Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-10-03
Too Much Efficiency
CONTINUED FROM Page Four,

eho othei serNdHtS ana nave tnem all
report to me here at once"
1t was a wide-eyed company that
faced the efficiency man. with Horace
standing little in advance and at one
side. like a non commissioned officer.
They stared at the stranger with frank
wonder written on their faces.
"All here?" asked Hedge with faint
sarcasm.
There were eight in line.
my own maid is away for the even
ing" said Constance
Very well; who are the others, IL
you please?"
Horace, the butler, you know" be-
gan Constance, after a rebellious in
slant Of hesitation. Next to him is
Mary, the cook; next to her, Elvira, the
second cook; the next is Frank, the
chauffeur; next are Minnie and Ruth,
housemaids; next to Ruth Is Fanny,
the laundress. The one on the end is
Giovanni, the furnace man.
Giovanni giowered as his name woat
down in the little book.
This completes the list, then p ask
ed Mr.. Hedge.
Il forgot; there Is another" said
Constance. George, the footman."
HE had an evening off. miss" ex-
planned Horace quickly.
I'VE will do without him for the pre-
sent" said the efficiency man as he
reached into his pocket and drew forth
a document that was already ominously
familiar to the three Brookes. You
will now give me your close attention"
Raising his voice slightly, he pro-
ceeded once more to read aloud that
extraordinary instrument which began
Il, John w. Brooke" after the fashion
Of q last will and testament He read
slowly and clearly, pausing between
phrases, in order that a full compre-
hension Of his words might be obtain
ed. When he reached the red seal, he
looked up and folded the paper.
II am the Hedge referred to in this
document" he said. DO you all un-
derstand it?"
The eight servants remained silent
and with one accord, glanced at Con-
stance.
you may indicate that you under
stand tiff you really do" said Con-
stance quietly.
Eight heads nodded.
VERY WELL" said Mr.. Hedge. Re
turn to your quarters"
The household help filed out of the
library with funereal steps. From the
hallway it was possible to distinguish
whispering. mingled with the noise OF
retreating footsteps.
The efficiency man walked over tc
writing table, seated himself, picked
nd Mt xy fnr ha "
stence of the three Brookes. Con-
stance, her lips tightly compressed
retreated to the farther end of the
room and stared into the glow of an
open fire. Billy, uneasily thumbing a
book, finally tossed 1t aside and dis
appeared. The opening and closing OF
the front door accounted for his
maneuver. Alice sought consolation In
tho Circassion-w walnut monograph
| She played the loudest concert records
she could find, with frequent glances
in the direction of II. Hedge.
He was maddeningly oblivious.
/ Curiosity overcame Alice at length
| She pretended to hunt for a book. and
the search twice carried her past the
desk at which the efficiency man was
working. But even two inspections die
not enlighten her. He seemed to be
working at a problem. but wholly I'M
like any she had ever encountered al
school. He was making diagrams, do
| ings sums in arithmetic, and writing
| memoranda all on the same sheet oil
paper, and he was intensely absorbed
| in his work.
Half an hour OF silence ensued in the
library, and then the efficiency mar
looked up suddenly and consulted ths
reading of a large clock that stood In g
| corner.
| "Alice!"
The younger of the Brooke girl.
could scarcely believe her ears. Sh'
looked up from her chair and stared a
him.
How old are you 2" he asked abrupt
~.
II Alice gasped and turned pink. Sh
rose to her feet and stood quivering. l
was outrageous! Constance walked
quickly to her, placed an arm abou
her shoulders, and then directed lool
of scorn into the eyes of the Ques
toner.
by what right you ask l do no
know" she said coldly. 1T Is easier
however. to answer the question thai
to argue. Alice Is fifteen"
"That being the case. and the hou
now being ten o'clock" remarked 3
Hedge, Alice will kindly go to bed"
For An irresolute moment Alice stoo
glaring at him, her pink cheeks turn
ing roster every second. Then, whe
the tears brimmed over, she turned an
fled from the room.
"This." said Constance, is shame
less!"
ION the contrary, 1t is commo
sanse," returned the efficiency ma
Internationally, as he studied Con
stance with contemplative gaze.
It was not properly a battle of eyei
for the fire of combat lay only In thos
of the girl. The eyes of the efficienc
man were merely placid. althoug
they were singuiarIy steady. 1t wa
like trying to stare the Sphinx cut .
countenanoe. and Constance 500
abandoned the task.
II shall join my sister" she sail
| s,o,, ~ hnnrv