Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-06-05
CHAPTER XVII.


Hedge did not have his hands up, but
somehow the blow missed him enureiv
Perhaps it was because he fllrteo MS
head a few inches to the right &C
cidentally In any event, it missed MN
clean, and Tommy fell over the grip.
He arose. chagrined and MAD ciear
through. This time he came in SWING
Ing. Just what the efficiency man did II
Ia difiicult to say. for he did not appear
to be doing anything, except railing
to get hit. He had his hands up, put
he was not using them on Tommy. He
was lodging punches, stopping
punches. divertlng punches, but he
was not giving ground. but at the same
time he seemed to be engaged IN a
purely negative way.
It Is more exhausting to hit moth
ing than something, and Tommy
Treadwell was hitting nothing at the
rate OF about sixty blows minute. 1t
did not improve either his wind or his
temper. Constance. whose sympathles
were curiously impartial. found her
self wondering why a girl like herself
could hit punching-bag so easily,
while big man like Tommy could not
hit An efficiency man.
It went thus for some minutes. and
finally the efficiency man began to
speak.
II do not know" he said as a LETT
swing passed over his head. where
you studied the art OF boxing But
there 10 no doubt that you waste a tre-
mendous amount Of effort. You DO not
box eflciently In the first place. you
~ oil
INST to travel in an arc. rather than IN
the shortest way. Observe-you missed
me again.
Tommy, indeed, had. and nearly lost
his balance.
Furthermore" added H. Hedge, las
he side-stepped fresh volley when
you use the straight blow, you start 1t
too low and too far back. You are
prodigal with muscular effort, for
which you do not obtain sufficient re-
turn, save in the form Of exercise. o.
serve again. You should not start an
uppercut from the ground; It takes TOO
long. Don't start 1t below the waist.
Tommy, breathing now In gasps'
charged again.
'.Your footwork is bad" continued
the eficiency man. you travel great
distance, but you do not arrive. don't
wish to be rude, but 1t is my duty to
say that you are clumsy. You are mas
todonic. It is true: but the mastodon Is
an extinct animal. Why be exttnct?'
Tommy was missing more obviously
than ever. He was tired.
mo, II I can. let me Illustrate an
eficient blow" said H. Hedge. The
truly eficient blow is conceived with
deliberate purpose and executed with
due economy It travels the shortest
possible distance and, theoretically.
carries with It the exact amount of
necessary power. 1t may be delivered
with either hand. In this case. we will
aSsEHsA that Il is to be delivered with
the left. Thus"
The quick eye Of Constance Brooke
noted heeting and surprising cnange
in the face Of the efficiency man. II
had been impassive until now. But az
be said Thus" his Jaws frightened, MS
eyes narrowed, and his forehead con.
tracted in q scowl that frightened
her. His fist came from nowhere, out
II landed somewhere, and his body was
following It, Tommy Treadwell, al
ready vabbling from his own EFFORTS,
turned halfway around, staggered,
and fell nat on his face.
Constance uttered a cry and covered
her eyes.
Foe IN instant Tommy CROPPED at the
pavement; then began to arise, uncer-
tainly.
Don't make me do it again said
The eficiency man in q changed voice
"You haven't q chance"
Tommy, however was not satisfied.
He wheeled 40 he reached an erect
position and closed IN. So H. Hedge
a9Aan With the sudden scowl on his
1Aeo. did It once moro.
rhis time Tommy was longer in
arising and when be did 1t was to sit
on the runningboArd Of the car and
rest his head in his hands.
Nov, II you please. Miss Brooke
said Hedge quietly, 90 he picked up
her grip.
Constance, still ,averting her eyes,
suddenly sprans from the car and
dashed into the house. where she ran
mad1y upstairs, half choked with
hystesacal sobs. The efficiency man
looked at the crestfallen knight on the
runnins-board and shook his head
slowly.
Sorry II hurt you, old man. he
said. But. really, you mustn't try to
marry Miss Brooke"
Then he, too, disappeared into the
house.
II WISH" said the efficiency man on
the day after New Year, that you
would reconsider"
He was addressing Constance
Brooke, who had entered the office"
for the purpose Of getting a book.
Since the episode Of the courtyard
Their had been no speech between them.
Constance had been having her meals
sent, to her room. proceeding to which
= edge in.erposed no objections He
n a mood to make concessions. He
thankful for the gloom Of the back
y.
lstance looked at him sharply and
gave reconsidered," she said short
shall not marry
efficiency mans pulse skipped
!, but he preserved an exterior