Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1913-11-06
Copyright by OOdd. Mead & Go.

Il Know. my dear" groaned Edith.
'He very politely remarked to me
last night that Tootles made him think
very strangely Of q 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 l daresay he meant
that as a compliment for Tootles. She
IS pretty. don't you think so. dear?"
shes 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
DOlitely-all Of them?"
cts 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"
cts 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
n loves memo. not a soul"-
"You won't let them love you, Edith"
said Constance jauntily. "They all
want to love you. all of them"
II hate men," announced Mrs. Med
croft retrospectively.
Developments of a most refractory
character swooped down upon them at
the very end Of the s%ojourn in Inns
bruck. Every n had begun to rejoice
that the fortnight was almost over and
that they could go their different ways
without having anything really regret
table to carry away with them. The
Rodneys were going to Paris, the Med
crofts to London. the Odell-Carneys
(after 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 it not
been for the unfortunate circumstance
Of Odell-Carney's making a purchase Of
the London Standard instead Of the
Times, as was his custom. His lamen-
tations owe this piece of stupidity
were cut short by the discovery Of an
astonishing article upon the editorial
page Of the paper-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 very def
mite idea Of what he was reading. His
fingers shook as he held the sheet
nearer the window for a final effort to
untangle the incredible thing that lay
before him in simple. unimpeachable
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. II 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 a remote corner of
the approach. He did not reply until
they We're 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 1 am
to read?"
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 "g~rafters." 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 s%ojourning in the
east. AS a matter of fact, it 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 1t looked as though the
bill would be overthrown. Its promoters
had been 10 completely put to rout.
The committee would DO compelled to
take c%0gnizance OF the startling expo
sure, The people would demand Il full