The Elk Mountain pilot., 1916-12-28


together-if he ever wakes up he
says. Wasn't that exactly what he
says"
II suppose So" said Sheridan. with
out exhibiting any Interest. "Gurney's
crazier N Bibbs, but II he wasn't-if
what he says was true-what of it?"
Listen, papa. Just suppose Bibbs
took it into his mind to get married.
You know where he goes all the
time"
"Oh, Lord, yes!' Sheridan turned
leaving visible of himself only the
thick grizzle OF his hair. You better
go back to sleep. He runs over there
every minute she'll let him, 1 sup
pose. Go back to bed. There's nothin'
in it."
"Why amt there?" she urged. 81
know better-there is, too! You wait
and see. There's just one thing in the
world that'll wake the sleepiest young
man alive up-yes, and make him
jump up-and don't care who he is or
how sound asleep 1t looks like he is.
That's when he takes it into his head
to pick out some girl and settle down
and have home and children of his
own. Then, 1 guess, he'll go out after
the money! You'll see. Now. don't
say that Bibbs has got the idea In his
head yet-'er else he wouldn't be
talkin' that fool-talk about nine dol
lars week bein' good enough for him
to live on. But it's comm, papa. and
he'll jump for whatever you want to
hand him out. He will! And can
tell you this much, too: he'll want all
the salary and stock he can get hold
Of and he'll hustle to keep gettin'
more. That girls the kind that
young husband just goes crazy to give
things to! She's pretty and fine-lookin'.
and things look nice on her, and /
guess she'd like to have 'em about as
well as the next. And l guess she
isn't gettin' many these days, either
and she'll be pretty ready for the
change. saw her with her sleeves
rolled up ut the kitchen window the
! other day, and Jackson told me yester-
day their cook left two weeks ago. and
they haven't tried to hire another one.
He says her and her mother been doin'
they're doin' the cookin'. too. Course
Bibbs wouldn't know that unless she's
told him. and l reckon she wouldnt;
she's kind O. stiffish-lookin, and Bibbs
is too up in the clouds to notice any
think like that for himself. They've
never asked him to a meal In the
house. but he wouldn't notice that,
either-he's kind of innocent. Now
was thinkin'-you know, l don't sup
pose we've hardly mentioned the girls
name at table since Jim went, but 1t
seems to me maybe If"
Sheridan flung out his arms, utterinG
a sound half groan, half yawn. You're
barkin' up the wrong tree! Go on back
to bed. mammal
"Why am II" she demanded. GROSSLY.
why am barkin' up the wrong treeF
Because you are. There's nothin'
in It"
"Tll bet you." she said, rising-"1'll
bet you he goes to church with her this
morning. What you want to bett'
go back to bed" he commanded. II
know what I'm talkln' about: there's
nothin' In 1t, I tell you"
She shook her head perplexedly
"Then-do you know something about
II that you amt told meT
"Yes, I do" he grunted. "Now go
on. Maybe can get little sleep. 1
amt had any yet!'
"Well-" She went to the door. her
expression downcast. - thought may
be-but-" She coughed prefatorily.
"Oh, papa, something else l wanted to
tell you. I was talkin' to Roscoe over
the phone last night when the tele-
gram came. so l forgot to tell you. but
well. Sibyl wants to come over this
afternoon. They expect to get of by
the end o. the week, and l reckon she
wants to feel she's done what she could
to kind O. make up. Anyway, that's
what he said. But what l thought
was, no use bein' rough with her. papa
| Il expect she's suffered a good deal
and / don't think we'd ought to be. on
Roscoes account. You'll-you1l be
kind O. polite to her, won't you, papa y
He mumbled something which was
smothered under the coverlct he had
pulled over his head.
"what?" she said, timidly. II was
just sayin l hoped you'd treat Sibyl
all right when she comes. this after
noon You will, won't you, papa"
He threw the coverlet of furiously
Il presume so!' he roared.
She departed guildly.
But If he had accepted her proffered
wager that Bibbs would go to church
| with Mary Vertrees that morning, Mrs.
| Sheridan would have lost. They meant
to go to church. But it happened
that they were attentvely preoccupied
in a conversation as they came to the
church; and they had gone an incredi
Bile number of blocks beyond 1t before
they discovered their error. However.