Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-04-24
Too Much Efficiency
by j. E. Rath.

uOTTUW lnOTHluS.
Horace said the efficiency man, il
equally calm tones, IF you order and
serve Strawberries tomorrow morning
you will pay for them out of your own
pocket. after which you will be fired.
Horace looked appealingly at his
mistress She bit her lip, but made nc
further remark.
So ended the fixed rule for gay
breakfast. H. Hedge had irrevocably
smashed it. The three Brookes had ir.
,revocably smashed it. The three
Brookes gave him silence for the re.
mainder of the meal. 1t was poor re.
venge, perhaps, but they were in no
mood for speech. It cheered them none
to observe that the efficiency man ate
the strawberries.
Out in the hall an Immediately
CARRIED maid, Matilda. stood holding
school-books
Hurry, now, Alice; you're late
again." chided Constance. "The car
has been waiting ten minutes"
Alice flung herself carelessly into a
garment Of fur, damned rakish lit
tie hat over her rudy hair, seized her
books and raced toward the door. 1t
was swung open for her by Horace,
the butler. Down the front teps of the
Brooke mansion she leaped, three at
time, crossed the pavement in two
bounds, and plunged through the open
doorway of a massive limousine A
footman closed the door after her,
then swung himself into the seat be-
side the chauffeur. A second later the
fifteen-thousand-dol English motor.
car was rolling impressively up the
avenue
Hedge had followed as far as the
front door and saw it all. He watched
until the car disappeared around a
corner, then returned to where Con.
stance and Billy were still standing.
Does it take four persons to send
Alice to SCHOOL," he inquired briskly.
sometimes six or seven" remark
ed Billy carelessly. ANY objection?'
Hedge ignored the poorly disguised
contempt Of the inquiry with which
Billy tipped his answer.
"Now desire to sc you and your sis
ter in the library" he said, and led the
way.
Constance whispered to her brother,
motioned him to follow the efficiency
man, and then hurried upstairs to the
telephone In her boudoir.
Mr.. Hedge displayed surprising
amount Of patience when, after ten
Constance had not made her
in the library. If he felt
any annoyance he concealed 1t. He de-
voted the interval to the work OF ex-
aiming a pile Of papers on the CEN
ter-table. Billy Brooke had settled
back in great leather chair and was
pipe. There was q glimmer
Of amusement in his eyes.
Presently Hedge looked across at
him.
Perhaps your sister has forgotten 1
wish to see her." he remarked.
"Oh, guess not" yawned Billy.
She'll come when she gets ready.
And then you'll get yours"
There was no Misunderstanding be.
tween the two young men in the libra
~. Breakfast rules were of.
what am to get inquired
Hedge, mildly enough. but not ap-
prehensively.
why, you didn't suppose you could
get away with all this stuff, did you?"
Billy's voice was disdainful He add
ed sneer by way of local color.
eyes, have an idea that will. Mr..
Brooke
"All right You wait till Connie
comes"
Evidently it's necessary" said
Hedge evenly, looking the Brooke
youth in the eye.
Billy WINGED visibly; he had never
made a practise of concealing his
emotions. The efficiency man had
handed on a sore spot with the scion
Of John W. Brooke, who, only deep in
bis conscfousness-and then only to
MISUNDERSTANDING the leadership
Of his sister. He attempted no answer,
but pulled CONTEMPORARY at his pipe
Constance arrived soon and her
brother glanced up expectantly. He
was not heartened by the look that
he found in her eyes. They were
bright, but troubled Her cheeks were
far redder than they had been fifteen
earlier. She spread her hands
In helpless gesture and nodded her
head slowly.
"It's true, Billy" she half whisper.
ed.
moi"
eyes, Billy; true
you're sure, Connie? No way out?"
The unmistakable anxiety in Billy's
voice attracted the attention OF Hedge.
who studied the brother and sister
with plain interest. They seemed for
the moment to be oblivious of his
presence.
"No way in sight,
"Who did you phone tor
"The Efficiency Company. first"
said Constance. "They confirmed 1t.
Then to fathers office They said he'd
gone away and didn't know where, or
If they do know they won't tell, which
Is just as bad"
TRY the lawyers?'
Constance nodded. "They know that
q man was to be sent here" she said
YEARLY, land say that father ordered
It. And they said they would only com
municate with him in a matter of life
Or death. Those are his orders, too"
But, Connie-what the blazes are
we going to do?' Billy Brooke groan-
ed.
At this point the efficiency man
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