The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1927-01-04

when Constance next ventured
glance she detected faint grin on
the efficiency mans features. He
froze it Immediately when he dis
covered that she was observing him.
"Well. where next?" he repeated.
Constance decided upon another
strategic move.
Honestly, I don't know" she
said. What DO you think I want
mean need?"
He studied her until the scrutiny
became a trifie embarrassing. There
was a penetrating ard inclusive
quality in his survey that caused
her to flush family. She wished II.
Hedge was not quite so thorough in
his examination, yet she was CON
scious that his painstaking interest
was not displeasing.
81 think you need a set of furs'"
he said.
She beamed at him in sudden be-
wilderment. How could he possibly
have guessed. How could he be so
wonderfully human? And why-oh,
why couldn't he always be like that?
"You are a mind-reader, Mr..
Hedge" She affirmed. You almost
brighten me-
mo, 1 am not mind-reader," said
the efficiency man positively. But
you see. the other day noticed that
your muff and boa might easily,
even proftably, be replaced with
set more in harmony with your fur
coat
when in the world did you notice
that?" she asked in surprise.
ION the back stairs
Constance turned pink. 1t was the
first time he had even alluded, in the
most indirect manner. to the morn
ing when he had robbed Tommy
Treadwell of a bride. She herself
had brought up the subject once, by
mistake, but H. Hedge had never
reopened it.
II did not know you were SO OBJ
serving" She said for the sake of
speech.
1T is my business to observe.
Where do you buy your furs?"
She gave a direction to the chauf'
feur and presently the efficiency man
found himself in one Of those Fifth
Avenue shops that resemble nothing
SO much as palatial private home.
Half an hour later, truly dazed,
Constance emerged with a silver fox
skin around her neck and a great
muff that matched it. Furtively she
pinched herself to make sure it was
not fantasy of the brain.
cts five o'clock" announced the
efficiency man. "Shall we drive in
the park or take tea?"
You decide" she murmured.
''WeIl drive
1t would have seemed logical. after
his amazing afternoons record. that
the efficiency man should be in gay
and triGing mood. He was not. He
INDUCED in long silences, broken
only by monosyllables, yet marked
by frequent and disconcerting in
spections of Constance. Sometimes
he glowered at the bundles on the
front seat. There was something
grim in his mood.
Once he turned to her abruptly
and said almost sharply:
II wish you would wear blue more
frequently"
Constance. widened her eyes, then
stammered:
'Wh-why?r
Suits you"
"And-and do you like it. Mr..
Hedge?"
He did not appear to hear, having
relapsed into another of his silepces,
The number of parcels which were
removed from the car as 1t stopped
at last in front of the Brooke man
sion caused Horace to display a sur
Prise that is inexcusable in any ex-
perienced butler. H. Hedge did not
notice this. however.
He walked directly to the library
and began going through the after
noon mall. Constance hurried to her
rooms, where she soon had Matilda
bringing out for inspection every
dinner gown that she possessed
She chose a blue one.
The efficiency man had little to say
during the evening meal. He did not
fail to observe the gown, but ha (
made no comment, as Constance
rather hoped he would. He Yves un.
naturally preoccupied, so that he for.
got to tell Horace that he took seven
unnecessary steps in walking from
the sideboard to the table.
NEXT CHAPTERS Constance
makes II diHcoveTy.