the efficiency expert-第17章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



〃There　is；〃　muttered　the　latter。

〃It　would　be　worth　something　of　course；〃　suggested　Bince。　〃How　much？〃　asked　Krovac。

〃Oh；　I　should　think　it　ought　to　be　worth　a　hundred　dollars；〃　replied　Bince。

Krovac　thought　for　a　moment。

〃I　think　I　can　arrange　it；〃　he　said；　〃but　I　would　have　to　have　fifty　now。〃

〃I　cannot　give　it　to　you　here；〃　said　Bince；　〃but　if　I　should　happen　to　pass　through　the　shop　this　afternoon　you　might　find　an　envelope　on　the　floor　beside　your　machine　after　I　have　gone。〃

The　following　evening　as　Jimmy　alighted　from　the　Indiana　Avenue　car　at　Eighteenth　Street；　two　men　left　the　car　behind　him。　He　did　not　notice　them；　although；　as　he　made　his　way　toward　his　boarding…house；　he　heard　footsteps　directly　in　his　rear；　and　suddenly　noting　that　they　were　approaching　him　rapidly；　he　involuntarily　cast　a　glance　behind　him　just　as　one　of　the　men　raised　an　arm　to　strike　at　him　with　what　appeared　to　be　a　short　piece　of　pipe。

Jimmy　dodged　the　blow　and　then　both　men　sprang　for　him。　　The　first　one　Jimmy　caught　on　the　point　of　the　chin　with　a　blow　that　put　its　recipient　out　of　the　fight　before　he　got　into　it；　and　then　his　companion；　who　was　the　larger；　succeeded　in　closing　with　the　efficiency　expert。　Inadvertently；　however；　he　caught　Jimmy　about　the　neck；　leaving　both　his　intended　victim's　arms　free　with　the　result　that　the　latter　was　able　to　seize　his　antagonist　low　down　about　the　body；　and　then　pressing　him　close　to　him　and　hurling　himself　suddenly　forward；　he　threw　the　fellow　backward　upon　the　cement　sidewalk　with　his　own　body　on　top。　With　a　resounding　whack　the　attacker's　head　came　in　contact　with　the　concrete；　his　arms　relaxed　their　hold　upon　Jimmy's　neck；　and　as　the　latter　arose　he　saw　both　his　assailants；　temporarily　at　least；　out　of　the　fighting。

Jimmy　glanced　hastily　in　both　directions。　　There　was　no　one　in　sight。　　His　boardinghouse　was　but　a　few　steps　away；　and　two　minutes　later　he　was　safe　in　his　room。

〃A　year　ago；〃　he　thought　to　himself；　smiling；　〃my　first　thought　would　have　been　to　have　called　in　the　police；　but　the　Lizard　has　evidently　given　me　a　new　view…point　in　regard　to　them；〃　for　the　latter　had　impressed　upon　Jimmy　the　fact　that　whatever　knowledge　a　policeman　might　have　regarding　one　was　always　acquired　with　the　idea　that　eventually　it　might　be　used　against　the　person　to　whom　it　pertained。

〃What　a　policeman　don't　know　about　you　will　never　hurt　you；〃　was　one　way　that　the　Lizard　put　it。

When　Jimmy　appeared　in　the　shop　the　next　morning　he　noted　casually　that　Krovac　had　a　cut　upon　his　chin；　but　he　did　not　give　the　matter　a　second　thought。　Bince　had　arrived　late。　His　first　question；　as　he　entered　the　small　outer　office　where　Mr。　Compton's　stenographer　and　his　worked；　was　addressed　to　Miss　Edith　Hudson。

〃Is　Mr。　Torrance　down　yet？〃　he　asked。

〃Yes；〃　replied　the　girl；　〃he　has　been　here　some　time。　　Do　you　wish　to　see　him？〃

Edith　thought　that　the　〃No〃　which　he　snapped　at　her　was　a　trifle　more　emphatic　than　the　circumstances　seemed　to　warrant；　nor　could　she　help　but　notice　after　he　had　entered　his　office　the　vehement　manner　in　which　he　slammed　the　door。

〃I　wonder　what's　eating　him；〃　thought　Miss　Hudson　to　herself。　　〃Of　course　he　doesn't　like　Jimmy；　but　why　is　he　so　peeved　because　Jimmy　came　to　work　this　morningI　don't　quite　get　it。〃

Almost　immediately　Bince　sent　for　Krovac；　and　when　the　latter　came　and　stood　before　his　desk　the　assistant　general　manager　looked　up　at　him　questioningly。

〃Well？〃　he　asked。

〃Look　at　my　chin；〃　was　Krovac's　reply；　〃and　he　damn　near　killed　the　other　guy。〃

〃Maybe　you'll　have　better　luck　the　next　time；〃　growled　Bince。

〃There　ain't　goin'　to　be　no　next　time；〃　asserted　Krovac。　〃I　don't　tackle　that　guy　again。〃

