Rock Island Argus., 1913-09-06

"'Pon me word" he kept repeating
to himself feebly. Then he got up and
! went of in extreme haste to find his !
wife.
my DEAR" he said to her in the car
riageway. 81 must speak with you
alone" She was just starting off for a
drive with Mrs. Rodney.
BAD news. Carney?" she demanded,
struck by his expression. She was fol-
lowing him toward remote corner of
the approach. He did not reply until
! they were seated much nearer to each
other than was their wont
Read that" he said, slipping the
Standard into her hands. 'Wot do
you think of it?'
MY dear Carney, don't know.
Would you mind telling me what am
to read?"
1.-The Medcroft thing. Right there"
She read the article, her husband
watching her face the while. Surprise.
incredulity. dismay, succeeded each
other in rapid changes. She was read
ing in sheer amazement of the doings
of .Roxbury Medcroft in connection
with the county councils subcommittee
in London! The story went on to re-
late how Medcroft. implacable leader
Of the opposition to the ''grafters." sud-
denly had appeared before the commit
tee with the most astounding figures
and facts to support his charges of rot
tenness on the part of the clique" his
unexpected descent upon the scene had
thrown the opposing leaders into a
panic; every one had been led to be-
lieve that he was sojourning in the
east. As a matter of fact, ii was soon
revealed, he had been in London Sc
cretly working on the problem for
nearly three weeks. keeping discreetly
under cover in order that his influence
might not be thwarted. His array of
facts. his bitter arraignment of the
men who were trying to force the
building bill through the council. stag
gered the whole city of London. At
that writing it looked as though the
bill would be overthrown, its promoters
had been so completely put to rout
The committee would be compelled to
take cognizance of the startling expo
sure. The people would demand full
thraShing out of the obnoxious deal.
Roxbury Medcroft's name was on ev-
cry ones lip. The Standard had profit
ed by securing great beat"
The Odell-Carneys looked at each
other in wonder and Jperplexity. What
does it 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"-
, "Yes. yes. he was here. And this
/, paper She paused irresoIutely.
"Says he was there Pom my word.
it's most uncanny. There's some mys
, terry here"
"rve got it. Carneyl This is not
: Roxbury Medcroft-"
: Good Gawdr'
= ''This explains everything. Heavens
' Carney! This fellow isis her lover
q She's running about the country with
him. She's
: Her lover? Cad, my dear, he may
have been so at one time, but he's tn,
other ones lover now. take my word
for it say. pom my soul. this is &
charming game your friends the Rod
neys have let US into. They
My friends! Yours, rou mean" sh,
retorted.
"oh, come now, But let It go at that
They know. Of course that this fellow
isn't her husband. and yet, by gad
Agatha. they've gone about deliberate
ly palming him OF on Us as the rea
article They are actually sanctionini
the whole
"Stop a moment, Carney" interrupt
ed his wife. 1.-The London chap ma
be the fraud Let us go slow, m.
dear"
slow in such fast company? No! Thi
fellow is the fraud. And they kne1
IT too. They all know It. They
Rubbish! You forget that the whol
Rodney tribe is up, In arms becaus
Medcroft Is making loge to his wife
sister. They're not ASSUMING anythin
there, let me tell you And he's nc
Edith's lover. II he's not her husband
he's playing a part thot she unde
stands and approves. And this-thi
my dear Carney, may account for th
imaginary orphaDage of Tootles. Dea
me. it's quite tangle"
II shall telegraph my solicitors 8
once for definite news. They'll kno'
whether the real Medcroft is in Lol
don, and then-well. by Jove. Agathi
can't tell just wot steps I'll take |
regard to these Rodneys'
He went into long trade again.
the unfortunate SeattIeites, as he cal
ed them Understand me. Agatha.
don't blame Mrs. Medcroft IT she
having an affair with this chap an
can pun the wool
y But she isn't having an affair wi;
this chap cried Mrs. OdelI-Carne
her patience exhausted She's hayir
an affair with a chap in London. Il
one who writes. Good gracious. {
course, Why. Nhat fools We ais. IT