The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1926-12-23

perfect type had proved to be the
final turning point. She was h,'fn-
ing her bridges now.
Just playing with you" she re.
peated. And your whole wonderful
system went to smash under it. And
you thought you were reforming me-
1t was so easy to lead you, too. You
V even suspected. You were so,
sure that o wrote it all down, so it
could be put in a book. A book T
think I'll write one myself. How
would you like TO be the hero of my
book. Mr.. Efficiency Man?"
Hedge made nc answer
We'll. why don't 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 yonr
book"
She tore The pages across and
tossed them int the open fire. An
instant later the diary followed them.
The efficiency man did not make ali
effort to stay her hands.
For a full half minute she faced
him, her bosom heavjrr. ne: eyes
alight with excitement
There! That's the end Of that!''
she exclaimed. You'll never put
me in a book Il"
Her voice broke abruptly, and sic
shaken by a tempest of weeping.
H. Hedge surveyed her quietly and
with no trace of emotion.
Take a seat" he said sharply
LAS soon as you get through with
that sob stuff, I'm going to do the
talking. And it's going to be some
Constance seated herself, not be-
cause of any command from the eff
man, but in response to a sud
den collapse of belligerency. She
terrified at what she had done.
She had 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 IT. 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 n
-alk, but he was uncertain about the
beginning of it, even though he had
4 clear notion of the ending.
Miss Brooke!' he snapped.
She did not look up.
Are you listening, Miss Brooke?'f
There was a faint nod, although
she did not raise her head from the
iesk.
You'd better ~listen,'' he said grim
y. Because everything is going to
smash in the next ten min
1tes. This is Judgment Day, and
are going to get what is coming
% both of us-prontoi'',
Still she did not stir. But she was
listening in spite of her sobs.
"Pronto can all-of-a-sudden,' he
There was a brief pause in which
he devoted more study to the coil.
If brown hair.
"All bets are off, Miss Brooke. DO
hear that? Bets of-Miss
.rooke.t'
She heard, but made no aknowl-
,dgement of the mystifying intelli-
renee.
You have known me as H. Hedge,
E." he continued. But here
lfter there is no such person. He
las disappeared. So has Henry
Hedge, who was his immediate pre-.
lccessor. Henry Hedge is abolished.
rou are know looking upon III. Well
ngton Hedge, without any E. e. or.
honorary degree tied to the
ear axle. I see you are not looking.
t makes no difference; you are list
ming, which is sufficient for the i'm
Mediate present"
Constance's sobs We're becoming
ass frequent. Her eaTs caught every
yord and her curiosity was rising
III. Wellington Hedge" he repeat
d incisively. Il have killed the
Henry and substituted an H You
ill presently understand why. 1
ave here in my card case certain
reading. H. Hedge, E. e.
'here-they are in the fire. What
ave you to say to that-Miss
'rooke?'
She had nothing to say.
NEXT OH HeJua brx-.