Bince　held　out　his　hand。

〃All　right；〃　he　said；　〃you　might　return　the　fifty　then。〃

〃Return　nothin'；〃　growled　Krovac。　〃I　sure　done　fifty　dollars'　worth　last　night。〃

〃Come　on；〃　said　Bince；　〃hand　over　the　fifty。〃

〃Nothin'　doin'；〃　said　Krovac　with　an　angry　snarl。　　〃It　might　be　worth　another　fifty　to　you　to　know　that　I　wasn't　going　to　tell　old　man　Compton。〃

〃You　　damn　　scoundrel！〃　　exclaimed　Bince。

〃Don't　go　callin'　me　names；〃　admonished　Krovac。　　〃A　fellow　that　hires　another　to　croak　a　man　for　him　for　one　hundred　bucks　ain't　got　no　license　to　call　nobody　names。〃

Bince　realized　only　too　well　that　he　was　absolutely　in　the　power　of　the　fellow　and　immediately　his　manner　changed。

〃Come；〃　he　said；　〃Krovac；　there　is　no　use　in　our　quarreling。　　You　can　help　me　and　I　can　help　you。　There　must　be　some　other　way　to　get　around　this。〃

〃What　are　you　trying　to　do？〃　asked　Krovac。　　〃I　got　enough　on　you　now　to　send　you　up；　and　I　don't　mind　tellin'　yuh；〃　he　added；　〃that　I　had　a　guy　hid　down　there　in　the　shop　where　he　could　watch　you　drop　the　envelope　behind　my　machine。　I　got　a　witness；　yuh　understand！〃

Mr。　Bince　did　understand；　but　still　he　managed　to　control　his　temper。

〃What　of　it？〃　he　said。　〃Nobody　would　believe　your　story；　but　let's　forget　that。　What　we　want　to　do　is　get　rid　of　Torrance。〃

〃That　isn't　all　you　want　to　do；〃　said　Krovac。　〃There　is　something　else。〃

Bince　realized　that　he　was　compromised　as　hopelessly　already　as　he　could　be　if　the　man　had　even　more　information。

〃Yes；〃　he　said；　〃there　is　something　beside　Torrance's　interference　in　the　shop。　He's　interfering　with　our　accounting　system　and　I　don't　want　it　interfered　with　just　now。〃

〃You　mean　the　pay…roll？〃　asked　Krovac。

〃It　might　be；〃　said　Bince。

〃You　want　them　two　new　guys　that　are　working　in　the　office　croaked；　too？〃　asked　Krovac。

〃I　don't　want　anybody　'croaked'；　〃replied　Bince。　〃I　didn't　tell　you　to　kill　Torrance　in　the　first　place。　I　just　said　I　didn't　want　him　to　come　back　here　to　work。〃

〃Ah；　hell；　what　you　givin'　us？〃　growled　the　other。　〃I　knew　what　you　meant　and　you　knew　what　you　meant；　too。　Come　across　straight。　What　do　you　want？〃

〃I　want　all　the　records　of　the　certified　public　accountants　who　are　working　here；〃　said　Bince　after　a　moment's　pause。　〃I　want　them　destroyed；　together　with　the　pay…roll　records。〃

〃Where　are　they？〃

〃They　will　all　be　in　the　safe　in　Mr。　Compton's　office。〃

Krovac　knitted　his　brows　in　thought　for　several　moments。　〃Say；〃　he　said；　〃we　can　do　the　whole　thing　with　one　job。〃

〃What　do　you　mean？〃　asked　Bince；

〃We　can　get　rid　of　this　Torrance　guy　and　get　the　records；　too。〃

〃How？〃　asked　Bince。　〃Do　you　know　where　Feinheimer's　is？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Well；　you　be　over　there　to…night　about　ten　thirty　and　I'll　introduce　you　to　a　guy　who　can　pull　off　this　whole　thing；　and　you　and　I　won't　have　to　be　mixed　up　in　it　at　all。〃

〃To…night　at　ten　thirty；〃　said　Bince。

〃At　Feinheimer's；〃　said　Krovac。




CHAPTER　XX。

AN　INVITATION　TO　DINE。

As　the　workman　passed　through　the　little　outer　office　Edith　Hudson　glanced　up　at　him。

〃Where；〃　she　thought　after　he　had　gone；　〃have　I　seen　that　fellow　before？〃

Jimmy　was　in　the　shop　applying　〃How　to　Get　More　Out　of　Your　Factory〃　to　the　problems　of　the　International　Machine　Company　when　he　was　called　to　the　telephone。

〃Is　this　Mr。　Torrance？〃　asked　a　feminine　voice。

〃It　is；〃　replied　Jimmy。

〃I　am　Miss　Compton。　　My　father　will　probably　not　be　able　to　get　to　the　office　for　several　days；　and　as　he　wishes　very　much　to　talk　with　you　he　has　asked　me　to　suggest　that　you　take　dinner　with　us　this　evening。〃　〃Thank　you；〃　said　Jimmy。　〃Tell　Mr。　Compton　that　I　will　come　to　the　house　right　after　the　shop　closes　to…night。〃

