A
SYNOPSIS.
Pe
Sheridan's attempt to make a business
man of his son Bibbs by starting him in
the machine shop ends in Bibba golng to
® sanitarium, a nervous wreck. On his re-
turn Bibbs finds himself an inconsider-
able and unconsldered figure in the “New
House” of the Sheridans. The Vertreeses,
wld town family next door and impover-
fished, call the Sheridans, newly-rich,
on
parents’ unspoken wish that she marr
one the Sheridan boys. At
dan housewarming banquet
spreads himself, Mary
Jim Sheridan's attenth
her mother by talking of Jim ¢ at
monial possibility Jim tells Mary
is a ] tie—*" just re." He
poses wlio ts
of
no wun f
to Mary,
Sheridan tells Bibbs he
the machine shop as soon as
in spite of Bibbs'
lowed to write. Edit B
Bibyl, Roscoe Sheridan's
over Bobby Lamhorn; 8
for help to keep Lamhort
Edith, and Mary leaves h
Alone Bibbs has to break
the news of Jim's sudden
rest of the family helpless In
‘Bibbs becomes tempera f
house. At the funeral
rides home with her
enough
to
leath
ry
i the :
Love has awakened in
bosom of Bibbs-—shy, hopeless
love for something unattainable.
The emotion is reflected in his
gentieness with his grief-strick-
en father. Will it stir his ambi
tion and impel! him to activity
that will help him win the girl
finally? Wiil Old Sheridan come
to understand and appreciate?
CHAPTER Xii—Continued.
There came a second
Uncle Gldeon ran
}ibbs went to t
stalrease, and,
ered sour
iideon's gra
bad brought
and was taking
Moor Uncle
3ibbs' explanation,
turned to finish his quotation
dad the Shuhbite, but Bibbs, deta
him, and after little argume
suaded bim to
room whither
door
his
+11
Mili,
1
out nto the
he head of the gre:
looking
rer
town, discov
disturbance
of fi
the
the Of
ndson, a
his camer funeral
of the
aared by
h re
il
ined
per
Gideon, rea
would
ive
Freyt
a
a
dese end Lo the
Bibbs followed, after
of r's room
Oy es ii
“ his fathe
osing the
He kept
«inner, diplomatic
nm Gideon ter
tilly preventing sev
that com
and it
whon George an
was walt
1 and
They were
‘nu they had
eral attempts on the part of
forter to reascend
was a lief to Bibbs
nounced that
ing to
his gr
the
18d 2
re
iatomobile
the
an
convey
Ison to thei
ancier
$ 3
i inal
r trai
last 1nd
Bit
room,
He
the
to leave,
bs went
stretched
but
the window; and
the
Vertrees
ly upon
to
ooked for a long time
Mary |
bed, presently rose, went
darkened house where
Hived I'he he
trunk, took therefro
half flled with
blings, and be
at
opened bis
notebook
s8n
Laughter
action people
at nothing
th way t
turns back,
are out of |
town Is Out
‘but there
ilke the whirr
T
are
of place anywhere
has been betrothed to
beautiful at his
beautiful
whom |
hat |
want
ceme
stones. It is
But a woman
a man would
funeral. A
though, at
not
wi
out a
©“
look
mn might look
funeral a man
she had known and HMked And
case, too, sh would probably
to talk if she drove home |
tery with his brother not
want the br talk
less, too much is
clon. It may
vacuum. It may be
false teeth
Silence can be golden?
aaps if a woman of the world should find
herself by a lent sitting beside a man
for the length of time it must necessarily
take two =»! old horses jog three
miles, she might expect tha! man to say
something of some ir did not
even try, but sat every step of the way
a8 dumb as a frozen fish, she might
think him a frozen fish she might
be right. Bhe might be if she
thought him about as pleasant » com-
panion-as Bildad the Shuhit
won
the of
in
ot
im the
would
Neverthe-
open suspl-
it may be a
of it or be
o
she
ther to
i we to
be retice nee, or
dignity
ay
Yes But per-
eid
w to
sort!
