The Detroit times., 1916-08-17
MIR. Tibbets' Vacation
~ Or. FRANK CRANE
Copyright. 1915. by Frank Crane)

MI llooetS came back TO his desk af-
ter his vacation and began answering his
letters His stenographer noticed some
thing strange in him. Stenographers
become expert in reading the Indian
signs. the vague, unnoticeable little
things in the man whose mind they tran
scribe daily.
The business of Tibbets, Meecham &
Marks rolled on The senior partner had
dropped back into his rut.
After bit affairs at the Tibbcts home
proceeded at the accustomed quiet am
bic. AT first Mrs Tibbets was worried
her husband would not tell her where he
mad been. Being entirely superficial.
Mrs TibbetS abhorred anything that had
depth, such, for instance, as a mystery.
But to all her inquiries Mr.. Tibbets re-
piled simply that he had been away on
vacation, and that he preferred not to
say anything further.
Will tell you what Tibbets had been
up to.
he had been taking a vacation from
Oh years Of responsibility.
All his life he had been reputable. As
a child he was always dressed in clean
clothes watched by careful nurses. and
never allowed 10 play with the ragamuf.
ms. He had been sent TO first-class
boarding school. He had spent four
years at Bowdon college. ana had
emerged therefrom with honors. He
had entered into his fathers business
and taken charge of things when his
father died. He had married perfectly
respectable girl, and was the father Of
tour perfectly respectable children. He
was vestryman in a perfectly respectable
church where he attended every Sunday
ana listened 70 pastor who never made
a break. He belonged 10 three clubs.
emnently respectable He expected when
he died TO be laid away in a perfectly
respectable Tot in the cemetery. the place
was all picked out
Nobody suspected bat Mr. Tibbets
was tired Of it; and a month ago he
quietly left his handsome home and
took plunge into that other world that
ne had heard so much Of. but of which
ne knew nothing, the world of vaga-
bondage.
tie tried all sorts Of things. One
night he slept in the park and covered
himself with newspapers He heard the
birds opening chorus at half-past three
in the morning He ate free lunches in
saloons. lie went to an anarchist meet
ing and was surprised 70 hear "A speech
on the power of love and the folly OF
force such as his pastor had never dared
deliver
A hobo called Red Mike took quite a
fancy TO him and taught him how 10
play pinochle. He worked tWo DAYS driv-
ing team for Tibbcts, Mcccham 4
Marks He ate at those restaurants with
white tables and paper napkins where
they cook 1apjacks in the front windows,
and was surprised to find how good the
food was. An Irish policeman cracked
him over the head and cursed him, Just
for practice. and threatened to arrest
him if he talked back A human night
bird accosted him. and when hc refused
TO speak to her she sat down on the curb
stone and cried, because, she said, she
was hungry; so he slipped her five dol
lars and ran away
He committed no crime; he couldn't;
he had never known how.
But he spent 80 days in that world of
vagabondage Nobody knew what he
thought of it.
For he never told
He decided however. that if one wants
10 be a successful vagabond he must be-
gin when young.