The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1913-10-09

and staggering questions about Tootles
and your most private affairs"
81 know. my dear" groaned Edith.
"He very politely remarked to me
last night that Tootles made him think
very strangely Of a friend Of his In
London He wouldn't mention the fell
lows name He only smiled and said.
'Nevah mind, my dear. he's a c'nfend.
ed handsome dog | daresay he meant
that as a compliment for Tootles. She
is pretty. don't you think so. dear?"
"She's just like you. Edith" said
Constance. who understood things
quite clearly
Then. in heavens name. Connie,
why are they staring at her so i'm
politely-all OF themT"
"It's because she is so pretty. Good
ness. Edith. don't let every little thing
worry you. You'll have wrinkles and
gray hairs soon enough"
Its all very nice for you to talk
grumbled Edith. I'm going mad with
loneliness. You have a lover near you
all the time-he's mad about you
What have I? I'm utterly alone. No
one loves me-no not n SOUL
"You won't let them love you, Edith"
said Constance jauntily They all
want to love you. all Of them"
81 hate men," announced Mrs, Med.
croft re~trospectively
Developments Of a most refractory
character swooped down upon them ut
the very end Of the %sojourn in Inns
bruck. Every one had begun to rejoice
that the fortnight was almost over and
without having anything really regret
table to carry away with them. The
crofts to London. the Odell-Carneys
latter finding out where the others
were BENT to Ostend. Freddie Ulster
welt suddenly announced his determine
ton to remain at the Tirol for a week
or two longer. That very day he had
been introduced to a Mile. lie Brun, a
fascinating young Parision stopping at
the Tirol with her mother.
All might have ended well had 1t not
been for the unfortunate circumstance
Of Odell- Carney's making a purchase OF
the London Standard instead OF the
Times. as was bis custom. His lamen-
tattons over this piece Of stupidity
were cut short by the discovery OF an
astonishing article upon the editorial
page of the p~aper-an article which
created within him a sense Of grave
perplexity. He read the headlines
thrice and glanced through the text
twice, neither time with any ~ def
mite idea Of what he was reading His
fingers shook as he held the sheet
nearer the window for IA final eff ort to
%untangle the incredible thing dat lay
before him In simple, unimpcachable
black and white.
"'Pon me word" he kept repeating
to himself feebly. Then he got up and
went Off 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 of for a
drive with Mrs. Rodney.
bad news, C~arneyT" she demanded.
struck by his expression. She was fol-
lowing him toward q 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 it2"
"My dear Carney, I don't know.
Would you mind telling me what l am
to readT"
"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
lin 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, 1t 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
I 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 o%verthrown, 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 a full
%thrashing out OF the obnoxious deal.
Roxbury Medcroft's name was on ev-
cry ones lip. The Standard had profit
ed nv securing a great "hpat."