The Ordway new era., 1916-10-13
The Turmoil
BOOTH HARRINGTON
Copyright lslS. by Harper 5 BrothersI

or so ago, but she was so Indifferent
she scared the men off Gracious! they
were lucky! Marry her? The man
that found himself tied up TO that
girl"
Terrible funny terrible funny!'
said Roscoe, with sarcasm. It's SO
funny l broke n cut glass decanter
and spilled quart Of"
"Wait.' she begged. You'll see.
saw big wagon drive up and some
! men 20 into the house. Well,
thought I'd see, so l slipped overland
it was their piano! They'd sold it and
were trying to sneak it out after dark.
so nobody'd catch on"' Again she
gave way to her enjoyment, but re-
sumed. as her husband seemed about
to interrupt the narrative, Wait n
minute, can't you? Yes they'd sold 1t;
and l hope they'll pay some of their
debts. They owe everybody, and last
week a coal dealer made an awful fuss
at the door with Mr.. Eertrees. Their
cook told our upstairs girl. and She
said she didn't know when she'd seen
any money, herself! Did you ever
hear of such a case as that girl in your
life?"
What girl! Their cook?"
That Vertrees girl! Don't you see
they looked on our coming up into this
neighborhood as their last chance /?
They were just going down and out.
and here bobs up the green, rich Sheri-
dan family! So they send her out to
get Sheridan-she's got to get one!
And she just goes in blind: and Jim
was landed-there's no doubt about
that! But Jim was lucky: he didn't
live to stay landed, and it's a good
thing for him. Sibyrs mirth had van.
ished, and she spoke with vIrulent ra-
pidity. well, she couldn't get you
because you were married. and she
couldn't get Jim. because Jim died
And there they were. dead broke. Do
you know what she did? Do you know
what she's doing?"
mo. don't" said Roscoe. grutTiy.
Sibyl's voice rose and eliminated in
scream of renewed hilarity "Bibbs
She waited in the Cra veyard. and drove
home with him from Jims funeral!
Never spoke TO him before. Jim wasn't
coldw
She rocked herself back and forth
upon the divan. "Rlbbsr' she shrieked
"Bibbs! Roscoe. think of it, Bibhsr'
He stared unsympatheticany. but
her mirth was unabated for all that.
And yesterday" she continued. be-
tween parOXysms-"ye she
came out OF the house-just as he was
passing. She must have been looking
out-waiting the chance: l saw the
old lady watching at the window. And
she got him there last night-to play
10 him; the old lady gave that away,
And today she made him take her out
in machinei And the cream of It is
that they didn't even know whether he
was insane or not-they thought may
be he was, but she went after him
just the same, The old lady set her
self to pump me about it today. Bibbs,
oh, my Lord! Blbbsr'
But Roscoe looked grim. $50 it's
funny to you, is it? 1t sounds kind Of
pitiful to me. | should think 1t would
to woman, too"
"Oh. it might" she returned. sober
ing. 1T might. If those people weren't
such frozen-faced smart Alecks. II
they'd had the decency to come down
of the perch a little probably
wouldn't think It was funny, but to
see EN- sit up on their pedestal all the
time they're eating dirt-weH, think
its funny. That girl sits up as if she
was Queen Elizabeth. and expects
people TO wallow on the ground before
her until they get near enough for her
to give 'em a good kick with her old
patched shOes-oh. she'd do that. all
right,-and then she powders up and
goes out to mash-Bibbs Sheridan"'
Look here" said Roscoe, heavily:
Il don't care about that one way or
another. II you're through, got
something want TO talk to you about.
| was going to. that day just before we
heard about Jim
At this Sibyl stiffened quickly; her
eyes became intensely bright What
is it,"
We'll" he began, frowning. what
was going to say then" He broke
( of, and, becoming conscious that he
was still holding the wet napkin in his
hand. threw it pettishly into a corner
Il never expected I'd have to say any
thing like this to anybody married
! but / was going to ask you what was
the matter between you and Lam
( horn"
Sibyl uttered sharp monosylla BILE.
"WeIl?"
81 felt the time had come for me to
know about It," he went on. "You
never told me anything"
You never asked" she interposed
curtly.
"Well. we'd got in way Of not
talking much" said Roscoe. "It looks
to me now as II we'd pretty much lost
the run Of each other the way a goot
| many neanle do don,f aaY ~ Kasn,