troubling her and Mrs. Gray. In their eyes, more than in the
others, he felt ashamed and humiliated. Finally, goaded by the
remark of a bank director which he overheard, "Edwin P. Brewster
is turning handsprings in his grave over the way he is going it,"
Monty resolved to redeem himself in the eyes of his critics. He
would show them that his brain was not wholly given over to
frivolity.

With this project in mind he decided to cause a little excitement
in Wall Street. For some days he stealthily watched the stock
market and plied his friends with questions about values. Constant
reading and observation finally convinced him that Lumber and Fuel
Common was the one stock in which he could safely plunge. Casting
aside all apprehension, so far as Swearengen Jones was concerned,
he prepared for what was to be his one and only venture on the
Stock Exchange before the 23d of the following September. With all
the cunning and craftiness of a general he laid his plans for the
attack. Gardner's face was the picture of despair when Brewster
asked him to buy heavily in Lumber and Fuel.

"Good heavens, Monty," cried the broker, "you're joking. Lumber is
away up now. It can't possibly go a fraction of a point higher.
Take my advice and don't touch it. It opened to-day at 111 3/4 and
closed at 109. Why, man, you're crazy to think about it for an
instant."

"I know my business, Gardner," said Brewster, quietly, and his
conscience smote him when he saw the flush of mortification creep
into the face of his friend. The rebuke had cut Gardner to the
quick.