Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-10-12
you'll stay long enough to sit down,

y
it was better to bring it myself and
explain hCw l happened to have it. It's
this-this letter you wrote my boy"
He extended the letter to her soIemnly,
in his left hand, and she took it gently
from him. 1T was in his mall after
he was hurt. You knew he never got
it, l expect"
Yes" she said, in low voice.
He sighed I'm glad he didn't
Not" he added. quickIy-"not but what
you did just right to send it. You did
You couldn't acted any other way
when it came right down to it. There
amt any blame comm to you-you
were aboveboard all through"
Mary said, THANK you" almost in
a whisper, and with her head bowed
low
You'll have to excuse me for readin'
1t. I had to take charge of all his
mail and everything; I didn't know
the handwritin', and read it all-Once
/ got started
I'm glad you did"
"WelP'-he leaned forward as If
to rise-"I guess that's about all. I
just thought you ought to have it,"
THANK you for bringing it."
He looked at her hopefully, as if
he thought and wished that she might
have something more to say. But 70
seemed not to be aware of this glance,
and sat with her eyes fixed sorrowfully
upon the floor.
"Well, | expect | better be gettin'
back to the office" he said, rising des-
perately. 4 told told my partner
I'd be back at two O'Clock. and I guess
he'll think I'm a poor business man
If he catches me behind time l got
to walk the chalk a mighty straight
line these days-with that fellow keep
in tabs on mer'
Mary rose with him. owe always
heard you were the hard driver"
He guffawed derisiyely. "Me? I'm
nOthin' to that partner o. mine. You
couldn't guess to save your life how
he keeps after me to hold up my end
o the job. l shouldn't be surprised
he'd give me the grand bounce some
day, and run the whole circus himself,
You know how he is once he gees at
a thingr'
NO" she smiled. 81 didn't know
you had partner. I'd always heard"
He laughed, looking away from her.
It's just my way O. speakin' O. that
boy o. mine Bibbs."
4n tbor c,ta ont
into the hall with an air Of careless
geniality. He felt that she certainly
must say at least, "How is Bibbs?' but
she said nothing at all, though he wait
ed until the silence became embarrass-
ing.
IT'S wonderful" he interrupted, adj
miringly, what a fellow can do with
his left hand. / can sign my name
with mine now, wells I ever could
with my right It came a little hard
at first, but now, honest, l believe
rather sign with my left. That's all
/ ever have to write, anyway-just
the signature. Rests all dictatin'. y
He blew across the top of the cup
unctuously Good coffee, mammal
Well, about Bibbs. Ole Quincy says
he believes If Bibbs could somehow
get back to the state O. mind he was
in about the machine shOp-that is, if
he could some way get to feelin' about
business the way he felt about the
shop-not the poetry and writin' part,
but" He paused, supplementing his
remarks with a motion of his head
toward the old house next door. HE
says Bibbs is older and harder'n what
he was when he broke down that time,
and, besides, he amt the kind O
dreamy way he was then-and
sh0Nld say he amt! I'd like 'em to
show me anybody his age that's any
wider awake! But he says Bibbs'
health'H never need bother us again
if"
Mrs. Sheridan shook her head. 81
don't see any help that way. You
know yourself she wouldn't have Jim"
who's talkin' about her havin' any
body? But my Lord! she might let
him look at her! She needn't "a got
so mad, just because he asked her, that
she won't let him come in the house
any more. He's a mighty funny boy,
and some ways / reckon he's pretty
near as hard to understand as the
Bible, but Quincy kind o. got me In
the way o. thinkin' that if she'd let
him come back and set around with
her an evening or two sometimes-not
regular, l don't mean-why- Well, /
just thought I'd see what you'd think
of 1t. There amt any way to talk
about it to Bibbs himself don't sup
pose he'd let you, anyhow-but
thought maybe you could kind o slip
over there some day, and kind O. hint
around till you see how the land lays
and ask her.
''Mer Mrs Sheridan looked both
helpless and frightened. "No." She
shook her head decidedly. ut wouldn't
do any good"
You won't try it?'
II won't risk her turnin' me out o
the house. Some way, that's what
believe she did to Sibyl. from what
Roscoe said once. No, l Garland
what's more, it'd only make things
worse. If people find out you're run
MIN after 'em they think you're cheap
and then they won't do as much fol-
you as If you let 'em alone 1 dom
believe it's any use, and l couldn't de-
it If it was"
4 clio y