the efficiency expert-第13章

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〃Why　shouldn't　I　be？〃　asked　Harriet。　　〃He's　becoming　my　little　pet　mystery。　I　wonder　under　what　circumstances　we　see　him　next？〃

〃Probably　as　a　white…wings；〃　laughed　Elizabeth。　　〃But　if　so　I　positively　refuse　to　permit　you　to　stop　in　the　middle　of　Michigan　Boulevard　and　converse　with　a　street…sweeper　while　I'm　with　you。〃

Jimmy's　new　job　lasted　two　weeks；　and　then　the　milk…wagon　drivers　went　on　strike　and　Jimmy　was　thrown　out　of　employment。

〃Tough　luck；〃　sympathized　the　Lizard。　　〃You　sure　are　the　Calamity　Kid。　　But　don't　worry；　we'll　land　you　something　else。　And　remember　that　that　partnership　proposition　is　still　open。〃

There　ensued　another　month　of　idleness；　during　which　Jimmy　again　had　recourse　to　the　Help　Wanted　column。　The　Lizard　tried　during　the　first　week　to　find　something　for　him；　and　then　occurred　a　certain　very　famous　safe…robbery；　and　the　Lizard　disappeared。




CHAPTER　XV。

LITTLE　　EVA。

Early　in　March　Jimmy　was　again　forced　to　part　with　his　watch。　　As　he　was　coming　out　of　the　pawn…shop　late　in　the　afternoon　he　almost　collided　with　Little　Eva。

〃For　the　love　of　Mike！〃　cried　that　young　lady；　〃where　have　you　been　all　this　time；　and　what's　happened　to　you？　You　look　as　though　you'd　lost　your　last　friend。〃　And　then　noting　the　shop　from　which　he　had　emerged　and　the　deduction　being　all　too　obvious；　she　laid　one　of　her　shapely　hands　upon　the　sleeve　of　his　cheap；　ill…fitting　coat。　〃You're　up　against　it；　kid；　ain't　you？〃　she　asked。

〃Oh；　it's　nothing；〃　said　Jimmy　ruefully。　〃I'm　getting　used　to　it。〃

〃I　guess　you're　too　square；〃　said　the　girl。　〃I　heard　about　that　Brophy　business。〃　And　then　she　laughed　softly。　〃Do　you　know　who　the　biggest　backers　of　that　graft　were？〃

〃No；〃　said　Jimmy。

〃Well；　don't　laugh　yourself　to　death；〃　she　admonished。　〃They　were　Steve　Murray　and　Feinheimer。　Talk　about　sore　pups！　You　never　saw　anything　like　it；　and　when　they　found　who　it　was　that　had　ditched　their　wonderful　scheme　they　threw　another　fit。　Say；　those　birds　have　been　weeping　on　each　other's　shoulders　ever　since。〃

〃Do　you　still　breakfast　at　Feinheimer's？〃　asked　Jimmy。

〃Once　in　a　while；〃　said　the　girl；　〃but　not　so　often　now。〃　　And　she　dropped　her　eyes　to　the　ground　in　what；　in　another　than　Little　Eva；　might　have　been　construed　as　embarrassment。　〃Where　you　going　now？〃　she　asked　quickly。

〃To　eat；〃　said　Jimmy；　and　then　prompted　by　the　instincts　of　his　earlier　training　and　without　appreciable　pause：　〃Won't　you　take　dinner　with　me？〃　〃No；〃　said　the　girl；　〃but　you　are　going　to　take　dinner　with　me。　You're　out　of　a　job　and　broke；　and　the　chances　are　you've　just　this　minute　hocked　your　watch；　while　I　have　plenty　of　money。　No；〃　she　said　as　Jimmy　started　to　protest；　〃this　is　going　to　be　on　me。　I　never　knew　how　much　I　enjoyed　talking　with　you　at　breakfast　until　after　you　had　left　Feinheimer's。　I've　been　real　lonesome　ever　since；〃　she　admitted　frankly。　〃You　talk　to　me　different　from　what　the　other　men　do。〃　She　pressed　his　arm　gently。　〃You　talk　to　me；　kid；　just　like　a　fellow　might　talk　to　his　sister。〃

Jimmy　didn't　know　just　what　rejoinder　to　make；　and　so　he　made　none。　　As　a　matter　of　fact；　he　had　not　realized　that　he　had　said　or　done　anything　to　win　her　confidence；　nor　could　he　explain　his　attitude　toward　her　in　the　light　of　what　he　knew　of　her　life　and　vocation。　There　is　a　type　of　man　that　respects　and　reveres　woman…hood　for　those　inherent　virtues　which　are　supposed　to　be　the　natural　attributes　of　the　sex　because　in　their　childhood　they　have　seen　them　exemplified　in　their　mothers；　their　sisters　and　in　the　majority　of　women　and　girls　who　were　parts　of　the　natural　environment　of　their　early　lives。

