Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-06-22

H. Hedge made a dash at the filing
case, pausing midway to execute sew
eral bewildering steps.
observe that I do not take the
shortest route" he exclaimed. "Ha!
You did observe Now watch"
He laid hold of the uppermost
drawer, yanked it completely out OF
the cabinet and shook it, as terrier
worries its prey A second dash
brought him opposite the big fireplace,
where the last sheets of his book on
household graft were still smoldering
He dumped the contents Of the drawer
into the flames, seized big brass
poker and began stirring them fran
tically.
There she goes" he shouted as the
big manila envelopes caught at the
edges. "Everything from A to For G.
Hanged If I remember which. Don't
care either. All the economy and eff
cheney from A to G, or Maybe H.
What's the difference? See it burn!
Reports, records, bills, receipts-the
whole works! Nice draft in that chin
ney today, isn't there? Look at 'em go!
You're in it, too; all the C's are in
cluded. Whee-e-e!"
He danced madly on the rug, max
ing 1ncantations.
Constance NWas sitting rigid. with
growing apprehension in her eyes. Per
haps he was crazy! Why, he was
When the manila envelopes and
their contents were roaring mass Of
flames he wheeled quickly and made
a second assault upon the filling case.
&C to L." he exclaimed "The other
one did end at F, after all. Too bad;
I thought I'd get more at one lick.
Never mind. Here goes nearly half the
alphabet. Well, why don't you cheer?"
He dumped the plethoric contents Of
the second drawer into the fire, then
danced again as the flames Tapped
hungrily.
&c to l.! That includes Giovanni,
and George, and Household. and In
ventory, and-H. Hedge! Yes, and
that began with or X
like junk or kittens. And Lemons.
Wow"
Constance was fascinated with
horror. But H. Hedge did not notice
that. He made another attack on the
cabinet.
IN to S." he announced, as he drag
ged forth third drawer. Here goes
May, the cook! And Matilda-and Min
Ruth. Horace is burned al
ready. Fanny went with the first in
stalment M. to S! Meats and noodles
and oranges and pineapples and
ounces and radishes and-and-steam
heat. Watch 'em burn! Eth, Miss
Brooke-what do you think about
it," 4
There was a wild expression in his
eyes as he turned from the confagra-
ton to glare at her. Constance hud-
died in her chair.
And now from T to r."
The remaining drawer shot from the
cabinet and went bodily into the fire,
contents and all.
There goes Tommy Treadwell," he
chortled. "Witherbee., and Maudie
Van Nest, and everything from T to
the finish"
He stirred things with the poker
again. jabbing viciously at wads of
paper that were reluctant to give up
the ghost.
Economy" snorted the efficiency
man. "Pin1e! Efficiency! Ashes to
ashes! All sizzling in damnation-
where they belong. Excuse the en-
phasis; I'm a bit enthusiastic. Watch
EN- burn, Miss Brooke"
He began yanking the drawers out
Of the mahogany desk, flinging their
contents on the floor and kicking them
across the hearth, in among the logs
and embers. Constance CHANGED to be
in the way, and he seized the chair
IN which she was sitting and slid it
dozen feet along the floor.
"Sit there and watch the f1nish,' the
envelopes-all the works
He found more papers lying on the
desk and flung them into the mount
ng flames. whistling merrily. Con.
stance was dumb and inert. She was
;ruly frightened. No efficiency man in
1is senses could thus behave, she
Knew; and knew; and she could not
yet believe that H. Hedge had renounc-
ID efficiency. Something had snapped
n his brain; she was sure of that.
Suddenly he snatched the poker
lgain and advanced upon her.
See that?" he demanded, waving it.
"A very useful poker-large, heavy.
strong. Sit where you are; don't dare
o move. I'll be back in half min
lte."
He rushed from the library, and she
heard him running down the hall She
'at there, powerless. even thugh her
instinct was to fly from the house and
escape the mailman. A pity he was
mad, she found herself thinking
,ity, because in his madness H. Hedge
seemed almost sublime. Certainly he
vas super-human. There was some
hing fine and spirited in his frenzy,
something SO utterly different from
he efficiency man that Constance,
wen in her awe, was compelled to ad-
nire.
From another part of the house she
heard an echo Of heavy blows.
Ieavens! H. Hedge was killing some
,ody.
Then a sound of rapid footsteps, and
lie was again in the library, a wild
light of triumph in his eyes. He flung |
he poker into corner and laughed |
oyously.
IT'S done" he announced. That's |
bully poker
Constance questioned him with ter