Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-08-27


lift his hand 10 his ear when one Of
/ them hove in sight. having seen him
/ first
That's what get for being liar"
he lamented dolefully. Constance had
/ Just whispered her condolences. DO
you think they'll consider it odd that
you don't shout at me too?"
you might explain that you can tell
what / am saying by looking at my
lips" she said he was immensely re-
lieved.
Considerable difficulty had to be over
come at the Bristol in the matter Of
rooms. Without going into details
Brock resignedly took the only room
left in the crowded hotel, 6 by 10
cubby hole on the top floor overlooking
the airshaft. He had to go down one
fight for his morning tub. and he new
er got 1t because he refused to stand
IN line and await his turn. Mrs. Med
croft had the choicest room in the no.
tel, looking down upon the beautiful
Karntner-Ring. Constance proposed,
in the goodness of her heart, to give
up to Brock her own room. adjoining
would take her in to sleep with her.
Edith was perfectly willing. but inter
posed the sage conclusion that gossip
ping menials might not appreciate a
preference so unique.
Roxbury Medcroft's sky parlor ad-
Joined the elevator shaft The head
UI bis bed was in close proximity to
the upper mechanism of the lift, thin
wall intervening. A French architect,
who had a room hard by. met Brock
IN the hall, hollow eyed and haggard.
on the morning after their first night.
He shouted lugubrious congratulations
in Brooks ear. Just as If Brooks ear
had not been harassed a whole night
long by shrieking wheels and rasping
ca bles.
"M'sieur is very fortunate in being
so afflicted he doomed. "a thousand
times in the night have wished that
] might be deaf also. All! Even an
affection such as yours. m'sieur, has
its benedictions."
Matters drifted along smoothly, even
merrily, for several days. They were
all young and full OF the Joy of living
haps and perils They whitfield and
enjoyed the spice that filed the atmos-
phere in which they lived. They Wis
tied the gardens and the bots, the
chateau at Schonbrunn, the imperial
stables. the gay Venice in Vienna"
they attended the opera and the CON
certs. ever in most circUmspect
trinity" as Brock had come to CLASH
fy their parties. Like a dutiful bus
band. he always included his wife IN
the expeditions.
You are not only a most exemplary
wife. Mrs. Medcroft." he declared. but
an unusually agreeable chaperon. l
don't know how Constance and could
get on without you"
But the day Of severest trial was nov
at hand. The Rodneys were arrivin:
on the fifth day from Berlin. DESPITE
the fact that the Seattle connections
had never seen the illustrious Med
croft. husband TO their distant cousin
there still remained the disturbing fea
that they would recognize-or, rather
fail TO recognize him.-from chance pic
lures that might have come TO thei
]
possibility that they had seen or evel
met Brock in New York. He lugubri
ously admitted that he had met IN
fortunate thousands whom he hat
promptly forgotten, but who seldom
failed to remember him. 1t is not sur
prising, then, that the Medcrofts, e,
parte. were in state Of perturbat ton
a condition which did not relax in tn
least as the time drew near for the al
rival OF the 8 o'clock train from tn
north. Constance strove faithfully
even valiantly, TO inject confidence int
the souls Of the prime conspirators.
You have done so beautifully up (
this time" she protested to the dolorou
Brock. why should you be afraid?
once read Of an Indian chief who's
name was Young Man-Afr His
Wife. He was a very brave fellow Il
spite OF all that. You are afraid o
Edith. but can't you be like the Indian
He"-
That's all very nice" mourne
Brock. "But. he could cover his cor
fusion with war paint. Don't forge
that, my dear. Think OF the differenc
in our disguises-war paint in daub
versus spats and an eyeglass! Beside:
be didn't have 20 talk west end Ems
lish. And. moreover. be lived in a wig
wan and didn't have TO explain a SIX
bedroom to strangers who happene
. along"
That is q bit awkward" she cor
. fessed thoughtfully. "But can't 70
say that you have insomnia and can
s sleep unless you are above the noise c
d the streety"
II He looked at her with an expressio
C that made a verbal reply 10 this sug
70 gestion altogether unnecessary.
J. Nurse says that Tootles has forgot
. ten the real Roxbury," she went on afr
y er a moment. See how cleyerly yo
i have played the part"
D Still he stared moodily, unconvineed
II st the roadway ahead. They Ber
E. driving in the Haupt AIlea