, 1906-01-17
gret that marked their weather beaten

Plans TO d1spOSe OF MS nOuSenOlu
goods and the balance of his cash in
the short time that would be left after
he arrived in New York occupied Mon
tvs attention, and most men would
have given up the scheme as hopeless.
But he did not despair. He was still
game, and he prepared for the final
plunge with grim determination.
"There should have been a clause in
Jones' conditions about weather per-
hitting" he said to himself. "A ship
wrecked mariner should not be expect
ed to spend a million dollars"
The division of the party for the two
sailings was tactfully arranged by
Mrs. DeMille. The Valentines chap
eroned the second table," as Subway
Smith called those who were to take
the later boat, and she herself looked
after the first lot. Peggy Gray and
Monty Brewster were in the DeMille
party. The three days In England were
marked by unparalleled extravaganza
ON Monty's part. One of the local ho-
tells was subsidized for a week, al
though the party only stayed for lunch
e III, and the CecI Ia Lond N was a
painer by several thousand dollars for
The brief stop there. 1t was a care
worn little band thai took Monty's spe-
cial train for SouIhampt on and en-
barked two days later. The crest cure"
that followed was welcome to all of
them, and Brewster WAS especially
glad that his race was almost run.
Swiftly and steadily the liner cut
down the leagues that separated her
from New York. Fair weather and
fair cheer marked her course, and the
soft, balmy nights were like seasons of
fairyland. Monty was c%herishing in
his heart the hope inspired by Peegy'r
action on the night of the storm. Some
how it brought a small ray of light to
his clouded understanding. and he
found joy in keeping the flame alive
religiously if somewhat d%nubtfully.
Hiseyes followed her constantly search
ing for the encouragement that thu
very blindness of love hat hidden from
him, forever tormentiug himself with
fears and hopes and fears again Her
happiness and vivacity puzzled him.
He was often annoyed; he was nowand
then seriously mystifitd.
Four days out from New York, then
three days, then two days, and then
Brewster began to feel the beginning
of the final whirlwind in profiigacy
rlouding him oppressively, ominously,
u%nkindly. Down in his stateroom he
drew estimates, new calculations
aud tried to balance the old ones SO
that they appeared in the light most
favorable to his designs.
Going over the statistics carefully, he
e-timated that the cruise. including the
repairs and the return of the yacht to
New York, would cos him $210,00 in
r und figures. One hundred and thirty
hree days marked the length of the
voyage when reckoned by time, and,
a. near as he could get at it, the eX-
pense had averaged 81 $50 a day. Ac-
ording 10 the contract, he was to pay
FIR the yacht, exclusive of the cuisine
and personal service. And he had
found it simple enough TO spend the
r naming 81 $50 There were days, of
C urse, when fully $1,000 disappeared,
and there were others on which h,
81 ent much less than 81 900, but the
average was secure. Taking everything
into consideration. Brewster found
that his fortune had dwindled to IA few
paltry thousands in addition to the pre-
reeds which would come to him from
I'LL CdlC vi LII vi tit "iiOi1
he was satisfied.
The landing in New York and the
separation which followed were noten-
tirely merry. Every discomfort WAS
forgotten, and the travellers only knew
hat the most wonderful cruise since
that of the ark had come to an end.
There was not one who would not have
been glad to begin it again the next
day.
Immediately after the landing Brew
~ter and Gardner were busy with the
details of settlement. After clearing
up all of the obligations arising from
the cruise they felt the appropriate
ness of q season of reflection. 1t was a
difficult moment-a moment when un-
delivered reproofs were in the air. But
Gardner seemed much the more melan-
choly of the two.
Piles of newspapers lay scattered
about the floor of the room In which
they sat. Every one of them contained
sensational stories of the prodigal's
trip, with pictures, incidents and pre-
dictions. Monty was panied, humili-
ated and resentful, but he was honest
enough to admit the justification of
much that was said of him. He read
bits of it here and there and then threw
the papers aside hopelessly. In a few
weeks they would tell another story
and quite as emphatically.
THE worst of it, Monty, is that you
are the mex thing to being a poor
man. groaned Gardner. I've lone
my best to economic for you here at
home, as you'll see by these figures,
but nothing could possibly balance the