Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-10-24
TOO MUCH
EFFICIENCY
A CLEVER SERIAL STORY.
BY b J. RATH.
Author Of when the Devil Was
Sick" "One-Cylinder Sam" etc.

|.
4 Constance stared at him in unbelief
Had my lungs tested and my heart
listened to just like / was joining the
army
Toni"
Honest. And they put down my
age. and who was to be notified"
who did this thing?"
The doctor. He's all dressed in
white, and he's got a nurse with him
and whole kit full Of tools"
What doctor?"
Search me, Connie. Bnt he's on the
job, anyhow. / got through, but he's
been turning some of 'em down. No
uce that couple who went out Just as
you came DOWN."
Constance nodded family. She was
clutching the newell post for support.
That was F'lorrie Richmond and her
brother. Couldn't pass"
"Who-Florrie? What was the mat
ter?"
"Oh, Florrie got by all right It was
Clarence. He had spot on one tonsil.
When they wouldn't let him stay, Flor
RE got mad and went away with him."
Constance moaned.
"They ruled Hildegrade Forrest off
the track, to-" observed Tommy with a
reminiscent grin. she was half a. de-
gree subnormal and they wouldn't let
her start. Teddy Wall is out of 1t.
too. They wanted to compress the tur-
binate bone in his nose, so he could
breathe better. and he said he'd be
He said they couldn't do it."
| Constance passed a weary hand
hap he l,l
gard
whats 1t all about, anyhow, Con-
nie|' asked Tommy. Some kind of
3oke?"
"A joke!" she gasped. "A ioke."
Suddenly her limp form stiffened
and she made a dash for the library.
The first figure she observed was
that of a tall man in a long white robe.
He was bending over somebody who
sat in chair. At his side stood A.
woman in the uniform of a nurse. She
was holding a bottle in one hand and a
ferocious nickled instrument in the
other. The efficiency man was close
by, armed with pad and a fountain
pen,
AS Constance paused, rigid. there was
an abrupt commotion, and n young
man in evening attire sprane Qua of the
chair and pushed the man in white vio-
lently away from him.
You let me alone!" he bawled. 81
don't care il I've got hydrophobia.
You'll not stick that thing down my
throat"
The doctor looked at H Hedge.
IF you won't submit to examination
cannot permit you to stay" said tho
efficiency man to the patient
The patient glared for five seconds
and then stalked from the room.
Next" called the doctor.
At that point Constance interviewed
She walked swiftly across the library
and planted herself resoiu ely in 'front.'
of the efficiency man.
"Explaini" she commanded.
Certainly" he said suavely. 'T am !
safeguarding the members of this
household"
you mean"
Just this, Miss Brooke. am
charged with the care of Won three
children. That extends to your health,
among other things. Large assemblies
OF persons offer exceptional opportunt
ty for the transmission of Infectious
diseases. I do not propose to have any
of You run the risk of illness. Neither
DO propose, if all reasonable care can
prevent it. to have any guest in this
house participate in dancing unless his
or her heart and lungs are in proper
condition to endure the strain. II
would be embarrassing to be compelled
to call e. coroner. am, therefore. TAX
ing every precaution. DR.. Wardell
Will not only conduct such examina-
lions as may be necessary. but will also
remain In attendance during the eve
ming, ready to perform professional
services whenever they may be re-
CURED. And may ! compliment YOU
upon your gown
Constance did not hear the commit
ment. Her ears had ceased to record
any definite sounds, somewhere in the
middle of the efficiency mans expla-
nation. She was quivering with silent
rage.
IF you will go across the hall into
the parlor," observed II. Hedge. "youl
will find number of your guests. who.
am happy to say, have passed a salts
factory examination. / suggest that
you join them. They should have been
have begun. I wish you would ask
them to start. Unfortunately I shall
be busy here for some time"
He gave her nod OF dimssal and
turned to make a note of the name,
age. and address of terrified little
blonde in blue, who was holding out a
rosy tongue for inspection, and having
her pulse perused at the same time.
Constance made her way mechanical
ly In tn edirection of the room that II.
Hedge insisted on calling parlor, to
her daily horror. She was making vi
olent effort to preserve her sanity
The company of young people upon
whom she gazed did not appear to be
attending party. They were making
about as much noise as the figures on
a movie screen. Most Of them were
gathered in little groups. Occasionally
here was whisper. but for the most
part silence. Constance hesitated at