Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-04-13
| Continued J.

ment snapped Sherwood suddenly.
ooh, l don't know. A big bunch OF
money and three children, l guess y
Sherwood snorted.
What are the annual expenses
God knows"
You mean to say that you don't
keep books?"
"Just pay the bills: that's all"
Mr.. Sherwood gasped and turned
pale.
IT'S unbelievable" he exclaimed.
"A nan runs a household and he
doesn't even know what it costs. Rot
ten business. What does it p%roduce?'
Worry"
"Can O sell that?"
Cant give it away sighed Mr..
Brooke.
Amazing" blurted the E. E.. man
Never dreamed of such a thing in my
life. Why, it's criminal! It's an offense
against law and order. Who rum this
household of yours?"
Everybody in it. Connie, mostly;
and the servants some"
who's Connie?'
my daughter Constance"
And there's no system No account.
ing!"
mo system I aver discovered, ex-
cept handing me the bills and telling
me to look pleasant
And you've eve even tried to get
at the COST"
"oh. I started adding up the check
stubs once. but I got scared said Mr..
Brooke sheepishly. 81 had too many
lseher things to thing about"
The e. and 3. president leaned back
lin his chair and regarded his caller
With pity.
Worst case ever heard Of" he
commented with a shake Of his head.
~Tlerce! What do you propose to do
Iabout IT,"
Il wasn't figuring to do anything
about It. What can I"
Everything. You can't go on for
ever this way. Why, it'll ruin your
character If it doesn't bust your bank
account. You've simply got to stop it.
Mr.. Brooke made a helpless gesture
and recorded a mental note OF regret
THAT he had introduced the subject.
"NWell, haven't time to bother
about It now. I've got to 90 away on
10 trip. Although it does worry me
about leaving the youngsters. I'm a
tvidower. you see. Connie Is supposed
to be the boss home. but-well. 1t all
comes pretty high. I suppose III have
to stand It,"
President Sherwood glared indig-
uantly. STAND nothing" he; declared.
when are you going away
"I'd get away this afternoon II |
could. It's a sudden trip"
For how long " -
nassnt figured exactly. can tell
o In a few minutes"
.Neyer mind now. Well get to that
later. Do you want this household OF
yours managed while you're away"
Mr.. Brooke looked doubtful.
"And reformed?"~
The man who financed the house
hold was curious.
"~Reorganized upt on its feet, a
%aRa eliminated, economies effected,
efhciency installed, time saved, sue
cess assured" Mr.. Sherwood ratified 1t
OF briskly like a candidate with
speech.
The hardware man was obviously IN
terested and not a little startled. He
wrinkled his forehead into vertical
folds between the Eyes and devote a
few seconds to thought. 800.
But II you v ran a household
he %ventured, how
VI never ran a lead-pencfl factory
until l saved two-ffths Of a cent a
sross." interrupted Mr.. Sherwood
sharply. ri a a hardwar busi-
ness until l saved you over W hun
|drsd thousand dollars a year. Man, |
can run anything"
Mr.. Brooke's eyes betrayed skepti-
Gsm.
Anything" repeated Mr.. Sherwood
bslligerently. Anything from the war
m Europe to %shoveling TO- I could
run the government If they'd let me:
"A brownstone front and three chill
Arsn are different from all those
things" commented Mr.. Brooke.
But the eternal principals Of econ
omy and efioiency are immutable,' de-
clafed Mr.. Sherwood, pounding his
desk. 'They a be applied to any.
thing. This corporation employs ex-
perts in every line. I've got a man
who can teach a hen how to save time
and money laying an egg. No, while
say I can do anything, when 1t comes
to applying scientific business prin-
ciples, I'll admit that I never did run
a household. Just for that reason. |
want to. I'll do it cheap. I'll guarantee
you results-big results
Don't tease me-" chided Mr..
Brooke.
I'm serious. You've just suggested
a field to me that opens wonderful pos
sibilities. Why. I'd almost take the job
for nothing; l would. except that it
would violate the principles of eff
ficient management
Mr.. Brooke pondered briefly.
I've a good mind 10 talk to Connie
about it." he said.
DON'T"
What do you mean"
Don't talk to anybody about it en-
cept me. II you get to talking you
won't do it. Decide now. The golden
chance is right here. You're going
away. Fine, That clears the decks for
my man. Mr.. Brooke, if you'll give my |
company full authority in this matter.
when you return I'll guarantee to turn
over to you a household so thoroughly
eficient that it II pay you money 10