Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-04-24
CHAPTER w, (continued)

f3t Inc magic luuu6HCe VI lle VI yam
fast hour still resisted shock. Con-
stance neither blushed nor froWned.
She laughed heartily. H. Hedge DID
likewise. but with little wrinkle OF
perplexity between his eyes.
1T there is anything l am missing. y
he remarked, 81 leave it to your sense
OF fair play to see that | get it.
Alice whooped. Billy, with an air OF
grave inquiry, stood up and gazed fix
eddy at the top of the efficiency mans
head. The heavy thatch of dark hair
caused him to groan regretfully.
mo; you can't get it-not the way
father Does" he said sadly.
That's too bad; If there's anything
l can do"
Alice whooped again.
'You-you might live to be fifty or
sixty or seventy or eighty years DID,,
she said, land then maybe you'd be"
"Alice! Fair play, now" cautioned
Constance.
"Oh, we'll, If he doesn't want to wait
that long, he could"
Constance reached across the table
and laid her hand across her sisters
lips.
"Imp!" she said severely. Don't
spoil it. Besides. I'm not the only one +"
Pooh! I'm not afraid" said Alice.
"You lead on and watch me-"
evidently sighed the efficiency
man. II am not to be treated as father
is. Whatever ought to be coming to
me, am not going to get-yet."
Billy looked at Hedge with sud
den air Of interest and then beamed
uDon Constance
did you get that yet stuff, Con-
nie?"
Constance, however, was very busy
with an orange, II q trife flushed. She
pretended not to hear. Alice was hap
py beyond speech; she gurgled her
Joy. Billy seemed to be contemplating
another attack. It was the efficiency
man who broke up the situation.
"You don't mind" he said plain
lively, ~let's consider the matter Of
buttons"
"Buttons7'
The three Brookes made the echo in
unison.
''Yes-buttons."
"Buttons?" repeated Billy gravely.
Buttons " unused Alice, wr1nkling
what kind Of buttons?' asked Con-
stance
Important buttons" said Hedge.
"You mean"
Vital buttons" he added, helping
himself to a chop.
The Brookes were regarding him
with undisguised curiosity.
"The matter of buttons" he said, is
q preoccupied tone, "and also the
problem Of attaching them
The efficiency man left the SEN
tence unfinished and emerged abrupt
ly from his preoccupation. He had
been almost frivolous; rather deliber'
atelx.,so, yet in evident considerations
accord with the breakfast rule that
Constance had laid down. But the
died from his eyes as they
widened into hard stare.
He was looking at something that
Horace had placed before him.
Come here, Horace he command
ed sharply.
Horace returned, walking circum-
specify and scientifically.
what are those things?" demand |
ed H. Hedge.
Strawberries. SIR
"Strawberr1es!"
They're great" volunteered Billy
''Try EN-"
The emcisncy man ignored the in.
vitation.
'sWhat month is this, Horace?" he
ASKED stern1y.
December, SIR"
= ''You buy strawberries in Decem'
bWf"
~ofssn: ~, sir"
IL that true, Miss BROKER"
'CeEts4nly," she replied. somewhat
shszpay. why mott"
sostss
r sh6nh they're a dollar and half
4. bon. now, SIR" ventured Horace.
wen. By the great god OF extrava-
sancet" exclaimed H. Hedge. pushing
hpck hin chaar end staring once again
II Tho tA1colltan dish. ''How many
scsesr ~ ..,,-.., 81.
aJbur dollars and half for straw
boFries-in December! Why, that's
lne1sh monsu to buy breakfast in this
Household tor week! Listen,
aneeoa"
TA ks
syeo mo1e
Horace looked doubtfully at his mis-
treas. She was flushing, angrily now,
whore q fow minutes before it had
boeu q token Of confusion.
I'VE are permitted" she said coldly,
TO eat what food we prefer. If you do
not like awberries, Mr.. Hedge, you
need not eat them"
The ehicienoy man held up his hand
for silence.
Hereafter you will eat what food
ORDER" he said distinctly. This
ana he pointed at his dish OF strawber-
rles-"is the most wanton waste that
nave yet witnessed sincerely trust
it is not typical"
ooh. but it is," remarked Billy
cheerfully.
so much worse, then No more
strawberries will be purchased for this |
house until strawberries are IN season. |
E.rawberries-in December"
Constance's eyes were swapping. |
1--WE will have them whenever we
A. ~ -, 4