Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-10-21
TOO MUCH
EFFICIENCY
A CLEVER SERIAL STORY.
BY h J. RATH.
Author Of when the Devil Was
Sick" "One-Cylinder Sam" etc.
CHAPTER XIV. Continued. ,

cfosSeu tHe street, ana entered Madi-
son Square.
4 winding walk among the benches
carried them to the outer rim Of q
crowd that stood oblivious to the night.
conscious only of the big tree that shed
prismatic radiance in the center of the
little park. 1t was not 8. crowd in furs:
much of it was not even a crowd in
overcoats. But for all that it was a
Christmas crowd, and because of this
the Brookes again felt themselves
strangely aloof from it.
Only with the tree itself did they
seem to be on terms of intimacy and
understanding. The tree was friendly;
1t belonged as much to the three
Brookes as to any of the hundreds
who gazed UP at its lights. So they
stood and stared, unmindful of numb
ed feet and tingling ears And while
they stood the snow came: intermit
tent flurries at first-the outriders of
the storm. And then, in steadily in
creasing numbers, the soft flakes, fly
ing lightly in the gusts, swept down
from the dark sky and began their
patient work of covering the earth.
There was an uncertain stir in the
crowd. Little groups began to detach
themselves and wander off into the
night. A man standing close to Con-
stance turned up a flimsy coat collar
blew upon his fingers, and hurried
away. Two women with baskets
sighed, took their last look at the
bravely blazing tree, and Joined the
scattering retreat But still the I
Brooke children fingered.
A deep voiced bell from somewhere
beyond the square struck heavy (
note-then another-and another. Billy
looked up at the great clock in the
Metropolitan Tower. Midnight, Christ
mas Eve was over.
Merry Christmas. Connie" he said.
slipping his arm around her shoulders
Merry Christmas, Billy"
lie turned to Alice, drew her close.
and kissed face that was wet with
melted snowflakes.
Merry Christmas Alice"
Merry Christmas!"
And then the sisters stood for a
minute, their arms about each other,
their cheeks touching. their lips
whispering Merry Christmas."
Why not? 1t was their tree. as much
as anybody's. And they would have
kissed each other at Christmas, no
matter where fortune might have
found them
Constance felt light hand on her
arm, and, turning, looked down into
the big eyes of a child. The girl was
not more than twelve, yet her face
seemed strangely old for her small
body. 1t was framed in a shawl. and
it smiled up at Constance in a spirit
of comradship.
II came out to see the tree" ven
tured the child.
IT'S beautiful, isn't it?"
Yes, ma'am, And II"
Yes"
Il was just watchn' YOU. ma'am. an
the gentleman, an the other lady"
The child paused and smiled again.
this time In manifest confusion.
And why did you watch us?" asked
Constance gently.
Il was watchin' you say Merry
Chris'mus.'
OH"
An l was wonderin' if"
Once more the voice faltered but
the smile persisted.
Constance stopped down. took the
small face between her hands, and
kissed it.
Did l guess right" she whispered
Yes, ma'am, That was it. Merry
Chris mus! Now I'm going home, ,
ma am, We've amt got a tree"
And we haven't any, either dear" !
said Constance gently. ,
The cni.d stared IL unEelief. then
and started r., l.,
Wait, please'" called Alice. .
She was fumbling with chilled fin ,
;ers in a small purse
Merry Christmas" she said, thrust ,
ng something into the child's hand :
The little girl stared down into her ,
palm and hesitated.
Il didn't mean that" she said. :
But you will-just to please me-"
aid Alice in voice that was not very ;
teady. :
''Why-yes, ma'am, An'-Merry
Christmas"
The little girl with the shawl ran Off
pto the night.
The three Brookes watched the y
mall figure until the darkness blotted "
out then looked at each other, and q
hen for a last time at the tree.
Let's co. said Billy, linking arms
gain q
They crossed the square into Broad
way, walking in silence until, after
cVeral blocks had been covered in the a
lying snow, Billy began TO whistle an u
little tune.
Lets cat" he said presently, bring y
ng his sisters to an abrupt stop in y
ront of a window, where man with
white cap was busy turning pan 0
axes. q
Can We" asked Constance eagerly. <
Sure" he answered grandly. u
So they ate pancakes and drank u
tesming coffee, and discovered that d
aper napkins are a rather clever in s.
cntion. And then out again into a
-hite Christmas. n
Anybody got any money!" asked s.
lilly. as they paused on the sidewalk.
Mines gone n