The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1927-02-04

she murmured. Then L"
The rest of the sentence was
smothered as IL. Hedge stood there
with Constance in his arms his heart
pounding hundred beats to the min.
ute. He did not dare speak Con.
stance did not try. it vas 800. --amaz.
ing.
After several minute9. he Ventured
a pleading appeal.
II don't know whether [ can talk
straight yet he said. Il suppose
I'm due for another buneIe. Eut I've
kissed the top OF your head so often
tEat just wondered II you'd let
me
She lifted her head-and let him.
II don't deserve this. he said
hpmbly after an interval.
Il don't Ehink / do. either-after
the way yen treated me- she an
awered family. IL thinl; / must.
be crazy"
"Why?"
For loving you"
Connie He held her off at
arms length. "Honestly,-do you?"
She looked At him in amazement.
III. Hedge, you are insufferable"
she exclaimed. DO you think ia
let you-kiss me-and almost crush
me to death-if didn't love you?"
He seized her again. and they be.
gan once more. from the point where
they had quit fooling
1t was Constance who broke the
silence finally.
1T seems to me. a." she said, as she
ran her fingers lightly, almost curl
ously. over his hair. that for a per
son who has abandoned efficiency.
you are still a rather scientific man.
ager. O-o-oh! There-didn't l tell
you so. dcar?"
Hair an hour later Constance and
H. Hedge were gravely wondering
how they could ever explain 1t to
anybody They could not even ex-
plain it to themselves.
There's absolutely no sense in It,"
she said.
Absolutely nome" he agreed.
IT'S impossible to give any good
reason"
Impossible"
And yet--wen. it's done"
That's the only eXplainable part
Of Tits done. Nobody knows how;
not even us.
yet we've got to tell them, of
course"
You bet we have! I'm going to
tell everybody. before you change
your mind"
mo fear. f. F.. " she said. graycly.
81 told you Z. Z. was dead--ex-
tinct."
Nevertheless. I'm afraid I'll al
ways cali you that-or II. Hedge. I'm
SO used to 1t. Do you suppose father
will consent?"
What's he got to say about IT,"
demanded the ex-ohlcicncy man. Il
consent, and that's enough. I'm
your guardian, you know. l give my
official sanction"
But you're too late, my dear. You
resigned. And this-this happened
afterward"
Then l reinstate myself long
enough to express my approval"
No you don'tr warned Constance
"E. e, if you reinstate yourself for
as much as a solitary second Ill
break the engagement. | don't want
TO know any more efficiency men.
Heavens. Wasn't one ha6 enoueh?"
II guess was awful" h. adj.
mltted.
'What-in-blazes" said a voice.
AS they turned abruptly. Billy
Brooke strobe into the room.
Hello. Bill" said Hedge easily.
When did you float in7"
'Wha-what 8 this?"
Constance smiled at her brother
and linked an arm around one OF IL
Hedges.
''Connier cried Billy.
why. what's wrong, Billy?" asked !
the retired efficiency engineer.
Didn't you ever see anything like |
this?"
And he kissed Constance
Leave my sister alone!" rrowled |
Billy menacingly. and this time he !
plainly meant it,
IL don't want him to- said Con /.
stance. And don't you lay finger /
on him. Billy boy. because he tsill !
break you into little pieces He can /
can't you. Il. T.?
Her eyes kindled with pride AT /
memories of the prowess or IL. !
Hedge.
NEXT CHAPTER: Planning an /
tne hlctent celebration.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.