The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1916-07-22
The Story
of a Big
Man in a
Big Town

daily, his hardest hour For a long
time he and Jim had Iunched together
habituauy at small restaurant near
the Sheridan building, where they
spent twenty minutes in the consump-
| ton Of food, and twenty in talk. with
cigars. But now Sheridan remained
alone in his Office; he had not gone out
to lunch since Jim's death. nor did he
have anything sent to him-he tasted
until evening.
! 1t was the time be missed Jim per
.sOnally the most-the voice and eyes
and handshake, all brisk and alert, all
| businessiike. But Sheridan's sense OF
| loss went far deeper. Jim was the one
who would have been surest to keep
the great property growing greater,
year by year. Sheridan had fallen
asleep, night after night, picturing
what the growth would be under jim
He had believed that Jim was abso-
| lutely certain to be one OF the biggest
men in the country. Well. it was all
| up to Roscoe now!
That reminded him of a question he
had in mind TO ask Roscoe. 1t was
question Sheridan considered of no
present Importance. but his wife had
|
had meant to speak to Roscoe about it.
However. Roscoe had not come into
his fathers office for several days. and
when Sheridan had seen his son at
home there had been no opportunity.
He waited until the greater part OF
his days work was over. toward four
O'Clock. and then went down to Res-
Goes Office, which was on a lower floor.
He found several men waiting for bust
ness interviews in an outer room OF
| the series Roscoe occupied; and he sup
posed that he would find his son busy
with others, and that his question
would have to be postponed, but when
he entered the door marked "R. c.
Sheridan. Private" Roscoe was there
alone.
He was sitting with his back to the
door, his feet on a window-siu. and he
did not turn as his father opened the
door.
Some pretty good men out there
waitin' to see you. my boy" said Sheri-
dan. whats the matterT'
Nothing" Roscoe answered indis-
tinctly, not mOEing.
"Well, I guess that's all right. too.
1 let 'em wait sometimes myself I
just wanted to ask you question. but
I expect it'll keep. if you're workin'
} something out in your mind
Roscoe made no reply; and his IA
Their. who had turned to the door.
: paused with his hand on the knob.
: staring curiously at the motionless
. figure in the chair. Usually the son
seemed pleased and eager when be
came to the office You're all right.
: amt you!" said Sheridan. 'Not sick,
/ are your"
'NO."
Sheridan was puzzled; then, abrupt
~. he decided to ask his question. 81
wanted to talk TO you about that young
! Lamhorn." he said. 81 guess your
7 mother thinks he's comm to see Edith
pretty often, and you know him longer
n any of US, so"
'T won't" said Roscoe, thickIy-"l
won't say a dam thing about him!''
Sheridan uttered an exclamation and
. walked quickly to a position near the
: window where he could see his sons
r face. ROscOe's eyes were bloodshot
2 and vacuOus; his hair was disordered
: his mouth was distorted, and he was
\ deathly pale. The father stood aghast
q "By GeOrgeT' he muttered. RIOS
\ coep'
E my name" said Roscoe. "Can' hell
that"
q "Roscoer" Blank establishment wa.
! Sheridan's first sensation. Probably
! nothing in the world could have NOR.
e amazed him than to find Roscoe-tht
p steady old wheel-horse-in this condi
}. ton. How'd you get this way?'' b,
q demanded. 'You caught cold and tool
too much for it?"
: For reply Roscoe laughed hoarsely
# "Yeuh! Cold! been drinkun all time
It lately. FRS you notice it,"
: by GeorgeP' cried Sheridan. 50
# thought I'd smelt it on you a good dea
?: lately. but 1 wouldn't "a believes
you'd take more'n was good for you
3 Bohi To see you like common hogr
a Roscoe chuckled and threw out hi
e right arm in a meaningless gesture
"Hogr' be repeated, chuckling.
e eyes, a hogr said Sheridan, angrily
l. I'm business hours! l don't object t
y anybody's takin' a drink if he want
to, out o. business hours; nor. If a MAJ
> keeps his work right up to the scratch
1T l wouldn't be the one TO haste him /
ne got gOO0 an drunk once In TWO
!. three years, maybe 1t amt my way
!: let it alone, but never believed 4
le forcin' my way on a grown-up son 4
moral matters. l guess I was wrong
Is You think them men out there ar
= | waitin' TO talk business with drunk
IT ard? You think you can come to you
D Office and do business drunk? B
, George! 1 wonder how often this ha
?. been happening and me not on TO II
T: I'll have a look over your books tomol
y row. and III
70 Roscoe stumbled to his feet, laugh
N ing wildly, and stood swaying. col
ne irving TO hold himself in position b
Il clutching the back of the heavy chai
- in which he had been sitting.
Fe ~Hoo-hoorahr' he cried as %
he principles. too. Be drunken all 20
re want to-outside business hours Do
.. for Gossake le'n'thing fnnerfere bus
= ness hours BUsiness!l ThassitI You'l
~ right, father. Drink DieI Lever
Ia thing go to hell. but don't let innerfel