Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-09-13

front her with charges. It had occur
red to her that be might, after all. have
tricked her into committing a crime
against the government.
1t was quite noticeable that Mrs.
Rodney and Katherine did not speak
10 the Medcroft contingent in fact,
they ignored them quite completely.
Mrs. Rodney was very pale and very
deeply distressed. She cast many
glances at the red eyed and sheepish
Mr.. Rodney-glances that meant much
to the further torture of his soul.
Il am sorry to inform you, Herr Rod
ney. that the rooms which you now oc-
cupy and those of your friends are no
longer at your disposal They have
been engaged for from some time this
day by az
Look here" interrupted Odell-Car-
ney bluntly, IF you mean that we are
not wanted here any longer. why not
say SO? Don't lie about it We are
leaving today, in any event, so wot's
the odds? Now, come down to facts.
Why are we summoned here like
crowd OF school children"
The manager looked at Mr.. Citizens
and then at the police officer.
"Ahem! 1t seems that Herr Grab.
hetz of the police department desires
to ask some questions of your party in
my presence. You will understand, sir,
that the hotel has been imposed upon
| by-by these people. 1t seems, also,
that the bank insists~upo having some
/ light thrown upon the methods by
which Mrs. Medcroft secures money
on her letter of credit"
You are welcome to all that sir"
! declared MI Odell-Carney. but l am
interested to know just why my wife
and are brought into this affair"
Because you are guests of Mr.. Rod
ney, sir, regret to state. We have no
complaint against you. sir. You are
well known here. The-the others are
not They are-what you call it.?
/ Humbugs! 1t may be that they also
have swindled your
! Mr.. Rodney at this point leaped to
/ his feet and rushed over 20 shake his
/ fist IN the face OF the insulting hotel
man. But Edith Medcroft arose sud.
denly like a tragedy queen and spoke,
! her clear. determined voice stilling the
/ turbulent spirit of her outraged host.
( One moment. please" she said.
"This all can be satisfactorily explain.
ed. No wrong has been done 1t will
all be cleared up in time We
I'm timer interrupted the manager.
Madam, this is the time. You are
here with a man who is not your hus-
band. yet who purports to be such"
1t may throw some light on the
matter IL I announce that the gentle
man in question is my attianced hus-
band" 1t was Miss Fowler who spoke
Every one stared at her as she moved
over 10 Brooks side.
IF You will look in the Office you
will find a telegram there for me-"
went on Mrs. Medcroft. pale, but abso-
luteiy confident. The manager called
out through the door Absolute silence
reigned while the reply was awaited.
mo telegram for Mrs. Medcrott last
night or today" announced the man.
ager sterply as he glanced through the
slim bunch Of blue envelopes There
are four here for a Mr. Brock. who has
not yet arrived in
Brock" shouted three voices in one.
4 tall man. forgetting his English
and his eyeglass. sprang forward and
grabbed the kilograms from the man
ayers hand. Holy mackere!! Give
'em here!" he shouted. Two eager.
beautiful young women were hanging
TO his elbows as he ruthlessly broke
one of the seals. THE chump. It's
from Rox! They're all from Rox-and
they are two or three days old"'
Just then the unexpected happened.
The office door opened with a bang,
and the real Roxbury Medcroft step
ped into the room. He halted just In
side the door and looked about in mo-
mentary bewilderment.
This is a private began the man.
Rger, stepping forward. A flying fig
ure sped past him; a delighted little
shrek rang in his ears. He saw Edith
Medcroft hurI herself into the arms OF
her own husband. At the same mo
ment Brock bounded across the room
and pounced eagerly upon the welcome
intruder
This is my husbandr' cried Edith
triumph in her voice. tears in her eyes
as she faced the astonished observers
"Now, what have you to say?"