The Ordway new era., 1916-11-03

y
fuss about IT. Amt your
~ didn't 60 at II in the right spirit
tho other time" Bibbs said, smiling
brightly, his face ruddy In the chereful
flrclicht. ~ didn't know the dlnerence
it meant to like thing"
"well, guess I've pretty Thoroughly
yindicated my Judgment. i guess l
haye, said the shop'd be good for
Won and II was. said 1t wouldn't
hurt YOU, and 1t hasn't. It's been just
exactly what said 1t would be. Amt
that SOP"
"I.ooks like IT." Bibbs agreed, gnyly.
"Well, I'd like to know any place
been wrong first and last! Instead O.
hurtin' you. it's been the maxim OF
you-physically. It's started you out
to be the huskiest one o. the whole
family. Now. then. mentally-that's
different. don't say 1t unkindly.
Blbbs. but you got to do something
for yourself mentally. just like what's
been done physically. And I'm goin'
to help you"
sheridan decided to sit down again.
He brought his chair close TO his sons.
and, leaning over, tapped Bibbs' knee
confidentially. II got plans for you,
Bibbs." he said.
Bibbs instantly looked thoroughly
alarmed He drew back. lin all
right now. father"
Listen" Sheridan settled himself
In his chair, and spoke In the tone OF
a reasonable man reasoning. Listen
here, Blbbs had another blow to-
day. and 1t was hard one and right
in the face, though l have been eI-
pectin It some little time back. Wei,
it's got to be met. Now I'll be fran.
with you. As ! said minute ago,
exactly strong You got will power.
I'll say that for you. I never knew
boy or man that could be stubborner-
never one in my life! Now. then,
you've showed you could learn to run
that machine best OF any man In the
shop. in no time ut all. That looks
to me like you could learn to do other
things. don't deny but what it's an
encouragin' sign. | don't deny that. Mt
all. Now. then, I'm goin' to give you
n raise. wanted to send you straight
two. maybe-but ! cant do It. / lost
Jim. and now I've lost Roscoe. He's
quit. He's laid down on me. If he
ever comes back Mt all. he'll be a long
time pickin' up the strings, and. any
way. he amt the man l thought he
was. ! cant count on him. ! got to
have somebody l know I can count
on. And I'm down TO this: you're my
last chance. Blbbs. got to learn you
to use what brains you got and see
II we can't develop 'en a little. Who
knows? And I'm goin' to put my time
in on It. I'm goin' to take you right
downtown with me. and l won't be
hard on you If you're n little slow at
first. And I'm goin' to do the big thing
for you. I'm goin' to make you feel
you got to do the big thing for me.
in return. I'm goin' to make an appeal
to your ambition thnt'll make you
dizzy" He tapped his son on the
knee again. "Bibbs. I'm goin' to start
you or this way: I'm goin' to make
you director in the Pump Works
company; I'm goin' to make you vice
president of the Realty company and
n vice-president OF the Trust com.
panyw
B!bbs jumped to his feet. blanched.
"Oh. no!' he cried.
Sheridan took his dismay to be the
excitement of sudden joy. "Yes. sirl
And there's some pretty fat little sal
| aries goes with those vice-presidencies,
and n pinch O. stock In the Pump com.
pany with the dictatorship. You
thought l was pretty mean about the
shop-oh. l know you dld!-but you
see the old man can play both ways.
And so right now, the minute you've
begun to make good the way wanted
you to, deal from the new deck. And
I'll keep on handin' 1t out bigger and
bigger every time you show me you're
big enough to play the hand deal you.
I'm startin' you with a pretty big one,
my boy"
"But don't-1 don't-I don't want
it" Bibbs stammered.
Sheridan looked perplexed. whats
the matter with you? Didn't you un.
derstand what was tellln' your
81 know, know! But can't take
it"
Whats the matter with you?" Sher.
idan was half amazed, half suspicious.
Your head feel funnyT
i've never been quite SO sane in my
life," said Bibbs, "as l have lately.
And I've got just what I want. I'm
living exactly the right life. I'm earn.
Ing my daily bread, and I'm happy in
doing 1t. My wages are enough. /
don't want any more money, and /
don't deserve any"
"Damnatlon" Sheridan sprang up.
You've turned Socialist! You been
listening to those fellows down there,