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i 4 EBBS Copyright. 1504. by Gerber? S. Stone Cl Company By GEO! CHAPTER XXXI. SOON after noon on the 22d of September Monty folded his re? port to Swearengen jones, stuck it into his pocket and sallied forth. A parcel delivery wagon" had carried off a mysterious bundie a few minutes before. Mrs. Gray could not conceal her wonder, but Brewster's an? swers to her questions threw i"+tle light on the mystery. He could tell her the big bundle contained ti.e receipts * that were to prove his sincerity when the time came to settle with Mr. Jones. Brewster had used his own form of re? ceipt for every purchase. The little Stub receipt books had been made to order for him and not only he, bnt ev? ery person in his employ, carried one everywhere. No matter how trivial the purchase, the person who received a dollar of Brewster's money signed a re? ceipt for the amount Newsboys and bootblacks were the only beings who escaped the formality; tips to waiters, porters, cabbies, etc., were recorded and afterward put into a class by themselves. Receipts for the few dol? lars remaining in his possession were to be turned over on the morning of the 23d and the general report was not to be completed until 9 o'clock on that Gay. He kissed Peggy goodby, told her to he ready for a drive at 4 o'clock, and theft went off to find Joe Bragdon and 3Slon Gardner. They met him by ap? pointment, and to them he confided his design to be married on the following <iay. V "You can't afford it, Monty," explod? ed Joe fearlessly. "Peggy is too. good a girl. It isn't fair to her." "We have agreed to begin life tomor? row. Wait and see the result, I think lt will, surprise _you. Incidentally itJs tap to me 'to engage a minister's"serv-% tees. It's going to be quiet, you know. Joe, you can be my best man if you .like, and, Gardie, Til expect you to sign your name as one of the wit? nesses. Tomorrow evening we'll have supper at Mrs. Gray's, and 'among those present' will not comprise a very large list, I assure you. But we'll talk about that later on. Just now I want to ask you fellows to lend me enough I money to pay the preacher. I'll return j it tomorrow afternoon." "Well, I'm blessed!'' exclaimed Gard- j 2*er, utterly durnfounded by the nerve j -Of the man. Gardner promised to have j the minister at the Gray house the next morning. Monty's other request-made in deep seriousness-was that Peggy Was not to be told of the little transac? tion. He then hurried off to the office of Grant & Ripley. The bundles of re? ceipts had preceded him. "Has Jones arrived in town?" was his first anxious question after the greetings. "He is not registered at any of the hotels." responded Mr. Grant, and Brewster did not see the troubled look that passed over his face. ""He'll show up tonight, I presume," ?aid he complacently. The lawyers *\?ewd me enough money to pay thc preacher." ?ld not tell him that all the telegrams they had sent to Swearengen Jones in ! the past two weeks had been returned to the New York office as unclaimed in Buttes The telegraph company report? ed that Mr. Jones was not to be found and that he had not been seen in Butte since tho 3d of September. The law? yers were hourly expecting word from Montana men to whom they had tele? graphed for information and advice. 'They were extremely nervous, but Montgomery Brewster was too eager and excited to notice tho fact "A ta!!, bearded stranger was here this morning asking for you. Mr. Brew? ster" said Ripley, his head bent over Some papers on his desk. "Ah, Jones. Pm sure! I've always imagined him with a long beard," said Monty, relief rh Iiis voice. "It was not Jones. We know Jones tjnite well. Tin's man was a stranger sxo? refused to give his name. He said he would call at Mrs. Gray's this after? noon." '.l>i<l he look like a constable or a bill .collector?" asked Monty, with a laugh. "He looked very much like a tramp." "Well, we'll forget him for the* time being." said Monty, drawing the report from his porker. "Would you mind tl GE BARR MCCUTCHEON (RICHARD CR.EAVES) I to present to I>?r. .Tonest Grant's hand trembled as he took tho carefully folded sheet from Brew? ster. A quick glance of despair passed between the two lawyers. "Of course, you'll understand that this report is merely a synopsis of the expenditures. They are classified, how? ever, and the receipts over there are arranged in such a way that Mr. Jones can easily verify all the figures set out in the report. For instance, where it says 'cigars' I have put down the total amount that went- up in smoke. The receipts are to serve as an itemized statement, yon know." Mr. Ripley took the paper from his partner's hand and, pulling