〃I　suppose；〃　said　Elizabeth　Compton　as　she　turned　away　from　the　phone；　〃that　an　efficiency　expert　is　a　very　superior　party　and　that　his　conversation　will　be　far　above　my　head。〃

Compton　laughed。　　〃Torrance　seems　to　be　a　very　likable　chap；〃　he　said；　〃and　as　far　as　his　work　is　concerned　he　is　doing　splendidly。〃

〃Harold　doesn't　think　so；〃　said　Elizabeth。　　〃He　is　terribly　put　out　about　the　fellow。　He　told　me　only　the　other　night　that　he　really　believed　that　it　would　take　years　to　overcome　the　bad　effect　that　this　man　has　had　upon　the　organization　and　upon　the　work　in　general。〃

〃That　is　all　poppycock；〃　exclaimed　Compton；　rather　more　irritably　than　was　usual　with　him。　〃For　some　reason　Harold　has　taken　an　unwarranted　dislike　to　this　man；　but　I　am　watching　him　closely；　and　I　will　see　that　no　very　serious　mistakes　are　made。〃

When　Jimmy　arrived　at　the　Compton　home　he　was　ushered　into　the　library　where　Mr。　Compton　was　sitting。　In　a　corner　of　the　room；　with　her　back　toward　the　door；　Elizabeth　Compton　sat　reading。　She　did　not　lay　aside　her　book　or　look　in　his　direction　as　Jimmy　entered；　for　the　man　was　in　no　sense　a　guest　in　the　light　of　her　understanding　of　the　term。　He　was　merely　one　of　her　father's　employees　here　on　business　to　see　him；　doubtless　a　very　ordinary　sort　of　person　whom　she　would；　of　course；　have　to　meet　when　dinner　was　announced；　but　not　one　for　whom　it　was　necessary　to　put　oneself　out　in　any　way。

Mr。　Compton　rose　and　greeted　Jimmy　cordially　and　then　turned　toward　his　daughter。

〃Elizabeth；〃　he　said；　〃this　is　Mr。　Torrance；　the　efficiency　expert　at　the　plant。〃

Leisurely　Miss　Compton　laid　aside　her　book。　　Rising；　she　faced　the　newcomer；　and　as　their　eyes　met；　Jimmy　barely　stifled　a　gasp　of　astonishment　and　dismay。　Elizabeth　Compton's　arched　brows　raised　slightly　and　involuntarily　she　breathed　a　low　ejaculation；　〃Efficiency　expert！〃

Simultaneously　there　flashed　through　the　minds　of　both　in　rapid　succession　a　series　of　recollections　of　their　previous　meetings。　The　girl　saw　the　clerk　at　the　stocking…counter；　the　waiter　at　Feinheimer's；　the　prize…fighter　at　the　training　quarters　and　the　milk…wagon　driver。　All　these　things　passed　through　her　mind　in　the　brief　instant　of　the　introduction　and　her　acknowledgment　of　it。　She　was　too　well…bred　to　permit　any　outward　indication　of　her　recognition　of　the　man　other　than　the　first　almost　inaudible　ejaculation　that　had　been　surprised　from　her。

　The　indifference　she　had　felt　prior　to　meeting　the　efficiency　expert　　was　altered　now　to　a　feeling　of　keen　interest　as　she　realized　that　she　　held　the　power　to　relieve　Bince　of　the　further　embarrassment　of　the　　man's　activities　in　the　plant；　and　also　to　save　her　father　from　the　　annoyance　and　losses　that　Bince　had　assured　her　would　result　from　　Torrance's　methods。　And　so　she　greeted　Jimmy　Torrance　pleasantly；　　almost　cordially。

〃I　am　delighted；〃　she　said；　〃but　I　am　afraid　that　I　am　a　little　awed；　too；　as　I　was　just　saying　to　father　before　you　came　that　I　felt　an　efficiency　expert　must　be　a　very　superior　sort　of　person。〃

If　she　placed　special　emphasis　on　the　word　〃superior〃　it　was　so　cleverly　done　that　it　escaped　the　notice　of　her　father。

〃Oh；　not　at　all；〃　replied　Jimmy。　〃We　efficiency　experts　are　really　quite　ordinary　people。　One　is　apt　to　meet　us　in　any　place　that　nice　people　are　supposed　to　go。〃

Elizabeth　felt　the　color　rising　slowly　to　her　cheek。　　She　realized　then　that　if　she　had　thrown　down　the　gage　of　battle　the　young　man　had　lost　no　time　in　taking　it　up。

〃I　am　afraid；〃　she　said；　〃that　I　do　not　understand　very　much　about　the　nature　or　the　purpose　of　your　work；　but　I　presume　the　idea　is　to　make　the　concern　with　which　you　are　connected　more　prosperousmore　successful？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　her　father；　〃that　is　the　idea；　and　even　in　the　short　time　he　has　been　with　us　M