is out of the question. We can't go there," she
said, decisively.

"Oh, Peggy! That spoils everything," he cried, in deep disappointment.

"It isn't fair to me, Monty. Everybody would know us, and every tongue
would wag. They would say, 'There are Monty Brewster and Margaret Gray.
Spending his last few dollars on her.' You wouldn't have them think
that?"

He saw the justice in her protest. "A quiet little dinner in some out
of the way place would be joyous," she added, persuasively.

"You're right, Peggy, you're always right. You see, I'm so used to
spending money by the handful that I don't know how to do it any other
way. I believe I'll let you carry the pocketbook after to-morrow. Let
me think; I knew 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 box and
we're all going up to Pettingill's studio afterward. I'm to give the
'Little Sons' a farewell supper. If my calculations don't go wrong,
that will be the end of the jaunt and we'll go home happy."

At eleven o'clock Pettingill's studio opened its doors to the "Little
Sons" and their guests, and the last "Dutch lunch" was soon under way.
Brewster had paid for it early in the evening and when he sat down at
the head of the table there was not a penny in his pockets. A year ago,
at the same hour, he and the "Little Sons" were having a birthday
feast. A million dollars came to him on that night. To-night he was
poorer by far than on the other occasion, but he expected a little gift
on the new anniversary.

Around the board, besides the nine "Little Sons," sat six guests, among
them the DeMilles, Peggy Gray and Mary Valentine. "Nopper" Harrison was
the only absent "Little Son" and his health was proposed by Brewster
almost before the echoes of the toast to the bride and groom died away.

Interruption came earlier on this occasion than it did that night a
year ago. Ellis did not deliver his message to Brewster until three
o'clock in the morning, but the A.D.T. boy who rang the bell at
Pettingill's a year later handed him a telegram before twelve 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 Bragdon. "By Jove, it's
sensible of you to get married on your birthday, Monty. It saves time
and expense to your friends."

"Read it aloud," said "Subway" Smith.

"Two