Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-09-07

The two cars were going in opposite di-
rections, and the occupants of Jim's
had only a swaying glimpse of Bibbs
sitting alone on the back seat-his
white face startlingly white against
cap and collar of black fur-but he
flashed into recognition as Mary bowed
to him.
Jim waved his left hand carelessIy.
Its Bibbs taking his constitutional, -
he explained.
yes, l know" said Mary. 81 bowed
to him, too, though I've never met him.
In fact, I've only seen him once-no,
twice. [ hope he won't think I'm very
bold, bowling to him"
Il doubt if he noticed it, said hon
est Jim.
''Oh, oh!'' she cried.
whats the trouble?"
I'm almost sure people notice it
when bow to them"
ooh, I seew said jim. "Of course
they would ordinarily, but Bibbs is
funny"
rs he? How?" she asked. He
strikes me as anything but funny"
"Well, I'm his brother" Jim said
deprecatingIy, but | don't know what
he's like, and, to tell the truth, I've
never felt exactly Ike I was his broth
er, the way [ do Roscoe. Nobody could
ever get him to do anything; you can't
get him to do anything now He never
had any life in him; and honestly, if
he is my brother, must say | believe
Bibbs Sheridan is the LATEST man God
ever made! | hate to say it, but Bibbs
Sheridan II never amount to anything
as long as he lives"
Mary looked thoughtful. as there
any particular reason why he should"
she asked
Good graciousr' he exclaimed. "You
don't mean that, do you? Don't you
believe in a mans knowing how to
earn his salt, no matter how much
money his fathers got? Hasn't the
business of this world got to be carried
on by everybody in it? Are we going
to lay back on what we've got and see
other fellows get ahead of US? If we've
got big things already, isn't it every
mans business to go ahead and make
'em bigger? Isn't it his duty? Don't
we always want to get bigger and big
ger?'
''Ye-es-I don't know. But I feel
rather sorry for your brother. He
looked so lonely-and sick"
He's gettin' better every day." Jim
said. Doctor Quincy says so. There's
nothing much the matter with him,
really-it's nine-tenths imaginary.
Nerves! People that are willing to
be busy don't have nervous diseases,
because they don't have time to imag-
inc EN-"
you mean his trouble is really men
taI?"
'Oh, he's not Iunatic," said Jim.
Hes just queer. Sometimes he'll say
something right bright, but half the
time what he says is way off the sub
ject, or else there isn't any sense to it
at all. For instance, the other day l
heard him talkin' to one Of the darkies
in the hall. The darby asked him what
time he wanted the car for his drive,
and anybody else in the world would
have just said what time they did
want it, and that would have been all
there was to it; but here's what Bibbs
says, and | heard him with my own
ears. What time do 1 want the car?
hot
that depends he says. He talks slow
like that, you know. I'll tell you what
time l want the car, George he says,
if you'll tell me what you think of this
statuep That's exactly his words!
Asked the darky what he thought of
that Arab Edith and mother bought for
the haIlr'
Mary pOndered upon this. "He might
have been in fun, perhaps" she sug
gested.
''Askin' darby what he thought Of
a piece of statuary-of a work of art!
Where on earth would be the fun Of
that? No, you're just kind-hearted-
and that's the way you ought to be, of
course"
THANK you, Mr.. Sheridanw she
laughed.
''See herer he cried. sTsn't there
any way for us to get over this Mister
and Miss thing? A months got thirty
one days in it; I've managed to be with
you part of pretty near all the thirty
one, and think you know how l feel
by this time"
She looked panic-stricken immedi-
ately. "Oh no." she protested, quickly.
mo, don't, and"
Yes, you do,' he said, and his
voice shook little. You couldn't help
knowing"
But l dor she denied, hurriedly. 81
do help knowing l mean Oh, watt"
What for? You do know how I
feel, and you-well, you've certainly
wanted me to feel that way-or else
pretended"
Nov, now" she lamented. you're
spelling such a cheerful afternoonv
Spelling it," He slowed down the
car and turned his face to her squareIy.
See here, Miss Vertrees, haven't you
stop! Stop the car a minute" And
when he had complied she faced him