Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-11-13
TOO MUCH
EFFICIENCY
a CLEVER SERIAL STORY.
Dy "A J. RATA.
Author OF "Whea the Devil Was
Sick" One Cylinder SAM" stc.

CHAPTER xxi. (Continued.)
And I'm waiting for you to deny
it." he added. "only don't-please!"
Il deny"
"Stop!"
She stopped, and was enjoyed when
she became aware Of 1t.
Il deny
He reached over and placed his
hand across her lips.
Don't, dear" he pleaded.
She pushed the hand away, but did
not finish the sentence. Instead. she
rose from the chair and started to-
ward the halfway. Then she changed
her course. for no conscious reason and
went over to one of the windows,
where she stood with her back toward
him. H. Hedge followed.
Il guess I've bungled 1t pretty bad
ly," she heard him saying. Pm no
good at it. II only knew how, I'd
make you the most wonderful proposal
in the world. You're entitled to 1t.
But it seems l don't know how"
yet you told me-
She paused and bit her lip.
"Told you what?"
Never mind"
Tell mel"
why, once you told me that you'd
been engaged twice."
Did 1? I'd forgotten It."
IF you forget things like that so
easily. 7"
She stopped again. not knowing ex-
actly what she wanted to say. She had
not turned her head. but knew he was
standing behind her, very close. She
wanted to see his face but dared not
look; she wanted to know the precise
expression in his eyes.
We'll, I have forgotten just how I
proposed to them" he said truthfully.
II know I never meant 1t anyhow"
you say things like that-and don't
| mean them?"
There l go again." he declared In a
tone of despair. "Oh, please help me
out, Connie! Honest Injun. I don't
seem to be able to talk straight l
can keep on saying l love you, over and
| over again; but can't get beyond that,
somehow or other. l suppose 1t
sounds monotonous."
'Monotonous!"
The laundering uncertainty went out
of his eyes and he beamed at the back
of her head. He took her gently by
the shoulders and turned her around
Let's quit fooling." he said.
$3.50 you've been fooling, then"
she murmured. "Then I"
The rest of the sentence was smoth-
cred as II. Hedge stood there with
Constance in his arms, his heart
pounding a hundred beats to the min
ute. He did not dare speak. Con-
stance did not try; 1t was too-amaz-
ing.
After several minutes, he ventered, a
pleading appeal.
Il don't know whether / can talk
straight yet" he said. II suppose I'm
due for another bungle. But I've kissed
the top Of your head so often that just
wondered If you'd let me-"
She lifted her head-and let him.
II don't deserve this" he said hum
bly,.
Il don't think l do either-after the
way you treated me-" she answered
family. TT think l must be crazy
"Why?"
For loving you"
"Connie!" HI held her off at arms
length. ''Honestly-do you?"
She looked at him in amazement.
II. Hedge, you are insufferable!"
she exclaimed. do you think I'd let
you-kiss me-and almost crush me to
death-if didn't love your"
He seized her again. and they be-
gan once more, from the point where
they had quit fooling.
| 1t was Constance who broke the ST.
lence finally.
ut seems to me-" she said, as she
ran her fingers lightly. almost curious
| ly, over his hair, that for a person
who has abandoned efficiency, you are
still a rather scientific manager.
O-o-oh There didn't I tell you SO,
dear?"