Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-01-26
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BY GEORGE BARR MCUTcHEON >
IRIcHARD GREAVESl
BY Herbt Stones omp
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CHAPTER VI.
eo4By & Company.
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CHAPTER VI.
A fortnight later Montgomery Brew
ster had a new home. In strict obedi-
ence to his chiefs command, Hopper
Harrison had leased until the Septem-
ber following, one of the most eXpen-
sive apartments to be found in New
York city. The rental was $4,000
and the shrewd financial representa-
tive had saved $1,000 for his employer
by paying the sum in advance. But
when he reported this bit of economy
10 Mr.. Brewster he was surprised that
il brought forth a frown. Il never saw
a man who had less sense about mon
ey." muttered hopper to himself
WHY, he spends it like a Chicago mill
lionaire trying TO get into New York
society. If it were not for the rest OF
us he'd be a pauper in six months.
Paul Pettingill, to his own intense
surprise and, it must be said, con-
sternation, was engaged TO re-decorate
certain rooms according to plan sug-
gested by the tenant. The rising young
artist in a great furry of excitement
agreed to do the work for $500 and
then blushed like school girl when he
was informed by the practical Brew
ster that the paints and material for
one room alone would cost twice as
much.
Petty, you have no more idea of
business than a goat" criticised Mont
gomery. And Paul lowered his head in
humble confession. That man who
Calcimines your studio could figure on
q piece of work with more intelligence
than you reveal. I'll pay $500 It's
only a fair price, and l can't afford
anything cheap in this place"
AT this rate you won't be able to
afford anything" said Pettingill to
himself.
And so it was that Pettingill and a
corps Of decorators soon turned the
rooms into a confusion of scaffoldings
and paint buckets, out of which in the
end emerged something very distin-
Cuished. No one had ever thought
Pettingill deficient in ideas, and this
was his opportunity. The only draw
back was the time limit which Brew
ster so remorselessly fixed. Without
that he felt that he could have done
something splendid in the way Of dec
orative panels-something that would
make even the glory of Puvis de Cha
vannes turn pallid. With it he was
obliged to curb his turbulent ideas,
and he decided that a rich simplicity
was the proper note. The result was
gorgeous, but not too gOrgeous-it had
depth and distinction.
Elated and eager, he assisted Brew
ster in selecting furniture and hang
ings for each room, but he did not know
that his employer was making condi-
tiOnal purchases of everything. Mr..
Brewster had agreements with all the
dealers to the effect that they were to
buy everything back at fair price If
he desired to give up his establish
ment within year. He adhered to
this rule in all cases that called for
the purchase outright of substantial
necessities The bump of calculative-
ness in Monty Brewster's head was
growing to abnormal proportions.
In retaining his rooms at Mrs. Gray's
he gave the flimsy but pathetic excuse
that he wanted a place in which he
might find occasional seasons of peace
and quiet. When Mrs. Gray protested
against this useless bit of eXtrava-
gance his grief was so obviously gen.
uine that her heart was touched, and
there was deep, fervent JOY in her
soul. She loved this fair faced boy,
and tears of happiness came to her
eyes when she was given this new
proof Of his loyalty and devotion. His
rooms were kept for him just as if he
had expected 10 occupy them every day
and every night. Notwithstanding the
luxurious apartments he was to MAIN
tain elsewhere. The Oliver Optic
books still lay in the attic. all tattered
and torn. but to Margaret the embodi-
mcnt of prospective riches, promises Of
sweet hours to come. She knew Mon
" well enough 10 feel that he would
not forget the dark little attic of old
for all the SplendOrS that might come
with the new diSpenSatiOn.
There was no little surprise when he
sent out invitations for large dinner.
His grandfather had been dead less
than month. and society was some
what ScandaliZed by the plain symp-
toms Of disrespect he was showing. No
one had expected him TO observe pro-
longed season Of mourning, but that
he should disregard the formalities
completely was rather shocking. Some
of the older people. who had not long
to live and who had heirs apparent,
openly denounced his hcartleSSneSS. II
was not very gratifying to think of
what might be in store for them if all
memories were as short as RrewSter'S.
old Mrs. Ketchell changed her will,
and two nephews were cut off entire
~. \ very modest and impecunious
grandson of Joseph Galrity ais" was
10 sustain q severe change Of fortune
i'm the near future if the cards spoke
correctly. Judge Van Wort, who was
not expected To live through the night
got better Immediately after hearing
some one in the SckroOm whisper that
Montgomery Brewster WAS To give a
big dinner. Naturally the heirS-to-be
condemned young Brewster in n" un-
certain terms.
Nevertheless the dinner to be given
by the grandson Of old Edwin Peter
Brewster was the talk of the town, and
not one of the sixty invited guests
could have been persuaded to miss it.
Reports as to its magnifiCenCe were
abroad long before the night set for
the dinner. one of them had ii that ii
was to cost $4,000 plate. From that
figure the legendary price receded TO
q mark as low as $500. Montgomery
would have been only too glad 10 pay
$4,000 or more. but some mysterious
force conveyed to his mind perfect
portrait of Swearengen Jones in the
act Of putting down a large black mark
Il.