Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1916-06-01

passed, leaving greater darkness. Ana
yet neither of these two last attend
ants at Jim Sheridans funeral broke
the silence.
1t was Mary who perceived the
strangeness Of it-too late Abruptly
she realized that for an indefinite in
tcrval she had been thinking of her
companion and not talking to him.
"Mr. Sheridan" she began. not know
ing what she was going to say, but I'm
PEELED to say anything, as she realized
the queerness Of this drive-"Mr. Sher-
idan, L"
The coupe stopped. "You. Joew said
the driver, reproachfully, and climbed
down and opened the door.
What's the trouble?" Bibbs in
quIred
Lady said stop at first house north
of Mr. Sheridan's, SIR"
Mary was incredulous: she felt that
1t couldn't be true and that 1t mustn't
be true that they had driven all the
way without speaking.
Bibbs descended to the curb. "why
yes.' he said. "You seem to be right. :
And while he stood staring at the dim.
ly Illuminated front windows of Mr..
Vertrees' house Mary got out, unas-
sisted.
LET me help you," said Bibbs. step.
ping toward her mechanically; and she
was several feet from the, coupe when
be spoke. 1a
'Oh, no. she murmured 81 think ]
can" She meant that she could get
out of the coupe without help, but. per-
ceiving that she had already accom-
plished this feat she decided not to
complete the sentence.
"You. Joer' cried the driver. angrlly,
climbing to his box. And he rumblcd
away at his teams best paee-a snaips.
''Thank you for bringing me home,
Mr. Sheridan" said Mary, stiffiy. She
did not offer her hand. Good night"
Good night" Bibbs said in response,
and, turning with her, walked beside
her to the door. Mary made that a
short walk; she almost ran. Realiza-
ton Of the queerness OF their drive was
growing upon her, beginning to shock
her; she stepped aside from the light
that fell through the glass panels of
the door and withheld her hand as 1t
touched the old-fashioned bell handle
"Pm quite safe. thank you" she
said, with little emphasis. "Good
night"
Good night" said Bibbs, and went
obediently. When he reached the
street he looked back, but she had
vanished within the house.
Moving slowly away, he caromed
against two people who were turning
out from the pavement to cross the
street. They were Roscoe and his
wife.
where are your eyes, Bibbs?" de-
manded Roscoe. "Sleep-walking, as
usual?"
But Sibyl took the wanderer by the
arm. "Come over to our house for a
little while, Bibbs," she urged. 81
want to"
mo, I'd better"
Eyes. want you to. Your fathers
gone to bed, and they're all quiet over
there-all worn out. Just come for
minute"
He yielded, and when they were in
the house she repeated herself with
real feeling: "'All worn outp Well, IL
anybody is, you are. Bibbs! And I
don't wonder; you've done every bit of
the work of it. You mustn't get down
sick again. I'm going to make you
take little brandy"
He let her have her own way, fol-
lowing her into the dining room, and
was grateful when she brought him a
tiny glass filled from one of the de-
canters on the sideboard. Roscoe
gloomily poured for himself a much
heavier libation in larger glass; and
the two men sat, while Sibyl leaned
against the sideboard, reviewing the
episodes OF the day and recalling the
names of the donors of flowers and
wreaths. She pressed Bibbs to remain
longer when he rose to go, and then,
as he persisted, she went with him
to the front door. He opened it. and
she said:
"Bibbs, you were coming. out of the
Vertrees' house when we met you.
How did you happen to be thereY"
81 had only been to the door," he
said. "Good night, Sibyl."
wait" she insisted. "We saw you
coming out"
IL wasn't" he explained. "I'd just
brought Miss Vertrees home"
"WhatY she cried.
YES" he said, and stepped out upon
the porch, that was it. Good night,
Sibyl."
"Waitr' she said, following him
across the threshold. How did that
happen? I thought you were going to
wait while those men filed the-the-"
She paused. but moved nearer him in
sistently.