It　is　difficult　ever　entirely　to　shatter　the　faith　of　such　men；　and　however　they　may　be　wronged　by　individuals　of　the　opposite　sex　their　subjective　attitude　toward　woman　in　the　abstract　is　one　of　chivalrous　respects。　As　far　as　outward　appearances　were　concerned　Little　Eva　might　have　passed　readily　as　a　paragon　of　all　the　virtues。　As　yet；　there　was　no　sign　nor　line　of　dissipation　marked　upon　her　piquant　face；　nor　in　her　consociation　with　Jimmy　was　there　ever　the　slightest　reference　to　or　reminder　of　her　vocation。

They　chose　a　quiet　and　eminently　respectable　dining　place；　and　after　they　had　ordered；　Jimmy　spread　upon　the　table　an　evening　paper　he　had　purchased　upon　the　street。

〃Help　me　find　a　job；〃　he　said　to　the　girl；　and　together　the　two　ran　through　the　want　columns。

〃Here's　a　bunch　of　them；〃　cried　the　girl　laughingly；　〃all　in　one　ad。　　Night　cook；　one　hundred　and　fifty　dollars；　swing　man；　one　hundred　and　forty　dollars；　roast　cook；　one　hundred　and　twenty　dollars；　broiler；　one　hundred　and　twenty　dollars。　I'd　better　apply　for　that。　Fry　cook；　one　hundred　and　ten　dollars。　Oh；　here's　something　for　Steve　Murray：　chicken　butcher；　eighty　dollars；　here's　a　job　I'd　like；〃　she　cried；　〃ice…cream　man；　one　hundred　dollars。〃

〃Quit　your　kidding；〃　said　Jimmy。　　〃I'm　looking　for　a　job；　not　an　acrostic。〃

〃Well；〃　she　said；　〃here　are　two　solid　pages　of　them；　but　nobody　seems　to　want　a　waiter。　What　else　can　you　do？〃　she　asked　smiling　up　at　him。

〃I　can　drive　a　milk…wagon；〃　said　Jimmy；　〃but　the　drivers　are　all　on　strike。〃

〃Now；　be　serious；〃　she　announced。　〃Let's　look　for　something　really　good。　Here's　somebody　wants　a　finishing　superintendent　for　a　string　music　instrument　factory；　and　a　business　manager　and　electrical　engineer　in　this　one。　What's　an　efficiency　expert？〃

〃Oh；　he's　a　fellow　who　gums　up　the　works；　puts　you　three　weeks　behind　in　less　than　a　week　and　has　all　your　best　men　resigning　inside　of　a　month。　I　know；　because　my　dad　had　one　at　his　plant　a　few　years　ago。〃

The　girl　looked　at　him　for　a　moment。　〃Your　father　is　a　business　man？〃　she　asked；　and　without　waiting　for　an　answer；　〃Why　don't　you　work　for　him？〃

It　was　the　first　reference　that　Jimmy　had　ever　made　to　his　connections　or　his　past。

〃Oh；〃　he　said；　〃he's　a　long　way　off　andif　I'm　no　good　to　any　one　here　I　certainly　wouldn't　be　any　good　to　him。〃

His　companion　made　no　comment；　but　resumed　her　reading　of　the　advertisement　before　her：



　　　　　　　　　　　　WANTED；　an　Efficiency　ExpertMachine　works　　　　　　　　　　　　　wants　man　capable　of　thoroughly　reorganizing　large　　　　　　　　　　　　　business　along　modern　lines；　stopping　leaks　and　　　　　　　　　　　　　systematizjng　every　activity。　　Call　International　　　　　　　　　　　　　Machine　Company；　West　Superior　Street。　　Ask　for　　　　　　　　　　　　　Mr。　Compton。



〃What　do　you　have　to　know　to　be　an　efficiency　expert？〃　asked　the　girl。

〃From　what　I　saw　of　the　bird　I　just　mentioned　the　less　one　knows　about　anything　the　more　successful　he　should　be　as　an　efficiency　expert；　for　he　certainly　didn't　know　anything。　And　yet　the　results　from　kicking　everybody　in　the　plant　out　of　his　own　particular　rut　eventually　worked　wonders　for　the　organization。　If　the　man　had　had　any　sense；　tact　or　diplomacy　nothing　would　have　been　accomplished。〃

〃Why　don't　you　try　it？〃　asked　the　girl。

Jimmy　looked　at　her　with　a　quizzical　smile。　　〃Thank　you；〃　he　said。

〃Oh；　I　didn't　mean　it　that　way；〃　she　cried。　　〃But　from　what　you　tell　me　I　imagine　that　all　a　man　needs　is　a　front　and　plenty　of　punch。　You've　got　the　front　all　right　with　your　looks　and　gift　of　gab；　and　I　leave　it　to　Young　Brophy　if　you　haven't　got　the　punch。〃

〃Maybe　that's　not　the　punch　an　efficiency　expert　needs；〃　suggested　Jimmy。

〃It　might　be　a　good　thing　to　have　up　his　sleeve；〃　replied　the　girl；　and　then　suddenly；　〃do　you　believe　in　hunches？〃

〃Sometimes；〃　replied　Jimmy。

〃Well；　this　is　a　hunch；　take　it　from　me；〃　she　continued。　〃I'll　bet　you　can　land　that　job　and　make　good。〃

