The Elk Mountain pilot., 1916-10-26
CHAPTER ViI-continued.

He seated himself in a chair at his
sons side and, leaning over, tapped
Bibbs confidentially on the knee.
''This city's got the greatest future in
America, and If my sons behave right
by me and by themselves they're goin'
to have mighty fair share Of it-a
mighty fair share. love this town.
love 1t like Do my own business, and
I'd fight for 1t as quick as I'd fight for
my own family. It's beautiful town.
Look at our wholesale district; look ut
any district you want to; look at the
park system we're putin through, and
the boulevards and the public statuary.
And she grows. God! how she grows"
He had become intensely grave; he
spoke with solemnity. "Now, Bibbs,
can't take any of it-nor any gold or
silver nor buildings nor bonds-away
with me in my shroud when have to
go. But 1 want to leave my share In
1t to my boys. I've worked for 1t; I've
been a builder and a maker; and two
blades of grass have grown where one
grew before, whenever 1 laid my hand
on the ground and willed 'em to grow.
I've built big and I want the buildin'
to go on. And when my last hour
comes I want to know that my boys
are ready to take charge. Bibbs, when
I'm up above want to know that the
big share I've made mine, here below,
is growin' bigger and bigger In the
charge of my boys"
He leaned back, deeply moved.
'-1herew he said. huskily. i've never
spoken more what was in my heart In
my life. l do it because l want you
to understand-and not think me
mean father. I never had to talk that
way to Jim and Roscoe. They under
stood without any talk, Bibbs."
"I see," said Bibbs. t"At least I
think do. But
"wait a minutew Sheridan raised
his hand. "If you see the least bit in
the world. then you understand what
1t meant to start one o. my boys and
have him come back on me the way
you did, and have to be sent to sani-
tarium because he couldn't stand work.
Now, let's get right down to 1t, Bibbs.
I've had a whole lot O. talk with ole
Doc Gurney about you, one time and
another, and l reckon l understand
your case just about MS well as he
does, anyway.
Now, why did work make you sick
Instead of brace you up and make
man of you the way 1t ought Of done?
I pinned ole Gurney down to 1t. says,
Look here, amt it really because ne
Just plain hated itP Yes he says,
that's it. II he'd enjoyed it, it wouldn't
a hurt him. And that's about the
way it is"
YES" said Bibbs, "thats about the
way it is"
"Well, then, 1 reckon it's up to me
not only to make you do it, but to
make you like itv'
Bibbs shivered. And he turned upon
his father a look that was almost
ghostly. II can't" he said, In a low
voice. "I can't"
"Can't go back to the shop?"
mo. Can't like 1t. can't"
Sheridan jumped up, his patience
zone. To his own view, he had rea-
soned exhaustively. had explained
fully and had pleaded more than IA
ther should, only to be met in the end
with the unreasoning and mysterious
stubbornness which had been Bibbs'
banning Characteristic from childhood.
by George, you will!' he cried.
"You'n go back there and you'll like it!
Gurney says it Won't hurt you II you
IKE it, and he says 1t II kill you II you
20 back and hate it; SO 1t looks as II it
was about up to you not to hate 1t.
Well, Gurney's d fool! Hatin' work
doesn't kill anybody; and this isn't
goin' to kill you, whether you hate it or
not I've never made a mistake in a
serious matter in my life, and it wasn't
q mistake my sendin' you there in the
nfst place. And I'm goin' to prove 1t
I'm goin' to send you back there and
V1koate NJ tuAGm~nt Quincy says