CHAPTER XXXI
HOW THE MILLION DISAPPEARED
Soon after noon on the 22d of September, Monty folded his report toSwearengen Jones, stuck it into his pocket and sallied forth. A parceldelivery wagon had carried off a mysterious bundle a few minutesbefore. Mrs. Gray could not conceal her wonder, but Brewster's answersto her questions threw little light on the mystery. He could not tellher the big bundle contained the receipts that were to prove hissincerity when the time came to settle with Mr. Jones. Brewster hadused his own form of receipt for every purchase. The little stubreceipt books had been made to order for him and not only he but everyperson in his employ carried one everywhere. No matter how trivial thepurchase, the person who received a dollar of Brewster's money signed areceipt for the amount. Newsboys and bootblacks were the only beingswho escaped the formality; tips to waiters, porters, cabbies, etc.,were recorded and afterward put into a class by themselves. Receiptsfor the few dollars remaining in his possession were to be turned overon the morning of the 23d and the general report was not to becompleted until 9 o'clock on that day.
He kissed Peggy good-bye, told her to be ready for a drive at 4o'clock, and then went off to find Joe Bragdon and Elon Gardner. Theymet him by appointment and to them he confided his design to be marriedon the following day.
"You can't afford it, Monty," exploded Joe, fearlessly. "Peggy is toogood a girl. By Gad, it isn't fair to her."
"We have agreed to begin life to-morrow. Wait and see the result. Ithink it will surprise you. Incidentally it is up to me to get thelicense to-day and to engage a minister's services. It's going to bequiet, you know. Joe, you can be my best man if you like, and, Gardie,I'll expect you to sign your name as one of the witnesses. To-morrowevening we'll have supper at Mrs. Gray's and 'among those present' willnot comprise a very large list, I assure you. But we'll talk about thatlater on. Just now I want to ask you fellows to lend me enough money toget the license and pay the preacher. I'll return it to-morrowafternoon."
"Well, I'm damned," exclaimed Gardner, utterly dumfounded by the nerveof the man. But they went with him to get the license and Bragdon paidfor it. Gardner promised to have the minister at the Gray house thenext morning. Monty's other request--made in deep seriousness--was thatPeggy was not to be told of the little transaction in which the licenseand the minister figured so prominently. He then hurried off to theoffice of Grant & Ripley. The bundles of receipts had preceded him.
"Has Jones arrived in town?" was his first anxious question after thegreetings.
"He is not registered at any of the hotels," responded Mr. Grant, andBrewster did not see the troubled look that passed over his face.
"He'll show up to-night, I presume," said he, complacently. The lawyersdid not tell him that all the telegrams they had sent to SwearengenJones in the past two weeks had been returned to the New York office asunclaimed in Butte. The telegraph company reported that Mr. Jones wasnot to be found and that he had not been seen in Butte since the 3d ofSeptember. The lawyers were hourly expecting word from Montana men towhom they had telegraphed for information and advice. They wereextremely nervous, but Montgomery Brewster was too eager and excited tonotice the fact.
"A tall, bearded stranger was here this morning asking for you, Mr.Brewster," said Ripley, his head bent over some papers on his desk.
"Ah! Jones, I'm sure. I've always imagined him with a long beard," saidMonty, relief in his voice.
"It was not Mr. Jones. We know Jones quite well. This man was astranger and refused to give his name. He said he would call at Mrs.Gray's this afternoon."
"Did he look like a constable or a bill-collector?" asked Monty, with alaugh.
"He looked very much like a tramp."
"Well, we'll forget him for the time being," said Monty, drawing thereport from his pocket. "Would you mind looking over this report,gentlemen? I'd like to know if it is in proper form to present to Mr.Jones."
Grant's hand trembled as he took the carefully folded sheet fromBrewster. A quick glance of despair passed between the two lawyers.