himself together, read the report aloud. It was as follows: New York, Sept 23, 19--. To Swearengen Jones, Esq., Executor Un? der the Will of the Late James T. Sedg? wick of Montana: J In pursuance of the terms of the afore? said will and in accord with the instruc? tions set forth by yourself as executor I present my report of receipts and dis? bursements for the year in my life ending at midnight on Sept 22. The accuracy bf the figures set forth in this general state? ment may be .established by referring, to tne~rece^s^^ccTTTorm ~a*~paTt*~or -rnT3 report There is not one penny of Edwin Peter Brewster's money in my posses? sion, and I have no asset to mark its burial place. These figures are submitted for your most careful consideration: Original capital .:.$1.000,000.0} Lumber and Fuel misfortune_ 58,550.00 Prize fight misjudged . 1.000.00 Monte Carlo education. 40,000.00 Race- track errors . 700.00 Sale zf six terrier pups. 150.00 j Sale of furniture and personal i effects . 40,500.00 Interest on funds once in hand.. 19,140.00 Total amount to be disposed of.$l,160,040.00 DISBURSEMENTS. Rent for apartments.* $23.000.00 Furnishing apartments . 88,372.00 Three automobiles. 21,000:0o1 Renting six automobiles. 25,000.00 j Amount lost to DeMille. 1.000.00 j Salaries '.. 25,650.00 j Amount paid to men injured in auto accident . 12,240.00 i Amount iost in bani: failure_ 113,468.25 I Amount lost on races . 4,000.00 j One glass screen . 3,000.00 j Christmas presents . 7,211.00 j Postage .... 1.105.00 i Cable and telegraph . 3,253.00 j Stationery . 2,400.00 j Two Boston terriers . 600.00 j Amount lost to holdup men. 450.00 I Amount lost on concert tour. 56,382.00 ? Amount lost through O. Harri? son's speculation (on my ac? count) . 60.000.00 One ball (in two sections). 60,000.00 Extra favors . 6,000.00 One yacht cruise . 212.309.50 . One carnival . 6.824.00 Cigars . 1.720.00 I j Drinks, chiefly for others . 9.040.00 Clothing . 3.400.00 Rent of one villa. 20,000.00 One courier. 500.00 Dinner parties . H7,900.00 j Suppers and luncheons. 3S.000.00 I Theater parties, and "suppers .... 6,277.00 I Hotel expenses. 61.218.39 Railway and steamship fares... 31,274.81 For Newsboys', home . 5,000.00 Twoc, opera performances . 20.0?0.?0 Repairs to Flitter. 6,342.60 In tow from somewhere to Southampton . 50,000.00 J Special train to Florida . 1,000.00 Cottage in Florida . 5.500.00 j Medical attendance . 3.100.00 ? Living expenses in Florida . 8,900.00 Misappropriation of personal property by servants . 3,5S0.00 Taxes on personal property. 112.25 Sundries . 9.105.00 Household expenses . 24,805.00 .Total disbursements .$1.160,040.00 Balance on hand .$0.000.000.00 Respectfu^y submitted, MONTGOMERY 3REWS1 r.R. "It's rather, broad, you see, gentle? men, but there are receipts for every dollar, barring some trifling inciden? tals. He may think I dissipated the for? tune, but I defy him or any ono else to provo that I have not had my mon? ey's worth. To tell you the truth, it has seemed like a hundred million. If any one should tell you that it is an easy matter to waste a million dollars 'refer him to me. Last fall I weighed 180 pounds; yesterday I barely moved the beam at 140. Last fall there was hot a wrinkle in my face, nor did I have a* white hair, iou see the result of overwork, gentlemen. It will take ? an age to get back to where I was physically, but I think I can do it with the vacation that begins tomorrow. In? cidentally I'm going to be married to? morrow morning, just when I am poor? er than I ever expect to be again. 1 still have a few dollars to spend, and I must be about it. Tomorrow I will ac? count for what I spend this evening. It is now covered by the 'sundries' item, but I'll have the receipts to show a J right. See you tomorro^ morning." He was gone, eager to 17o" with Peg? gy, afraid to discuss his report with the lawyers. Grant and Ripley shook their heads and sat silent for a lons ftime after his departure. "We ondit to hear something definite before night." said Grant, but there was anxiety in his voice. "1 wonder." mused Ripley, as if to himself, "hov.- he will take it if the worst should 1;::]>;>?'!?." CHAPTER XXXTI. ?J T'S up to Jones now," kept run? ning through Brewster's brain E as he drove off to keep his ap ? pointaient with Peggy Gray. "The million is gone -all gone. I'm as ; poor as'Job's turkey. It's up to Jones, but I don't see how he can decide against me. He insisted on making u j pauper of me, and he can't have the heart to throw me down now. But what if he should take it into his head to be ugly: I wonder if I could break the will I wonder if 1 could beat, him out in court." cheeks were flashed as with a fev< She had caught from him the mad e citement ot' the occasion. "Come, Peggy!"