And
right
Bibbs closed his notebook. replacing
it In his trunk. Then, after a period
af melancholy contemplation, he un
dressed, put on a dressing gown afid
slippers, and went softly out into the
ball—to his father's door. Upon the
floor was a tray which Bibbs had sent
George. earlier in the evening, to place
upon & table in Sheridan's room-——but
the food was untouched. Bibbs stood
tistening outside the door for several
minutes. There came no gound from |
within, and he went hack
rootn and to bed.
In #ie morning he woke to n state
of | hitherto unknown in his ex
perience, Sometimes In the process
of waking there is a little pause
sleep has gone, but coherent thought
bas not begun. It is the moment. as
we say, before we “remember” and
for the first time fn Bibbs’ life it came
to him bringing a vague happiness.
However, it was a brief visitation and
was gone before he had finished dress.
fng. It left a little trail, the plehsed
recollection of it and the puzzle of ii
which remained unsolved Aud, In|
fact, waking happlly In the morniug is
i
to his own
not usually the result of a drive home
from a funeral No wonder the
quence evaded Bibbs Sheridan!
Fis father had gone when he came
downstairs. “Went on down to's office,
jes' same,” informed hl.
“Came sat table, ali
'mself; ent nothin’
breakfas’, but he di'n’ eat a thing.
Yessuh, went on downtown, jes’ same
' he yoosta do. Yessuh, I reckon putty
goin’ on as it
se
Jackson
breakfas’
|
|
|
ev'ything
| yoosta do.”
same
It struck Bibbs that Jackson was
| right. The day passed as other days
[had passed. Mrs. Sheridan and Edith
were in black, and Mrs.
little, now and
external difference
Bibbs went for hi
| mother went with
but
to
a then, no
be seen.
and his
some
was
urive,
him, she
a8
"nt
anc
the usualness
startling to
Mrs. Sheridan
of Jim's child-
wouldn't remember
Altogether,
was rather
ing the
fragmentarily
“Rut
she said, after
“You
always a
$ibhs.
things
Dur drive
talked
106. You
that,” narrating an epi
He
ike that
wile, were {oo was
And
gave him,
or
~
jittie
ood boy, just I
he'd whatever
{ and put it in the ban
just about kill your
wdy in his
lealty
save papa
k I reckon
father to put some
place as president of the
Bibi I know he
Roscoe he told
last week he'd already put as much on
Oe 48 any n could handle
{ and not CTRZY Oh, it's a pity"
{ W “It's
with
his
company,
jean’'t move over; me
Hos one na
RO
he stopped
it mn didn't
and kind
{ Think what it'd
You
or Jim
to ne her eves
i
v
¥ @
rua mot
o' pick up
meant
never did run
any, even b
you
always did seem queer
bein' bry !
love 1
together for & good
I've
ned,
me |
and I hada’t much
thi that interest
don't know
“t's
moaned.
1
snow
haven't said
course wer you : but H
and you three
I dou't be
thers like t
ever saw you
IK in my
long,”
since 1
been away
tly And
He was busy
fo
” 80
Bibbs retur
h
gen
ine
1
t
Fostrd
t LOU
’ the
say a
ngs i
tmuch a
Oh i
a pity! t'q
about em
to
between yous
0
i
much i
and
but 1 honestly do belle will
kill if he
trouble on top
mustn't i
You don't
has to
all
him
f thi
let him
know
an't stand any more
. »
! Whate
you do it, B
he Just can't ver he says for
you to do,
I want
1
you do it!
you will
si 1
hs,
you me "
would
he sor
3
“No
cried,
she
wants
you?"
“He
you { Kk to the machine shop
he a
go back in a cheerful spirit
hurt you! That's all as
and all on earth ks for you to
o it
ks. Look,
near home,
want you to
what he
. we're gettin' back
before we got
the
¢ me that you'll de
116
ae
Promise
In her earn
her b
itness she cleared away
see him
the smoky
’
her before
r
she might
on
for
lack veil that
better, and it ble
wind He readin
he spoke
Ww
sted
out
I'll go back in as cheerful a spirit
as I can, mother,” he said
“There!” she exclaimed, satisfied.
