Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-09-03

che-ild, There's Tootlcs. dear Tootles,
to think Of"
or course Mrs. OdeIl-Carney could
not be expected to know that Edith
was blithely jesting.
MY dear Edith" he said Just as
firmly, "Tootles has nothing to do with
the case. You know, and Constance
knows, and I know. and the whole
world will soon know that I'm not
even related to her, poor little beggar.
1 don't see why she should come be-
tween me and happiness just because
she happens to bear a social resem-
blance to a man who isn't her father
Come. now, let's talk over the situation
sensibly"
Just then they passed beyond the
hearing Of the astonished eavesdrop-
per. Good heaven. what was this?
Not his child? Two minutes later Mrs.
Odell-Carney was back at the spring
where they had left her somnolent hus-
band, who had refused to climb a hill
because all of his breath was required
to smoke a cigarette.
Carney" she said sternly, her Iips
rigid. her eyes set hard upon his face,
how long have the Medcrofts been
married?"
He blinked heavily. "How the devil
should l know? Pom me word, its
-Four years, 1 think Mrs. Rodney
told me. How old is that baby?'
Pom me soul, Agatha, I'm as much
in the dark rs you. 1 don't know"
"a little Gver a year, I'd say. Well,
just heard Medcroft say that she
wasn't his child. Whose is it," She
stood there like an accusing angel. He
started violently, and his jaw dropped.
An expression of alarmed protest leap
ed into his listless eyes.
"'Pon my word, Agatha, how the
devil should | know? Don't look at
me like that Give you my word of
honor, / don't know the woman. Pom
me soul, l don't, my dear"
He was very much in earnest. thor
oughly aroused by what seemed to be
a direct insinuation.
"Oh. don't be stupid" she cried.
GOOD heavens, can there be a scandal
in that lovely woman's llfe?"
There's never any scandal in q wo-
mans life unless she's reasonably
lovely" remarked he.
Whose child is she, If she isn't Med
croft's?" she pursued with a perplexed
frown.
."Demme. Agatha. don't ask me-" he
said irritably, passing his hand over
his brow. I've told you that twice.
Ask them; dare say they know"
She looked at him in disgust las il
l could do such thing as that. Dear
me, don't understand it at all. Four
! years married. Yes. I'm sure that's It.
Carney. You don't suppose She
hesitated. 1t was not necessary to
complete the obvious question.
Agatha" said he. weighing his re
mark carefully. I've said all along
that Medcroft is a fool Take those
windows, for instance. II he
"Oh. rubbish, What have the win
dows TO do with It? You are positive
/ ly stupid. And I'd come TO like her
too. Yes. I'd even asked her to come
and see me-" She was really dis
| tressed
And why not?" he demanded Hang
| II all. Agatha. it's nothing unusual
She's jolly good sort and a sight toe
good for Medcroft. He's a stupid ass
I've said so all along. How the devil
she ever married him can't see. But
by Jove, Agatha, can readily see how
I she might have loved the father OF
this child, no matter who he is. Take
my advice. my dear. and don't be harsh
/ in your Judgment. Don't say a word
about what you've heard. II they art
reconciled to the-er-the situation
why the devil should we give hang
And, above all. don't let these Rod
neys suspect" Here he lowered hi:
voice gradually. They're a pack Of
| rntters and they cnuldn't understand