^ Much Efficiency By H.J.^Rath ' BEGIN HEERE TODAY JOHN W BROOKE, widower and hardware magnate, leaves the city after arranging with a firm of efficiency engineers to operate his home. This without the knowledge of his three grown children. Constance. Billy and Alice. It isn't until H. HEDGE, efficiency engineer assumes control of the Brooke household, that they realize the full significance of the stringent situation that their father has wished upon them. Constance, felling that marriage to .1 man who adores her bet whom she does not love, is better than an other six weeks in the same house with Hedge, decides to •■Inj-e. She is stealing down the hick stairway on New Year's morn ing when sire trips and la is in to the arms of Hedge. When she recovers her breath sufficiency she orders him to let her go. NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY “Not until you let me go,’’ an swered the efficiency man. “And then maybe-—" With a little cry of dismev she dis engaged her arms from his neck. “Let me go!” she repeated. “Temporarily or permanently?" he asked V'ith great (Liberation. “B-Both!” ’ II. Hedge shook his herd sadly. “1 never could do two things at once,” he said. “It’s un;c ciitific even to try.” “Please—please!” “In that case, temporarily,” he de clared, as he reluctantly withdrew | the arm that held her close. Constance’s checks were fiery: she prayed that the gloom of the back : stair rendered all colors neutral. “Thank you—for catching nc.” Out in the courtyard stood a road ster, the engine ifling wheezily. Tom my Tread well was standing beside it, nervously tupping on a fender. His eyes lighted with happiness a he sighted the furred figure of Con stance and he sprang forward to as sist with the grip. “You dear old brick," he cried. “Morning, Tommy,” said Con stance. Tommy had seized tin* grip end swung it up on the baggage carrier in the rcaiv where he began an ad justment of tho straps. Meantime, Constance stepped in and settled her-1 self nervously in one of the bucket i seats. The efficiency man arrived til the courtyard while Tommy wan still working at the grip. As Constance sighted him, she observed with a sinking heart that he was clothed in one of his ominous calms. “Good morning,” he said, as he walked across the open space. Constance paled slightly and did not answer. Tommy Treadwell fum bled furiously at a strap and said nothing. Hedge reached the side of the car, leaned over, pressed a button on the dash and turned off the ignitino. The j engine stopped. “You let that car alone!” called Tommy angrily. “All right, I will,” said the effi ciency man, stepping back a pace and eyeing Constance. Tommy finished with the grip and, came around to the side of the car. “Well?” asked Hedge. “Well? echoed Tommy. “What’s the idea?” The elopers exchanged swift glances and Tommy, became embol dener!. “Well, if it’ll give you any satisfac tion to know,” he announced, ‘‘Con nie and I are going to be jrparried.” “You surprise me,” said the effi ciency man. ‘‘I thought we had con cluded that matter last n'gl'-t.” “You thought wrong. It's all set tled.” “True; it’s settled. Miss Brooke is not. going to marry you.” Tommy flashed a dull red ard there was a fighting look in his eyes. “Are you, Miss Brooke?" asked Hedge. Constance her compressed her lips and nodded. j “Which shows how error will per sist,” said the efficiency man, ap parently talking to himself. He stepped around to the rear of the car, unloosed a strap with a deft motion, and swung Constance’s’ grip to the pavement. “You may as well ulight, Miss Brooke,” he said. Tommy Treadwell sprang forward and confronted him across the grip. “You’d better keep out of this,” he said grimly. Tommy was quite n large young man, fully as large as Billy Brooke. He was taller than the efficiency man, and wider. But H. Hedge did not ap pear to be observant of Tommy’s bulk just at that instant. He was looking only at his eyes. wr,I- -- —' .