The Pleasantville press., 1926-12-14

| other, and it was essential that the
efficiency man should be unaware of
the fact until it had been accom-
plshed.
Constance was going to be mar
fried. Yes. to Tommy Trcadwell, OF
course. He was her refuge in time
of tribulation and despair.
ut makes no difference" unused
Constance as she dressed hastily,
that l don't love Tommy. He under.
stands. He knows ] like and admire
him. and hr's going to he satisfied
with that. j think he's almost heroic
tc marry n girl that he knows doesn't
love him. But / can't exist here.
And / must-ycs, must-find new
home for Billy and Alice. Tommy
has promised to take both of them
until father returns. l suppose il
VIII get into the papers. but Oh,
anything is better than this"
The breakfast gong had not sound.
ed when Constance made final sur.
vey of herself, seized a big muff,
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 it 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,
u htph n ,-t.tr i,n, Ga, 4. T..
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 the semi.gloom below.
Somebody was coming up the stairs.
Constance pcered over the balus-
trade and held her breath. A servant
she did not mind. But it was not
servant-it was II. Hedge. Her first
impulse told her to turn and run: but
the time was too short and the grip
TOO heavy.
Face it," she told herself quick.
ly.
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 mancu.
YER. The grip hammered at her heels
as she resumed descent of the stair
ease. Then it slipped from her fin
GCrS. An instant later it struck hct
III tho hollow of u knee. Constance
staggered swayed. and pitched for
ward, uttering a sharp cry.
She Camc to n halt half q dozen
steps below. Tightly Srippcd around
her waist was one arm of the eff
cheney man: tho other was clnginG
desperately to the rail. Both of Con
stances arms were around his neck.
She could feel him struggling des-
Deratcly to maintain balance. With
\ saSping intake of his breath he
presently achieved il. Tho grip shot
past them, rounded IA turn, and land
Cd noisily on the floor OF the base.
mont hall.
lie twisted his head 10 peer into
her face Their eyrs were not six
inches apart in the half light.
It's Constance" he exclaimed.
Never had the efficiency mar
called her that before.
Yes, it's r.
You're unusually carly this morn
ing"
,"Possibly."
H. Hedge seemed willing to pro
long th" conversation
IT'S not eight yet" he remarked
Il know it.
Didn't you drop Somclhing?"
"Of course"
IN 20 down and get IL for you.
But he made no moyc.
Don't bother. I'll get it,"
But l insist"
NO"
He paused and considered
IT'S a nice morning" he observed
irrolcvantly.
II believe so" ,,@t.a H.
Going for wake" ''Hntrfio
"YcS-no,'
"Nhv not say perhaps you get
the same idea compressed into ons
word"
Constance was becoming anxious.
She know that Tommy Treadwcll and
his blue roadster were waiting below
in the court yard
Let me Go," she exclaimed
Up to that ponit she had been too
hewildered to notice that ther. had
been no change in their positions
since H. Hedge interrupted her head
long plunge.
NEXT CHAPTER; Hedges trusr
frotpz nm eIODemeDt.