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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!"

139

The Efficiency Expert