Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1916-08-03

Week?"
couldn't keep clean what she already
had; and suppose, with it all, she made
the house altogether unpeaceful and
unlivable-"
Just one minuter' Sheridan inter
rupted, adding, with terrible courtesy,
''If you will permit me? Have you
ever been right about anything?'
II don't quite"
II ask the simple question: Have
you ever been right about anything
whatever in the course Of your life?
Have you ever been right upon any
subject or question you've thought
about or talked about? Can you men
ton one single time when you were
proved to be right"
He was fiourishing the banda ged
hand as he spoke but Bibbs said only,
"If I've always been wrong before,
surely there's more chance that Pm
right about this. 1t seems reasonable
to suppose something would be due to
bring up my average"
Eyes, l thought you wouldn't see the
point And there's another you prob
ably couldn't see, but I'll take the lib
erty to mention it. You been balkin'
all your life. Pretty much everything
| ever wanted you to do you'd let out
some kind of a holler, like you are
now-and yet | can't seem to remem-
Der once when you didn't have to lay
down and do what | said. But go on
with your remarks about our city and
the business of this country. Go onr'
Il don't want to be part of it," said
Bibbs, with unwonted decision. Il
want to keep to myself and Pm doing
it now. l couldn't, if | went down
there with you. I'd be swallowed into
it. l don't care for money enough
to-
NO" his father interrupted, still
dangerously quiet. you've never had
to earn a living. Anybody could tell
that by what you say. Now, let me
remind you; you're sleepin' in a pretty
good bed; you're eatin' pretty fair
food you're wearin pretty fine
clothes. Just suppose one O. these
noisy housekeepers-me, for instance
decided to let you do your own house
keepin'. May | ask what your propo-
stiOn would be?'
Pm earning nine dollars a week."
said Bibbs, sturdily. ITS enough. l
shouldn't mind at ALL"
who's payin' you that nine dollars
a weel1?"
My work. Bibbs answered. "And
I've done so we'll on that clipping ma
teen or even twenty a week at another
Job. | could be 4 fair plumber in a
few months, I'm sure. I'd rather have
a trade than be in business-I should,
infinitelyw
you better set about learnin' one
pretty dam quick"' But Sheridan
struggled with his temper and again
was partially successful in controlling
it, You better learn a trade over Sun
day. because you're either goin' down
with me to my office Monday morn
ing-or-you can go to plumbing.
"All right" said Bibbs, gently. 81
can get along"
Sheridan raised his hands sardon-
ically, as in prayer. 20 God" he said,
this boy was crazy enough before
he began to earn nine dollars a week,
and now his moneys gone to his head.
Can't you do nothin' for him?" Then
he flung his hands apart, palms out
ward, in a furious gesture of dismis-
sal Get out O this room. You got
skull that's thicker'n a whales
thigh-b bone, but it's cracked spang all
the way across! You're cracked, oh.
but l got a fine layout here! One son
died. one quit, and ones a loon. The
looms all l got left. Well, mister, loon
or no loon, cracked and crazy or what
ever you are, III take you with me
Monday morning, and I'll work you
and learn you-yes' and I'll lam you.
if | got to-untitl I've made something
out of you that's fit to be called a
business man! I'll keep at you while
I'm able to stand, and if 1 have to lay