Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-11-05
TOO MUCH
EFFICIENCY
A. CLEVER sERlAL STORY.
- "A ]. RATH.
Author Of when the Down Was
Sick," ~Ons-C Cylinder Sam" etc.
A. CLEVER SERIAL 81
CHAPTER Xxx.


you," he said.
"AI right. Brooke; sit down."
Hedge and Brooke faced each other.
"Tis IL as man to man." said Billy.
Very good. But you're not mnch
past twenty one"
Billy stared straight into the eyes of
the efficiency man.
You can cut that out" he said with
an angry flush. II know I'm not as
old as you are. But for this talk, for
get It.
Right. IT'S man to man." said H.
Hedge.
II don't like you. Hedge" observed
Billy, after a short pause.
Tho efficiency man nodded, and in
stantly liked Billy better than he had
before.
| None of us like you"
This was acknowledged with anoth-
er nod.
you've raised tho devil in this
house"
| H. Hedge considered this briefly,
then smiled.
| Il don't admit it, Brooke. But Wen
not argue it. Go ahead"
you've been particularly rotten to
me. I've stood for lot. I guess I'm
easy going. I threatened to throw you
out-and 1 didn't. Maybe you thought
was afraid"
The efficiency man made a depreca-
tory gesture, but said nothing.
N'I don't know whether I can lick you
or not" added Billy with fine frank
ness. You licked Tommy Treadwell,
and he licked me-once. But that
doesn't mean I wouldn't have try at
you
"Of course not"
ION my own account, I'm willing
to let things stall along. The old man
IL be back before great while, and
guess maybe can stand 1t till then"
II. Hedge nodded Understandings.
But I'm talking on Comics ac-
count now"
"Oh."
Billy paused and studied the eff
cheney man through 81 -htly narrowed
teyes. He was unaccustomed to much
serious speech. and the effort was
plainly embarrassing to him Yet he
kept resolutely on.
You treated Connie in a way that
was shameful. It makes me sick when
think that I stood for 1t. And Alice,
to; but I'm talking about Connie
now"
u "Sure. Go on"
"And CONNECTS the finest girl in the
whole world" blurted Billy, leaning
forward in his chair.
H. Hedge made a sign of assent.
but you don't treat her that way
any more!"
Billy punctuated the indictment with
an uplifted finger. The efficiency man
regarded him gravely.
"Now--this is what I'm getting at
why don't you treat her that way any
more?"
Because" answered H. Hedge, "tC
quote your own remarks. she's thc
finest girl in the whole world"
All thought So
Billy settled back in his chair with
the air of a lawyer who had just per-
formed an expert piece of taxidermS
upon a witness The efficiency mar
preserved his calm.
: YES, 1 thought So" repeated Billy
: wagging his head. That's the reason
you've been letting her have whatever
she wants. I've been watching you
: Hedge. Now. listen: 1 don't care any.
thing about that part of 1t. Anything
! Connie can get she's entitled to-"
"She isn't getting half enough, any.
!. how. And whether 1 get anything o.
l not doesn't make any difference. o.
Alice, either. But you don't want t.
. get any fool notions In your heat
. about my sister. Understand"
II don't have fool notions" observed
I H. Hedge placidly.
well. you just admitted that 70,
;. thought she was the finest girl in tn
world"
us that a fool notion 2"
Billy flushed.
"Oh, well; you know / didn't meal
it that way. I'm not always vor.
. good at expressing myself OF cours
it's not a fool notion--but what bust
mes have you got to have it?"
:. II never looked at it from tina
standpoint" admitted the efficienc.
; man in q judicial tone. Lets debat
I it."
mo, we won't. You don't get m
tied up into anything like that. Jus
see here even If you were friendl,
with the family. you're not in Connie
:. class"
:. Hum" remarked H. Hedge with tn
i slightest trace OF a flush in his face
THAT sounds q trifle snobbish. Ar
you 'snob. BrookeT'
Billy chuffled his feet and frowned
II didn't mean 1t exactly that way
: either" he said. IT don't intend to b
a snob-Fm not But what I'm tryin
to get at IL, Comics used to goin
Z with a different kind Of a crowd-no
y your kind at all. So 1t won't do yo
: any good TO get foolish over her. That
. what Ismean."
I'm not folish over her.
you can't bluff know"
= "Oh, all right. II you know
. And / don't want you to ammo
u her,"
e H. Hedge betrayed sincere surprise.
q II wasn't aware that had" he sale