The Efficiency Expert

Table of

, yet although there were many comfortable chairs in the large room, and the sofa was an exceptionally long one,

admonished. "I utterl

s so absolutely wonderful! I can't

-yet!" excla

s. And anyway there is no necessity for mussing me up so. You might as well know now as later that I utterly loathe this cave-man stuf

the young man. "I t

don't I?" she parried. "And one certainly

nce, "you might be more

t care to be pawed or clawed or crumpled. After we have been mar

mit me to kiss you," B

w that my hair is all down, and my face must be a sight. Lips are what

n. "But when a fellow has just been told by the sweetest girl in the wor

fact that gentlemen or gentlewomen are always gentle-folk under any and all circumstances and conditions. I distinctly recall his remark about one of his friends, whom he greatly admired, to this effect: t

young man; "I'll

nine o'clock when Haro

the girl. "Just wait, and I'll ha

uld do," said Bince, grinning, after being seated safely in th

mean?" aske

ladies to drive around the stree

ot alone,"

after you lea

l, I'm d

d Bince fervently. "I wouldn't love y

nd parting with a decorous handclasp the girl turned her machine and headed

rfectly well that one of the tires was punctured, she got out and walked around in front as though in sea

experience what a dirty job changing a wheel is. She had just about decided to drive home on the rim, when a y

p you any?

replied, "but I think I'll drive home o

re I will be very glad to change it for you," and without waiting for her acquiescence he

ted that he would probably finish it if he wished to, in spite of any arguments she could advance to the contrary. As he worked

nd well worn; for when he kneeled in the street to operate the jack the sole of one shoe was revealed ben

recalled them, and was emboldened thereby to offer him a bill in payment for his services. He refused, as she had almost expecte

e and figure of the girl, both of which he found entirely to his liking, and when finally she start

ich he dropped into the gutter. He could not have told had any one asked him what prompted him to the act. A girl had come into his life f

ttle act of refusing the tip she had proffered him. It might have been any one of a dozen little different thin

he climbed into his bed,

e had aspired Jimmy secured a position in the hosiery department at ten dollars a week. The dep

five years,"

m did yo

e West and in the East. I got my first experience in a small town

ad discovered that there was a sufficient proportion of male customers, many of whom displayed evident embarrassment i

of his plan, since Jimmy's entire time was usually occupied in waiting upon impressionable young l

y department. His stature, his features, and his bronzed skin, that had lost nothing of its bronze in his month's search for work through the hot

ronze was added an almost continuous flush of mortification from the momen

n dollars is better than nothing. I can han

e had been quite positive that there could not be a cheaper or more undesirable habitat for man. Transportation and other considerations took him to a place on Indian

t, inoffensive sort of folk, occupied entirely with their own affairs. He had made no friends in the place, not even an acquaintance, nor did he care to. What leisure time he had he devoted to what he

ces as gave an address close enough to the department store in which he worked to permit

rived, and that in the few cases where they were not he not only failed of employ

of time. Although he never received a reply, he still persisted as he found the attempt held something of a fascination for him, similar probab

silly, futile occupation for a full-grown man, and he was always fearful that the sister or sweetheart

persuade the hosiery buyer to arrange for his transfer to another depart

ales record, and would do nothing to assist in the change. The university heavyweight champion had reac