Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1916-09-29

with Bibbs, has gone to Mary Vertrees
with the purpose of fixing up" the
"troubIe" between her and his son.
He wants 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
neighbors as they used to. That is,
hear so-lately."
you'll stay long enough to sit down,
won't you?"
81 guess / 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, 1 expect. But there's
something o. yours it seemed to me
ought to give you, and just thought
it was better to bring it myself and
explain how happened to have it It's
this-this letter you wrote my boy"
He extended the letter to her solemnly,
in his left hand, and she took it gently
from him. "It was in his mail, after
he was hurt. You knew he never got
it, expect"
eyes," she said. in low voice.
He sighed. SIN glad he didn't.
Not he added, quickly but what
you did just right to send it. You did.
You couldn't acted any other way
when it came right down to it. There
amt any blame comm to you-you
were aboyeboard all through"
Mary said, ''Thank you," almost in
a whisper. and with her head bowed
low.
you'll have to excuse me for readin'
It. / had to take charge Of ell his
mail and everything; / didn't know
the handwritin', and read it all-once
got started"
"I'm glad you did,"
"Welr'-he leaned forward as If
TO rise-'I guess that's about all. l
just thought you ought to have it."
"Thank you for bringing it,"
He looked at her hopefully, as If
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. 4es IF. sts
swell, I expect I 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 guess
he'll think I'm a poor business man
a. Iohfnd %fron ont
to walk the chalk mighty straight
line these days-with that fellow keep
in tabs on mew
Mary rose with him. give always
heard you were the hard driver"
He guffawed derisively. "Me2 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. 1 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 thingw
''No," she smiled. 81 didn't know
you had 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 an air of careless
geniaIiry. He felt that she certainly
must say at least, "How is Bibbs? 2" but
she said nothing at all, though he wait
ed until the silence became embarrass-
ing.
swell, 1 guess l better be gettin'
down there" he said, at last. He
might worry"
"Goodbyzand thank you" said Mary.
'For what?"
''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"
ne said. 81 had a little accident to the
other one"
She gave plying cry as she saw.
"Oh, poor Mr.. Sheridan
''Nothin' at all! Dictate everything
nowadays, anyhow" He laughed
JOvial1y. did anybody tell you how
it happened?"
81 heard you hurt your hand. but
no-not inst how"
SIT was this way" he began, and
both, as if unconsciously, sat down
again. ''You may not know it. but,
used to worry a good deal about the
youngest o. my boys-the one that
used to come to see you sometimes,
after Jim-that is, mean Bibbs. He's
the one spoke Of as my partner; and
the truth is that's what it's just about
goin' to amount to, one o. these days
If his health holds out. Well, you re-
member, 1 expect, I had him on a
machine over at a plant O. mine; and
sometimes I'd kind o. sneak in there
and see how he was gettin' along.
Take a doctor with me sometimes, be-
cause Bibbs never was so robust, you
might say. Ole Doc Gurney-I guess
maybe you know him? Tall, thin man;
Acts GSaeDY-"