The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-08-08

RS
 wife, Mrs Medcroft,' ,'' he decla5ed, but an unusually agreeable chaperon. don't know how Constance and could get on without you"
 F But the day of severest trial was now ] at hand. The Rodneys were arriving on the fifth day from Berlin. Despite the fact that the Seattle ttconnections'' had never seen the illustrious Med croft, husband to their distant cousin, there still remained the disturbing fear that they would recognize-or, rather, fail to recognize him!-from chance pie lures that might have come to their notice. Besides, there was always the possibility that they had seen or even met Brock in New York. He 1ugubri- ously admitted that he had met m fortunate thousands whom he had promptly forgotten, but who seldom failed ito remember him. It is not sur pr1sing, then, that the Medcrofts, ex parte, were in state of perturbation condition which did not relax in the least as the time drew near for the ar rivals of the 5 o'clock train from the north. Constance strove faithfully, even valiantly, to inject confidence into the souls of the prime conspirators.
 You have done so beautifully up to this time,'' she protested to the dolorous Brock, why should you be afraid? I once read of an Indian chief whose name was Young-M Wife He was very brave fellow in spite of all that. You are afraid of Edith, but can't you be like the Indian? Hen-
 .- 6qrrSL- <7 Brock. But he could cover his con- fusion with war paint. Don't forget that, my dear. Think of the difference in our disguises-war paint in daubs versus spats and an eyeglass! Besides, he didn't have to talk west end Eng fish. And, moreover, he lived in a wig wam and didn't have to explain a sky bedroom to strangers who happened along.''
 saThat is a bit awkward,'' she con- fessed thoughtfully. t@But can't you say that you have insomnia and can't sleep unless you are above the noise of the street P
 He looked at her with an expression that made verbal reply to this sug- gestion altogether unnecessary.
 Nurse says that Tootles has forgot ten the real Roxbury," she went on aft CT a moment. Soo HOW S10NOIIy yOu have played the part
 Still he stared moodily, unconvinced, at the roadway ahead. They were driving in the Haupt Alice.
 EI hope I haven't got Roxbury into trouble by that interview I gave out concerning the new method of fire proof1ng woodwork in office buildings and hotels. It occurred to me after ward that he is violently opposed to the system. advo ocated it. He'll have al might say devil of a time ex- platning his change of front"
 As a matter. of fact, when tMedcroft, hiding in London, saw the reproduced interview in the Times, together with editorial comments upon the extraordi- nary attitude of supposedly conserva- tive Englishman of recognized ability, he was tried almost beyond endurance. For the next two or three days the newspapers printed caustic contribu- tfons from fellow architects and build CTS, in each of which the luckless Med croft was taken to task for advocating an impractical and famous New York hobby in the way of construction, some thing that staid old London would not even tolerate or discuss The social chronicLngs of the Medcrofts in V1- enna as dispatched by the correspond ents offset this unhappy ''bulP' to some extent in so far as Medcroft's peace of mind was concerned, but nothing could have drawn attention to the fact that he was not in London at that part1c- ular time so decisively as the Vienna interview and it's undefended front. Even his shrewdest enemy could not have suspected Medcroft of a patience which would permit him to sit quiet in IN0 off 0ExS o0anlp on. He found some small solace in the reflection that he could make the end Justify the means.
 On their return to the Bristol, Brock and Miss Fowler found the fair Edith in a pitifal state of collapse. She de- clared over and over again that she could not face the Rodneys. It was more than should be expected of her. She was sure that something would go wrong. Why-oh, why was it neces- sary to deceive the Rodneys? Why should they be kept in the dark? Why wasn't Roxbury there to counsel wise ly, and more, ad inf1nitum, until the distracted pair were on the point of deserting the cause. She finally dis solved into tears, and would not listen to reason, approximation or persuasion. It was then that Brock cruelty but ef- Actively declared his intention to abdi- cate, as he also had reputation to preserve. Whereupon. with a fine sense of distinction she flared up and accused him of treachery to his best friend, Roxbury Medcroft, who was re posing the utmost confidence in his friendship and loyalty. How could she be expected to go on with the play if he. the man upon whom everything depended, was to turn tail in critical hour like this?
 To be Continued.)
 If this shortage of cattle keeps on most of the beefsteaks will have to come from the ptEpan-