"Of course, you'll understand that this report is merely a synopsis ofthe expenditures. They are classified, however, and the receipts overthere are arranged in such a way that Mr. Jones can very easily verifyall 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. Thereceipts are to serve as an itemized statement, you know." Mr. Ripleytook 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 under the will of the late James T. Sedgwick of Montana:
In pursuance of the terms of the aforesaid will and in accord with theinstructions set forth by yourself as executor, I present my report ofreceipts and disbursements for the year in my life ending at midnighton Sept. 22. The accuracy of the figures set forth in this generalstatement may be established by referring to the receipts, which form apart of this report. There is not one penny of Edwin Peter Brewster'smoney in my possession, and I have no asset to mark its burial place.These figures are submitted for your most careful consideration.
ORIGINAL CAPITAL ........................... $1,000,000.00
"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 of six terrier pups .......................... 150.00 Sale of furniture and personal effects ......... 40,500.00 Interest on funds once in hand ................. 19,140.00 Total amount to be disposed of ............. $1,160,040.00
DISBURSEMENTS.
Rent for apartments ........................... $23,000.00 Furnishing apartments .......................... 88,372.00 Three automobiles .............................. 21,000.00 Renting six automobiles ........................ 25,000.00 Amount lost to DeMille .......................... 1,000.00 Salaries ....................................... 25,650.00 Amount paid to men injured in auto accident .... 12,240 00 Amount lost in bank failure ................... 113,468.25 Amount lost on races ............................ 4,000.00 One glass screen ................................ 3,000.00 Christmas presents .............................. 7,211.00 Postage ......................................... 1,105.00 Cable and telegraph ............................. 3,253.00 Stationery ...................................... 2,400.00 Two Boston terriers ............................... 600.00 Amount lost to "hold-up men" ...................... 450.00 Amount lost on concert tour .................... 56,382.00 Amount lost through O. Harrison's speculation (on my account) .............................. 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 Drinks, chiefly for others ...................... 9,040.00 Clothing ........................................ 3,400.00 Rent of one villa .............................. 20,000.00 One courier ....................................... 500.00 Dinner parties ................................ 117,900.00 Suppers and luncheons .......................... 38,000.00 Theater parties and suppers ..................... 6,277.00 Hotel expenses ................................. 61,218.59 Railway and steamship fares .................... 31,274.81 For Newsboys' Home .............................. 5,000.00 Two opera performances ......................... 20,000.00 Repairs to "Flitter" ........................... 6,342.60 In tow from somewhere to Southampton ........... 50,000.00 Special train to Florida ....................... 1,000.00 Cottage in Florida ............................. 5,500.00 Medical attendance ............................. 3,100.00 Living expenses in Florida ..................... 8,900.00 Misappropriation of personal property by servants ...................................
... 3,580.00 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
Respectfully submitted,
MONTGOMERY BREWSTER.
"It's rather broad, you see, gentlemen, but there are receipts forevery dollar, barring some trifling incidentals. He may think Idissipated the fortune, but I defy him or any one else to prove that Ihave not had my money's worth. To tell you the truth, it has seemedlike a hundred million. If any one should tell you that it is an easymatter to waste a million dollars, refer him to me. Last fall I weighed180 pounds, yesterday I barely moved the beam at 140; last fall therewas not a wrinkle in my face, nor did I have a white hair. You see theresult of overwork, gentlemen. It will take an age to get back to whereI was physically, but I think I can do it with the vacation that beginsto-morrow. Incidentally, I'm going to be married to-morrow morning,just when I am poorer than I ever expect to be again. I still have afew dollars to spend and I must be about it. To-morrow I will accountfor what I spend this evening. It is now covered by the 'sundries'item, but I'll have the receipts to show, all right. See you to-morrowmorning."
He was gone, eager to be with Peggy, afraid to discuss his report withthe lawyers. Grant and Ripley shook their heads and sat silent for along time after his departure.
"We ought to hear something definite before night," said Grant, butthere was anxiety in his voice.
"I wonder," mused Ripley, as if to himself, "how he will take it if theworst should happen."