— I can’t keep out of it, he said sim ply. “It happens to be ray dutv to stay in it. Go in the house, Miss Brooke.” Constance remained immovable in her seat und maintained silence. “You’re the one that’s go'ng in the house,” announced Tommy, clench- : ing his fists. “And maybe they’ll car ry you in, if you don’t get out of here in about ten seconds.” “I’m sorry you feel that way about it,” said Hedge. “Well if you’re sorry beat it! If you don’t there’ll be trouble, "Trouble? I’r.i sure there will be no trouble.” The efficiency tran spoke in a dep recatory tone. "I see that I’ve pot to I ck you,” observed Tommy Treadwell, and there was no reluctance in his voice or manner. “I'm afraid-you’ll have to.” Constance, who had listened to this colloquy with her face averted, now turned and bestowed a curious planes upon the efficiency man. If she ex pected to see his dark hair bristling and his eyes snapping, she was d’s appointed. He looked exactly as he always did in the Iibra"v. She looked at Tommy. He was bristling beauti fully. “Here goes,” said Toriniv. The efficiency man nodded; Tommy Treadwell let fly with Ivs right arm, straight from th« should er. Hedge did not have his hands up, -but somehow the blow missed him en tirely. Perhaps it was a case of Pro vidence. or perhaps it was because he flirted Ids head a few inches tc the right, accidentally. In ar,v event, it missed him clean and Tommy fell over (he grip. He arose, chagrined and mad dear through. This time he came in swing ing. Just what the efficiency man did it is difficult to say, for he did not appear to he doing anything, except failing to get hit. He had his hands up hut he was not using them on Tommy; He was dodging punches, stopping punches, diverting punches, “Don’t make me do it again, you haven’t a chance.” but he was contenting himself with that. His face wore a thoughfui look. He was not giving ground, but at the same time he seemed to be engaged in ! a purely negative way. It went thus far some minutes, and f oully the efficiency man began to speak. “I do not know,” he sahl as a left swing passed over his head, “were: you studied the art of boxing. But J there is no doubt that you waste a tremendous amount of effort. You do not box efficiently. In the first place, you should not swing at all. It cause the fist to travel in an arc, rather than in the shortest way. Ob serve—you missed me again.” Tommy indeed, had, and nearly lost his balance. “Furthermore,” added H. Hedge, as he sidestepped a fresh volley, “when you use the straight blow, you start it too low and too far back. You are prodigal with muscular effort for which you do not obtain sufficient re turn, save in the form of exercise. Observe again. You should not start an uppercut from the ground; it takes too long. Don’t start it below the waist.” Tommy, breathing now in gasps charged again. “Your footwork is bad,” continued the efficiency man. “You travel a great distance, but you do not ar rive. 1 don’t wish to be rude, but it is my duty to say that you are clum sy. You are mastodonic, it is true; but the mastodon is an extinct ani mal. Why bo extinct?” Tommy was missing more obvious ly than ever. He was tired. “Now, if I can, let me illustrate an efficient blow,” said H. Hedge. “The truly efficient blow is conceived with deliberate purpose and executed with due economy. It travels the shortest possible' distance and, theoretically, carries with it the exact amount of necessary power. It may be delivered with either hand. In this case, we will assume that it is to be delivered with the left. Thus!” The quick eye of Constance Brooke noted a fleeting and surprising change had been impassive until now. But in the face of the efficiency man. It as he said “thus” his jaw tightened, and his forehead contracted in a scowl that frightened her. His fist! came from no\vhere, but it landed somewhere, and his body was follow ing it. Tommy Treadwell, al ready wabbling from his own efforts, turned half-way around, staggered, and fell flat on h's face. Corstamo u'.tjred a cry and cover ed her eyes. For an instant Tommy groped at the pavement: then began to arise, uncertainly. “Don't make me do it again,” said the efficiency man in a changed voice. “You haven’t a chance.” Tommy, however, was