“T'bat’s a good boy! That's all | want
ed you to say.’
“Don't give me any credit,” he sald
ruefully “There isn't anything
for me to do.”
else
“No, no |
have to begin
cheerful one
ie soothed her.
make
We mas
to the spirit a
They were
next door,
steps, bareheaded
hind her.
the door open he
8Bhe bowed gravely.
“We may'-what? asked Mrs
Sheridan, with a slight impatience
“What Is it mother?”
“Of all the queer boys!" she cried.
“You always were Always!
me, have you?’
“No, he apswered, as the
stopped “No, the spirit will
cheerful as the flesh will let it, mother.
It won't do to behave lke"
His voice was low, and in her move:
ment to descend from the car she
falled to hear his final words
“Behave like who, Bibbs?
“Nothibg."”
But she was
CAr
fretful in her grief.
somebody. Helmve Hke who?”
“It was just nonsense,” he explained,
tarning to go in,
I don't think much of lately.”
“Belinvy
insistence, she made up her mind that
the only thing to do was to tell Dr.
Gurney about it.
“Like Blidad the Shubite! was what
Bibbs sald,
CHAPTER XII.
The outward uvsuaniness of things
continued after dinner, In the Ubrary,
{ while his wife sat In her customary
| chair, gazing at the fire, Sheridan let
the unfolded evening paper rest upon
his lap, though now and then he lifted
it, as if to read. Bibbs came in noise-
lesaly and sat In a corner, doing noth
ing, and from a “reception room’
across the hall an indistinct vocal mur
mur became just audible at intervals.
Once, when this murmur grew louder,
under stress of some irrepressible mer
riment, Edith’'s volce could be heard
“Bobby, aren't you awful!” and Sherl-
dan glanced across at his wife appeal-
ingly.
She rose at once and went into the
“reception room” there was a flurry of
whispering, and the sound of tiptoeing
in the hall—Edith and her sultor
changing quarters to a more distant
room. Mrs. Sheridan returned to her
chair in the library.
“They won't bother you any
{ papa,” she sald, In a comforting voice
“She told me at lunch he'd ‘phoned he
wanted to come up this evening, and
I sald I thought he'd better walt a few
days, but snid she'd already told
him he could.” She paused, then added
rather gulltily
maybe Roscoe
’
more,
she
.
don't like him
a8 he used to. Maybe
ter ask Roscoe, And a Sher
idan nodded solemnly, she concluded,
{ in haste: “Don't say 1 said to. I might
| be wrong about it, anyway.”
He ded again, and
as
maybe you bet
papa.” 4
they if
no
a s L873
some time In a silence which
i Sherklan broke with a Httle sniff, hav
ing fallen into
tears. “That
girl,” she said
Her husband
culty in follow
for
tively
reverie that
“She
1
evig
th
i
d
WHS §
ently fio
ing her tr
he nodd an
‘Did yon
| the the
tered
He
hig feet
fixed i,” |
went
shoulder
Mose
to her,
mendouns bre
When
and spook 3
¥
or
ij
y ' + 3 3
mamma; : ie
reached the door
tn
*
igain, without at
Phe
OK
tealty company’ right on
Jugt the same,’ sald 1
i
Le
t's like san it puts me in
1
in
mel nt
gand-pi
’
3 Of
inother ‘em
hand
"tr
his
of sand
fle
ns
RES
right Rway
you
th
Le
{ all
Ih
re
rer
right
wouldn't g
And
hall; then the
upon ti talrs
Mr
nesd a
¢
Ct 8 i
ridan
Diteous
0
riorn."
ti
she sal
first m
now
Fdith
She'd
must
laiel
oughtn’ right the very
$ ‘ge
ought:
ose
leather easy-chair near them
“What is it?" asked Edith, plainly
askonished.
“Nothing,” he returned, smiling
She frowned,
thing 7" she asked.
