Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-05-11


not care to be insulted.' declared Con.
stance. 81 am buying hat, hat, haiti
Il understand. Now, if you will only
specify prices as accurately as you
spell, we will have this done prompt
ly.''
He glanced up at the delicately
wrought handiwork which at that mo-
ment crowned her soft brown hair,
and then pointed at it irreverently.
with a lead-pencil
What did that cost?'
Constance touched it lightly, as il
for identification
Really, don't recall" she answered
indifferently.
Approximately"
ooh, perhaps hundred"
Zone hundred dollars"
Surely Something like that 1t came
from the Luxembourg shop"
H. Hedge studied the hat with In
terest. He even committed the sacrt
lege of rising from his seat, leaning
over and feeling the texture of it with
his fingers.
do you mean to tell me that you
paid one hundred dollars for that
thing?"
She stified her anger and merely nod
Z ded
~ might add that my father paid the
bill-and asked no questions"
How long ago."
81 think it was about three weeks
ago"
"A hundred for a hat, and new one
IN three weeks?" he exclaimed.
"The season has changed" she ex'
planned sweetly.
II recall only four seasons in a
, year." observed the efficiency man
abruptly.
I'm a year-possibly." conceded Con.
stance But not in hats"
He devoted Ave seconds to thought.
Probably, II you buy hats SO fire..
quently, you have one that you pur'
chased in the corresponding season
last, year. If so, in what condition is
it?"s
1T was probably given to my maid
long ago. Really, do you propose to per.
sist in being utterly impossible?"
mot at ALL On the contrary, l am
very glad to have this matter Of hats
brought up. can see that 1t merits at.
tention. Really. Miss Brooke. do not
want you to understand me-"
The efficiency man paused for an in
slant to give emphasis to his words.
~ desire your cooperation in all
things, including hats. am not in the
least unreasonable; am merely try
ing to apply business principles in a
new field. am sure that you will as.
sist me. Now, as to hats, I may say
that never pay more than five dollars
for my own, usually less. Assuming,
for argument, that pay five, can buy
twenty hats for a hundred dollars It
would probably take me five years to
consume twenty hats. The hat which
you are now wearing, while different
in style from my own, is nevertheless
obviously less durable both in design
and material. I cannot see that it is an
eficient hat, while already know that
1t is not an economic hat.
LET US be reasonable. will make
an exception in this case, which l do
not think justifies another hat for a
period Of nine weeks. I will give you
q requisition for new hat now"
He smiled at her in a friendly way.
Constance held her breath.
Dat I shall specify that the hat is
not to cost more than five dollars"
She arose slowly from her chair and
faced him.
Are you serious?" she asked.
"Oh, quite
The bitter moments Of life are visit
ed upon the rich and poor alike. Con-
stance knew that she was poor-very
poor.
II shall go about in tatters," she said
brokenly. 81 shall wear my old hiatt"
The efficiency man looked at the old
hat and liked it. The thought occurred
to him that Constance and the hat had
been created for each other. There was
beautiful harmony that appealed to
him which was testimony to the fact
that art was not wholly dead within
him. Nevertheless he did not care to
be looked upon wholly as person who
pinched pennies and bit nickels
Efficiency was more than mere saving
Nor did he think it right for Constance
to go in tatters. although he could
easily believe that she would orament
them. Here was a chance to kill two
birds with one stone.
"See here, Miss Brooke" he said.
IL am going to demonstrate something
to you. 1t will be an object lesson in
efficiency. You say that proper hat
cannot be bought for five dollars, hence
you are in the habit of paying a hun.
dred ] differ. l say that proper hat
can also be an economical hat. You are
going to get new hat
But"
wait, please
He seized the telephone and called a
number
rs this the Luxembourg shop? Very
we'll This is the residence of Mr. John
w. Brooke. Please send up an assert
ment of hats for Miss Brooke to ex-
anime. OF course: all kinds of hats.
And send them right away. In half an
hour? Make it twenty minutes. If pos
sible. Yes; that's all.
He turned to Constance as he hung
4 mp the receiver, and smiled.
I'll show you how to buy hat he