Mont.

How about having my life insured? Would it violate conditions?

MONTGOMERY BREWSTER.

To MONTGOMERY BREWSTER,

New York.

Seems to me your life would become an asset in that case. Can you
dispose of it before September 23d?

JONES.

TO SWEARENGEN JONES,

Butte, Mont.

On the contrary, I think life will be a debt by that time.

MONTGOMERY BREWSTER.

To MONTGOMERY BREWSTER,

New York.

If you feel that way about it, I advise you to take out a $500 policy.

JONES.

TO SWEARENGEN JONES,

Butte, Mont.

Do you think that amount would cover funeral expenses?

MONTGOMERY BREWSTER.

To MONTGOMERY BREWSTER,

New York.

You won't be caring about expenses if it comes to that.

JONES.

The invitations for the second ball had been out for some time and the
preparations were nearly complete when Brewster arrived upon the scene
of festivity. It did not surprise him that several old-time friends
should hunt him up and protest vigorously against the course he was
pursuing. Nor did it surprise him when he found that his presence was
not as essential to the success of some other affair as it had once
been. He was not greeted as cordially as before, and he grimly wondered
how many of his friends would stand true to the end. The uncertainty
made him turn more and more often to the unquestioned loyalty of Peggy
Gray, and her little library saw him more frequently than for months.

Much as he had dreaded the pretentious and resplendent ball, it was
useful to him in one way at least. The "profit" side of his ledger
account was enlarged and in that there was room for secret
satisfaction. The Viennese orchestra straggled into New York, headed by
Elon Gardner, a physical wreck, in time to make a harmonious farewell
appearance behind Brewster's palms, which caused his guests to wonder
why the American public could not appreciate the real thing. A careful
summing up of the expenses and receipts proved that the tour had been a
bonanza for Brewster. The net loss was a trifle more than $56,000. When
this story became known about town, everybody laughed pityingly, and
poor Gardner was almost in tears when he tried to explain the disaster
to the man who lost the money. But Monty's sense of humor, singularly
enough, did not desert him on this trying occasion.

Aesthetically the ball proved to be the talk of more than one season.
Pettingill had justified his desire for authority and made a name which