Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1913-10-16

cruru 10 ner supposed husband a few
minutes later There was a dangerous
red in her cheeks. and she was breath
ing quickly. Brock gave an embar-
raised laugh and mentioned something
audibly' about a stupid ass"
The entire party left on the following
day for Innsbruck. where Mr.. Rodney
already had reserved the better part
Of a whole floor for himself and guests.
Mr.. Odell-Carney, before they left Mu-
mich, brought himself to the point of
apologizing to Brock for his peppery
remarks.
He was very sorry and all that.
and he hoped they'd be friends; but
the windows were atrocious. there was
no getting around that. His wife
smoothed it over with Edith by confd-
ing to her the lamentable truth that
poor Odell-Carney hadn't the remotest
idea what he was talking about half
of the time. After carefully looking
Edith over and finding her valuably
bright and attractive she cordially ex-
pressed the hope that she would come
to see her in London.
I'VE must know each other better,
my lear Mrs. Medcroft,' she had said
amiably. Edith thought of the famous
drawing room in Mayfair and exult-
cd vastly. And MI. Medcroft too.
J au so interested in men who have a
craft. They always are worth while
really, don't you know. How like an
American Mr.. Medcroft is! l daresay
he gets that from having lived so long
with an American wife. And what a
darling baby! She's wonderfully like
Mr.. Medcroft, don't you think? No
one could mistake that child's father
never!!"
Edith may have gasped and looked
wildly about in quest of help, but her
agitation went unnoticed by the new
! friend. From that ,momentous hour
Mrs. Medcroft encouraged an inordi-
nate regard for the circumspect. She
decided that it was best lever to be
alone with her husband. The future
was now too precious to go unguarded
for a single moment that might be I'M
explainable when the triumphal hour
of revelation came to hand. She i'm
pressed this fact upon her sister, with
the result that, while Brock was never
alone with his prudent wife. he was
seldom far from the side of the adora-
BILE lieutenant. AS If p~recociously pro-
viding for an ultimate alibi, the tickle
Tootles began to show unmistakable
signs of aversion for her temporary
parent.
Mrs. Rodney. being quite an old
fashioned mother. could not reconcile
herself to this unflial attitude and
gravely confded to her husband that
she feared Medcroft was ~mistreating
his child behind their backs.
"Well, the poodle likes him anyway"
protested Mr.. Rodney. who liked
Brock. land if a dog likes a man he's
not altogether a bad lot. If l were
you I wouldn't spread the report"
"Spread it," she shifted Indignantly.
"Are they not my own cousins? Twice
removed" she concluded as an after
thought do you imagine that I
would spread it? He may be an I'M
natural father. but I shall not be the
one to say so. Please bear that in
mind, Alfred"
"Well, let's not argue about it." said
Mr.. Rodney. departing before she could
disobey the injunction.
OF course. there was no little con-
fusion at the Hotel Tyrol when it
came to establishing the Medcrofts.
For awhile it looked as though Brock
would have to share a room with Too
ties. RELOCATING Burton to an alcove
and a couch. but Constance. in a strict
ly family conclave. was seized by an
inspiration which saved the day-or
the night. more properly speaking.
81 have it. Roxbury," she cried. her
eyes dancing. "You car sleep on the
balcony. A great many invalids do.
you know"
But. good heaven, I'm not an inva-
lid" he demonstrated feebly.
"Of course you're not, but can't you
say you are? It's quite simple. You
sleep in the open air because it does
your lungs so much good. Oh. but ]
know! 1t isn't necessary to expand
your chest like that. They're perfect
ly sound. l daresay. I should think
you'd rather enjoy the fresh air. Be-
sides. there isn't a room to be had In
the hotel"
But suppose it should rain" he pro-
tested, knowing full well he was
doomed.
"You poor boy, haven't you an UNI
brella?" she cried with such n per-
fectly enhancing laugh that he would
have slept out In a hailstorm to pro-
vide recompense. And so 1t was set.
tied that he was to sleep In the small
balcony just Off the baby's luxurious
room. the hotel people agreeing to
place a cot there at night In order to