not satisfied He wheeled as he reached an erect position and closed in. So If. Hedge, again with the sudden scowl on his face, did it one more. This time Tommy was longer in arising, and when he did it was to sit on the running board of the ear and rest his head in his hands. “Now if you please, Miss Brooke,” said Hedge quietly, as he picked up her grip. Constance, still averting her eyes, suddenly sprang from the ear and dashed into the house, where she ran madly upstairs, half choked with hys terical sobs. The efficiency man look ed at the crest-fallen knight on the running-board and shook his head slowly. “Sorry if I hurt you, old man,” he said. “But, really, you mustn't try to marry Miss Brooke.” Then he, too disappeared into the house. NEXT CHAPTER: Constance turns secretary. Celebrated Their 55 Weddimj Anniversary Mr. and Mrs. John F. Peeler Now Living in Dana, Indiana—He was A Native of (Cleveland. The fo"'iwJ"g f’’om th"1 \cwm'! I"diann Honsior state will be of in t'—f'Rt to th? old friends of John F. Peeler, native of Cleveland now liv ing 't Du’s. Indiana, having left this oo’’ot v in 18f!7: Not rnnnv people have the good for tran of living together and enjovin" fairly good health for more than half « centerv. as our esteemed friends. Mr. and Mrs. John F. Peeler of Dana, who celebrated their fifty-fifth wed n the Civ’l war. hei"g a mem ber Co. F 34 th North Carolina regi ment. He came to Vermillion county in the soring of 1S67 and on Decem ber fi. 1870 he claimed Nancy A. Jack son a Holt township girl, as his bride ; Five Other couples were married the ; same week, but all parties have pass-1 ed away ere this. Mrs. Elizabeth Leatherman. Mrs. j Caroline James of Dana and Mrs • Nancy Walker, of Indianapolis, who j were the Dinsmore sisters before mar-1 riage are the onlv on? living who were present at Mr. and Mrs. Peel er’s wedding fiftyfive years ago. Ow ing to the weather, none of them was ub’e to help celebrate the day. With the exception of six years, wh'ch were spent in Missouri, Mr. and Mrs. Peeler have lived in Helt and Vermillion townships since they | were married. They moved to Dana in 1882. These old people celebrate their birthdays on the same date. June 11. This year they were 73 and 77 on County Centennial Day at Newport. This was a co-incidence which few people can claim. They have only one surviving son, Joe who lives near Newport. He was present. Everyone left at a late hour wish ing Mr. and Mrs. Peeler many more years of health and happiness. Take care of the milk cow during l be cold winter months and she wiil return a good profit in increased milk production, say dairy extension workers at State college. Christmas Menu Courtview Hotel 75 Cents Fruit Cocktail Roast N. C. Turkey Oyster Dressing Gibbet Sauce Baked Virginia Ham Steamed Rice Browned Mashed Petal jes Little Green Peas Celery Cranberry Sauce Candied Yams Hot Biscuits 1* l’uit Cake Cocoanut Cake Ambrosia; Fruit Salad Whipped Cream Tea Milk - _ : .. Hot Coffee -TO OUR FRIENDS Who have made this business what it is we send this Christinas message of cheer and wish you happiness during the Yuletide and an abundance of good fortune in the New Year. PAUL WEBB & SON “The Rexall Store.” —Phone 21— MERRY CHRISTMAS 1925 OUfj BEST WISHES HAPPY NEW YEAR 1926 J. D. LINEBERGER’S SON PHONE 97. -SCHEDULES INTEIt-CAROLlNAS MOTOR IILA COMPANY Leaves Shelby for Charlotte 7 a. m., 9 u. m., 11 a. m., 1 p. m. o p. in., 5 p. m., 8 p. m.-Leaves Charlotte for Shelby 8 a. m., 10 a. m., 12 Noon, 2 p. m., 4 p. m., 6 p m. SCHEDULE LINCOLNTON-SHELBY BUS Leaves Shelby 7:29 a. m„ 10 a. m„ 1 p. m., 4:30 p. m—Leaves Lincohitori 8:30 a. m., 11 a. m., 3:00 p. m., 0:30 p. r.i. ZEB COSTNER, Manager. SCHEDULE SHELBY-RUTHERFORDTON BUS Leaves Shelby 8 a. m., 1 p. m., Leaves Rutherfordton 9:35 a. rn., 2:15 p. m. Z. V, COSTNER, Manager. SCHEDULE SHELBY-ASHEVILLE BUS Leaves Shelby 10 a. m., 12 Noon. 2 p. m.. 4 p. m., G p. m. RED TOI CAL CO., and BLUE RIDGE LINES, Owners, Asheville N. C. For Information Phone 430—Union Bus Terminal, Shelby, N. C. Our Town’s A Good Town Oar People -Are