The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1916-09-14
CHAPTER XXI (continucd).

Old Man Sheridan, nightly pleased
with the purpose Of fixing up the
"troubIe" between her and his son.
He want to see the young folks
happy.
I'm sorry" said Mary. 81 hoped
you'd come because we're ~neighbors.'
He chuckled. "Neighbors! Some
times people don't see so much o. their
nelghbors as they used to. That is. l
hear so-lately."
You'll stay long enough to sit down,
won't your"
II guess 1 could manage that
much" And they sat down. facing
each other and not far apart.
"Of course, It couldn't be called bust
ness. exactly" he said. more ~gravely.
mot at all. l expect. But there's
something o. yours 1t seemed to me
! ought to give you, and I just thought
1t was better to bring II myself and
explain how I happened to have it. It's
thls-this letter you wrote my boy"
He extended the letter TO her solemnly.
In his left hand, and she took 1t gently
from him. 1T was In his mall, after
he was hurt. You knew he never got
1t, expect"
YES" she said. In a low voice.
He sighed. "I'm glad he didn't
Not" he added, quickly-"not but what
you did just right to send 1t. You did.
You couldn't acted any other way
when II came right down to II. There
amt any blame comm to you-you
were aboveboard all through"
Mary said, Thank you," almost In
n whisper. and with her head bowed
low.
you'll have to excuse me for readin'
1t. / had TO take charge of all his
mail and everything: I didn't know
the h%andwritin', and read It all-once
/ got started"
I'm glad you did"
"Welr'-he leaned forward as II
to rise-"I guess that's about all. !
just thought you ought to have It"
THANK you for bringing It."
He looked at her hopefully, as II
he thought and wished that she might
have something more to say. But she
seemed not to be aware Of this glance,
and sat with her eyes fixed sorrowfully
upon the floor.
"Well, l expect l better be gettin'
back to the Office" he said, rising des-
perately. 81 told told my partner
I'd be back at two o'clock. and I guess
he'll think I'm a poor business man
IL he catches me behind time. / got
to walk the chalk a mighty straight
line these days-with that fellow keep
in tabs on me!!'
Mary rose with him. "I've always
heard you were the hard driver"
He guffawed derisively. me? I'm
nothin' to that partner o. mine. You
couldn't guess to save your life how
he keeps after me to hold up my end
o. the job. I shouldn't be surprised
he'd give me the grand bounce some
day, and run the whole circus himself.
You know how he is-once he goes at
a thing!'
.No,n she smiled. az didn't know
you had a partner. I'd always heard"
He laughed. looking away from her.
'It's just my way O. speakin' o. that
boy o. mine. Bibbs."
He stood then. ~expectant, staring out
into the hall with nm air OF careless
geniality. He felt that she certainly
must say at least, How IL Bibbs?' but
she said nothing at all. though he wait
ed until the silence became embarrass.
ing.
"weii, I guess I better be gettin'
down there" be said, at last. HE
might worry"
"Goodby-and thank you" said Mary.
'For whatr"
For the letter."
"Oh," he said. blankly. you're
welcome. Goodby."
Mary put out her hand. "Goodby."
You'll have to excuse my left hand"
he said. II had a little accident to the
other one."
She gave a plying cry as she saw.
s.Oh, poor Mr. Sheridanw
'Nothin' ut all! Dictate everything
nowadays, anyhow" He laughed
jovially. ibid anybody tell you how
It happened"
II heard you hurt your hand, but
no-not just how"
1T was this way" he began. and
both. a. IL unconsciously. sat down
again. "You may not know II, but l
uscd to WORRY q good deal about the
youngest O. my boys-the n that
nsed to come to see you sometimes.
after Jim-that u. 1 mean ibbs. He's
the one I spoke Of ~ my partner; and
ne truth 4 that's what it's just about
soin' to amount -. q o. these days
r. his heaith holds out Well. you re
member. I expect, I had him on q
machine over at . plant o. mine; and
sometimes I'd kind o. sneak In there
ana see how ~ was gettln' along,
Take ! doctor With me sometimes. be
"a Bibbs never was 90 robust. you
ricbt ray. Ole Doc G~urney--I guess
maybe you know him7 TAI. thin man
scts sisspy
~Yes."
.SreIl. one day I an ole Doc Cur
1 a. xhopn and under