Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-08-30
CHAPTER VII.


early. Mr.. Alfred Rodney. a
telegram in his hand. charged
down the hall 70 Mrs. Med
croft's door. With characteristic far
west impulsiveness be banged on the
door. A sleepy voice asked who was
there.
It's me-Rodney. Get up. I want
10 see Medcroft Say. Roxbury, wake
up"
''Roxbury?" came in shrill tones
from within. He Isn't he upstairs?
Good heaven, Mr.. Rodney. what has
happened7 What has happened:"
"Upstnirs? What the deuce is he
doing upstairs:"
"He's-he's sleeping! Do tell me
what's the matter"
Isn't this Mr. Medcroft's room?"
"Ye-es-but he isn't in. He objects
IN the noise. oh, has anything hap.
pened TO Roxbury?" She was stand
ing Just inside the door. and her voice
betrayed agitation.
MY dear Edith. don't get excited.
] have a telegram from
She uttered a shrek.
Hes been assassinated! oh. Rox-
bury
what the dew Are you crazy? It's
telegram from
"Oh, heavens. knew they'd kill him:
knew something dreadful would hap.
pen II / left Here she stopped sud
Denly. He distinctly heard her catch
her breath. After moment she went
ssT ". IL
Hobart"
mo. It's from OdelI-Carney. Ho-
bart? I don't know anybody named
Hobart" How was he 10 know that
Hobart was the name that Medcroft
had chosen for correspondence pur-
poses9 We're 10 meet the Odell Car
neys today in Munich. No time TO lie
lost. We've got TO catch the O'Clock
train"
"Oh," came in great relief from the
other side OF the door. Then In sud
den dlsmay: But / can't do It. The
iden Of getting up at an hour like this!T
What room is Roxbury in?'
81 don't know" in very decided
tones Inquire at the office"
Alfred Rodney was n persevering
man. II is barely possible that he &C.
cupied a lower social plane than that
attained by his wife but he was Il
man OF accomplishment. If not accom-.
plishments. he always did what he
set out TO do. Be II said in defense
OF this assertion he not only routed
out his entire protesting flock, but had
them at the West Bahuhof I'm time TO
catch the Orient express-luggage. &C.
cessorieS and all. Be II also said that
he was the only one in the party save
Constance and Tootles who took TO
the situation amiably.
Dash the Odell-Carneys- was whal
Freddie Ulstervelt said as the train
drew out OF the station. Brock looked
up approvingly.
That's the first sensible thing I've
heard him say" he muttered. loud
enough to be heard by Miss Fowler
81 say, who are the Odell-Carneys?
First I've heard OF EN-"
The Odell-Carneys? oh. dear, have
you never heard OF them:" she cried
IN surprise. He felt properly rebuked.
They are very swell Londoners. 1t
is said
Then, good heavens. they'll know
TN not Medcroft." he whispered in
alarm.
Not at all. my dear RoXbury. That's
Just where you're wrong. They don't
know Roxbury the first. I've gone
over Il all with Edith. She's just crazy
10 get into the odell-Carney set re-
greet 60 say that they have failed 10
notice the Medcrofts up 10 this time.
Secretly, Edith has ambitions. She
has gone 20 the lord mayors dinners
and TO the Royal Anuquarians and TO
SIR John Brodney's and a lot Of other
functions on the outer rim, but she's
never been able 20 break through the
crust and taste the real sweets Of Lon
don society. Ny dear Roxbury. the
Odell-Carneys entertain the nobility
without conjunction. and they've been
known 10 hobnob with royalty. Mrs
Odell-Carney was a Lady Somebody-or'
other before she married the second
time. She's terribly smart, RoXbury.
How, in the name OF heaven, dc
they happen TO be hobnobbing. as you
call n. with the Rodpeys, may ask
We'll. Il seems that Odell-Carney Is
promoting n new South African mining
venture. ! have IL from Freddie u
stervelt that he's trying to sell some
thing Ike a million shares TO Mr.. Rod
ney, who has loads OF money that came
from real mines in the far west HeC
never be such a fool as TO sink a mil
lion in South Africa, you know, but
he's Just clever enough TO see the 40
vantage Of keeping Odell-Carney II
tow. as It were. II means great dea
10 Mrs. Rodney, don't you know. Rox
bury. TO be able % say that she toureC
with the Odell-Carneys. Freddie say
that Cousin Alfred is talking in yer!
diplomatic manner Of going TO LondoI
in August 10 look fully into the matter
1t is understood that the Rodneys ar
70 be the guests Of the odeli-Carneyi