Soon after noon on the 22d of September, Monty folded his report to Swearengen
Jones, stuck it into his pocket and sallied forth. A parcel delivery wagon
had carried off a mysterious bundle a few minutes before. Mrs. Gray could
not conceal her wonder, but Brewster's answers to her questions threw little
light on the mystery. He could not tell her the big bundle contained the
receipts that were to prove his sincerity when the time came to settle with
Mr. Jones. Brewster had used his own form of receipt for every purchase.
The little stub receipt books had been made to order for him and not only
he but every person in his employ carried one everywhere. No matter how trivial
the purchase, the person who received a dollar of Brewster's money signed
a receipt for the amount. Newsboys and bootblacks were the only beings who
escaped the formality; tips to waiters, porters, cabbies, etc., were recorded
and afterward put into a class by themselves.
Receipts for the few dollars
remaining in his possession were to be turned over on the morning of the
23d and the general report was not to be completed until 9 o'clock on that
day.
He kissed Peggy good-bye, told her to be ready for a drive at 4 o'clock,
and then went off to find Joe Bragdon and Elon Gardner. They met him by
appointment and to them he confided his design to be married on the following
day.
"You can't afford it, Monty," exploded Joe, fearlessly. "Peggy is too good
a girl. By Gad, it isn't fair to her."
"We have agreed to begin life to-morrow. Wait and see the result. I think
it will surprise you. Incidentally it is up to me to get the license to-day
and to engage a minister's services. It's going to be quiet, 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-morrow evening we'll have supper at
Mrs. Gray's and 'among those present' will not comprise a very large list,
I assure you. But we'll talk about that later on. Just now I want to ask
you fellows to lend me enough money to get the license and pay the preacher.
I'll return it to-morrow afternoon."
"Well, I'm damned," exclaimed Gardner, utterly dumfounded by the nerve of
the man. But they went with him to get the license and Bragdon paid for it.
Gardner promised to have the minister at the Gray house the next morning.
Monty's other request—made in deep seriousness—was that Peggy was not to
be told of the little transaction in which the license and the minister figured
so prominently. He then hurried off to the office of Grant & Ripley.
The bundles of receipts had preceded him.
"Has Jones arrived in town?" was his first anxious question after the greetings.
"He is not registered at any of the hotels," responded Mr. Grant, and Brewster
did not see the troubled look that passed over his face.
"He'll show up to-night, I presume," said he, complacently. The lawyers did
not tell him that all the telegrams they had sent to Swearengen Jones in
the past two weeks had been returned to the New York once as unclaimed in
Butte. The telegraph company reported that Mr. Jones was not to be found
and that he had not been seen in Butte since the 3d of September. The lawyers
were hourly expecting word from Montana men to whom they had telegraphed
for information and advice. They were extremely nervous, but Montgomery Brewster
was too eager and excited to notice 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," said Monty,
relief in his voice.
"It was not Mr. Jones. We know Jones quite well. This man was a stranger
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 a laugh.
"He looked very much like a tramp."
"Well, we'll forget him for the time being," said Monty, drawing the report
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 from Brewster.
A quick glance of despair passed between the two lawyers.
"Of course, you'll understand that this report is merely a synopsis of the
expenditures. They are classified, however, and the receipts over there are
arranged in such a way that Mr. Jones can very easily verify all 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. The receipts are to serve as an itemized
statement, you know." Mr. Ripley took the paper from his partner's hand and,
pulling himself together, read the report aloud. It was as follows:
