Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1913-12-03
.z :.9i31 55El-sI..e 100 - Va 4.
#cHAPTER 4, XIV.
What? Another husba nd.

CHAPTER XIV. =.55j
What? Another Husband.
Twas a perfectly natural, but not
NJ an especially obvious question
The little manager threw up his
hands and cried out In q sad
mixture OF French. English and Hell
vetian: @.ss. Il .:sss u s:=s. :s=. 5 J.
- What? Another husband? Madam
how many more do you propose to In
f1ict us with? We cannot allow it.
The management will not permit you
to change husbands the instant new
guest arrives In the house: 1t Is not
to be heard ONO, nor .#z .s 1#s ss=
Are you afraid that the books won't
balance?' asked Brock, with a joyous
grin. a great load off his heart. La.
dies and gentlemen, permit me to in.
troduce Mr.. Roxbury Medcroft, my
friend and fellow conspirator. He is
the husband of this lady. not l. am
to be the husband OF this lady. thank
GOd!' Il. 75....s.3 q ssg
There was a moment Of absolute ST.
.lence-it may have been stupor. The
two audiences faced each other with
emotions widely at variance. 1t was
Mrs. Rodney who spoke first. s
lis this true, Edith?'' she quavered.
eyes, yes. yesr' cried Edith, her eyes
dancing. - 80. /. z:
'"Then, what are you doing here with
a man who. isn't your husband r. de
manded Mrs. Rodney, suddenly aflame.
II can explain everything to you
later on, Mrs. Rodney" interposed Mrs.
Odell- Carney calmly. She had OWNED
at least portion Of the truth. and
she was clever enough to put herself
on the right side. Edith cast an invol-
untary look of surprise at the English
woman. II have known everything
from the, first. Mrs. Medcroft and !
are closer friends than you may have
thought" She gave Edith meaning
look and moment later, was whisper
ing to her in private corner Of the
private office: "My dear, l don't know
what it means. but you must tell me
everything as soon as possible. l am
your friend. Whatever it all is, It's
rippingv' 49,. z-.s
Medcroft finally waved every one
aside in the most degage manner
Imaginable. y: =. =, I
"Don't crowd mel! Hang it all, I'm
not curiosity. There isn't anything
to 60 crazy about My friend, Mr.
Brock. has just done me trifling ia
vor. That's all. The whole story will
be in the London papers this morning
Buy 'em. I'm going up to my wife's
room to see my baby. I'll come down
and explain everything when I've had
a bit Of breathing spell. It's annoy
ing to have had this fuss about a sim.
pie little matter of generosity on the
part Of my friend. who. I've no doubt.
has been most exemplary husband
I'll see to 1t, by Cad. that he receives
the proper apologies. And. for that
matter, my wife may have something
to say about the outrage that has been
perpetrated." .
, when did you arrive, old man?"
"Last night on the 1910. register
ed as Smith 1t was so late that
decided not to disturb Edith. They
said in the Office that you'd gone to
bed, Brock. Now that recall it,
they said 1t in very odd way too
In fact. one Of the clerks asked If
had it in for you too" -.
"You were here all night?" murmur-
ed Constance in plaintive misery.
swell. not precisely all night. Con.
ME. Half Of it, replied Roxbury.
Brock. you ass, telegraphed you i
was coming and asked you to meet me
at the station. | telegraphed twice
from London and"-~~s +
-s Don't call me an ass grated
Brock. why didn't you send em t.
me as Medcroft? I haven't been Brock
until this very morning." ~. - =.
"'Pon my soul, Brock, it was rather
stupid Of me- he confessed sheepish
~. '"But. you see." with an inspired
smile, lone of 'em was to congratulate
you on winning Connie. By Jove, yol
know, 1 couldn't very we'll address
that one to myself 49, .---.....- !.
"But-but he hadn't won me-" STAN
mered Constance Fowler. T..
Edith" said Roxbury. deep reproact
In his voice, you wrote me that q
week ago." Edith merely squeezed his
arm. -.
3 Odell-Carney came forward and ex
tended his hand. Permit me to intro
duce myself, sir. 1. am George Odell
Carney. 1t has given me great pleas
ure to serve you without knowing you
In my catalogue of personalities you
have posed internationally as dem
med bounder, deceived husband. g
betrayed lover, successful lover and
lot Of other things can't just now
recall. Acting on the presumption that
you might have been q friend in dis
tress, worked hard In your interest
Now discover, to my qualification
you are a perfect stranger. whom j
am proud to meet. Permit me to Offer
my warmest Fluctuations and to as
sure you that Mr.. Brock will make 9
splendid brother-in-law.'' He hesitat
ed a moment and then went on:...'S<
you are the chap that really put ii
those c'nfended memorial windows
'Pon me word. sir. they are the rot
tenest''- $5i FL 5-.z=s..: = 81.
Carney" came the sharp reminde
from his wife. .s.S : s.S=.. 81.
Il should have said. - revised Mr.
odell- Carney, you are the chap VIII,
played the deuce with the buildin,
grafters in the county council. Re
markabley' S. @:s:$ .
YES, said Roxbury, striving 4,