The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1926-11-23
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

time, sure-footed as a mountain-goat
| yet apparently risklng her neck at
| every stride The efficiency man stu
! had the small black creature at
arms length when she appeared on
| the scene.
Drop him" cried Constance.
II. Hedge turned and surveyed her
| with great gravity
IF / drop him. he will bite me in
the ankle" he said II object to be-
ing bitten in the ankle. broke on"
once. and that is sufficient
Constance dashed across the room
and gathered Demosthenes in her
arms He was very small bundle.
but he snapped angrily at II Hodge
and snarled in manner that would
have terrified a stout-hearted mouse.
Does that thing belong to your"
demanded II. Hedge
Thing, He is my dog
What is his name-Molecule?" -
Ellis name is DemoSthenes.'
"Why so much name for a little
dog? It's Observation-Disclosures
PIRATE.
The efficiency man devoted an,
other moment of brief study to his
late assailant
"In fact" SAID Hedge, why keep
the dog at all? A dog has no place
in domestic economy. 1t contributes
nothing to wealth or comfort: it is
non-producer 1t is sometimes dan
gerous. usually an annoyance, and
invariably an expense. What does
it cost to feed this dog?"
Constance uttered an exclamation
Of contempt.
Cost, Do you think I have moth.
ing to do but inquire into the cost of
keeping Demosthencs? What differ.
ence does it. make anyhow? All
know is that he cost five hundred
dollars when he was new"
And how long have you had 'him?"
"A year. at least"
wen mark off twenty per cent
for depreciation" said Hedge, after
a swift mental calculation. II doubt
if he would even bring four hundred
now
"Sirl'
mo second hand or even slightly
used dog is worth as much as a new
one. That's simply business. But in
spite of depreciation there is, of
course, no reduction in the cost of
upkeep Therefore. we are maintain
ing an entirely useless and steadily
depreciatinG animal at n cost that
rapidly increases in proportion to
actual value" =.
A secondhand doei Constance
was speeches.. Unconsciously. she
Rugged Demosthcncs closer.
II do not think I am justified in.
consentinG to an expenditure for
such wasteful purpose" added
Hedge. cycling the dog with COM
plete disfavor.
you are perfectly preposterous!"
said Constance.
But scientifically correct" he re.
piled imperturably Il think shall
have to ask you to dispose of the
dog. l will endeavor to obtain the
best price possible
Price! For my dog. Do you think
! would sell him at any price?"
II should certainly advise it. In
fact. / should be quite willing to
credit the proceeds to your personal
account" g.. W
Constance glared at him.
You are not possibly serious?"
Quite. ! admit that. in all proba.
bility the cost per diem of this ami.
NAL is not a largo item. 1t is the
principle to which 1 object. There
are a thousand and one trivial
sources of expense in this household
Il am checking them as encoun.
ter them. Although none may be
great in itself. the effect of each is
to inculcate wasteful habits and de.
stroy a sense of true economic val
ues. while the total expense of all is
4 very considerable sum. I am here
10 do my duty by your father"
DO you know that my father gave
me this dog?" inquired Constance tri
~ ~ 'Ntex -
The efficiency man did not seem
abashed. / syg ~ ~.
if you persist in keep
ing this animal. shall ask you to
maintain it out of your allowance 1
am not justified in permitting it to
draw supplies from the general ac-
count" -4.s, .sS,| 'e.s' Il -, ,...@.ss. :,
Demosthenes. who had been cycling
the efficiency man with obvious dis.
luiet, at this instant voiced small
growl.