Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1916-09-07

ceoadJ Souuc 3aeIS CIOWu, Willie LIZ
traffic came to a standstill, and people
stood up in automobiles or climbed
upon the hubs and tires of wheels, not
to miss a chance of seeing anything
horrible.
Mary tried to get through; it was
impossible. Other policemen came to
help the first, and In a minute or two
traffic was in motion again. The
crowd became plant, dispersing-there
was no figure upon the ground, and no
ambulance came. But one of the po-
licemen was detained by the clinging
and beseeching Of a gloved hand.
What is the matter, lady?'
Where are they?' Mary cried.
"Who? Ole Man Sheridan? 1 reck-
On he wasn't much hurt!'
His son.
"Was that who the other one was?
seen him knock him-oh. he's not bad
off, l guess, lady. The ole man got
him out of the way all right. The
fender showed the ole man around
some, but l reckon he only got shook
up. They both went on in the Sheri-
dan building without any help. Ex-
cuSe me, lady"
Sheridan and Bibbs, in fact, were
at that moment in the elevator, ascend
ing. "Whisk- broom up in the office"
Sheridan was saying. ''You got to look
out on these corners nowadays, | tell
you. l don't know l got any call to
blow, though-because I tried to cross
after you did. That's how I happened
to run into you. Well, you remember
to look out after this We were talkin'
about Murtrie's askin' siXty-eight thou
sand fat for that ninety-nineye
lease. It's his lookout if he'd rather
take it that way. and I don't know
but
No" said Bibbs, emphatically, as
the elevator stopped; che won't get it.
Not from Us, he won't, and I'll show
you why. l can convince you in five
minutes" He followed his father into
the office anteroom-and convinced
him. Then, having been diligently
brushed by a youth Of color, Bibbs
went into his own room and closed the
door.
He was more shaken than he had
allowed his father to perceive, and his
side was sore where Sheridan had
struck him. He desired to be alone;
he wanted to rub himself and, for once,
~ do cop,a ,,SaIooo +hinl<inO aUain He
knew that his father had not "hap-
pened" to run into him; he knew that
Sheridan had instantly-and instinct
ively-proved that he held his own life
of no account whatever compared to
that of his son and heir. Bibbs had
been unable to speak of that, or seem
to know it.; for Sheridan, just as In
stinctively, had swept the matter aside
as of no Importance since all was
well-reverting Immediately to bust
ness.
Bibbs began to think intently Of his
father. He perceived, as he had never
perceived before, the ShadOWing Of
something enormous and indOmitable
the will of natures very self; laughing
at the lightning and at wounds and
mutilation; conquering, irresistible
and blindly noble For the first time
in his life Bibbs began to understand
the meaning of being truly this mans
son.
He would be the more truly his son
henceforth, though, as Sheridan said,
Bibbs had not come downtown with
him meanly or half-heartedly. He had
given his word because he had wanted
the money, simply, for Mary Vertrees
in her need And he shivered with
horror Of himself, thinking how he had
gone to her to offer it, asking her to
marry him-with his head on his
breast in shameful fear that she would
accept him. He had not known her;
the knowing had lost her to him, and
this had been his real awakening; for
he knew now how deep had been that
slumber wherein he dreamily celebrat
ed the superiority of 'friendship!' The
sleep walker had Weakened to bitter
knowledge of love and life, finding
himself a failure in both. He had
made burnt offering Of his dreams,
and the sacrifice had been an unforgiv-
able hurt to Mary. All that was left
for him was the work he had chosen,
but at least he would not fail in that,
though it was indeed no more than
"dust in his mouth" If there had been
anything 'to work for"
He went to the window, raised it,
and let in the uproar of the streets be-
low. He looked down at the blurred,
hurrying swarms - and he looked
across, over the roofs with their pant
ing jets of vapor, into the vast, foggy
heart of the smoke. Dizzy traceries Of
steel were rising dimly against It, chat
tering with steel on steel, and screech-
ing in steam, while tiny figures Of men
walked on threads in the dull sky.
Buildings would overtop the Sheridan.
Bigness was being served.
But what for? The old Question