Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1926-11-27

when Constance n... vUr 4 n
glance she detected a faint gin on
the efficiency mans features. dc
froze 1t Immediately when he dis
covered that she was observing him.
"Well. where next?' he repeated.
Constance decided upon another
strategic move.
Honestly. don't know" she
said. ':What do you think. want
mean peed7"
He studied her until the scrutiny
became q trife embarrassing. There
was q penetrating and inclusive
quality in his survey that caused
her to flush family. She wished II.
his examination. yet she was con-
scious that his painstaking interest
was not displeasing.
II think you need a set Of furs."
he said.
She beamed Mt him in sudden he.
wilderment. How could he possibly
have guessed. How could he be so
wonderfully human? And why-Oh.
why couldn't he always be like that?
You are q mind.reader. Mr..
Hedge" she affirmed. You almost
brighten me-"
"No, I am not a mind.reader," raid
the efficiency man positively. "sut
you see. the other day noticed that
your mum and boa might easily.
even profitably, be replaced with a
set more in harmony with your fur
coat"
when in the world. did you notice
that?" she asked in surprise.
ION the back stairs
Constance turned pink. IT was the
first time he had even alluded, in the
most indirect manner, to the morn
ing when he had robbed Tommy
Treadwell OF q bride. She herself
had brought up the subject once, by
mistake. but II. Hedge had never
reopened it.
II did not know you were so OBJ
serving" she said for the sake of
speech.
ut is my business to observe.
Where do you buy your furs?'
She gave a direction to the chauf.
feur and presently the efficiency man
found himself in one OF those Fifth
Avenue shops that resemble nothing
SO much as a palatial private home. :,
Half an hour later. truly Sazed.
Constance emerged with a silver fox
mum that matched it. Furtively she
pinched herself to make sure 1t was
not fantasy OF the brain.
Its Ave o'clock" announced. the
efficiency man. SHALL we drive in
the park or take tear
"You decide" she murmured.
"WeIl drive"
1t would have seemed logical, after
his amazing afternoons record. that
the efficiency man should be in gay
and trifiing mood. He was not. He
INDUCED In long silences, broken
only by monosyllables. yet marked
by frequent and disconcerting in.
spections of Constance. Sometimes
he glowered at the bundles on the
front seat. There was something
grim in his mood.
Once he turned to her abruptly
and said almost sharply:
II wish you would wear blue more
frequently"
Constance widened her eyes. then.
stammered:
"Wh-why?"
"Suits YOU"
"And-and do you like It, Mr..
Hedge?"
He did not appear to hear, having
relapsed into another OF his silepces,
The number Of parcels which were
removed from the car as 1t stopped
at last in front Of the Brooke man.
sion caused Horace to display q sur.
prise that Is inexcusable in any ex.
perienced butler. H. Hedge did not
notice this. however.
He walked directly to tho library
and began going through the after
noon mail. Constance hurried to her
rooms. where sho soon had Matilda
bringing out for inspection every
dinner gown that she possessed.
She chose Q blue one.
Tho efficiency man had little to say
during the evening meal. He did noe
fail to observe the gown, but he
made mo comment. - Constance
rather hoped no would. He was un,
naturally preoocupied. - that he fo@.
got to tell Horace that he took ssvsn.
unnecessary steps In walking eebuA.
the sidsooard 70 the tahS3
KExr cBAPTnas Osussuus
ARkea n AfseovvSx.