“Nothing in the workl
mother have gone upstairs; |
be going up for several hours,
there didn’t seem to be anybody left
for me to chat with except you
Mr. Lamhorn.”
“ ‘Chat with'!”
fously.
Father and
she echoed, Incredua
sald Bibbs with an air of genial polite-
ness. “It doesn’t matter to me I
don't know much about business-——If
about. But vou aren't in business, .
you, Mr. Lamhorn®”
“Not now,” return
shortly
“I'm not, Bibbs
wis getting cloudier than usual, I no
ticed, just before dark,
wind from the southwest i
marrow, 1 shouldn't be surprised
ar
«1 Lamborn
either,” said
here
and
iin to
Vers
ja con ation the
| had now become the pleas
{ of other parties; and he
| ly, it his
Lamhorn
{ their
|
| his
i
support of whi
rable duty
looking first
i ’
as if
10
with
turn
gaze
and in
Hn
Bibbs
ment
Lamh
| the
Wis
™
to
{ while Edith
disng
i
| walking
yess rind
Tid or
Ei DOs Oofiel
iis ave
ly des
what
Edith
tl the
‘We ean't
Gert
ha
kind!" she walled
Tie
ye
i
“Oh
r—
i
Pannnns
Manner,
house
It scares
movin up to this new
brought us awful bad luek!
me!” Bhe put both her hands over her
face, “Oh, Bibbs, Bibbs! if yon only
wasu't so queer! If you could only
know what we're all comin’ to!” And,
Sibbs gazed for a while at the fire;
then he rose abruptly, like a man who
has come to a decision, and briskly
sought the room--it was called “the
smoking room” where Edith saat with
Mr. Lamborn. They looked up In no
welcoming manner, at Bibbs’ entrance,
and moved their chairs to a lesa con
spicuons adjacency,
“Good evening,” sald Bibbs, pleas
life
thon,
my
of a
perfectiy in
conseguency
{ “You
{ Bibbs"
He a
my rouble. mo
I'm
upon i
wer wanly i
murs
a ain, blunt fellow {
rough ways, and I'm a rough
For once she perceived
ing In his queern “Hush your non
sense!” sald, good-naturediy
astral of a troubled smile
| “You go to bed.”
He kissed her and obeyed
i
i
ther,” he
*
aan
ROe pean
"as
she the
appearing
Edith him a cold the
next morning at the breakfast table
“You musta't do that m
apprehension,” he warned when
they were alone in the dining room
“Do what under a what?"
| “Speak f «
smoking room last night
{ he told her,
| dice again
gave greeting
under a
her,
she asked.
into the
ou purpose,’
“1 have a prejo-
inst that young man.”
ughed
means a great deal
prejudices against!”
{ adopted the manner
i plores,
{ me, don’t use your influence with papa
against him!" And she langched louder.
“listen,”
estness,
becnuse I'm one of the
family.” And then, as If the earnest.
| ness were too heavy for him to cary
{0 me ime
gray oly
She In
who you have
in mockery she
of who Im
i
i
one
I've decided
tone, “I'm drunk with power. Edith."
“What do you want to tell me?” she
demanded, brusquely
“Lamborn made love to Sibyl,” he
said.
Edith hooted. “She did to him!
“No,” he said, gravely. “1 know.”
“How?”
“I was there, one day a week ago,
with Roscoe, and I heard Sibyl! and
Lamborn"
Edith screamed with laughter. “Yod
ware with Roscoe—and you heard
Lamhorn making love to Sibyl!"
“No. 1 hesrd them quarreling.”
“You're funnier than ever, Bibbs!”
she cried. “You say be made love to
&
or
know
by
“That's it If you want to
what's ‘between’ people, vou can
“You'll kill me, Bibbs! What were
Peo
it's
That's bow | know
quarrel over
“Nothing
ple who
always certain
Edith stopped laughing abruptly, but
continued ber mockery “You
You've had so much experi
ence, yourself!"
[ haven't Edith,”
life hag been about us exciting a
incubator chicken's fut I
through the glass at things.”
