The Pleasantville press., 1913-10-15

"P. s. Roxbury has not made sign
Edith is frantic
Several floors below the relieved and
soon urging her sister to go to bed
and et the story go until daylight.
She persisted in telling all that she
had done and all that she had endured
I'VE must never let him know that
we actually gave that wretch nearly
$500, Edith He would never forgive
US. | admit that ! was fool and a
ninny. so don't tell me am. I can
see by the way you are looking that
you're just crazy to. It's all Roxbury's
fault. anyway Why should he get
up and make a speech in London with
out letting US know? Just see how 1t
has placed us! | think Mr.. Brock is
an angel to do what he has done for
you and Roxbury. Yes. my dear, you
will have to confess that Roxbury is a
brute-a perfect brute. I'm sure, If
you have spark of fairness in you.
you must hate him No. no! Don't
say anything. Edith. You know I'm
right"
I'm not going to say anything" de-
clared Edith angrily. I'm going to
bed"
Edith. If you don't mind. dear,
think I'll sleep with you" After a mo-
ment of deep reflection she added
plaintively: There is so much that l
just have to tell you. deary. lit
won't keep till daylight"
Bright and early in the morning the
tired. harassed night farers were rout-
ed from their rooms by demand from
the management of the hotel that they
appear forthwith in the private Office
This order included every member of
Mr. Rodney's party, excepting the
Medcroft baby Considerably distress
ed and very much concerned over the
probable outcome of the conference,
the Rodney forces made their way to
the offices-not altogether in an open
fashion. but by humiliatingly unusual
avenues, The Rodney family came
down the back stairs. Brock was SOL
emnly ushered through the public Of
fee by Mr. Odell-Carney and Freddie
Ulstervelt 1t is not stretching the
truth to say that they were sour and
sullen, but. as may be suspected. from
peculiarly different causes. At last
all were congregated in the stuffy Of
fee. very much subdued and very
much at odds with each other. Mr..
Citizens was there. Likewise the gen.
tleman from the bank and a promi-
nent person from the department of
police
Miss Fowler glanced about uneasly
and was relieved to discover that her
treacherous jailer was not there to con-
front her with charges. 1t had occur
red to her that he might, after all, have
tricked her into committing a crime
against the government.
1t was quite noticeable that Mrs
Rodney and Katherine did not speak
to the Medcroft contingent - in fact
they ignored them quite completely
Mrs. Rodney was very pale and very
deeply distressed. She cast many
glances at the red eyed and sheepish
Mr.. Rodney-glances that meant much
to the further torture of his soul.
Il am sorry to inform you, Herr Rod
ney, that the rooms which you now oc-
cupy and those of your friends are no
longer at your disposal. They have
been engaged for from some time this
day by az
Look here" interrupted Odell-C
ney bluntly, "if you mean that we are
not wanted here any longer. why not
say SO? Don't lie about it We are
leaving today, in any event. so wot's
the odds? Now, come down to facts.
Why are we summoned here like a
crowd of school children?"
The manager looked at Mr.. Citizens
and then at the police officer
"Ahem! 1t seems that Herr Grab
hetz of the police department desires
to ask some questions of your party in
my presence. You will understand, sir,
that the hotel has been imposed upon
by-by these people 1t seems, also,
that the bank insists upon having some
light thrown upon the methods by
which Mrs. Medcroft secures money
on her letter of credit"
You are welcome to all that, SIR"
declared Mr.. Odell-Carney, t'but | am
interested to know just why my wife
and are brought into this affair.""
Because you are guests of Mr. Rod
ney, sir, regret to state. We have no
complaint against you. sir You are
well known here. The--the others are
not. They are-what you call it?
Humbugs! 1t may be that they also
have swindled your
Mr.. Rodney at this point leaped to
his feet and rushed over to shake his
fist in the face of the insulting hotel
man. But Edith Medcroft arose sud-
denly like a tragedy queen and spoke,
her clear, determined voice stilling the
turbulent spirit of her outraged host.
"One moment. please" she said
This all can be satisfactorily explain.
ed. No wrong has been DONE 1t will