The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1926-09-14
BEGIN HERE TODAY

JOHN w. BROOKE, hardware
mngnate, Inns arranged with
Economy and Efficiency Corpor-
alton. Limited, to manage his
household. Brooke, a .yidovcr.
has left town without Informing
his three children of the new
arrangement.
H. HEDGE. efficiency cngi-
neer. assigned to the lob, has
arrived mt the Brooke mansion
and rend the document, which
gives him unlimited control in
managing all affairs of the
house. to the nstonishment Of
the three heirs-to-be. He now
produces second. less official
communication. and proceeds to
read.
NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY
ssNTp DEAR CHILDREN:
I'VE Il shall be away from
home until the evening of
February 19. am in perfect
health. My trip is chiefly of
business nature. In order to make
all proper provision for your care
and comfort, am placing a personal
representative in charge of my house
hold. man in whom / have com
plete confidence. My personal at
torneys are charged to communicate
with me in case of emergency, bu.
under no other circumstances. It
will be useless for you to inquire my
/, whereabouts from them. I feel that
this short separation will be of
benefit to all of us. and I shall look
forward to our reunion with affec.'
Tomato anticipations
I'm the meanwhile Mr.. Hedge will
be In full and absolute charge. with
the authority that l have conferred
upon him In another document. He
Is man of excellent character
thoroughly recommended by his EN-
ployers. and. I am satisfactorily as,
sured. gentleman. He will reside
responsibility In all household and
family matters.
1T is needless for me to say that
you will cooperate with him in every
way: I know that you will. Treat
him as you would me
And now. my children. I bid you
Tor short time. an affectionate
goodby
Your loving father.
JOHN w BROOKE
That document you may keep"
said Mr. Hedge. as he passed the
letter to Constance Brooke The one
with the red seal he replaced in his
pocket.
Still the three Brooke children
theirs for the moment rather. it was
theirs to gaze in mute bewilderment
at the bearer of the documents.
They saw a person who was some
what above medium height and of
slender frame. The lines of his head
were angular. an effect heightened
by his almost black hair and the
stiff. uncompromising manner in
which 1t was brushed straight back
past his ears. His eyes were dark
and disconcertingly steady His nose
was long, but straight in the bridge
and not badly nodded His lips
closed firmly. but not harshly There
was a faint cleft in his chin. He was
dressed quietly. but obviously well.
AS to his age. it was proba bly,
twenty.eight or nine.
MIR. Hedge bore the scrutiny with
composure. as though 1t were some
thing he had quite anticipated. He
measured glances with William
Brooke without the culver of an eye.
lid. while he regarded Constance rs
tmpersonally as though she were an
tnanimate fixture in the library
1t was Alice who spoke first.
Where Is my father?" she de-
manded. in a frightened voice L
I don't understand. Where is dad?"
II am unable to answer" replied
Mr.. Hedge easily. Il do not know.
1t Is not my business to know. He
Is. however, as he explains in his
letter. quite well and he will return
to you ON the day mentioned"
February 1917 gasped Constance.
glancing at the letter. "And-and