-he exclaimed eag< ly. ."This is our last holiday. Let's merry. We can forget it tomorrow you like when we begin all over agai but maybe it will be worth remeinbt ing. He assisted her to the seat ai then leaped up beside her. "We're off he cried, his voice quivering. "It is absolute madness, dear," si said, but her eyes were sparkling wi the joy of recklessness. Away we: the trap and the two light hearts. Mi Gray turned from a window in ti house with tears in her eyes. To h troubled mind they were driving c into utter darkness. "The queerest looking man came . the house to see you this afternoo: Monty," said Peggy. "He wore beard, and ho made me think of Rei ington's cowboys." . "What was hts name?" - "He told the maid it did not matte I saw him as he walked away, and 1 looked very much a man. He said I would come tomorrow if he did n< find you downtown tonight. Don't ye recognize him from the description?" . "Not at all. Can't imagine who 1 is." "Monty," she said after a moment painful reflection. "He-he co?ldn h?ve been a" "I know what you mean, an office sent up to attach my belongings c something of the sort. No, dearest; give you my word of honor I do n( owe a dollar in the world." Then h recalled his peculiar indebtedness t Bragdon and Gardner. "Except one c two very small personal obligations, he added hastily. "Don't worry aboi it, dear; we are out for a good tin* and we must make the most of i' First we drive through the park, the we dine at Merry's." "But we must dress for that, dear, she cried. "And the chaperon?" He turned very red when she spok of dressing. "I'm ashamed to confes it, Peggy, but I have no other clothe than these I'm wearing now. Don' :iook so hurt, dear. I'm going to leav an order for new evening clothes tc JEorrow if I have the time. And abou the chaperon. People won't be talkin; 1>efore tomorrow, and by that time" "No, Monty, Merry's is out of th? gestion. We can't go there,'* *he sai< decisively. . "Oh, Peggy! That spoils everything,' he cried in deep disappointment "It isn't fair to me, Monty. Every body would know us, and ever: tongue would wag. They would say 'There ar? Monty Brewster and Mar garet Gray. Spending his last few dol lars on her.' You wouldn't have then think that?" He saw the justice in her protest *;A quiet little dinner in some out o: .the way place would be joyous," sh< i.dded persuasively. "You're right, Peggy, you're alway? right. You see. I'm FO used to spend ing money by the handful that I don'i know how to do it any other way. 1 believe I'll let you carry the pocket? book after tomorrow. Let me think. I know a nice little restaurant down? town. We'll go there and then to the theater. Dan DeMille and his wife are to be in my hox, and we're all going up to Pettingill's studio afterward. Fm to give the Little Sons a farewell sipper. If my calculations don't go wrong that will be the end of the jaunt a ad we'll go home happy." At ll o'clock Pettingill's studio open? ed its doors to the Little Sons and their guests, and the last "Dutch li:nch" was soon under way. Brewster hid paid for it early in the evening, aad when he sat down at the head of the table there was not a penny in his pockets. A year ago at the same place and at the same hour he and the Lit? tle Sons were having a birthday^feast A million dollars came to ulm on that night. Tonight he was poorer by far than on the other occasion, but he ex? pected a little gift on the new anni? versary. ^Around the board besides the nine Little sons sat six guests, among them the DeMilles, Peggy Gray and Mary Valentine. Nopper Harrison was the or ly absent Little Son, and his health wis proposed by Brewster almost be? fore the echoes of the toast to the bride ard groom died away. interruption came earlier on this oc? casion than it did that night a year ago. Ellis did not deliver his messages to Brewster until 3 o'clock in the morn? ing, but the A. D. T. boy who rang the bell at rettingill's a year later handed hi:n a telegram before 12 o'clock. "Congratulations are coming in, old man," said DeMille as Monty looked fearfully at the little envelope the boy had given him. "Many happy returns of the day," suggested P.ragdon. "By Jove, it's sen? sible of you to get married on your birthday, Monty, It saves time and ex? pense to your friends." "Read it aloud." said Subway Smith. "Two to one it's from Nopper Harri? son," cried Pettingiii. Brewster's fingers trembled, he knew no: why, as be opened the envelope. There was the most desolate fooling in his heart, the most ghastly premonitioa that ill news had come in this last ho ir. Ho drew forth the telegram and slowly, painfully, unfolded it. No one could have told by his expression that lie felt almost that he was reading his death warrain, ll was from Grant & Ripley and evidently had been follow in;: him about town for two or throe hours. The lawyers had filed it at 8:30 o'clock. Ile read it at a glance, his eyes burn in;;, his heart freezing: Come to office immediately. "Will wait .?I? night f<T you If necessary. Jon?