Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-05-22
Too Much Efficiency
by j. E. Rafh.

that Alice had been putting something
over on the rest of the bunch"
The board of strategy, or at least {
majority of it, were clearly of the
same opinion Constance and Billy
glared at Alice as though quite resolv
ed to cast her out from the fami!
circle. -
"Well, you've done it now" snapped
Billy.
Done what?"
Done us!"
'How?'
What the blazes did you put thai
no eats stuff in it for? I'm hungry"
But you signed it," retorted Alice
you don't dare deny that. You didn't
deny it at the table
But hang it all, didn't read it,
That's your fault: asked you to
read it and you wouldn't"
We'll, you told me Connie said il
was all right, so thought it was"
We're all fixed the same" remarked
Alice "A big strong man like you
ought to be able to stand it as we'll as
we can"
What do you think am? A suffra.
ge4te? I'm no hunger striker"
We'll, anyway you signed, and
you've got to stick" declared Alice. II
think it's a great idea and bet it II
win"
Connie, I'm surprised that you
stood for this fool thing growied
her brother.
Constance looked uncomfortable.
She was hungry, too.
81 was sort of sleepy" she said
defenstvely. Maybe ! skipped some of
It when l read it."
Alice glared at her sister.
you were enough awake to throw
pillows she declared warmly. II think
you're mean not to back me up. But I
don't care-you signed, and dare you
to quit!
How long did it say we quit eat.
ing fort? inquired Billy anxiously.
Until he aboiishes all the rules and
We get all our money"
Billy gruaned.
well, the pair Of You have assasi-
mated me and committed suicide;
that's all I've got to say about it,"
IAN right; but that's not the point
tust now" remarked Constance. THE
point is, what are we going to do
nextT'
Alice looked At her sister in astonish,
ment
why, there's no next thing to do,
Connie. This is hunger strike. You
only do one thing and that is, don't eat.
And You keep on doing that until-un-
til Why, it's easy"
"Easy! Do you call it easy to
.tasve?"
But we won't. Well win! You see"
When
'Oh, don't know. Perhaps week"
"A week? A weekr'
Constance's voice rose almost to a
shiek, at
Maybe only tvo or three days" con
soied Alice. We're not cutters, are
we-
I'VE may not he CUTTERS" said
Billy; "but we're not living In HoIlo-
way JAN either
mo WORSE" declared Constance.
Are we allowed to go around the
house?"
'1Of oourBe.- answered Alice. "This
has only to do with eating. We can go
around and let him see how we are
suffering. That win help"
Billy consulted the mirror.
We're not hollowed enough
Tor that yet" he observed gioomily II
suppose we're allowed to 60 out and
lake appetizing walks and look into
aren't WEI"
Certainly, II you want. All you have
10 do is to keep the pledge"
Then what were you doing with
hose apples before breakfast de-
handed Constance. 3
Alice blushed.
why II"
TN bet you ate one downstairs" ex-
claimed her sister savageiy.
y did not! Honest, didn't./I only
lte two crackers"
Constance seized her younger sister
~ the shoulders.
$50 you ate two crackers, did you?
After you had signed us all up to star.
ration. Do you call that keeping the
,ledge? And you invented it,"
But you see Stop pinching me
connie! You see, 1t wasn't really In
Eject until he read It,"
Coward" said Constance.
'sTraitor, say" from Billy.
Il think you're both simply horrible"
formed Alice wrathfully, as she
sauirmed from her sisters grasp. I'll
ell you. it didn't go into effect until
lie sat down to breakfast. 1t was per-
ecly fair to eat two crackers
"Yes-and let US 60 on starving.
suppose you hid the apples in your
'oOm"
81 was going to divide them" de.
Jared Alice. "There'd have been four
or each"
And make perjurers out of all OF
49," observed Billy scornfully. ANY
low, consider myself absolved from
he whole business, because l didn't
NOV what | was signing"
Constance shook her head She was
10 more an enthusiast over the hun.
ger strike than her brother. but she
vas resolved that unless all could eat,
,obody should.
mo. you're not dissolved" she said
mo matter what Alice does.
We are still bound And II you signed
reading, It's your own fault"
But how are We ever going to eat
, pa In ." demanded RiI1y "YOp don't eY-