Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1913-09-17
WlLLMAR TRIBUNE, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER ~ 1913

( W vleuu0 anu pUoe Au6N1tOxOuCy5 MeO.?
croft while steal back to London and
set the charge under these demmed
bloodsuckers Really, you know. its
a. terribly serious matter, Brock. It
means fortune and honor to me. az
well as millions to the rate payers Of
Greater London All you've got to do
is to register at the Bristol, get inter
viewed by the papers. attend one or
two sessions of the convention. which
lasts three days, and then 60 OF into
the mountains with the Rodneys. The
society reporters will do the rest"
with the Rodneys? My dear fellow.
suppose that they object to the sub
stitution? Really. you know. it's not
to be thought Of" -
"Deuce take 1t, man. the Rodneys
are not to know that there has been a
substitution. Perfectly simple. can't
you seer"
I'm id If l dor
what stupid ass you are. Brock!
The Rodneys have never laid eyes on
me. They know Of me as Edith's hus-
band. that's all. They are to take you
in as Medcroft, Of course"
At this point Brock set up an en-
phatic remOnstrance. He began by
laughing his friend to scorn; then, as
Medcroft persisted, went so far as to
take him severely to task for the pro-
posed imposition on the unsuspecting
Rodneys, to say nothing of the trick he
would play upon the convention Of ar
chitects.
I'D be recognized as an 1mpostor,' -
he said warmly. ''and booted out Of the
convention. shudder to think Of what
Mr.. Rodney will do to me when he
learns the truth. Why. Medcroft. you
must be crazy. There will be dozens
Of architects there who know you per-
sonally or by sight. YOU
my dear boy, If they don't see me
there they can't very well recognize
me, can they? If necessary you can
affect an illness and stay away from
the sessions altogether. Give a state
ment to the press from the privacy of
the sickroom-regret your inability to
take part in the discussions and all
that, you know. Hire nurse IL neces-
sary. You might venture to express an
opinion or two on vital topics In my
name. l don't care a hang what you
say. only want 'em to think I'm
there. No doubt our enemies will have
a spy or two hanging about to see that
l am actually Off for jaunt with the
Rodneys. but they will be Viennese.
and they won't know me from Adam
What's the odds, so long as Edith is
there to stand by you? II she's willing
to assume that you are her husband'-
Good Lord!' half shouted Brock,
leaping to his feet, wide eyed. "You
don't mean to say that she is-is-is to
60 to Vienna with me?"
"Emphatically yes. She's also invit-
ed. OF course she's going"
"You mean that she's going just as
you are gotng-by proxy?" murmured
Brock helplessly.
"Proxy, the devil! Pom my soul.
Brock, you're downright stupid She
can't have proxy. They know her.
Liz AOuuOyS are LII SOulV way SOAuCC-
tons of hers. and all that-third cou-
SINS II she isn't there to vouch for
you, how the deuce can you expect to-
"Medcroft, you are crazy! No one
but an insane man would submit his
wife to- Why, good Lord. man, think
Of the scandal! She won't have shred
left''-
"At the proper time the matter will
be explained to the Rodneys-not at
first, you know-and I'll be in a posi-
ton to step into your shoes before the
party returns to Paris. Afterward the
whole trick will be exposed to the
world. and she'll be heroine"
I'm absolutely paralyzedr' mumbled
Brock.
"Brace up. old chap. I'm going to
take you around to the Ritz at once to
Introduce you to my wife-to your wife.
might say. She'll be waiting for US,
and. take my word for it, she's in for
the game. She appreciates its impor-
lance: Come now, Brock. it means SO
little to you. and it means everything to
me. You will do this for me-for us?''
Ito be continued)