The Ordway new era., 1916-12-01
=. ,.o..,. .r.n.mith..


soaked with 1t. Don't you know VINO
owned lit"
"Yes. l do" a..
.Ain't sayln', thought That III
what's the matterT
at belonged to Mr.. Vertrees. saia
Bibbs, shortly. applying himself to MS
desk.
"Sor' Sheridan gazed down Mt MS
sons thin face. Excuse me- he SAID
.your business" And he went back
to his own room. But presently he
looked in again.
II reckon you won't mind lunchin
alone today"-he was shutiiing himself
into his overcoat-"because Just
thought I'd go up to the house and
get this over with mamma he
glanced apologetlr ally toward MS
right hand as 1t emerged from the
sleeve OF the ovcrcoat The bandnGes
had been removed, finally. that morn
ing, revealing but three hngers--the
forefincer and the next to 1t had peeh
amputated. shes bound to make an
awful fuss, and It better spoil her
lunch than her dinner. I'll be back
about two"
But he calculated the time Of his ar
rival at the new house so accurately
that Mrs. Sherldan's lunch was not dis
turbed, and she was rising from the
lonely table when he came into the
dining room. He had left his overcoat
In the hall, but he kept his hands In
his trousers pockets.
whats the matter, papa?" she
asked. quickly. Has anything gone
wrong? You amt sickT'
Me- He laughed loudly. "Me
sickT"
You had lunch?
"Dldn't want any today. You can
give me a cup o. coffee. though"
She rang. and told George to have
coffee made. and when he had with
drawn she said querulously. 81 just
know there's something wrong"
"Nothin' in the world" he respond
ed, heartily. taking seat at the head
OF the table. Il thought I'd talk over
a notion o. mine with you. that's all.
It's more womcu-foIks' business than
what It is mans. anyhow"
what aboutT'
"Why. ole Doc Gurney was mp at the
office this morning awhile"
ITO look at your hand? How's he
say It's doin'y'
Fine! Well. he went in and snt
around with Blbbs awhile"
Mrs. Sheridan nodded pessimistically.
II guess It's time you had him. too.
knew Bibbs-"
Now, mamma, hold your horses!
wanted him to look Bibbs over before
anythinG's the matter. You don't sup
pose I'm goin' to take any chances
with Bibbs, do you? Well afterwards.
| shut the door. and | an ole Gurney
had n talk. He's n mighty dlsagreeable
man; he rubbed 1t In on me what he
said about Bibbs havin' brains II he
ever woke up. Then | thought he must
want to get something out o me. he
got SO aattering-for n minute! 'Bibbs
couldn't help havin' business brains
he says. 'beln' your son. Don't be sur
prised,' he says-'don't be surprised at
his maxim success he says. He
couldn't get over his heredity: he
couldn't help beln' n business success
once you got him into 1t. It's in his
blood. Yes. sir he says. 1t doesn't
need much brains he says, AN only
third-rate brains. at that he says. but
It does need n special kind O. brains
he says. to be n millionaire. I mean,'
he says. when n mans given start.
II nobody gives him start, why.
course he's got to have luck and the
tight kind O brains. The only mir
;cle about Bibbs,' he says. is where he
fot the other kind O. brains-the brains
,ou made him quit usln' and throw
away"
But what d he say about his
b .alth?" Mrs. Sheridan demanded. i'm
pltiently. as George placed cup of
,ffee before her husband. Sheridan
Helped himself to cream and sugar.
md began to sip the coffee.
I'm comm to that" he returned,
lacldly. "See how easy | manage this
cup with my left hand. mamma?'
"You been dom that all winter
What did"
ITS wonderful" he interrupted. ad-
miringly, what n fellow can do with
his left hand. can sign my name
with mine now. wells l ever could
with my right It came little hard
at first, but now, honest. I believe I
rather sign with my left. That's all
ever have to write, anyway-just
the signature. Rests all dIctatin'."
He blew across the top of the cup
unctuously. Good coffee, mamma
Well. about Bibbs. Ole Gurney says
he believes II Bibbs could somehow
get back to the state O. mind he was
In about the machine shop-that Is. II
he could some way get to feelin' about
business the way he felt about the
shop-not the poetry and writin' part,