Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-10-07
The efficiency man sighed.

ne efficiency man signed.
Very we'll" he said. "kll allowances
are reduced by one half, to go into eff
feet without further notice"
Constance rallied from her stupor
we accept this humiliation" she
said bitterly. because. until our father
returns, we can do nothing else. We
are helpless. You have insulted us by
calling it a gratuity. We are not beg
gars-but we are again helpless. But we
do demand that our allowances, or such
part of them as you see fit to pay,
shall be given to us in the regular
manner, in lump sum monthly"
"A month in advance" said the cf-
ficiency man. eleyating his eyebrows.
why? Do you spend it all the first
day?'
"Of course not. But that does not
alter our right to receive it all at
once"
Too much temptation" said Hedge,
shaking his head. Besides, it's not
economic. Perhaps you do not know it.
but many banks pay interest on daily
balances. This is the case with the bank
in which your father left an account for
this household. That account Is under
my sole charge. BY paying the three
of you $3.50 a month in advance, AZ
appreciable amount of interest will be
lost. BY paying you $3.50 per day. the
remainder of considerable sum, re-
duced, of course, by daily drafts, re
mains at interest. That is the policy I
shall follow. You will be paid in
checks, each morning"
This" said Constance, stoRily lis
the browning outrage
I'm sorry you look at 1t that way,
Miss Brooke. 1t is simply good busiE
ness. I'm willing to put 1t this way,
if you object to a daily check--I will
make weekly payments, at the end,
however, rather than the beginning of
the week. If you accept this arrange
ment, the first payment will be made
week from today"
Constance wavered. She had s2.79
left. Perhaps for week she could
stand il. But Billy and Alice were to
be thought Of They were destitute.
No; the pride of the Brooke family
would have to grovel before this crea-
ture 1t was the daily wage, or bank
ruptcy.
1--WE wish to talk 1t over" she said.
Certainly" assented Hedge.
Constance led the way across the
hall, through the big reception room
and into a far corner of the music
room, where they we're safe from pry-
ing ears. 1t was Billy who spoke first.
"You made q fine mess of it Alice!"
he exclaimed.
Alice did her best" declared Con-
stance defensively. "Whould you have
done any better?"
We'll why couldn't she have given
something like that?"
Earn it," jeered Alice. "A lot we
do to earn It, and you know it,
He talks as If we were panhandl-
ers," growled Billy.
Tit was like standing on a bread
line" groaned Alice.
Come" / Interrupted Constance
We've got to decide. It's half, or
nothing"
Il won't take half" stormed her
brother.
do you want nothing, then? You
know very well none of us ever had a
bank account. We never even thought
of asking for one, when father was
here. Now listen; you'd better take
this fifty per cent offer, because if you
don't. Billy you won't have a cent to
your name"
There was an inarticulate rumbling
in his throat.
And you'll be in the same fixs Alice;
all of u.s." continued Constance. I'VE
can't go around like beggars; you know
it. For my part, I'm going TO take
mine"
Cant we borrow the rest some
where?"
Billy"
The proposal shocked Constance, be-
cause it assailed her Brooke pride
None of us will ever borrow, If
can help it," she said stoutly Then,
after a pause: We'll, now that we've
accepted half, shall we take it by the