THE NEW TENDERFOOT
Brewster was comparatively well and strong when he returned to New York
in March. His illness had interfered extensively with his plan of
campaign and it was imperative that he redouble his efforts,
notwithstanding the manifest dismay of his friends. His first act was
to call upon Grant & Ripley, from whom he hoped to learn what
Swearengen Jones thought of his methods. The lawyers had heard no
complaint from Montana, and advised him to continue as he had begun,
assuring him, as far as they could, that Jones would not prove
unreasonable.
An exchange of telegrams just before his operation had renewed Monty's
dread of his eccentric mentor.
NEW YORK, Jan. 6, 19--
SWEARENGEN JONES,
Butte, 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
would last. He had taken matters into his own hands while Brewster was
in Florida, and changed the period from the Spain of Velasquez to
France and Louis Quinze. After the cards were out he remembered, to his
consternation, that the favors purchased for the Spanish ball would be
entirely inappropriate for the French one. He wired Brewster at once of
this misfortune, and was astonished at the nonchalance of his reply.
"But then Monty always was a good sort," he thought, with a glow of
affection. The new plan was more costly than the old, for it was no
simple matter to build a Versailles suite at Sherry's. Pettingill was
no imitator, but he created an effect which was superbly in keeping
with the period he had chosen. Against it the rich costumes, with their
accompaniment of wigs and powdered hair, shone out resplendent. With
great difficulty the artist had secured for Monty a costume in white
satin and gold brocade, which might once have adorned the person of
Louis himself. It made him feel like a popinjay, and it was with
infinite relief that he took it off an hour or so after dawn. He knew
that things had gone well, that even Mrs. Dan was satisfied; but the
whole affair made him heartsick. Behind the compliments lavished upon
him he detected a note of irony, which revealed the laughter that went
on behind his back. He had not realized how much it would hurt. "For
two cents," he thought, "I'd give up the game and be satisfied with
what's left." But he reflected that such a course would offer no chance
to redeem himself. Once again he took up the challenge and determined
to win out. "Then," he thought exultantly, "I'll make them feel this a
bit."
He longed for the time when he could take his few friends with him and
sail away to the Mediterranean to escape the eyes and tongues of New
York. Impatiently he urged Harrison to complete the arrangements, so
that they could start at once. But Harrison's face was not untroubled
when he made his report. All the preliminary details had been
perfected. He had taken the "Flitter" for four months, and it was being
overhauled and put into condition for the voyage. It had been Brown's
special pride, but at his death it went to heirs who were ready and
eager to rent it to the highest bidder. It would not have been easy to
find a handsomer yacht in New York waters. A picked crew of fifty men
were under command of Captain Abner Perry. The steward was a famous
manager and could be relied upon to stock the larder in princely
fashion. The boat would be in readiness to sail by the tenth of April.
"I think you are going in too heavily, Monty," protested Harrison,
twisting his fingers nervously. "I can't for my life figure how you can
get out for less than a fortune, if we do everything you have in mind.
Wouldn't it be better to pull up a bit? This looks like sheer madness.
You won't have a dollar, Monty--honestly you won't."
"It's not in me to save money, Nopper, but if you can pull out a few
dollars for yourself I shall not object."
"You told me that once before, Monty," said Harrison, as he walked to
the window. When he resolutely turned back again to Brewster his face
was white, but there was a look of determination around the mouth.
"Monty, I've got to give up this job," he said, huskily. Brewster
looked up quickly.
"What do you mean, Nopper?"
"I've got to leave, that's all," said Harrison, standing stiff and
straight and looking over Brewster's head.
"Good Lord, Nopper, I can't have that. You must not desert the ship.
What's the matter, old chap? You're as white as a ghost. What is it?"
Monty was standing now and his hands were on Harrison's shoulders, but
before the intensity of his look, his friend's eyes fell helplessly.
"The truth is, Monty, I've taken some of your money and I've lost it.
That's the reason I--I can't stay on. I have betrayed your confidence."
"Tell me about it," and Monty was perhaps more uncomfortable than his
friend. "I don't understand."
"You believed too much in me, Monty. You see, I thought I was doing you
a favor. You were spending so much and getting nothing in return, and I
thought I saw a chance to help you out. It went wrong, that's all, and
before I could let go of the stock sixty thousand dollars of your money
had gone. I can't replace it yet. But God knows I didn't mean to steal."
"It's all right, Nopper. I see that you thought you were helping me.
The money's gone and that ends it. Don't take it so hard, old boy."
"I knew you'd act this way, but it doesn't help matters. Some day I may
be able to pay back the money I took, and I'm going to work until I do."
Brewster protested that he had no use for the money and begged him to
retain the position of trust he had held. But Harrison had too much
self-respect to care to be confronted daily with the man he had
wronged. Gradually Monty realized that "Nopper" was pursuing the most
manly course open to him, and gave up the effort to dissuade him. He
insisted upon leaving New York, as there was no opportunity to redeem
himself in the metropolis.
"I've made up my mind, Monty, to go out west, up in the mountains
perhaps. There's no telling, I may stumble on a gold mine up
there--and--well, that seems to be the only chance I have to restore
what I have taken from you."
"By Jove, Nopper, I have it!" cried Monty. "If you must go, I'll stake
you in the hunt for gold."
In the end "Nopper" consented to follow Brewster's advice, and it was
agreed that they should share equally all that resulted from his
prospecting tour. Brewster "grub-staked" him for a year, and before the
end of the week a new tenderfoot was on his way to the Rocky Mountains.