The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1916-07-08
CHAPTER xII-continued.

There came second explosion, and
Uncle Gideon ran out into the hall.
Bibbs went to the head Of the great
staircase, and, looking down, discov-
cred the source of the disturbance.
Gideon's grandson. boy of fourteen,
had brought his camera to the funeral
and was taking flashlights" of the
Moor Uncle Gideon. treasured by
Bibbs' eXpla nation, would have re-
turned to finish his quotation from Bill
dad the Shuttle, but Bibbs detained
him, and after a little argument per-
suaded him to descend to the dining
room whittier Bibbs followed. after
closing the door Of his fathers room.
He kept his eyes on Gideon after
dinner, automatically preventing sew
eraI attempts on the part of that COM
forter to reascend the stairs; and it
was relief to Bibbs when George an
nounced that an automobile was wait
ing to convey the ancient man and
his grandson to their trains They were
the last TO leave, and when they had
gone Bibbs went signing TO his own
room.
He stretched himself YEARLY upon
the bed, but presently rose, went to
the window. and looked for a long time
at the darkened house where Mary
Vertrees lived. Then he opened his
trunk. took therefrOm a small notebook
half filed with fragmentary scrfb-
bIings, and began to write:
Laughter after a funeral. In this re-
action people will laugh at anything and
at nothing. The band plays a dirge on
the way to the cemetery. but when it
turns back. and the mourning carriages
are out OF hearing. it strikes up. Dark
town Is Out Tonight" That is natural
but there are women whose laughter is
like the whirring of whips
Beauty is not out of place among grave
stones. 1t is not out of place anywhere.
But a woman who has been betrothed TO
man would not look beautiful at his
funeral. a woman might look beautiful
though. at the funeral of a man whom
she had known and liked. And in that
case. too. she would probably not want
TO talk if she drove home from the GENE
terry with his brother: nor would she
want the brother to talk. Neverthe-
less, too much silence is open to suspi-
cion. 1t may be reticence, it may be q
vacuum. 1t may be dignity. or 1t may be
false teeth.
Silence can be golden? Yes. But per
haps If a woman of the world should fine
herself by accident sitting beside a mar
for the length of time it must necessarily
take two slow old horses to jog three
miles. she might expect that man to say
something of some sort! If he did no
even try, but sat every step of the way
as dumb as a frozen fish. she Nigh
think him frozen fish. And she nigh
be right She might be right If sh,
thought him about as pleasant a com
panion-as Bildad the Shuhite.
Bibbs closed his notebook. repla Gin!
it in his trunk. Then. after a Deriot
of melancholy contemplation, he IN
dressed, put on a dressing gown an,
slippers. and went softly out into tn
hali-tO his fathers door. Upon tn
floor was tray which Bibbs had sen
George. earlier in the evening, to pIac
upon table in Sheridan,s room-bu
the food was untouched. Bibbs stoo
listening outside the door for sewers
minutes. There came no sound fro1
within. and he went back TO his ow
room and to bed
In the morning he woke to a stat
OF being hitherto unknown in his e,
perience. Sometimes in the proces
of waking there is a little pause
sleep has gone. but coherent though
has not begun. 1t is the moment s
we say, before we ''remembersy an
for the first time in Bibbs' life 1t can
to him bringing a vague happines
However. it was brief visitation an
was gone before he had finished dres
Ing. 1t left little trail. the please
recollection Of it and the puzzle of
which remained unsolved And.
fact waking happily in the morning
not usually the result of drive hon
from a funeral. No wonder the s
Quence eVaded Bibbs Sheridan!
His father had gone when he car
downstairs. Went on down to g ofic
jes' same" Jackson informed hi
t+Came sat breakfas' table, all
'mself; eat nothin's George bring nj
breakfas'. but he DIM eat a thir
fessuh, went on downtown. jes' sal
he yoosta do. Yessuh, 1 reckon put
snuch ev'ything goin' on same as
Foosta de-"
It struck Bibbs that Jackson y
eight. The day passed as other ds
Aad passed. Mrs. Sheridan and I'd