Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-10-06

his guide. Like good census man, he
put down all he saw and did it with
a speed that was amazing. He passed
briskly from one room to another, in
! exorably recording their contents on
large printed blanks
To Horace it was fooishness; TO
Hedge it was a holy crusade.
The third floor followed the second,
but there were no Brooke children In
sight. Horace knew why, but the ef-
ficiency man was yet to learn
Fourth floor next" said Hedge
snappily, as he produced fresh set Of
blanks.
Horace led the way. At the head Of
the stairs he turned sharply to the left
and walked along a short hallway that
ended at closed door. The butler laid
his hand on the knob and paused.
Most curious sounds came from the
other side of the door. There was a
rapid steady, and hollo W beating noise.
for one thing, with an accelerating
tempo. There was a noise of stamping
feet, at irregular intervals. mingled
with soft thuds-six or seven stamps
to each thud. There was a screeching,
wheeling sort of noise, accompanied
by metallic rafting. Then. just
as Horace turned the lnob. there was
a boisterous laugh.
The butler stepped respectfully aside,
and the efficiency man stood on the
threshold of a large room that ran the
full width Of the house.
First In his vision. and to occupy 1t
for a period of several interested sec
onds, came Constance Brooke. She
stood beneath a large wooden disk,
suspended horizontally from the ceiling.
From the center of the disk hung a
cord, and from the end of the cord
dangled a leather bag, snugly inflated
with air.
Constance wore white sweater and
a skirt that did not reach to her knees.
There was no reason why 1t should,
: for Constance represented a splendid
phase of efficiency without too much
economy. Red stockings and white
canvas shoes. laced high above her
ankles, completed her costume, with
the exception Of a pal r of stout but
tight fitting leather gloves.
Her hands were doubled into fists
: and the fists we're sma shing rhythmi-
! cally-right, left, right, left-against
: the swaying bag. Every time a fist
: drove against the wooden disk. the bag
, rebounded only to meet another fist
lying crafty in wait. Constance was
breathing sharply: her eyes were
glistening with excitement
suddenly she stepped in closer and
began to use elbows as well as fists.
alternating them in hewilderlng play
I 1aJ he IA he hoe To az
. er, faster, swung the tortured bag,
frantically seeking to escape from its
, tether With the steady. swift swing
of her arms the girls body swayed
! easily from side to side, balancing
from the hips. while her feet were
planted sturdily on the floor support
ing her with surenes$ that knew no
retreat.
, Whether natural or acquired, Con-
} stance had a hook" that was amazing
for accuracy and vim.
: For an instant the efficiency mans
gaze roved Alice, CARRIED much as
her sister with the exception that she
, wore loose knickerbockers instead of a
skirt, was just clearing a bar that was
balanced some four feet from the floor.
Billy was pullink viciously at a set
| of pully weights attached to the far
Their wall. Scattered about the gym
nasium was several pieces of idle APP
paratus.
There was sharp snap and the
beating of the bag against its wooden
barrier ceased abruptly. H. Hedge
turned his head, just ir time to sec a
! globular object approaching him at ap-
paling speed. There was no time to
dodge. The missile strlck him fairly
in the middle of his forehead. bounded
| back with equal suddenness, and rolled
along the floor to far corner.
A broken cord was dangling over
Constance Brooke's head as she stood
, rigid for an instant. breathing heavily
and staring with wide eyes at the eff
cheney man He was ru bling his fore
+. head in a bewildered way and return
ing her stare. There was a shrek OF
, laughter from Alice; an "Pll be-"
from Billy.
The bag puncher bit her lip, frowned
but said never a word. Pulling off her
, gloves, she tossed them tside. marched
rapidly to the door, brushed past Hedge
and disappeared. Horace noted CLINT
of triumph in her eyes.
The efficiency man Ftrolled across
the gymnasium and retrieved the bag
> from the corner where Il lay. He eX-
, amined it curiously, noting the broken
1 bit of cord that was attached to 1t and
3 nodding his head in evident approval
3 AS he turned the leather sphere in his
hands he observed that it had been
' marked upon, apparently with chalk
t The inscription was half obliterated by
1 busy fists, yet still legib le. 1t said:
< II. HEDGE, g.. E.
at seems that each one has her own
: way of producing an impression
Q unused the efficiency man. "I'll admit
: I'm impressed"