Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-05-15


than merely glazing. The efficiency
man did neither. He merely looked and
appeared to be interested.
about it," growled Billy Now. you get
your hat and beat it. It's all Off
TOO busy" demanded Billy.
."Going?" demanded Billy.
mot yet"
"Wheno"
Constance flinched She sensed some.
thing incongruous in the question. 1t
did not coordinate with the great plan.
Yet Billy stood firm as rock, and
quite as imposing.
Not until your father returns re.
marked the efficiency man.
Billy eoughed noisily and glanced at
hid sisters. He smiled significantly.
Give you one minute" he announc-
ed.
And them
"Out you 60"
"HoW?"
"Front door,
"Who?"
"Me!''
The admirable hrevity of the dia-
logue was not lost upon H. Hedge, who
nodded approvingly as he stood up.
There was the utmost friendliness In
his eyes. He was not tall as Billy by
something like two inches; nor was he
so heavy by considerable number Of
pounds. He did not betray any mark
ed evidences of preparedness. Beyond
question there was no anger In him.
Well he said slowly, II presume
that ends discussion"
"You bet"
The efficiency man sighed,
"All right" he murmured. Go to it."
There was no sign of preparedness
in him, unless you looked at his eyes.
They we're quite calm, too which was
an odd contrast to something else that
was visible there in. 1t was sort OF
battle calm: rather fine demonstra-
ton OF the principle of light without
heat. Constance. always quick reader.
saw it and unconsciously squeezed
Alice's hand
Billy advanced a step, then paused.
The situation was unfamiliar to him,
and somewhat disconcerting. He was
not afraid of H. Hedge. If the pair of
them had been on the street, or any
where save under the Brook rooftree.
there would have been no cause for
hesitation. But now that he was face to
face with physical combat, Billy hest
tated.
After all. the efficiency man was in
the nature of a guest. He was an un-
welcome guest. to be sure: but none
the less. the innate hospitality of the
Brooke family and the traditions of the
household accorded him certain i'm
munity. It was not a custom of the
into the street.
Look here said Billy, y don't
want to muss you up any You'd bet.
ter 60 quietly
H. Hedge simply shook his head.
"Yon don want my sisters to see a
fight, do your"
"No. But we might ask them to re.
tire"
Constance and Alice showed no dis
position to quit the library.
1T comes right down to this burt
"a Billy angrily. You put me in posi-
ton where I've got TO throw somebody
out OF the house, and you've got no
business to put me there. When you've
not wanted, you ought to have decency
enough to GO
''I'm not here for my health or
amusement" remarked the efficiency
man. I'm here on business I'm sent
here by your father. I'm here till he
returns. and by his orders Naturally.
I'm going to stay While ! do not be-
1ieve in corporal punishment. never
theless, il you compel me. /"
He broke off with a shrug and re-
garded Billy with calm stare.
Well" said Billy. taking another
step forward, Let's see who goes out
the front door first"
AS if to make ready for the exit
there was a tempestuous ringing of the
front door-bell. A sound of voices and
laughter echoed from the hall.
Constance laid restraining hand
on Billy's arm.
SSH" she whispered Company.
Maudie Van Nest. think. and some
of the boys and girls. Call it off. Billy"
Billy paused reluctantly He was
eager for the encounter. yet his eager
ness was mixed with a feeling Of re,
lief that it was not vet necessary to
eject guest from the Brooke man
sion.
You'd better go up and pack your
stun he advised the efficiency man
Some friends have come. and that lets
your out for while
H. Hedge nodded and returned to his
desk, where he reached for the day
book and resumed his work.
The Brookes' callers lost no time in
taking possession of the house From
his desk, the efficiency man could hear
Constance playing piano across the
hall to an accompaniment of swiftly
moving feet. At times. when the piano
was not in action. the phonograph took
up the relief work.
1t was while the monograph was
playing ard Constance was swiftly
whirling with the Van Nest boy that
The latter asked in casual tone:
Who's your friend?"
|. She followed the direction of his