A Good People. We AH Have Much To Be Thankful For. MAY THIS BE A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS for you and those whose happiness depends upon you and may the New Year Bring you rich rewards. The patrons of this store may rest assured of the continued business of this store. MORRISON JEWELRY COMPANY GEO. ALEXANDER. Manager. J. S. McKnight, Trustee. To Our Patrons We Wish You The HAPPINESS Of Pleasant Associations and Rich Experience During Christmas and PROSPERITY Health and a Busy, Useful Year in 1926. EFIRD’S DEPARTMENT STORE PHONE 38 Clay Workers Attend First Short Course Representatives of the clayworkiog ! industries from IS states attended j tho first annual winter short cours: i given last year by the department of I ceramic engineering at North Car j olina state college, llaleigh, and col ; lege authorities expect a-much wider I representation this year when the : short course is refloated during the ! pine day period, January 18 to 27tn. The department of ceramic er.gin ! coring at the local institution is the i first ceramics department establish 1 ed at a southern university, or col , lege. The winter short course will he i held, it is stated, in the new ceramics I building, now under construction, the | class rooms of which will be ready by ! the first of the new year. The shmt course is particular!': de signated to meet the needs, through in tensive training, of those engaged in short course, many ecrmaic plant owners in North C tr clina, and other sections of the coun try, it is said, will attend the course and send large numbers of their em ployes. A bulletin describing the course has been issued by the college j and distributed throughout the coun try. Another way to attain obscurity is to be a civil war in China. 12Mi mm IIS!! CIl This Vrar Makes High Record’for Electrocutions in North Carolina. Raleigh, Dee. 10.—The state 0f Nerth Carolina this year has taken u greater number of human lives in - tribution for crime than during nnv one of the 15 year., sV.ce the elmi-lr chair was adopted as the method »,? exacting the supreme penalty. nu the 12 months of the present year !■> men, each convicted by 12 juroVs'liave walked down the short corridor ,,f death row to the grim chair which snuffed out their lives. Previously the largest number ever to die by electrocution in this was n me. When th's number w'as reached in 1911, it was high record The record was reached again in Hip; but it was never reached again Until ■ he present year, with its ferord breaking number of electrocution; Nineteen tliirteen was the only vtrr there was ro electrocutions. The record for the present y<-,r ■ probably complete for the dam f,,r the next electrocution is set for JUI’,_ uary. A total o" 85 r ; u l:r.ve died in North Caroiina’s electric chair since it replaced the reo :.e in 1010. The number by years follows: 1010 one: 1911, nine; 1912, two; 191:}, non.’ 1911, . 1915, two; 1910, nine*; 1917 four; 1918. seven; 1919, four; 1920 c'ght; 192L, eight; 1922, three’; 1923 eight. 1921, two and 1925, 12. WHERE SAVINGS ARE GREATEST rf NATION- WIDE INSTITUTION tjeimey DEPARTMENT STORES Masonic Temple Building' Shc’hy, N. C. Gift Ties Select Now I Loud Tics! Quiet Ties I To suit all likes and tastes! Ties that fit into any color-scheme! 5tripes, figured designs! All cut long and wide% i49cto$1.98 GIVE HER A DOLL. They i alk 98c t0 $6.90 4 Boxes of Stationery! Fine Quality, Quantity, and Price ^ Ask for Anita! •i Iiat s oar station ary with i4 corres pondence c a r .3 s, 43 sheet ; o< writing paper nii,] 7 2 cii vclopv*.';! Assorted colors zliI 25c and 39c i Now! You don’t know when you’ll have another oppor tunity to buy high grade stationery at this record low price. Don’t mis» this 1 Perfumes In Gift Boxes The essentially femin ine gift is perfume! We have prepared an assort ment of attractively boxed perfumes Christmas. Priced, 23c 1 98c Fancy Socks For Men Here’s a heavy-hitting', value for a quarter. 0f| good weight combed yarn with rayon stripes; double hen! and toe; fancy effect* in ail colors. Ter pair-— 25c SAVINGS ARE GREATEST