The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1913-09-18

I'LL night "QlScuSSiHS Tue Siiud JUL VIII
the nessenger-my solicitor. by the
way The Vienna trip Is out of the
question. SD far as am concerned II
is of vital importance that ! should re
turn to London tonight. but 1t is even
more vitality important that the world /
should say that am in Vienna. See
what mean?'' i
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
l may as we'll tell you that there is a
plot on foot to perpetrate gigantic
fraud against the people. The county
council is to be hoodwinked out and
out into moving forward certain build
ing projects. involving millions or the
peoples money. Our firm has opposed
a 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
sence and intend to steal a march Oh
us while am away. Without assum
ing too much credit to myself. may
say that l. your old friend. Roxbury.
am the one man who has proved the
real thorn In the sides of these scoun
dras With me out of the way they
feel that they can secure the adoption
of all these Infamous measures My
partners and the leaders on our side
have sent for me to return secretly
$to for tn
they find that I've returned. 1t would
be suicidal Therefore 1t Is necessary
that we steal a march on 'em. l know
the inside workings Of the scheme,
II can steal back and keep under
cover as an advisory chief, 80 to speak,
we can we'll afford to let 'em rush the
matter through. for then we can spring
the coup and defeat them for good
and all. But, don't you see, old man.
unless they know that I've gone to
Vienna they won't undertake the thing.
That's why I'm asking you to go on
to Vienna and pose as Roxbury Med,
croft while | steal back to London and
set the charge under these demmed
bloodsuckers Really, you know. It's
a terribly serious matter, Brock 1t
means fortune and honor to me, as
well as millions to the rate payers of
Greater London. All you've got to do
is to register at the Bristol, get inter
viewed by the papers. attend one or
two sessions of the convention, which
lasts three days, and then go of into
the mountains with the Rodneys. The
society reporters will do the rest"
with the Rodneys? My dear fellow.
suppose that they object to the sub
st1tution? Really. you know. it's not
to be thought Of"
"Deuce take it, man. the, Rodneys
| are not to know that there has been a
substitution. Perfectly simple. can't
you see?
"Tm id If l dor
What stupid ass you are. Brock
The Rodneys have never laid eyes on
me. They know of me as Edith's hus
band. that's all. They are to take you
! in as Medcroft. of course"
At this point Brock set up an en-
phatic remonstrance. Re began by
laughing his friend to scorn: then. al
Medcroft persisted, went so far as tt
take him severely to task for the pro
posed imposition on the unsuspectins
Rodneys, to say nothing of the trick ht
would play upon the convention Of ar
chitects.
"I'd be recognized as an impostor,
be said warmly. land booted out Of thu
convention | shudder to think Of wha
Mr.. Rodney will do to me when ht
learns the truth. Why. Medcroft. yot
must be crazy. There will be dozens
of architects there who know you per
sonally or by sight. YOU
"My dear boy, If they don't see M
there they can't very well recognize
me, can they2 If necessary you cal
affect an illness and stay away from
the sessions altogether. Give state
ment to the press from the privacy O
the acknowledged your inability t.
take part In the discussions and al
that, you know. Hire a nurse If neces
sary You might venture to express al
opinion or two on vital topics in m!
name. I don't care hang what yo'
say. only want 'em to think In
there. No doubt our enemies will hav.
spy or two hanging about to see tina
l am actually off for jaunt with tn
Rodneys. but they will be Viennese
and they won't know me from Adam
What's the odds, SO long as Edith i
there to stand by you? II she's Willing
to assume that you are her husband"-
Good Lordp' half shouted Brock
leaping to his feet, wide eyed. ''Yo'
don't mean to say that she is-is-is t
go to Vienna with me2"
"Emphatfcally yes. She's also inVit
1 ed. OF course she's going" ~
"You mean that she's going just az
| you are going -by proxy murmuret
Brock helpiessly
Proxy, the devil! Pom my soul
Brock, you're downright stupid Sht
can't have a proxy. They know her
The Rodneys are in some way connec
tons of hers. and all that-third cou
sins Ii she isn't there to vouch fol
you. how the deuce can you expect to-
.Medcroft. you are crazy! No ont
| but an insane man would submit hi: