Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1926-10-30


efficiency man should be unaware OF
the fact until 1t had been. accom-,
plished.
Constance was going to bo mar
ried. Yes. to Tommy Treadweli. of
course. He was her refuge in time
OF tribulation and despair. s<. !,
1T makes no difference" unused
Constance as she dressed hastily,
that don't love Tommy. He under
stands. He knows like and admire
him. and hos going to be satisfied
with that. think he's almost heroic
tc marry girl that he knows doesn't
love him. But can't exist here.
And 1 must-yes. must--find n new
home for Billy and Alice. Tommy
has promised to take both OF them
until father returns. suppocc Il
will get into the papers. but Oh.
anything is better than tbs!'
The breakfast gong had not sound.
ed when Constance made q final sur
vey OF herself. seized q big mum.
picked up the grip, and moved brisk
ly to the door Of her room. At the
threshold she paused long enough to
look up and down the hall. She did
not want to meet either Billy or
Alice; she would telephone them
after 1t was all over. The hall was
empty OF life. SO Constance stepped
out and headed for the rear stair.
case.
One flight she descended rapidly,
which carried her as far as the main
floor. and then she began to follow
more cautiously the second fight.
which was poorly lighted and had
two sharp turns. At the first turn
she paused abruptly. She heard
footsteps in tho semi gloom below.
somebody was coming up the stairs.
Constance peered over the balus.,
trade and held her breath. A servant
she did not mind. But 1t was not a
servant--it was III. Hedge. Her first,
impulse told her to turn and run; but !
the time was too short and the grip
too heavy.
Face itT' she told herself quick,
~.
But she did not want to face the
efficiency man with the grip, so she
tried to hold the latter behind her
skirts. 1t was an awkward maneu.
yer. The grip hammered at her heels
| as she resumed descent of the stair
case. Then 1t slipped from her fin.
gers. An instant later 1t struck her
In the hollow Of a knee. Constance
staggered swayed. and pitched for.
ward. uttering sharp cry.
She came to a halt half q dozen
steps below. Tightly gr;pped around
her waist was one arm of the eff.
cheney man: the other was clinging
desperately to the rail. Both of Con.
stances arms were around his neck.
She could feel him struggling des-
peratety to maintain a balance. With
| a gasping intake of his breath he
presently achieved Il. The grip shot
past them. rounded a turn. and land.
ed noisily on tho floor OF the BASE.
ment hall.
He twisted his head to peer into
her face. Their eyes were not six
l inches apart in the half light. q
IFS Constancer' he exclaimed.
Never had tho efficiency man
called her that before.
Yes, it's IT, q
You're unusually carly this msrn.
Ing"
H. Hedge seemed wiliing to pro.
long the conversation.
TITS not essat yet.- he remarked.
| 81 know IT." "a
Didn't you drop seuaethine7'" III
S'Of course" ~
'I1l go down ana 90 Il Coz ysu.--
But he made no move. ~.
Don't bother. tn 80 ~ .a542
| But INSIST on
Nor
He paused aaa eSAssdSfeA.y sHaa ~
ITS a nice nsosoing.. b lA1AExe13
irresevantiy. - ,,zr 1890. q
'ooins for . ~aE<f :
~Yes-no.' NNSA$S9el
why not 90, 'perfaps@S56 -
The same idea compressed inse 60
word" : - efN
I Constance WA becoming ARxi01a.
She knew that Tommy Treadwell ana
his blue roadster weco Wa3sinG beeew
IN the courtyard. -.
LET me eor' she exelahaed.N
Up % that pontt she had been eoe
bewildered 10 notice that there bad
been no change In shaAr positions
stncs n, Hedge tnteyrupts96es Aee&
cSs.s...sssss,s~--.t %V s
4 NAxR CHAHrKfH4 HS&ESA {yNe,
y tsstss - .easveeo0Scy. a., Az