Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-04-27
Too Much Efficiency
But, Connie YOU said
by j. E. Rath.

l
Never mind what l said He's here
and it looks as If he We're here to
stay"
"Connie!" Alice sat down and
yes - to stay" repeated Constance
bitterly.
Alice swallowed a few times ami
: Brooke mansion seemed an unfamiliar
place. A subtle change, atmospheric,
perhaps, had been wrought. Every
thing was in its usual place yet
everything looked different. Every
thing felt wrong. Unconscious of it,
the sisters spoke in low tones.
Where's Billy asked Alice.
| "Out in his car
| Couldn't he think of anything?"
Certainly not. Did you expect him
| tor
Alice hitched an ankle across one
knee and looked thoughtful.
mo guess not" she assented. did
did he run out on you
approximately"
And what did you do?"
ooh, had row. lanquidly.
Throw anything?''
"Me?"
"Uh-huh."
You know perfectly well I've out
grown that, Alice. Don't be silly"
Still, it's usually best; it's sim
plest,'' said Alice. "But how are we 60
ing to get him out of the house,"
"I'm not sure that we are"
Don't tell me you've quit, CONNER"
"Of course l haven't quit retorted
Constance. If you'd only suggest, and
not criticise, we'd get somewhere. In
cidentally, hereafter you walk to
school,"
T-what?"
You are to hit the trail afooot--he
said So"
Alice gasped and turned pink
Never" she cried. First it's
prunes, and then it's pedestrianism. I
tell you, I'll not stand It, Connie I'll
I'll tear up all his papers. I'll wreck
his oflce!"
Nonsense" said Constance. That's
foolishness."
well, we have to fight the devil
with fire, you know"
Alice spoke as If the wisdom of
centuries had descended upon her.
"Perhaps-when the devil will fight.
But what are you gonig to do when he
simply won't What chance is there
when he just sits and lookes at you
and then makes the most insulting re-
mark in a perfectly calm voice? II he
would only get mad, and rant-and
would be something! 1t
would be beginning any how. But, as 1t
Is, you might as well go out and call
names at one of the statues in the ,
park The statue would still be there
when you were speechless."
Alice rose and strolled to the win
dow. Presently she turned and said:
'Here comes Billy, now. Well get |
him up here and see II he has thought
Of anything"
Constance shook her head idly. She
was not optimistic as to Billy's think
Ing. She rather feared that if the e. E.
Incubus was to be removed, the think
Ing would have to be done in her own
head.
1t was not the magnitude OF the pro-
blem that daunted her; it was the
of it. There seemed to be
no place Of beginning. H. Hedge had
settled himself upon the household
ike a giant kraken; his tentacles
we're everywhere and it seemed per.
,ectly useless to try cutting an odd one
here and there. Beside, as yet she
possessed no weapon.
Billy Brooke found his sisters in
moody silence.
How'd you make out. Connie?' he
demanded.
"At least as we'll as you did, before
you ran away
ooh, come. There wasn't any use of
my staying Why, I'd have only batted
him one, if had
Constance regarded her brother
with faint smile, the significance of
which he was quick to appreciate
ooh, you needn't do that" he growl-
I'D. 81 tell you Connie, was getting
ready to paste him. He knew 1t, too.
Another minute and"
Its too bad you were so busy you
couldn't wait another minute"
Billy snorted.
Think I'm afraid OF him, eh?'
mo. indeed" said Constance, with
ronical emphasis. "I'm sure he never
you-"
He'd better mott"
with anything except work.
William w. Brooke flushed deep
red.
Work." he blurted What do you
hing of that, Alice He thinks he's 60
ng to make me work.
well, l have to go to school," said
Alice unsympathetically 81 don't see
Why you shouldn't work. or run for
Congress, or do something to fill your
ime"
Billy strobe the length of the room
md back again, scowling.