The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1926-10-07
BEGIN HERE TODAY

BEGIN HERE TODAY
JOHN w. BROOKE. widower
and head of "a large hardwa
concern. is leaving town for two
months. He has arranged to
have arr efficiency engineer take
charge of his household during
his absence. But ne fails TO In
form his three grown children,
Constance, Billy and Alice, of
his plans.
H.. HEDGE. assigned to the
job. takes charge of the Brooke
mansion. He occupies the
owners quarters and turns the
library into an Office The "chiI-
dren.' finding no other way
out. have concluded TO petition
Hedge for their monthly allow
ances. Alice is nominated as
spokesman. h explains to
Hedge, who wants to know
whether il is expected thai
these gratuities be continued"
NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY
A LICE stihed an angry excIama-
IL ton. flushed. and then nodded
She could not stack her pride
against q hundred dollars a month.
particularly when she was flat"
Hedge made some more figures.
Il will continue these g~ratuities.'
he sadi, abruptly
allowances. please" reminded
Alice.
allowances. if you prefer it. One
word is as short as the other. 1
shall. however, reduce them
Constance rose out of her chair as
if impelled by some Unseen force.
She wheeled and glared across the
room. Billy stopped in his tracks.
IAN allowances will be reduced
fifty per cent announced Hedge,
until further investigation"
There was a mobilization of
Brookes on the opposite side of the
table. Alice was thankful for the
arrival of her reserves.
You are to cut-our allowances
in half?' she asked slowly.
I'm half-payable daily" said the
efficiency man.
Daily
Daily
Alice was frightened. She felt
the r%eassuring hand of Constance or
her shoulder and looked up at her
oppealingly.
You do the rest, Connie" she
lnurmured.
II find" said Hedge as he con-
tinued to make rapid figures. that
your father has been paying two of
you at the rate of approximately
$500 a day. including Sundays and
holidays. and the other at the rate of
about 1888 a day. Out of this what
dosyou spend?'
All" said Billy. What did you
expect
What for?'
why, anything we want, of
course
"Clothing-shoes-light orr heat?'
oueried Hedge briskly.
Most certainly noti'' exclaimed
Constance frieidly.
do you mean to tell me, Miss
Brooke, hat YOU, for example, do
not at least purchase your clothing
out of the sum of $4,000 a year?"
Constance laughed. but it was
BlIILIltSS- onS SIdlICeO uOW1 dl Hcl
dress. and continued to laugh.
IF you understood anything about
gowns. you would not ask such a
question she said. 'Of course, I do
not use my allowance for any such
purpose. 1t is wholly for personal
expenses, as I see fit to use it."
Clothes + personal, are they
not?"
"Personal-perhaps,' she admitted
coldly. But they are on father"
And is this also true of you?" de-
manded Hedge, glancing sharply at
Billy.
And then some" declared Billy.
Why, I don't ven buy gasoline out
of mine!"
"Well.' observed Hedge %judicially,
IF none of YOU employ your allow
ances in the purchase of food, cloth
ing. or the necessities Of life, which
are otherwise provided by your
father, / see no legitimate reason for
any allowances at all"
There was a chorus of cries from
the three Brook.s.