Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-09-07

women-there would be work today
and dancing tonight. For the Puritan's
dry voice is but the cracking of a leaf
underfoot in the rush and roar of the
coming Of the new Egypt
Bibbs was on time He knew IL
must be ito the minute" or his father
would consider it an outrage; and the
big chronometer in Sheridan's office
marked four precisely when Bibbs
walked In. CoincidentaUy with his en-
trance five people who had been at
work in the office, under Sheridan's di-
rectiOD, walked out. They departed
upon no visible or audible suggestion,
and with a promptness that seemed
OminOus to the newcomer AS the mas
sive door clicked softly behind the
elderly stenographer, the last of the
procession, Bibbs had a feeling that
they all understood that ne was a fail
ure as a great mans son, a disappoint-
ment, the queer one" of the family,
and that he had been summoned to
Judgments Well-founded impression.
for that was exactly what they under
stood.
''Sit down." said Sheridan.
It is frequently an advantage for
deans, schoolmasters and worried IA
theirs to place delinquents in the sit
ting posture. Bibbs sat.
Sheridan standing, gazed enigmatic-
ally upon his son for a period of
silence, then walked slowly to a win
dow and stood looking out of it, his
big hands, loosely hooked together by
the thumbs, behind his back. They
were soiled, as were all other hands
down town, except such as might be
still damp from a basin.
"Well, Bibbs," he said at last, not
altering his attitude, 'do you know
what I'm goin' to do with your"
Btbbs, leaning back in his chair, fixed
his eyes contemplatiyely upon the cell
ing. Il heard you tell Jim," he began,
in his SLOW way. you said you'd send
him to the machine shop with me If he
didn't propose to Miss Vertrees. So I
suppose that must be your plan for me.
But"
But what?" said Sheridan, trritably,
as the son paused.
isn't there somebody you'd let me
propose too"
That brought his father sharply
round to face him. You beat the
devil! Bibbs, what is the matter with
your Why can't you be like anybody
else?
Liver, maybe" said Bibbs, gently.
Bob! Even ole Doc Quincy says
there's nothin' wrong with you organ
ically. No. You're a dreamer, Bibbs;
that's what's the matter, and that's all
the matter. Oh, not one o. these big
dreamers that put through the big
deals! No, sir! You're the kind O.
dreamer that just sets out on the back
fence and thinks about how much trou-
BILE there must be In the world! That
amt the kind that builds the bridges,
Bibbs; it's the kind that borrows fif-
teen cents from his Wife's uncles
brother-tn-laW to get ten cents worth
O. plug tobacco and nickeps worth o.
Quininev'
He put the finishing touch to this
etching with a snort, and turned again
TO the window.
Look out therer' he babe his son.
Look out o. that window! Look at
the life and energy down there! Look
at the big things young men are dom
In this town.! He swung about, COM
ing to the mahogany desk in the mid
die Of the room. Look at what your
own brothers are dom! Look at Ros-
coe! Yes, and look at Jim! I made
Jim president O. the Sheridan Realty
company last new years, and it's an
example to any young manor ole
man, either-the way he took ahold of
1t. Last July We found out we wanted
two more big warehouses at the pump
works-wanted 'em quick. Contractors
said it couldn't be done; said nine or
ten months at the soonest; couldn't see
1t any other way. What d Jim do?
Took the contract himself; found a
fellow with new cement and concrete
process; kept men on the Job night and
day, and stayed on it night and day
h1mself-and, by George! we begin to
use them warehouses next week! Four
months and half, and every inch fire.
proof! | tell you J1m's one O. these
fellers that make miracles happen!
tell you these young business men
watch just do my heart good! They
don't set around on the back fence-nO,
sir! They're putin their life-blood in
to it, tell you, and that's why we're
gettin' bigger every minute, and why
they're gettin' bigger, and why it's all
goin' to keep on gettin bigger?'
He slapped the desk resoundfngly
with his open palm, and then, obserY-
Ing that Btbbs remained in the same
impressive attitude, with his eyes still
fixed upon the ceiling In a contempla-
ton somewhat plaintive, Sheridan was
impelled to groan. "Oh, Lordw he
said. ''This is the way you always
were. l don't believe you understand
a darn word been sayin'! You don't
look as if you did. By George! it's dis
couraging"
Il don't understand about getting
about getting bigger" said Bibbs,
bringing his gaze down to look at his
father placatively. Il don't see just
why"
WHAT" Sheridan leaned forward,
resting his hands upon the desk and
staring across it incredulously at his
son.
a1av.