Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1913-11-06

rnrasnlng out or the deal,
Roxbury Medcrott's name was on ev-
cry ones lip. The Standard had profit
ed by securing a great 'beat."
The Odell-Carneys looked at each
other in wonder and perplexity. "What
does 1t mean?' asked the lady. her
eyes narrowing.
Look here, Agatha. this papers at
least two days old. Now. how the
devil can Medcroft be in London and
Innsbruck at the same time. He was
here day before yesterday. wasn't he?
! I'm SO c'nfended unobserving'-
Eyes, yes, he was here. And this
paper She paused irresolutely.
"Says he was there. Pom my word.
it's most %uncanny. There's some mys-
terry here"
I've got it, Carney! This is not
Roxbury Medcroft."
Good Gawd!
"This explains everything. Heavens,
Carney. This fellow isis her lover.
She's running about the country with
him. She's
"Her lover? Cad, my dear. he may
have been so at n time, but he's the
other ones lover now, take my word
for it. I say. pom my soul, this is a
charming game your friends the Rod
neys have let us into. They
"My friends! Yours. you meanw she
retorted.
ooh. conn now! But let it go at that.
They know. of course that this fellow
isn't her husband, and yet, by CAD.
Agatha. they've gone about deliberate
~ palming him off on us as the real
article. They are actually sanctioning
the whole
stop a moment. Carney" interrupt
ed his wife. 1.-The London chap may
be the fraud. Let us go slow. my
dear"
"Slow? How the devil can we 20
slow in such fast company? No! This
fellow Is the fraud. And they knew
it too. They all know it. They
Rubbish! You forget that the whole
Rodney tribe is up in arms because
Medcroft is making love to his wife's
sister. They're not assuming anything
there. let me tell you. And he's not
Edith's lover. If he's not her husband.
he's playing a part that she under.
stands n approves. And this-this,
my dear Carney. may account for the
imaginary orphanage Of Tootles. Dear
me. it's quite a tangle."
Il shall telegraph my solicitors at
once for definite news. They'll know
whether the real Medcroft is in Lon
don. and then-well. by Jove. Agatha.
l can't tell just wot steps I'll take in
regard to these Rodneys."
He went into a long TRADE against
the unfortunate Seattleites. as he call
ed them. Understand me, Agatha, I
don't blame Mrs. Medcroft. If she's
having an affair with this chap and
can pull the WOOL
But she isn't having an affair with
this chap" cried Mrs. Odell-Carney,
her patience exhausted. "She's having
an affair with a chap in London. the
one who writes. Good gracious. Of
course: Why, what fools we are. The
real Medcroft is in London, and it is
be who is writing the letters. How
stupid Of me-"
AHA" exclaimed he triumphantly.
"Of course. she's getting letters from
her husband. Why not? That's to be
expected. But. by the everlasting shay
pat. do you suppose that her husband
knows she's off here with another fell
low who m~asquerades as her husband?
No" He almost shouted it. "I've
never heard Of anything so brazen.
Cad. what nerve these Americans
have! Just to think of it,"
Il don't believe she is anything of
the Sort" declared his wife. She's as
good as gold. You can't fool me. Car
ney. I know women"
deuce take it. Agatha, so do 1. And
wot's more. l know men"
They're q poor lot. the kind you
know. This pseudo Medcroft is not
your Kind. He's a very clever chap
and a gentleman"
Inc that I'm going to be such a cad as
TO turn against 'em in their hour of
trial. Not l. I'm more their friend
than ever. III help 'em to get away
from here. and I'll bulldoze these Rod
neys into holding their peace forever
after. It's the Rodney duplicity that
can't stand"
Shall we stay here. or shall we find
an excuse to leave?" she asked point
edly.
We'll stay long enough for me to
tell the Rodneys wot l think of 'em.
Ill have an answer to my dispatch by
night. Then ! should advise you to
have a talk with Mrs. Medcroft. You've
invited her to the house. you know.
Tell her there can't be two Medcrofts.
See wot ] mean? Well see EN- through