The Elk Mountain pilot., 1916-12-14

IuSS ABOUT II! AIN I you
81 didn't go at 1t in the right spirit
the other time" Bibbs said, smiling
brightly his face ruddy in the chereful
freight. 81 didn't know the difference
it meant to like p thing"
"Well l guess I've pretty thoroughly
vindicated my judgment l guess I
have! l 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 so?"
Looks like it!'' Bibbs agreed, gayly.
"Wel, I'd like to know any place I
been wrong, first and last! Instead O.
hurtin' you. it's been the maxim of
you-physically. It's started you out
to be the huskiest one O. the whole
family. Now. then, mentally-thats
different. l don't say 1t unkindly,
Bibbs. but you got to do something
for yourself mentally, just like what's
been done physically. And I'm goin
to help you"
Sheridan decided to sit down again.
He brought his chair close to his sons
and, leaning over, tapped Bibbs' knee
Bibbs," he said.
Bibbs instantly looked thoroughly
alarmed. He drew back. Tin all
right now, father"
Listen" Sheridan settled himself
in his chair, and spoke in the tone OF
a reasonable man reasoning. Listen
here, Bibbs. | had another blow to-
day, and it was a hard one and right
in the face. though | have been ex-
pectin' it some little time back. Well
it's got to be met. Now I'll be FRANK
with you. As | said minute ago
mentally | couldn't ever called yoL
exactly strong. You got will power,
I'll say that for you. l never knew
boy or man that could be stubborner-
never one in my lifei Now, then,
you've showed you could learn to run
that machine best of any man in the
shop. in no time at all. That looks
to me like you could learn to do other
things. l don't deny but what it's an
encouragin' sign. l don't deny that, at
all. Now, then, I'm goin' to give you
a raise. | wanted to send you straight
on up through the shops-a year or
two, maybe-but l can't do It, l lost
Jim. and now I've lost Roscoe. He's
quit. He's laid down on me. If he
ever comes back at all, he'll be a long
time pickin' up the strings, and. any
way, he amt the man | thought he
was. l can't count on him. | got to
have somebody | know l can count
on. And I'm down to this: you're my
last chance. Bibbs, got to learn you
to use what brains you got and see
II we can't develop 'em little. Who
knows? And I'm goin' to put my time
in on 1t. I'm goin' to take you right
downtown with me, and l won't be
hard on you II you're 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
dizzyv He tapped his son on the
knee again. "Bibbs. I'm goin' to start
you OF 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
vice-president OF the Trust COM
panyv'
Bibbs jumped to his feet. blanched
"Oh, no." he cried.
Sheridan took his dismay to be the
excitement OF sudden joy. ''Yes, sirl
And there's some pretty fat little sal
aries goes with those vice-presidencies,
and pinch o. stock in the Pump com
pany with the dictatorship. You
thought 1 was pretty mean about the
shop-oh, l know you did.-but yoe
And so right now, the minute you've
begun to make good the way l wanted
you to, deal from the new deck. And
I'll keep on handin 1t out 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 boyw
But I don't-I DON'T don't want
itv' Bibbs stammered.
Sheridan looked perple1ed. whats
the matter with you? Didn't you uD-
derstand what was tellin' your
II know, I know! But I can't take
it"
whats the matter with your" Sher-
idan was half amazed, half suspicious
"Your head feel funny?"
I've never been quite SO sane in my
life." said Bibbs, "as l have lately
And I've got just what I want. I'm
living exactly the right life. I'm earn
ing my daily bread. and I'm happy in
doing 1t. My wages are enough.
don't want any more money. and I
don't deserve any"
"Damnationr' Sheridan sprang up
you've turned Socialist You been
listening to those fellows down there,
and you"
mo, sir. 1 think there's a great deal
in what they say, but that isn't it,
Sheridan tried to restrain his grow