ns if I lose her? I
can't afford to take chances. That Duke won't have seven millions next
September, it's true, but he'll have a prodigious argument against me,
about the twenty-first or second."

Then a brilliant thought occurred to him which caused him to ring for a
messenger-boy with such a show of impatience that Rawles stood aghast.
The telegram which Monty wrote was as follows:

SWEARENGEN JONES,

Butte, Montana

May I marry and turn all property over to wife, providing she will have
me?

MONTGOMERY BREWSTER.

"Why isn't that reasonable?" he asked himself after the boy had gone.
"Making property over to one's wife is neither a loan nor is it
charity. Old Jones might call it needless extravagance, since he's a
bachelor, but it's generally done because it's good business." Monty
was hopeful.

Following his habit in trouble, he sought Margaret Gray, to whom he
could always appeal for advice and consolation. She was to come to his
next dinner-party, and it was easy to lead up to the subject in hand by
mentioning the other guests.

"And Barbara Drew," he concluded, after naming all the others. They
were alone in the library, and she was drinking in the details of the
dinner as he related them.

"Wasn't she at your first dinner?" she asked, quickly.

He successfully affected mild embarrassment.

"Yes."

"She must be very attractive." There was no venom in Peggy's heart.

"She is attractive. In fact, she's one of the best, Peggy," he said,
paving the way.

"It's too bad she seems to care for that little Duke."

"He's a bounder," he argued.

"Well, don't take it to heart. You don't have to marry him," and Peggy
laughed.

"But I do take it to heart, Peggy," said Monty, seriously. "I'm pretty
hard hit, and I want your help. A sister's advice is always the best in
a matter of this sort."

She looked into his eyes dully for an instant, not realizing the full
importance of his confession.

"You, Monty?" she said, incredulously.

"I've got it bad, Peggy," he replied, staring hard at the floor. She
could not understand the cold, gray tone that suddenly enveloped the
room. The strange sense of loneliness that came over her was
inexplicable. The little something that rose in her throat would not be
dislodged, nor could she throw off the weight that seemed pressing down
upon her. He saw the odd look in her eyes and the drawn, uncertain
smile on her lips, but he attributed them to wonder and incredu