Well, then,” she sald, “if you
out through the glass you must
nothing!
ought
He sud
My
Aan
nny
"
look out
look
know
our Father Teiephoned Me Yester
day Afternoon.”
sipoking room
Nobody can
alone
y 2 ywver his
He
of Sheridan's
ince
8 patient
in seis
ole Doc Gurney
CAD Wis
ts I
He was gray, bh
Bibbs,
IWAYVR De § wked drow 3
“WN
ever, almost as thin as and
nearly
Your father telephoned me
yestior
i
‘Wants
again’ Come
Dele een
ng me 0 "look you
in front
fire i
to gee if 1 can see through you”
“Yon mean
move,” returnsd Bibbs, complying
you'll that 1’
oe
around here of
ine me and the
youre too alder ¥
think notice nm getting
Worse
Taken on about twelve pounds”
“Thirteen, maybe”
“Twelve.”
‘Well, it won't
rubbed his eyelids
do.” The
“You're so
doctor
much
on you before we can know just where
You come down to my place
this afternoon. Walk down-—all the
way. 1 suppose you know why vour
father wants to know.”
Bibles nodded.
“Still hate itY"
Bibbs nodded again
“Machine shop.”
“Don’t blame you!" the doctor grunt-
ed. “Yes, | expect it'll make a lump in
your glzzard again. Well, what do
you say? Shall I tell him you've got
to write, do you?
“What's the use?” Bibs said, smik
ing ruefully. “My kind of writing!”
“Yeu,” the doctor agreed. “1 suppose
and berries until you began to ‘atiract
the favorable attention of editors’ vou
might be able to hope for an Income of
“That's about it.” Bibbs murmured
“Of course | know what you want to
[| hate the machine shop only: you nate
i the whole show
| dirt, the
craze
the noise and jar and
seratnlle the
whole higomin®
to ‘get You'd Hke go
somewhere in Algiers to Taormina,
pert
on.’ to
Or
imps, and bask
ng flowers
grow fat on
tle 1}
L do you say”?
Bhall I tel
other of
Riclly 7
sraeil.
You'd
ate lit.
whnt
Bibbs
on 4 bn Oy,
and writing
t and bay
io YOUrsg
f can iis
your
boys
ROnnets
fe all
fa they
bis if you
don’t want to go to =i
Bit 4
The docts
for a moment, he gave his patient
a sharp glnnd t's a risk,” bh id
“I think bet
he'll shop
quick hold
iately i
SU DIM A red
“eH
we #0 much
tor Mere
ity
you ¥ Ol
ical as you
Varn you
just ns
fey
(se
think
you i
ever oar
He 1
his eyelids
you Uns alteraoun
ahout it?”
FP IY nn
y mind
again I'd turn
going, no matter
inter
and Mary
which Bibbs
the
She rap
after
eripple would
And at the
of father's son
took heart to forget some of his trepi-
dation. “I'll be any king he
more,
housewarming,
crawl five
merry it
ar
3
miles to he
ng of it B
dibhs'
1 of idiot’
said, “if you'll laugh at me
| It won't be difficult for me.”
She did: and Bibbs’ cheeks showed a
little actual which Mary
They had passed the new house
either them or
any consciousness it
the destination of of
sSOMe
color, OP
celvexd
without
of showing
that
one
possessing
had heen
them
“I'l
tinued
keep on talking,” Ribls cone
cheerfully, “and you keep on
laughing. I'm amounting to something
in the world this afternoon. I'm mak-
ing a noise, and that makes you make
music. Don't be bothered by my bleat-
{ ing out such things as that I'm reals
{ly frightened. 1 don't remember talk.
ing as much as this more than once
or (wice in my life. 1 suppose It was
always in me to do it, though, the first
[time 1 met anyone who didn’t know
me well enough not to listen.”
| “But you're not really talking to
me,” sald Mary. “You're fust think.
ing alond.”
De you think that Mary's
warm friendship for Bibbs will
help him to endure the machine
shop long enough to impress his
father with hiv usefulnase In a
better job*
(TC BE CONTINUED.)