Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-10-15
CHAPTER X. (Conunued)

The admirable brevity Of the dialogue
was not lost upon II. Hedge, who nodd-
ed approvingly as he stood up. There
was the utmost friendlness in his eyes.
/ He was not so tall as Billy by some
thing like two inches; nor was he so
| heavy by considerable number of
pounds. He did not betray any marked
evidences of preparedness Beyond
question there was no anger in him.
We'll" he said slowly. Il presume
that ends discussion"
sYou bet"
"All right" he murmured. Go to
it."
Still there was no sign of prepared
ness in him, unless YOU looked at his
eyes. They were quite calm, too, which
was an odd contrast to something else
that was visible therein, 1t was a sort
of battle calm; rather fine demon
stration of the principle of light with
out heat. Constance, always a quick
reader, saw it and unconscously
squeezed Alice's hand.
Billy advanced a step, then paused
The situation was unfamiliar to him
and somewhat disconcerting. He was
not afraid of H. Hedge If the pair of
, lIltIl Ddu Dtth Oh lIt SlIttt. VI any
where save under the Brooke rooftree,
there would have been no cause for
hesitation. But now that he was face
to face with physical combat. Billy hest
tated.
After all, the efficiency man was in
the nature of guest. He was an I'M
welcome guest, to be sure; but none the
less, the innate hospitality of the Brooke
family and the traditions of the house
hold accorded him a certain immunity.
: 1t was not a custom of the Brookes to
throw their guests bodily into the
street.
Look here" said Billy II don't
want to muss you up any. You'd bet
ter go quietly"
Fl. Hedge simply shook his head.
you don't want my sisters to see a
fight, do you?"
mo. But we might ask them to re-
tire"
Constance and Alice showed no dispo-
sition to quit the library.
ut comes right down to this" blurt-
ed Billy angrily. "Youput me in a po-
sition where I've got to throw somebody
out of the house, and you've got nc
business to put me there. When you're
: not wanted. you ought to have decency
enough to CO."
l Pm not here for my health or amuse.
ment," remarked the efficiency man
I'm here on business. I'm sent here
by your father. I'm here till he re-
turns, and by his orders. Naturally
y I'm going to stay. While l do not be-
T lieve in corporal punishment, never
r the less, If you compel me, L"
n He broke off with a shrug and re
S gard Billy with calm stare.
WELL" said Billy, taking anothe
e step forward. lets see who goes on
Il front door first"
g AS If to make ready for the exit
there was a tempestuous ringing of th'
u front door bell. A sound of voices anc
: laughter echoed from the hall.
Constance laid a restraining hand oil
4 Billy's arm.
SSH" she whispered. Company
Maudie Van Nest, l think. and SOM
of the boys and girls. Call 1t off
Billy"
: Billy paused reluctantly. He wa
d eager for the encounter. yet his eager
n ness was mixed with a feeling of re
lief that it was not yet necessary L
y You'd better go up and pack you
n stuff" he advised the efficiency man
X Some friends have come, and that let
y you out for a while"
10 H. Hedge nodded and returned to h,
desk. where he reached for the day
book and resumed his work.
The Brookes' callers lost no time II
II taking possession of the house. From
l.. IL h. nsA hAn
: Constance playing a piano across tn
hall to an accompaniment of swift
e moving feet. At times when the plan
d was not in action, the photograph tool
= up the relief work.
1t was while the photograph wa
playing and Constance was swift
I whirling with the VanNest boy that tn
II latter asked in casual tone:
WHO'S your friend?"
:" She followed the direction of hi
a glance and saw, at the threshold of tn
he room, the quiet figure of H. Hedg,
p He was watching her.
Constance missed a step, somethin
that was foreign to her custom, an
that did not serve to improve her tenn
Z per. The VanNest boy had not recov
lie cred from his establishment at the er
ror when the efficiency man advance
lie across the ROOM
ye "One moment please" he said.
he The dancing couple stopped; so di
three other couples, one of which Wa
l." composed of two girls dancing togett
We err.
ce Hedge included them all in brit
bow, then gave his entire attention
Constance.
Is. ''SVhat Is the dancer"
r. Constance. surprised out of speed
nd by the intrusion, turned appealingly
- the Van Nest youth.
Partly fox" drawled that perso