“But he must be in existence somewhere,” cried Brewster, in perplexity.  “How the devil could he pay the money if he doesn’t exist?”

“I only know that no trace of the man can be found.  They know nothing of him in Omaha,” said Grant, helplessly.

“So it has finally happened,” said Brewster, but his excitement had dropped.  “Well,” he added, throwing himself into a deep chair, “it was always much too strange to be true.  Even at the beginning it seemed like a dream, and now—­well, now I am just awake, like the little boy after the fairy-tale.  I seem like a fool to have taken it so seriously.”

“There was no other way,” protested Ripley, “you were quite right.”

“Well, after all,” continued Brewster, and the voice was as of one in a dream, “perhaps it’s as well to have been in Wonderland even if you have to come down afterward to the ordinary world.  I am foolish, perhaps, but even now I would not give it up.”  Then the thought of Peggy clutched him by the throat, and he stopped.  After a moment he gathered himself together and rose.  “Gentlemen,” he said sharply, and his voice had changed; “I have had my fun and this is the end of it.  Down underneath I am desperately tired of the whole thing, and I give you my word that you will find me a different man to-morrow.  I am going to buckle down to the real thing.  I am going to prove that my grandfather’s blood is in me.  And I shall come out on top.”

Ripley was obviously moved as he replied, “I don’t question it for a moment.  You are made of the right stuff.  I saw that long ago.  You may count on us to-morrow for any amount you need.”

Grant endorsed the opinion.  “I like your spirit, Brewster,” he said.  “There are not many men who would have taken this as well.  It’s pretty hard on you, too, and it’s a miserable wedding gift for your bride.”

“We may have important news from Butte in the morning,” said Ripley, hopefully; “at any rate, more of the details.  The newspapers will have sensational stories no doubt, and we have asked for the latest particulars direct from the authorities.  We’ll see that things are properly investigated.  Go home now, my boy, and go to bed.  You will begin to-morrow with good luck on your side and you may be happy all your life in spite of to-night’s depression.”

“I’m sure to be happy,” said Brewster, simply.  “The ceremony takes place at seven o’clock, gentlemen.  I was coming to your office at nine on a little matter of business, but I fancy it won’t after all be necessary for me to hurry.  I’ll drop in before noon, however, and get that money.  By the way, here are the receipts for the money I spent to-night.  Will you put them away with the others?  I intend to live up to my part of the contract, and it will save me the trouble of presenting them regularly in the morning.  Good night, gentlemen.  I am sorry you were obliged to stay up so late on my account.”

He left them bravely enough, but he had more than one moment of weakness before he could meet his friends.  The world seemed unreal and himself the most unreal thing in it.  But the night air acted as a stimulant and helped him to call back his courage.  When he entered the studio at one o’clock, he was prepared to redeem his promise to be “the jolliest fellow of them all.”