〃What　makes　you　think　so？　〃asked　Jimmy。

〃I　don't　know；〃　she　replied；　〃but　you　know　what　a　woman's　intuition　is。〃

〃I　suppose；〃　said　Jimmy；　〃that　it's　the　feminine　of　hunch。　But　however　good　your　hunch　or　intuition　may　be　it　would　certainly　get　a　terrible　jolt　if　I　presented　myself　to　the　head　of　the　International　Machine　Company　in　this　scenery。　Do　you　see　anything　about　my　clothes　that　indicates　efficiency？〃

〃It　isn't　your　clothes　that　count；　Jimmy；〃　she　said；　〃it's　the　combination　of　that　face　of　yours　and　what　you've　got　in　your　head。　You're　the　most　efficient　looking　person　I　ever　saw；　and　if　you　want　a　reference　I'll　say　this　much　for　you；　you're　the　most　efficient　waiter　that　Feinheimer　ever　had。　He　said　so　himself；　even　after　he　canned　you。〃

〃Your　enthusiasm；〃　said　Jimmy；　〃is　contagious。　　If　it　wasn't　for　these　sorry　rags　of　mine　I'd　take　a　chance　on　that　hunch　of　yours。〃

The　girl　laid　her　hand　impulsively　upon　his。

〃Won't　you　let　me　help　you？〃　she　asked。　〃I'd　like　to；　and　it　will　only　be　a　loan　if　you　wanted　to　look　at　it　that　way。　Enough　to　get　you　a　decent…looking　outfit；　such　an　outfit　as　you　ought　to　have　to　land　a　good　job。　I　know；　and　everybody　else　knows；　that　clothes　do　count　no　matter　what　we　say　to　the　contrary。　I'll　bet　you're　some　looker　when　you're　dolled　up！　Please；〃　she　continued　〃just　try　it　for　a　gamble？〃

〃I　don't　see　how　I　can；〃　he　objected。　　〃The　chances　are　I　could　never　pay　you　back；　and　there　is　no　reason　in　the　world　why　you　should　loan　me　money。　You　are　certainly　under　no　obligation　to　me。〃

〃I　wish　you　would　let　me；　Jimmy；〃　she　said。　〃It　would　make　me　awfully　happy！〃

The　man　hesitated。

〃Oh；〃　she　said；　〃I'm　going　to　do　it；　anyway。　Wait　a　minute；〃　and；　rising；　she　left　the　table。

In　a　few　minutes　she　returned。　〃Here；〃　she　said；　〃you've　got　to　take　it；〃　and　extended　her　hand　toward　him　beneath　the　edge　of　the　table。　〃I　can't；〃　said　Jimmy。　〃It　wouldn't　be　right。〃

The　girl　looked　at　him　and　flushed。

〃Do　you　mean；〃　she　said；　〃because　it's　mybecause　of　what　I　am？〃

〃Oh；　no；〃　said　Jimmy；　〃please　don't　think　that！〃　　And　impulsively　he　took　her　hand　beneath　the　table。　At　the　contact　the　girl　caught　her　breath　with　a　little　quick…drawn　sigh。

〃Here；　take　it！〃　she　said；　and　drawing　her　hand　away　quickly；　left　a　roll　of　bills　in　Jimmy's　hand。




CHAPTER　XVI。

JIMMY　THROWS　A　BLUFF。

That　afternoon　Mr。　Harold　Bince　had　entered　his　superior's　office　with　an　afternoon　paper　in　his　hand。

〃What's　the　idea　of　this　ad；　Mr。　Compton？〃　he　asked。　　〃Why　do　we　need　an　efficiency　expert？　I　wish　you　had　let　me　know　what　you　intended　doing。〃

〃I　knew　that　if　I　told　you；　Harold；　you　would　object；〃　said　the　older　man；　〃and　I　thought　I　would　have　a　talk　with　several　applicants　before　saying　anything　about　it　to　any　one。　Of　course；　whoever　we　get　will　work　with　you；　but　I　would　rather　not　have　it　generally　known　about　the　plant。　There　seems　to　be　a　leak　somewhere　and　evidently　we　are　too　close　to　the　work　to　see　it　ourselves。　It　will　require　an　outsider　to　discover　it。〃

〃I　am　very　much　opposed　to　the　idea；〃　said　Bince。　〃These　fellows　usually　do　nothing　more　than　disrupt　an　organization。　We　have　a　force　that　has　been　here；　many　of　them；　for　years。　There　is　as　little　lost　motion　in　this　plant　as　in　any　in　the　country；　and　if　we　start　in　saddling　these　men　with　a　lot　of　red　tape　which　will　necessitate　their　filling　out　innumerable　forms　for　every　job；　about　half　their　time　will　be　spent　in　bookkeeping；　which　can　just　as　well　be　done　here　in　the　office　as　it　is　now。　I　hope　that　you　will　reconsider　your　intention　and　let　us　work　out　our　own　solution　in　a　practical　manner；　which　we　can　do　better　i