The Elk Mountain pilot., 1916-10-19


white-jacket appeared beamingly in
the doorway, bearing furs. "Awready,
Mist Bibbs," he announced. you
ma say wrap up wawm T. you ride,
an she cain go with you today, an not
fgit go see you pa at fo' clock. Aw
ready, suh."
He equipped Bibbs for the daily
drive Doctor Gurney had commanded; !;
and in the manner of master of cere-
monies unctuously led the way. In the
hall they passed the Moor, and Bibbs
paused before it while white-jacket
opened the door with flourish and
feur in the car which stood waiting in
the driveway.
ut seems to me I asked you what
you thought about this statue when
first came home, George" said Bibbs,
thoughtfully. What did you tell me?"
"Yessuh" George chuckled. per-
fectly understanding that for some un-
known reason Bibbs enjoyed hearing
him repeat his opinion of the Moor
''You asst me when you frs come home,
an you asst me mex day, an mighty
,
an las Sunday you asst me twicet." He
shook his head solemnly. Look to me
mus be somep'm mighty lamidal bout
at statuev'
Mighty what?"
Mighty lamidalr George burst out
laughing. what do 'at word mean,
Mist Bibbs?"
ITS exactly the word for the
statue" said Bibbs. with conviction. as
he climbed into the car. Its lami-
dal statue"
"Hiyiw George eNulted. MAN! Man!
Listen! Well, sub. she mighty lamidal
statue, but lamidal statue heap O. trou-
BILE to dus'"
Il expect she is!' said Bibbs, as the
engine began to churn; and a moment
later he was swept from sight
George turned to Mist Jackson, who
had been listening benev olently in the
hallway. Same he anyways say. Mist
Jackson-T expec' she is!' Ev'y day
he try t git me talk bout at lamidal
statue an anyways. las thing he say,
L expec' she ISL You know, Mist
Jackson, IL he git well. at young man
go be pride o. the family. Mist Jack
son. Yes sub. right now 1 pick i'm fo'
frs money!
Look out with all at money,
George" Jackson warned the enthusi-
asst. white folks n is house know
i'm heap longer N you. You the on'y
man bettin' on fmr'
II risk itw cried George. merrily. 'I
put her all on now-ev'y cent! AT
boys go be flower o. the fiockr
This singular prophecy, founded
somewhat recklessly upon gratitude
for the meaning of 'lamidal," differed
radically from another prediction con-
cerning Bibbs, set forth for the benefit
of fair auditor some twenty minutes
later. Jim Sheridan, skirting the edges
of the town with Mary Vertrees beside
him, in his own swift machine, encoun-
tered the invalid upon the highroad.
The two cars were going in opposite dl-
rections, and the occupants of Jim's
had only a swaying glimpse of Bibbs
sitting alone on the back seat-his
white face startlingly white against
cap and collar of black fur-but he
flashed into recognition as Mary bowed
to him.
Jim waved his left hand carelessly.
''Its Bibbs. taking his constitutional"
he explained.
Eyes, l know" said Mary. II bowed
to him, too, though I've never met him.
In fact, I've only seen him once-no,
twice. hope he won't think I'm very
bold, bowling to him"
II doubt If he noticed it." said hon
est jim.
"Oh, OH" she cried.
whats the trouble?"
"rm almost sure people notice it
when I bow to them
"Oh. l seer said Jim. "Of course
funny"
sis he? How?" she asked. "He
strikes me as anything but funny"
well, I'm his brother" Jim said,
deprecatingly. but don't know what
he's like, and, to tell the truth, I've
never felt exactly like was his broth
err the way do Roscoe. Nobody could
ever get him to do anything; you can't
get him to do anything now. He never
had any life in him; and honestly, If
he is my brother. must say believe
Bibbs Sheridan is the LATEST man God
ever made! hate to say 1t, but Bibbs
Sheridan IL never amount to anything
as long as he lives"
Mary looked thoughtful. "Is there
any particular reason why he should?"
she asked.
Good graciousr' he exclaimed you
don't mean that, do you? Don't you
believe in mans knowing how to
earn his salt, no matter how much
money his fathers got? Hasn't the
business of this world got to be carried
on by everybody in it7 Are we going
to lay back on what we've got and see