Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-08-20

Introduce me to whom?' demanded
Brock. pricking up his ears. He was
following Medcroft to the elevator.
ITO my wife-Edith," said Medcroft,
annoyed by the others Obtuseness.
Does it require preparation for an
ordeal so charming?" laughed Brock.
He was recalling the fact that Med
croft had married a beautiful Phila-
delphia girl some years ago id London,
a young lady whom he had never seen,
so thoroughly expatriated had she be-
come in consequence of almost life
time residence in England. He re-
membered now that she was rich and
that he had sent her a ridiculously ex-
pensive present and a congratulatOry
cablegram at the time of the wedding.
The Londoner did not respond to the
innocuous query. He merely stared in
a preoccupied, determined manner at
the succeeding etages as they slipped
downward. at the fourth floor they
disembarked, and Brock led the way
to his rooms, overlooking the inner
court Once inside with the door clos
ed he turned upon the Englishman.
Now, what's up. Rox? Are you in
trouble?" he demanded.
"Are we quite alone|" Medcroft
glanced significantly at the transom
and the half closed bathroom door.
With Il laugh Brock led him into the
bathroom and out and then closed the
transom.
You're darned mysterious" he said,
pointing to q chair near the window.
Medcroft drew another close up and
seated himself
Brock" he said, lowering his voice
and leaning forward impressively, 81
want you to go to Vienna in my place"
Brock stared hard. You are god
send, old man. You're just in time TO
do me the greatest of favors. It's ut
terly impossible for me to go to Vienna
as | had planned, and yet 1t is equally
unwise for me to give up the project.
You see. I've just got to be in London
and Vienna at the same time"
1T will require something more than
a stretch of the imagination TO do that,
| old man. But I'm game, and my plans
are such that they can be changed
readily to Oblige n friend. l shan't
mind the trip in the least. and III be
only too happy to help you out. Cad!
| | thought by your manner that you
were in some frightful difficulty"
/ by Jove. Brock. you're a brick!"
cried Medcroft, shaking the others
/ his face expressed considerable uncer-
| tainty and no little doubt as to the
future welfare of his as yet partially
| divulged proposition.
/ ITS easy to be n brick. my boy. If
! it involves no more than the changing
of a single letter in ones name. I'd
! like to attend the convention anyway"
! said Brock amiably.
well, you see, Brock" said MNdcroft
! Iamely, 81 fear you don't quite appre-
ciate the situation | want you to pose
as Roxbury Medcroft"
/ you What do you mean?"
81 thought you'd find that a facpr
That's just it. You are to go to Vienna
as Roxbury Medcroft, not as yourself.
Ha, ha. Ripping. ehf"
"'Pon my soul. Rox, you are not in
earnest?"
Never more So
i But my dear fellow
"You won't do IT? That's what your
tone means" in despair
''It isn't that. and you know it I've
got nothing TO lose It's you that will
have to suffer. You're known all over
I Europe What will be said when the
trick is discovered? Cad. man"
Then you will go?" with beaming
eyes. Il knew it would appeal TO you
as an American"
what does II all meanT'
IT'S all Sery simple. II one looks az
Il from the right angle. Brock. Up TO
last night l was blissfully committed
( 10 the NEST delightful of outings. so 10
/ sneak ~ 10 o'clock everything wsI
changed. Mrs. Medcroft and ] sat up
( all night discussing the situation with
the messenger-my solicitor. by the
way. The Vienna trip is out of the
question, so far as l am concerned. 1t
is of vital importance that ! should re-
turn to London tonight, but it is even
more vitality important that the world
should say that l am in Vienna. See
! what | meanE
mo. I'm hanged if ! do"
what ! have just heard from Lon
don makes me shudder TO think of the
consequences If | go on east tonight.
may as we'll tell you that there is q
plot on foot 10 perpetrate a gigantic
frand against the people The county
council is 10 be hoodwinked out and
out into moving forward certain build
ing projects, involving millions OF the
peoples money. Our firm has opposed
certain band of grafters, and when
left England it was pretty well set
tied that we had blocked their game
They have learned of my proposed alb
senee and intend 10 steal a march On
us while | am away. Without assum-
ing too much credit TO myself. may
say that |. your old friend. Roxbury.
am the one Elan who has proved the
real thorn in the sides Of these scoun-
drels. With me out Of the way they