Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-11-07
TOO MUCH
EFFICIENCY
A CLEVER SERIAL STORY.
by a J. RATH.
Author Of when the Devil Was
Sick" Ono Cylinder SAM" etc.
CHAPTER XXI.
A Little Love. Making.

came upon an EXTRAORDINARY PERFORM
ance In the dining-room. On one side
of the circular table stood Ruth. ono
Of the housemaids. her cheeks flushed.
her eyes bright. She was palpably
out Of breath On the other side stood
Frank, the chauffeur. with grin OF
resolution on his face.
| It was not so much the fact that
neither of them belonged to the dining
room as 1t was their maneuvering
which astonished the efficiency man.
| Frank made a swift sally to the left
moving around the table. Ruth, with
a suppressed shrek. duplicated the
movement. Frank halted and d,.i ted
In the other direction. So did Ruth.
Back and forth they lodged half n
dozen times, when H. Hedge stood in
the doorway and watched
| oh. I'll get you!" cried Frank jubi-
lantly.
Never! You go way"
Hal" laughed Frank as he made a
new dash.
| You stop!"
The chauffeur chuckled and contin-
ueQ tne pursuit
This continued for a full minute.
while the efficiency man stood unob-
served. He rather marveled at Ruth's
fleetness Of foot and at the discomfit-
ure of Frank over her nimbleness.
Then Ruth discovered the audience.
and promptly yelled In dismay.
whats the idea?' asked H. Hedge,
advancing.
Frank became tongue tied and FUN
bled with the strap of one Of his leath-
err puttees.
"He-he was chasing me-" painted
Ruth.
Il got that much" observed the eff
cheney man. But why?"
Ruth looked significantly at Frank,
whose face was now a dull red.
He"
Ruth paused and giggled.
"Well?"
"He-he wanted to kiss me-"
rs that SO. Frank demanded H.
Hedge.
Frank shrugged his shoulders, then
nodded family.
And why did you want to kiss her."
Foolish question! If he had not
been an efficiency engineer, he might
have understood. Ruth was prettier
than whole lot Of magazine covers.
She looked at Frank expectantly,
he made no answer.
Frank, you are discharged"
The, chauffeur was sullen and un-
moved. Ruth uttered a little cry, and
her hand leaped to her throat.
-
ed. The efficiency man eyed her in
surprise.
whats the matter?" he demanded.
"He was annoying you, wasn't he?
take 1t that you didn't want to be
kissed, inasmuch as you were running
away. II you did want to be
kissed why didn't you stand stin?'
Ruth blushed furiously.
II do not approve of kissing" con-
tinued II. Hedge coldly. And 1 do
not allow 1t among employees of this
house-in business hours. Frank Ia
discharged for attempting 1t, and you
Ruth. are retained only because OF
your manifest endeavors to escape
There was utter misery in Ruths
face.
please, Mr.. Hedge. he-he didn't
mean anything. Honesti"
1T did," blurted Frank, recovering
speech for the first time.
We'll, what did you meanf" de-
manded the efficiency man.
II want to marry her."
Ruth gasped and covered her face
with her hands. Frank squared his
shoulders and glared defiantly at H
Hedge.
Have you asked herr" inquired the
latter abruptly.
II was trying to-"
IFS that the way you ask q youne
woman to marry you?" Hedge quer.
. led. by chasing her around a table
!, and trying to Kiss her?'
Frank shuffled his feet and made ne
answer.
: "such performance is absoiutel,
, without sense" continued the efficien
cy man sharply. 1T IL waste al
, time, a waste of energy It Is an at.
tempt to accomplish something by IN.
direction rather than by direction.
. do not approve of It 1t il unscien'
tific."
Ruth was peering at the efficienc,
= man through her fingers.
Frank" said H. Hedge. do 20,
= still want to marry this young WON
an?"
"Uh-huh."
., All right. Ask her.
Frank was dumb again.
Say. VIII you marry mer That
the shortest FORM"
Still the chauffeur hesitated. Rutl
had removed her hands from her fac
and was regarding him with curiou
eyes. Unconsciously perhaps. the Pal
edged toward each other.
% go ahead and say I'll" commands
H. Hedge sternly.
;. But still Frank said nothing. On
= Of his hands CROPPED helplessly alonl
= the edge Of the table. An instant lete
1t met one Of Ruth's. cropping In tn
opposite direction. And then
= Ruth was smothered in a clums
. but wholly efficient embrace She pu