Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-06-15
CHAPTER XXI.

II. Hedge, with his maddentng habit
of discovering things, came upon an
extraordinary performance in the din
ing-room. On one side Of the circular
table stood Ruth, one Of the house
maids. her cheeks flushed, her eyes
bright. She was papably out Of breath
On the other side stood Frank, the
chauffeur with grin of resolution on
his face.
1t was not so much the fact that
neither of them belonged to the din
ing-room as 1t was their maneuvering
which astonished the efficiency man.
Frank made swift sally to the left.
moving around the table. Ruth, with a
suppressed shrek. duplicated the
movement. Frank halted and darted in
the other direction So did Ruth. Back
and forth they lodged half dozen
times, while H. Hedge stood in the
doorway and watched.
"Oh. I'll ge YOU" cried Frank jubi
lantly.
Never You go way!"
"Ha." laughed Frank, as he made .
new dash.
you stop"
The chauffeur chuckled and contin-
ued the pursuit. -,
This continued for a full minute,
while the efficiency man stood unob-
served. He rather marveled at Ruth's
heetness of foot and at the discom-
future OF Frank over her nimbleness.
Then Ruth discovered the audience,
and promptly yelled In dismay.
whats the idea?" asked Fl. Hedge,
advancing.
"Were you talking about me?"
Frank became tongue-tied and fun.
bled with the strap of one OF his
leather puttees.
"He-he was chasing me- painted
Ruth.
81 got that much observed the EN-
cheney man. But Why"
Ruth looked significantly at Frank,
whose face was now a dull red.
He"
Ruth paused and giggled.
"Wel?"
"He-he wanted to kiss me-"
rs that SO. Frank demanded H.
Hedge.
Frank shrugged his shoulders, then
nodded faintly.
And why did you want to kiss
her."
Foolish question. II he had not been
an efficiency engineer, he might have
understood. Ruth was prettier than a
whole lot of magazine covers.
She looked at Frank expectantly.
then tossed her head and frowned as
he made no answer
Frank. you are discharged"
The chauffeur was sullen and un-
moved. Ruth uttered little cry, and
her hand leaped to her throat
"Oh, please, Mr.. Hedge" she plead
ed.
The efficiency man eyed her in sur
prise.
What's the NATTER" he demanded.
HE was annoying you. wasn't he?
take 1t that you didn't want to be kiss
ed. inasmuch as you were running
away. If you did want to be kissed.
why didn't you stand still?"
Ruth blushed furiously.
~ do not approve OF kissing" con.
tinued H. Hedge coldly. And do not
allow it among employees Of this house
in business hours Frank is discharg.
ed for attempting 1t. and you. Ruth.
are retained only because OF your
manifest endeavors to escape"
There was utter misery in Ruth's
face.
"Please. Mr.. Hedge, he-he didn' t
rean anything. Honest
81 did, blurted Frank, recovering
speech for the first time.
We'll, what did you nlean?" de-
,,.pdad tho efncioncv man
Il want to marry her
Ruth gasped and covered her face
with her hands. Frank squared his
shoulders and glared defiantly at H.
Hedge.
Have you asked her." inquired the
latter abruptly.
Il was trying to-
is that the way TO ask a young
woman to marry you?" Hedge queried.
by chasing her around table and
trying to kiss her?'
Frank shuffled his feet and made no
answer.
II -,