Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1916-07-06
The Turmoil
BOOTH HARRINGTON
iOopyrisht lslA b. Harper Brothersl
BOOTH HARRINGTON

"Oh. yes. Yes, l went to church,
"What was the sermon aboutw
what, mother"
"Can't you hear meT she cried. 81
asked you what the sermon was
about"
He reused himself. IL think It was
about" He frowned, seeming to con-
centrate his will to recollect. II think
1t was about something In the Bible"
White-jacket George was glad of an
opportunity to leave the room and lean
upon Mist Jackson's shoulder in the
pantry. "He don't know they was
any suhmonw he concluded. having
narrated the dining-room dialogue.
"All he know is he was with at lady
lives mex dor George was right.
did you go to church all by your
self, Bibbs?" Sibyl asked.
NO." he answered. "No. didn't go
alone"
"Oh" Sibyl gave the ejaculation
an upward twist, as of hooking In
quiry, and followed 1t by another, ex-
pressive of hilarious comprehension.
"Ohv'
Bibbs looked at her studiously, bat
she spoke no further. And that COM
pleted the conversation at the lugu-
brious feast.
Coffee came finally, was disposed
Of quickly, and the party dispersed to
other parts of the house. Bibbs fol-
lowed his father and Roscoe into the
library, but was not well received.
"You go and listen to the phono-
graph with the women-folks." Sheri-
dan commanded.
Bibbs retreated. Sometimes you do
seem to be a hard sort Of manw he
said.
However. he went obediently into
the gilt-and-brocade room to which his
mother and his sister and his sister
in-law had helplessly withdrawn, ac-
cording to their Sabbatical custom.
Mrs. Sheridan was looking over col
lection Of records consisting exclu-
sively Of Caruso and ragtime. She
selected one of the latter, remarking
that she thought 1t right pretty" and
followed it with one of the former and
the same remark.
As the second reached its conclusion,
George appeared In the broad door
way, but he did not speak. Instead,
he favored Edith with a benevolent
smile, and she Immediately left the
room, George disappearing after her
In the hall with an air of successful
diplomacy. He made 1t perfectly clear
that Edith had given him secret in
structions and that it had been his
pride and pleasure to fulfill them to
the letter.
Sibyl stiffened In her chair; her lips
parted, and she watched with curious
eyes the vanishing back Of the white
jacket.
whats that? she asked, in low
voice, but sharply.
"Here's another right pretty record"
said Mrs. Sheridan, affectlng-with
patent nervousness--not to hear. And
she Embossed the music.
Sibyl bit her lip and began to tap
her chin with the brooch. After little
while she turned to Bibbs, who reposed
at half length In gold chair, with his
eyes closed. S
Where did Edith go". she asked,
curiously.
"Edith" he repeated, opening his
eyes blankly. els she gomez
Sibyl got up and stood in the door
way. She leaned against the casing
still tapping her chin with the brooch.
Her eyes were dilating; she was sud
denly at high tension, and her express
sion had become one of sharp excite
ment. She listened intently.
When the record was spun out she
could hear Sheridan rumbling In the
library, during the ensuing silence,
and Roscoe's voice. querulous and
husky: 81 won't say anything at all.
l tell you, you might Just as well let
me alonew
But there were other sounds: rus
Ting and murmur, whispering, low,
protesting cadences In a male voice.