Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1916-08-17

Old Man Sheridan, nightly pleased
with 6ibbs, has gone to Mary vertrees
with the purpose Of fixing up" the
sstroubIe" between her and his son.
He wants to see the young folks
happy.
"rm sorry" said Mary. 81 hoped
you'd come because werc neighbors."
He chuckled. "Neighbors! Some
times people don't see SO much o. their
neighbors as they used to. That is. I
hear so-lately."
you'll stay long enough To sit down,
won't your"
81 guess could manage that
much" And they sat down, facing
each other and not far apart.
''0f course, 1t couldn't be called bust
ness. exactly" he said. more gravely.
''Not at all, ! expect But there's
something o. yours 1t seemed to me
ought to give you, and just thought
1t was better to bring II myself and
explain how happened to have 1t. It's
this-this letter you wrote my boy"
He extended the letter to her solemnly,
in his left hand and she took it gently
from him. 1T was in his mail. after
he was hurt You knew he never got
1t, expect"
yes" she said. in a low voice.
He sighed. "I'm glad he didn't
Mot" he added, quickly-"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'
II. 7 had to take charge of all his
mail and everything: l didn't know
the handwritin', and read it all-once
got started"
I'm glad you did"
'Well"--he leaned forward as If
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 IL
he 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.
swell, / expect l better be gettin'
back to the Office" he said, rising des-
perately. 81 told told my partner
I'D be back at two o'clock. and guess
hell think I'm poor business man
In he catches me behind time l got
to walk the chalk a mighty straight
Ine these days--with that fellow keep
In tabs ON mep'
Mary rose with him. "I've always
heard you were the hard driver"
He guffawed derisively. me? I'm
nornin' 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 goes at
thingw
mo" she smiled. II didn't know
you had partner. I'd always heard"
He laughed, looking away from her.
''Its 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
Igeniality. He felt that she certainly
unjust say at least, How is BibbsY' but
she said nothing at all, though he wait
ed until the silence became embarrass
1ng.
"Well, guess / better be gettin
down there" he said, at last. He
might worry"
1 "Goodby-and thank you," said Mary.
"For what?"
"For the letter."
"Oh," he said, blankly. you're
welcome. Goodby."
. Mary put out her hand. "Goodby."
you'll have to excuse my left hand"
fne said. 81 had little accident to the
other one"
She gave plying cry as she saw.
ooh, poor Mr.. Sheridan
"Nothin' at all! Dictate everything
nowadays, anyhow" He laughed
ijovially. did anybody tell you how
1T happenedT
4 81 heard you hurt your hand, but
lno-not just how"
at was this way" he began, and
both, as If unconsciously. sat down
again. "You may not know 1t, but
used to worry a good deal about the
youngest o. my boys-the one that
fused to come to see you sometimes,
latter Jim-that is, mean Bibbs. He's
1.-THE one spoke of as my partner; and
the truth Is that's what it's just about
lgoin' to amount to, one o. these days
iff his health holds out. Well, you re-
member expect, | had him on a
machine over at plant o. mine; and
sometimes I'd kind o. sneak in there
land see how he was gettin' along.
Take a doctor with me sometimes, be-
cause Bibbs never was so robust, you
fmight say. Ole Doc Gurney-I guess
maybe you know himF Tall. thin man;
acts sleepy"
YES"
well. one day l an ole Doc Cur
fney, we were In there. and I under
took to show Bibbs how to run his
machine. He told me to look out, but
u wouldn't listen. and / didn't look
but-and that's how l got my hand
hurt, tryin' to show Bibbs to do some
thing he knew how to do and | didn't.
Made me so mad just wouldn't even
admit to myself 1t was hurt-and so,
by and by, ole Doc Quincy had to take
mind o. radical measures with me. He's
I. RIGHT good doctor, too. Don't you