The Elk Mountain pilot., 1917-01-18

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. "I 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, 1t couldn't be called bust
ness, exactly" he said, more gravely.
Not at all. / expect. But there's
something O. yours it seemed to me
! ought to give you. and l just thought
1t was better to bring it myself and
explain how l 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. 1T was in his mail, after
he was hurt. You knew he never got
1t, | expect"
Yes" she said. in low voice.
He sighed I'm glad he didn't
Not" he added. qulckly-"not but what
you did just right to send it. You did.
You couldn't acted any other way
when 1t came right down to it. There
amt any blame comm to you-you
were aboveboard all through
Mary said, THANK you" almost in
n whisper. and with her head bowed
low.
You'll have to excuse me for readin'
II. | had to take charge of all his
mail and everything: | didn't know
the handwritin, and read it all-once
! got started"
I'm glad you did"
"Well"-he leaned forward as if
to rlse-"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 II
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.
well, l expect I better be gettin'
back to the Office" he said. rising des-
perateiy. Il told told my partner
I'd be back at two o'clock. and guess
he'll think I'm a poor business man
II he catches me behind time. l got
to walk the chalk mighty straight
line these days-with that fellow keep
In tabs on me!'
Mary rose with him. "l've always
heard you We're the hard driver"
He guffawed derisively. me? 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. | 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
q thing!'
NO" she smiled. 81 didn't know
you had a partner. I'd always heard"
He laugh he'd, 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
geniality. He felt that she certainly
must say at least, How is Bibbs?' but
she said nothing at all, though he wait
ed until the silence became embarrass'
ing.
well. I guess l better be gettin'
down there" he said. at last. HE
might worry
"Goodby-and 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"
he said. Il had 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
1ovially. Did anybody tell you how
1t happened|'
.T heard you hurt your hand, but
uo-not just how"
"It was this way" he began. and
both ss 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 l spoke of as my partner; and
the truth is that's what it's just about
goin' to amount to. one O these days
II his health holds out. Well, you re-
member, l expect, l had him on
machine over at plant o mine; and
sometimes I'd kind O. sneak in there
and see how he was gettin' along
Take doctor with me sometimes. be
cause Bibbs never was so robust, you
might say ole Doc Gurney-l guess
,,o,, l,pn,r biyn1 Tall thin man