-, has disappeared, and there is absolutely no trace ..; him. GRANT & RIPT.?Y. lirewstcr sat as one paralyzed, aliso iuteJy nd sign of emotion in his face. Tin others began to clamor for the contents of tho telegram, but his tongue was stiff and motionless, his cars deaf. liv.-ry drop of blood in his centered upon^ eleven words in the handwriting of a careless telegraph op? erator, "Jones has disappeared, and there is absolutely no trace of him." "Jones has disappeared!" Those were the words, plain and terrible in their clearness, tremendous in their brutality. Slowly the rest of the mes? sage began to urge its claims upon his brain. "Come to our office immediate? ly" and "Will wait all night" battled for recognition. He was calm because he had not the power to express an emotion. How he maintained control of himself afterward he never knew, j Some powerful, kindly force asserted j itself, coming to his relief with the timeliness of a genie. Gradually it began to dawn upon him that the otb.- ; ers were waiting for him to read the j message aloud. He was not sure that 8 O Brewster sat as one paralyzed. a sound would come forth when he opened his lips to speak, but the tones were steady, natural and cold as steel. "I am sorry I can't tell you about this," he said, so gravely that his hear? ers were silenced. "It is a business matter of such vital importance that I must ask you to excuse m? for an " hour or so. . I will explain everything tomorrow. Please don't be uneasy. If you will do me the honor to grace the board of an absent host I'll be most grateful. It is imperative that I go and at once. I promise to return in an hour." He was standing, his knees as stiff as iron. "Is it anything serious ?" asked De Mille. . "What!" Has anything happened?" came in halting, frightened tones from T>por<ry '\?t~coneerns me alone, and it is pure? ly of a business nature. Seriously, I can't delay going for another minute. It is vital. In an hour I'll return. Peg? gy, don't be worried-don't be dis? tressed about me. Go on and have a good time, everybody, and you'll find me the jolliest fellow of all when I come back. It's 12 o'clock. I'll be here by 1 on the 23d of September." "Let me go with you," pleaded Peg? cry tremulously as she followed him into the hallway. "I must go alone," he answered. "Don't worry, little woman. It wil? be ail right." His kiss sent a chill to the very bot? tom of Peggy's heart. [TO BE CONTE?tJED.] THE THAW CASE. New York, June 28.-The coroner's jury in the Thaw case, after three minutes deliberation, returned a ver? dict finding that White came to his death from cerebral hemorrhage as the result of a pistol wound inflicted with a revolver in the hands of Harry Thaw. Six witnesses were heard, one being the coroner's physician, who made the autopsy and described the wound. Five eye-witnesses testified, their stories bearing out previous accounts. Three witnesses offered important tes timony that Thaw did make the re? mark. "He ruined my wife." Judge Olcott, Thaw's attorney, questioned the witness to develop this' point. Thaw appeared irrational, ev? idently outlining his defense of insan? ity. . PLEADS XOT GUILTY. Xew York, June 29.-Thaw was ar? raigned in the Court of General Ses? sions today and pleaded not guilty, with the privilege of withdrawing the plea and making any motions re? quired in his case on Tuesday. Thaw appeared to be in better condi? tion than at any time since his arrest. The prison quiet is agreeing with him and he is regaining his color. He told the wardens this morning he felt bet? ter than he had in a long time. Thaw's defense will' be emotional insanity, meaning that Thaw brooded over the wrongs to his wife and White's alleged pursuit of her after marriage until he was temporarily in? sane when he committed the crime but not insane today, lt is said Mrs. Thaw will go on the stand and tell the whole story of her relations with White to clear her husband. Thaw's friends have detectives at work unearthing ev? ery act <-f White's life fer the purpose cf showing that ho was in the habit of pursuing young girls. who came friendless to t' e city t>> take up stage life. Do Not Xegleet Your Bowels. *Many serious diseases arise from teglect ot iii. bowels, chamberlain's 'tomach and Liver Tablets are a deasant and agreeable laxative. 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