Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1916-06-11

goin' to happen? WHAT'S the: use my
havin' worked m! life and soul into
my business if it's all goin' to be dis
persed and scattered soon as I'm in
the ground"
He strobe up and down the long
room. gesticulatine-littl regarding
the troubled and drowsy figure by the
fires!de. His throat rumblcd thunder
ously; the words came withHstOrmy
bitterness. You think this is Il time
for young men to be lynn on beds of
ease? | tell you there never was such
time before; there never was such
opportunity. The sluggard is de-
spoiled while he slccps-ycs, by George!
II a man lays down they'll eat him be.
fore he wakcs!--bnt the live man can
build straight up til he touches the
sky. This is the business mans day;
1t used to be the soldiers day and the
statesman's day, but this is ours! And
1t amt Sunday to go tishin'-it's tur.
MOL! turmoi!!-and you got to 90 out
and live it and breathe it and make
it yourself. or you'll only be Il dead
man waIkin' around dreamin' yOn're
alive. And that's what my son Bihbs
has been dom all his life. and what
he'd rather do now than 20 out and do
his part by me. And if anything hap
pens to Roscoe"
ooh, do stop worryin' over such nom
sense" Mrs. Sheridan interrupted, irri
tated into sharp wakefulness for the
moment "rhere amt. anything goin
to happen to Roscoe, and you're just
tormentin' yourself about nothin'.
Aren't you ever goin' to bed?"
Sheridan halted. "All right, nam,
ma," he said. with vast sigh. Lets
go up" And he snapped off the cleo
trio light, leaving only the rosy glow
of the fire.
Did you speak to ROscOe?" she
yawned. rising lopsidedly in her drow-
siness. Did you mention about what
l told you the other EVENING""
mo. l will tomorrow"
-
But Roscoe did not come downtown
the next day. nor the next; nor did
Sheridan see fit to enter his sons
house. He waited. Then. on the
. fourth day Of the, month, . Roscoe
walked into his fathers Office ut nine
in the morning, when Sheridan hap
pened to be alone.
"They told me downstairs you'd left
word you wanted TO see me-"
est down." said Sheridan. rising.
Roscoe sat His father walked close
to him. shifted suspiciously, and then
walked away, smiling bitterly. "Boh!'
he exclaimed. "Still at it!' y
Yes said Roscoe. "Ive had a
couple of drinks this morning. What
about it?'
II reckon better adopt some decent
young man." his father returned. I'D
bring Bibbs up here and put him in
your place if he was fit. l would!'
Better do it," Roscoe assented, sui
lenly.
"When'd you begin this thing?"
81 always did drink little. Ever
since grew up, that is"
Leave that talk out! You know
what mean.' .
"Well, I don't know as I ever had
too much in Office hours-until the
other day.
Sheridan began cutting. cts lie.
I've had Ray Wills up from your Of
flee. He didn't want to give you away.
but put the hooks into him, and he
came through. You were drunk twice
before and couldn't work. You been
ieavin' your Office for drinks every few
hours for the last three weeks. l been
over your books. Your Office is way
behind. You haven't done any work.
to count, in month"
Roscoe's head was sunk between
his shoulders. II can't stand very
much talk about it, father" he said,
pleadingly.
mo" Sheridan cried. "Neither can
l! What do you think it means to
me" He dropped into the chair at
bis big desk, grooming. II can't stand
to talk about it any mole'n you can
to listen,, but I'm goiN' to find out
what's the matter with vow, aud I'm
gOin' to straighten you otAt!'
Roscoe shook his head helplessly.
"You can't straighten me out"
"See here! said Sheridan. "Can you
60 back to your office and stay sober
today, while get my work done, or
will have to hire couple O. huskies
to follow you around and knock the
whisky out O. your hand If they see
you tryin' to take st?''
"You needn't worry about that
said Roscoe, looking up with a faint
resentment. ''I'm not drinking be-
cause I've got thirst"
"Well, what have you got?"
Nothing. Nothing you can do any.
thing about. Nothing, l tell you.''
''We'Il see about thatv' said Sheri.
dan, harshly. Nov can't fool with
you today, and you get up out O. that
chair and get out O my office. You
bring your wife to dinner tomorrow.
You didn't come last Sunday-but you
come tomorrow. I'll talk this out with
you when the women-fol are .workin'