The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1916-08-10

russ about 1t? Amt you?
II didn't go at it in the right spirit
the other time" Bibbs said. smiling
brightly, his face rudy in the chereful
freight. II didn't know the difference
it meant to like a thing
well l guess I've pretty thoroughly
indicated my Judgment. l guess I
have! I said the shop'd be good for
you, and it was. l said it wouldn't
hurt you, and it hasn't. It's been just,
exactly what / said it would be. Amt
that SOP"
Looks like it!' Bibbs agreed, gayly.
"Well, I'd like to know any place I
been wrong, first and last! Instead o
hurtin' you, it's beer 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,
Bibbs, but you got to do something
for yourself mentally. just like what's
beer done physically. And I'm g0in'
to help you"
Sheridan decided to sit down AGAIN.
He brought his chair close TO his sons,
and, leaning over, tapped Ribbs' knee
confidentially. II got plans for you,
Bibbs," he said.
Bibbs instantly looked thoroughly
alarmed. He dreg back. Tim all
right now, father"
Listen" Sheridan settled himself
in his chair, and vpoke in the zone Of
a reasonable man reasoning. Listen
here, Bibbs. l had another blow to-
day, and it was a hard one and right
in the face. though / have been ex-
pectin' 1t some littls time back. Well,
it's got to be met. Now I'll be frank
with you. AS l said a minute ago,
mentally l couldn't ever called You
exactly strong. You got will power.
I'll say that for you. | never 1new
boy or man that could be stubborne7-
never n in my life! Now, .hen,
you've showed you could learn to run
that machine best of any mar in the
shop. in no time at all. That locks
TO me like you could learn to do other
things. | don't deny but what it's an
encouragin' sign. l don't deny that, at
all. Now, then, I'm goic' to give you
a raise. | wanted to seJ,1 yon straight
on up through the shops-a year or
two, ~maybe-but l can't do il LOST
Jim, and now I've lost Roscoe. Has
quit. He's laid down on me. If he
ever comes back at all, he'll be a loag
time pickin' up the strings, ana, any
way, he amt the man l thought ne
was. l can't count on him l got to
have somebody / know l can coupt
on. And I'm down to this: you're ny
last chance. Bibbs, I got to learn you
to use what brains you got and see
II we can't develop 'em a little. who
knows? And I'm goin' to put my tine
in on 1t. I'm goin' to take you -.ght
downtown with me, and l won: be
hard on you If you're a 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 that'll make you
dizzy" He tapped his son on the
knee again. "Bibbs. I'm goin' to start
you Off this way: I'm goin' to MAKE
you a director in the Pump Works
company; I'm goin' to make you vice
president of the Realty company and
a vice-president OF the Trust COM
pany!"
Bibbs jumped to his feet. blanched.
"Oh, no." he cried.
Sheridan took his dismay to be the
excitement of sudden joy. Yes, sirI
A nd thnra,a nm rrnftu fot Ift+ln col
aries goes with those vice-presidencies,
and a pinch o. stock In the Pump COM
pany with the dictatorship. You
thought | was pretty mean about the
shop-oh, 1 know you did!-but you
see the old man can play both ways.
And so right now, the minute you've
begun to make good the way l wanted
you to, I deal from the new deck. And
I'll keep on handin' 1t put bigger and
bigger every time you show me you're
big enough to play the hand 1 ( deal you.
I'm startin' you with a pretty big one,
my boy"
"But I DON'T DON'T don't want
it,! Bibbs stammered.
Sheridan looked perplexed. "What',
the matter with you? Didn't you un.
derstand what ! was tellin' your
81 know, l know! But l can't take
it"
whats the matter with you?" Sher.
idan was half amazed, half suspicious.
"Your head feel funpy?"
1--WE never been quite so sane in my
life," said Bibbs, "as l have lately.
And I've got just what l want. I'm
living exactly the right life. I'm earn
ing my daily bread, and I'm happy in
doing it. My wages are enough. I
don't want any more money, and 7
don't deserve any"
"Damnation!" Sheridan sprang up.
you've turned Socialist! You been
listening to those fellows down there,
and you"
".No. sir. I think there's a great deal
in what they say, but that isn't It."
Sheridan tried to restrain his grow
ing fury. and succeeded partially.
Then what is 1t? What's the mat
teri"
Nothing" his son returned, nery-
ouslv ssNothinp-excpnt that I'm con-