Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1926-12-11

.>or"ssi tyoe hac proved to b he
nnoI turning point. she was burn.
ing her bridges now.
Just playing with you" she n.
peated- And your whole wonderful
system went to smash under 1t. And
you thought you were reforming me!
1t was 50 easy to lead you. too. You
never even suspected. You vueo %
sure that you wrote II an down, % q
coald be put In q book. A booki
think I'll write ono myself. How
would you like 20 BE- the hero Of my
book. Mr.. Efficiency Manr"
Hedge made no answer.
well. why cont you say some
thing?" she demanded.
I'm waiting for you to get
through. Miss Brooke"
She made a sudden dash to the
table and seized The manuscript
notes in her hands. waving them
aloft with a hysterical gesture.
See! she cried. Here's for your
bookr'
She tore the pages across and
tossed them into the open fire. An
instant later the diary followed them.
The efficiency man did not make an
eNOTt 10 stay her nanuS.
For a full half.minute she faced
him. her bosom heaving, her eyes
alisht with excitement.
There! That's the end of, that
she exclaimed. you'll never put
me In q book! IL"
Her voice broke abruptly, and she
was shaken by tempest Of weeping.
II. Hedge surveyed her quietly and
with no trace of emotion.
Take q seat" he said sharply.
"As soon as you get through with
that sob stun, I'm going to do the
talking. And it's going to be some
TALK
Constance seated herself. not be-
cause OF any command from the eff.
cheney man, but in response to a sud.
den collapse OF bclligerency. She
was terrified at what she had done.
She he'd tossed another persons
treasures into the fire without so
much as asking leave or serving no.
tice; and the reaction was abrupt
The calmness of II. Hedge frightened
her.
Leaning Imply forward in the
desk chair. she buried her face in
her arms and continued to sob.
The efficiency man watched her
for a moment. alternately frowning
| and smiling. He had promised her
talk, but he was uncertain about tho
beginning OF it. even though he had
| clear notion Of the ending.
Miss Brooker' he snapped,
She did not look up.
Are you listening. Miss BROKER"
There was q faint nod, although
she did not raise her head from the
desk.
you'd better listen," he said grim
ly. Because everything is going to
| eternal smash I'm the next ten min
! utes. This is Judgment Day, and
we are going to get what is coming
| to both Of us-prontor,
Still she did not stir. But she was
| listening in spite Of her sobs.
| "Pronto means all.of-a-sudden," he
added.
There was brief pause in which
! he devoted more study to the coil
| of brown hair.
IAN bets are off. Miss Brooke. Do
| you hear that7 Bets off--Miss
| Broo<e!'
She heard, but made no aknowt.
edgement OF the mystifying intelli.
| gence.
| you have known me as HI. Hedge,
e. E." he continued. "But here
after there is no such person. He
has disappeared. So has Henry
Hedge. who was his immediate pre-.
dccessor. Henry Hedge Is abolished.
You are know looking upon H. Well.
ington Hedge, without any e. E. or
other honorary degree tied to the
rear axle. 1 see you are not looking.
1t makes no difference; you are list.
ening. which is sufficient for the inn.
mediate present"
\ Constance's sobs were becoming
less frequent. Her ears caught every
word and her curiosity ives rising
| rapidly.
III. Wellington Hedge" no repeat.
| ed fncisively. II have killed tho
| Henry and substituted an H., You
will presently understand why. I
have here in my card case certain
! cards reading, H. Hedge. Z. e.
, There-they are in the fire. What
have you to say to that-Miss
| BROKER
She had nothing to say, ": ~
| Nrxr CHAPTERS KsGss srs1S
] his bridges,