Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-07-03
CHAPTER XIV, (continued).

whether | mean something. by Jlheo'
there's a couple of cops now!
Two men in uniform had entered
the hall
where's the NUT" asked the fore
most. Somebody phoned they had an
old party with an empty attic
H. Hedge stepped quickly forward
and whispered to the officer.
Escaped. eh?' said the policeman.
(which way did he go?"
Ran north a block, and then
around the corner" answered Heose
briskly. You may get him If you hur-
ry."
The two officers were retreatlng'
when Mr.. Brooke broke loose from MS
daughters grasp and ran after them
Hey" he cried. IF you're look-
ing for nut here's one
He pointed at H. Hedge.
Lock him up" he cried. He tried
IN throw me out OF my own house.
Maybe he's burglar. too
Constance lnterceded hurriedly.
Father, Now, don't make scene
about things. You don't understand at
all. Send those officers away and tnen
let me explain"
II don't intend to have that man III
my house one minute longer stormeo
Mr.. Brooke. "And I'm going to clear
out the whole crowd. too"
"s-sh-father! Omcers, please go
away. I am Miss Brooke, and every
thing is all right. My father doesn't
understand the situation yet
You bet I DON'T"
Come. father, we're going into, the
library to have talk
..'The library's full OF maniacs dane
Ing" beloved John W. Brooke.
"Then we'll go upstairs in your
rooms. Come now, like dear old DAD
d."
Mr.. Brooke suffered himself to be
led upstairs, and the policemen DE-
parted.
The sitting.room Of John W. Brooke
presented a normal appearance 10
his eyes, but when he stepped into
the bedroom he stopped short.
who owns those pants?" he de-
manded, pointing to a garment hang
ing over the back Of chair moi
mine. Who owns those neckties!
Those are not my hair-brushes. what
the devil. Connie"
Constance. who had been following.
hesitated. -,
"And say. where's the man in charge
Of this house," demanded her father,
suddenly remembering.
'1'm the man." said the voice OF n.
Hedge, who had also followed up
stairs.
Brooke wheeled upon him, below
ing:
YOU. ss =,
''.That is. / was until this morning. Y
sent in my resignation
H. Hedge was calm and still smil-
ing.
"You want me to understand that
you're the man sent here by the
Economy and Efficiency people?'
There are my credentials. You
signed them" said Hedge placidly, ex'
hjbiting the document.
Mr.. Brooke swallowed once or twice
as he glared at the paper.
"And is this the way you've been
running my house?"
mo. not the way I did run it. But,
as I said, quit running It this morn
Ing: that is running 1t on that plan
"Ard running this shindig down
stairs?" inquired Mr.. Brooke ominous.
~. .
~ was-for time. But it's running
itself very nicely now"
"He ran the house beautifully,
father" said Constance nervously.
truly
H. Hedge grinned at her.
well, by the eternal" exploded
John w. Brooke. 81 hired man to run
this house on the basis of economy,
and got guarantee with it. And
come home to find myself insulted
and thrown out, with lot of strange
servants on the place and my money
being spent as il l was the govern
ment treasury. Where do / come in?
What does 1t all mean? That's what l
want to know. Who authorized this
blowout"
"Oh. authorized it." said H. Hedge
promptly And organized it. It's a
sort Of double-barreled affair, you see. /!
On one hand, it's surprise party for
you SIR
"And that's no lie." doomed Mr.. !,
Brooke
ION the other hand, It celebrates the
announcement Of your daughters en-
gagement''
John W. Brooke turned purple and
whirled upon his daughter.
engagement! You engaged"
Constance nodded and blushed.
"And who in blazes to-"
ME" answered H. Hedge
well. I'll be-
f, Mr.. Brooke finished the sentence in
At of choking that alarmed his daugh.
ter
Engaged" he repeated duly. after
he had recovered speech. my daugb'
ter engaged-and to this thing here. |
Say. let's all go down to Bellevue and
have our heads examined. Engaged,
hey? Well. you're hereby disengaged;
and as for you, young man. II you're
not out of this house in thirty seconds
you'll be disembodied"
H. Hedge made no move to accom-
plish such hasty exit Instead he
again smiled benignantly at John w.
Brooke
"Only Connie can disengage us he