The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1926-09-30

fists, yet still legible. 1t said:
H. HEDGE, E. E.
ut seems that each one has hel
own way of producing an impress
SION unused the efficiency man. III
admit I'm impressed"
They made Alice do it. after din.
ner. A furtive inspection of the
efficiency man revealed no scars as a
result of his encounter with the
punching bag; he displayed no dis
cernible sign of a grudge. The time
seemed as propitious as any. while
the need was dire and urgent.
Alice played that she was reading,
and presently looked up from her
magazine and murmured softly:
There's an article about poverty
here, Mr.. Hedge. 1t must be awful"
Sinful" he affirmed.
"Were you ever poor?"
II? Indeed, yes" He looked at
her sharply.
But you're not poor now?"
"Not-exactly."
Il am" said Alice, plaintively.
H. Hedge made an exclamation
with his eyes.
Il don't own a solitary buck
added Alice. Neither does Billy.
And Connie has only ~two-seventy-
nine"
She paused impressively, then con
tinued:
"But-this is pay day."
PAY day?'' echoed H. Hedge,
w%rinkling his forehead. "Whose?"
"Why-ours!' Alice's gesture In
cluded the other Brookes.
Constance was studiously obseIv-
ing the fire, while Billy continued
his artistic ramble. The keen earslof
neither, however, missed a word.
II didn't know you had a. pay
day." remarked Hedge.
yes, indeed! Once a month, you
know
That's interesting, I'm sure. Who
pays your"
Father, of course Who else
would?"
What for?'
"Why-why. just for being his
children, of counsel"
Alice stared at him uneasily. then
ventured a sidelong glance at Con
stance. That young lady's head was
turned away.
You mean that you get salaries
for being Mr.. Brooke's children?'
allowance, l suppose you'd cali
it," answered Alice with a h~esitant
"Ohm said the efficiency man, his
bewilderment vanishing. You mean
that each of you receives a stated
gratuity from your father"
Billy glarcd blackly at Hedge, who
failed to perceive the expression.
Constance. her head still averted,
was frowning.
He never calls 1t that faltered
Alice, angry. yet mindful of the end
than the "He-he
Just pays it,"
And what do you do in return for
t?n
I'VE? Why. we just love him.
Constance cleared her throat osten-
..atiously. 1t was a signal. She did
lot favor Alice's flank attack; she
lad counseled a frontal assault,
boldly and swiftly executed. Be-
sides, Alice seemed about to commit
he family to an impossible policy.
Il see," said the efficiency man
And how much does he
pay your"
Billy and Connie, W hundred
dollars a month. Me. one hundred.
to be raised at my next birth
H. Hedge began to write figures
IN a pad.
And this added Alice, lis the
lay that all the money is due
Hedge continued to figure for a
moment.
Il find from YOU statement he
aid, looking up, that your father
distributes to you three children gra-
uities amounting in all to $4,000 an
Really, SO much as that?' asked
Alice deprecatingly. But you see.
only a little at a time. And
ather has such a lot more"
Billy, who had strolled close to
Constance. leaned overland said in a
rowling whisper:
Coarse work. She's fummuxed."
Hush, Billy. Wait
Il suppose" the efficiency man
bserved, that this is a request for
lie to continue a distribution Of the
ratuities."
NEXT CHAPTER Hedge die
terms