. than to
force your millions down every ones
throat"
"Well, they swallow them, I've no
ticed," retorted Brewster. "as though
they were chocolates. y
Pettingill interrupted grandiloGuent-
ly, "My friends and gentlemen
(Which is which?" asked Van Win
kle casually.
But the artist was in the saddle.
"Permit me to present YOU to the boy
Croesus-the only one eXtant. His mar
bles are plurks, and his kites are made
Of fifty dollar notes. He feeds upon
coupons a la Newburg, and his cham
pagne is liquid golden eagles. Look at
him, gentlemen. While you can and
watch him while he spends $4,000 for
flowers
with a Yiennese orchestra for twen-
ty-nine thousand added Bragdon.
"And yet they maintain that silence is
golden"
'And three singers to divide twelve
thousand among themselves! That's alb
solutely criminal" cried Van Winkle.
cover in Germany they'd sing month
for half that amount"
''Six hundred guests to feed-total
cost of not less than $4,000" groaned
Hopper dolefully
"And there aren't 600 in town." Ia
mented Subway Smith. "All that glory
wasted on 200 rank outsiders"
'You men are borrowing lot Of trou-
ble," yawned Brewster, with gallant
effort to seem bored. ''All I ask of you
is to come to the party and put up
good imitation Of having the time Of
your life Between you and me, I'd
rather be caught drinking ice cream So
Ga than giving this thing. But
"That's what we want to know-but
what?' and Subway leaned forward
eagerly.
"But," continued Monty, 81 am in for
it now, and it is going to be ball that
is a bali"
Nevertheless the optilnistic Gfer 'ster
could not find the cour, % - -. Peg
gy Of these picturesque @ytt47-a "a nces.
To satisfy her curiosit. ~ hiGas.ly in
formed her that he vas GetEu.: off
much more cheaply tha - i3at: eXpect-
ed. He laughingly demo-. .S !ntrue
the stories that had &C a- = -, from
outside sources, and .,e5..'- his con-
vincing assertions that ~eT.3r;S we're RI
diculously exaggerated - cro.o:ed ex-
preston in the girls e.es G.sap.5eared.
81 must seem a fool gr0aaa,! Mon
ty as he left the house after one Of
these explanatory trials, Dul what
will she think Of me toward the end Of
the year when I am really in harness?'
He found it hard to control the desire
to be straight with Peggy and tell her
the story of his mad race in pursuit of
poverty.
Preparations for the ball went on
steadily, and in dull winter it had
it's color value for society. 1t was to
be a Spanish costume ball, and at
many tea tables the talk Of it was
godsend. Sarcastic as it frequently
was on the question Of Monty's extrav-
agance, there was splendor about the
Aladdin-like entertainment which had
a charm Beneath the outward disap-
proval there was q secret admiration
of the superb nerve Of the man. And
there was little reluctance to help him
in the wild career he had chosen. 1t
was so easy to so with him to the edge
Of the precipice and let him take the
plunge alone. Only the echo Of the
criticism reached Brewster, for he had
silenced Harrison with work and Pet
tingill with opportunities. 1t troubled
him little, as he was engaged in jottins
down items that swelled the profit side
Of his ledger account enormously. The
ball was bound to give him good lead
in the race once more despite the
heavy handicap the Stock Exchange
had imposed The Little Sens took
off their coats and helped Pettingill in
the work Of preparation. He found
them quite superhuous. for their ideas
never agreed. and each man had a way
Of preferring his own suggestion. TO
Brewster's chagrin, they were united
in the effort to curb his extravaganza
He'll be giving automobiles and
ropes of pearls for favors if we don't
stop him." said Subway Smith after
Monty had ordered a vintage cham
pagne to be served during the entire
evening. Give them two glasses first.
If YOU like. and then they won't nina
if they have cider the rest Of the
night -