The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1916-10-05

He wants 10 eco the young folks
happy.
I'm sorry" said Mary. "I hoped
you'd come because we're neighbors."
He chuckled. "Neighborsl Some
times people don't see so much o. their
neighbors as they used to. That is,
hear so-lately."
You'll stay long enough to sit down,
won't your
~ guess could manage that
much" And they sat down, facing
each other and not far apart.
"Of course, 1t couldn't be called bust.
ness, exactly" he said, more gravely.
mot at all. expect. But there's
something o. yours It seemed to me
ought to give you, and l Just thought
II was better to bring II myself and
explain how l happened to have It. It's
thls-this letter you wrote my boy"
He extended the letter to her solemnly.
IN his left hand, and she took II gently
from him. 1T was In his mail, after
he was hurt. You knew he never got
It, expect"
YES" she said, in a low voice.
He sighed. "T'm glad he didn't
Not" he added, qulckly-"not but what
you did just right to send 1t. You did.
You couldn't acted any other way
when 1t came right down to II. 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'
It. had to take charge of all his
mail and everything: l didn't know
the handwritin', and l read 1t all-once
got started"
I'm glad you did"
"well'-he leaned forward as II
to rise-'I guess that's about all.
Just thought you ought to have It."
THANK you for bringing It,"
He looked at her hopefully, as II
be thought and wished that she might
have something more to say. But she
seemed not to be aware Of this glance,
and sat with her eyes fixed sorrowfully
upon the floor.
"well, I expect I better be gettin'
back to the Office" he said, rising des-
perately. 81 told-I told my partner
I'd be back at two o'clock. and guess
he'll think I'm a poor business man
II he catches me behind time. ! got
to walk the chalk a mighty straight
line these days-with that fellow keep
In tabs on me!'
Mary rose with him. "I've always
heard you were the hard driver"
He guffawed derisively. "Mef I'm
nothln' 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. I shouldn't be surprised
day, and run the whole circus himself
You know how he ls-once he goes al
thlng'
NO" she smiled. 81 didn't know
you had a partner. I'd always heard
He laughed, looking away from her
"It's just my way o. speakin' o. that
boy o. mine, Bibbs."
He stood then, expectant, staring out
into the hall with an air of careless
must say at least, How is BibbsT but
she said nothing at all, though he wait
ed until the silence became embarrass
ing.
"well, l guess I better be gettin
down there" he said, at last. "Ht
might worry"
"Goodby-and thank you," said Mary
"For whatT'
"For the letter"
~
welcome. Goodby."
Mary put out her hand. "Goodby.'
you'll have to excuse my left hand.
he said. IL had little accident to thu
other one"
She gave a plying cry as she saw
"Oh, poor Mr.. SheridanP'
"Nothin' at ALL Dictate everything
nowadays, anyhow" He laughed
Jovially. "Did anybody tell you how
1t happenedT
81 heard you hurt your hand, bu
no--not just how"
''It was this way" he began, ant
both, as II unconsciously, sat dowI
again. ~'You may not know II, but
used to worry a good deal about thu
youngest o. my boys-the one tina
used to come to see you sometimes
after Jim--that Is, mean Bibbs. Het
the one spoke OF as my partner; ant
the truth is that's what It's Just abou
goIn' to amount to, one o. these days
II his health holds out Well, you re
member, l expect, l had him on
machine over at a plant o. mine; ant
sometimes I'd kind O. sneak in Their
and see how he was gettln' along
Take doctor with me sometimes, be
cause Blbbs never was 80 robust, yo'
might say. Ole Doc Gurney--I CUES
maybe you know b.mf Tall. thin man
acts sleepy"
"Yes."
"well, one day an ole Doc Cur
ney. we were in there, and under
took to shax Bibha how to run hi