The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1916-07-22

week coal dealer made an awful fuss
ut the door with Mr.. Vertrees. Their
cook told our upstairs girl, and she
said she didn't know when she'd seen
any money. herselfi Did you ever
hear of such case as that girl in your
life?"
What girl! Their COOKE"
''That Vertrees girl Don't you see
they looked on our coming up into this
neighborhood as their last chance?
They were just going down and out,
and here hobs up the green, rich Shert-
dan family! So they send her out TO
get Sheridan-she's got to get one!
And she just goes in blind; and Jim
was ianded-there'S no doubt about
that But Jim was lucky; ne didn't
live to stay landed. and it's a good
thing for him!" Sibyl's mirth had van
tshed, and she spoke with virulent ra-
pidity. "WelI, she couldn't get you,
because you were married, and she
couldn't get Jim, because Jim died.
And there they were. dead broke! Do
you know what she did? Do you know
what she's doing?"
"No. don't" said Roscoe, gruf1y.
SibyPs voice rose and eliminated in
a scream of renewed hiIarity. gibbs!
She waited in the graveyard, and drove
| home with him from Jim's funeral!
Never spoke to him before! Jim wasn't
coldr'
She rocked herself back and forth
| upon the divan. "Bibbsw she shrieked-
'Bibbs! Roscoe, think Of it! BibbsP'
He stared unsympatheticaIly. but
her mirth was undated for all that
"And yesterday" she continued, be-
tween paroxysms-'yesterd she
came out of the house-just as he was
passing. She must have been looking
out-waiting the chance; l saw the
old lady watching at the window! And
she got him there last night-to play
to him: the old lady gave that away!
And today she made him take her out
in machine! And the cream Of it is
that they didn't even know whether he
was insane or not-they thought may
| be he was, but she went after him
just the same! The old lady set her
self to pump me about it today. Bibbsl
oh. my Lord! Bibbsp
But Roscoe looked grim. $50 it's
funny to you, is It? 1t sounds kind of
pitifuI TO me. l should think it would
to a woman, too"
"Oh, it might" she returned, sober
ing. ct might. If those people weren't
such frozen-faced smart Alexis. II
they'd had the decency to come down
of the perch q little probably
wouldn't think it was funny, but to
see 'em sit up on their pedestal all the
time they're eating dirt-well, I think
it's funny! That girl sits up as if she
was Queen Elizabeth, and expects
people to wallow on the ground before
her until they get near enough for her
to give 'em a good kick with her old
patched shOes-oh. she'd do that. all
highland then she powders up and
goes out to mash-Bfbbs SheridanP'
Look here" said Roscoe, heavily
81 don't care about that one way or
another. If you're through, got
something l want to talk to you about.
1 was going to. that day just before we
heard about jim"
At this Sibyl stifrened quickly; her
eyes became intensely bright. What
is it?'
well" he began, frowning. what l
was going to say then" He broke
OF, and. becoming conscious that he
was still holding the wet napkin in his
hand. threw it pettishly into a corner
81 never expected I'd have to say any
thing like this to anybody l married
but / was going TO ask you what was
the matter between you and Lam.
horn"
Sibyi uttered a sharp monosyIIabIe
''WeHP"
81 felt the time had come for ME tC
| know about It," he went on. "Yor
never told me anything"
| You never asked" she interposed
CURLY.
well. we'd got in a way OF no
talking much" said Roscoe. 'It looks
l to me now as If we'd pretty much los
] the run of each other the way a good
4 many people do. | don't say it WASH
my fault. l was up early and down IL
! work all day. and I'd come home tired
at night. and went to go to bed soon a:
4 I'd got the paper read-unIess there
| was some good musical show in town
4 Well, you seemed all right until her,
u ! lately, the last month or so. / began t,
Il see something was wrong. l cOuldn'
! help seeing it,
"Wrong?" she said. what Hke?"
:. lou cHaHSeUS you Olun look Tn
same. You were all strung up and ex
F. cited and fdgety; you got to LOOKING
r peakid and run down. Now then, Lam
: horn had been going with us a goot
e while, but / noticed that not long ag
5 you got to picking on him about ever.
little thing he did; you got to quarrel
:. ing with him when l was there an
> when l wasn't could see you'd bee
If quarrelIng whenever came in and b
I was here
e ''Do you object to that?" aske
It Sibyl, breathing quickly.
d .Yes-wben it injuries my wife
If health!" he returned. with q quick LII
IT of his eyes to hers. you began to ru
y down just about the time you bega
n falling out with him." He steppe
1t close to her. "See here. Sibyl. I'm g
ing to know what it means
- 'Oh. you are?" she snapped 'sThs
20 was what you we're going TO say th
er other day. Yes What else have 70
IN cav toni<ys1T9ss