The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1917-04-06
CHAPTER xxIv.-contInued.

Perturbed and distressed, Bibbs rose
tnstinctively; he felt himself at every
possible disadvantage. He was a
sleeper ciinging to a dream-a rough
hand stretched to shake him and wax
en- him. He went to a table and made
vague drawings upon 1t with a finger,
and a. he spoke he kept his eyes low
cred. you weren't altogether right
about the shop-that Is. In one way
you weren't, father" He glanced up
apprehensively. Sheridan stood facing
him, expressionless, and made no at
tempt 10 interrupt. That's dimcult to
explain" Bibbs continued. lowering
his eyes again, to follow the tracings
Of bis finger. IL believe the shop
might have done for me this time IL
( hadn't-if something hadn't helped
me to-oh, not only to bear 1t, but to
be happy in 1t. Well, I am happy in
It. want to go on just as am. And
II oil things on earth that don't want,
{ don't want to live a business life
Z don't want to be drawn into it.
don't think 1t il living-and now I am
living. I have the healthful toil-and
{ can think. In business as important
As yours l couldn't think anything but
business. l DON'T don't think max
ing money is worth while"
"Go on" said Sheridan, curtiy, as
8ibbs paused timidly.
1T hasn't seemed to get anywhere,
that I can see," said Bibbs You think
chs city is rich and powerful-but
what's the use of its being rich and
powerful7 They don't teach the chill
dren any more in the schools because
the city is rich and powerful They
teach them more than they used to be-
cause some people-not rich and DOW
erful people - have thought the
thoughts to teach the children. And
yet when you've been reading the pa
Der I've heard you objecting to the
children being taught anything except
what would help them to make money.
You said 1t was wasting the taxes.
You want them taught to make a iiv-
ting, but not to live. When was
little boy this wasn't an ugly town;
oow it's hideous, What's the use of
being big just to be hideous? mean
I don't think all this has meant really
going ahead-it's just been getting
Agger and dirtter and noisier. Wasn't
he whole country happier and in many
ways wiser when 1t was smaller and
cleaner and cuieter and kinder7 I
know you think I'm an utter fool, IA
ther, but after all. though, aren't busi-
cess and politics Just the housekeeping
part Of life? And wouldn't you despise
woman that not only made her
housekeeping her ambition, but did It
90 noisily and dirtily that the whole
neighborhood was In q continual tur-
moil over IT? And suppose she talked
and thought about her housekeeping
all the time, and was always having
additions built to her house when she
couldn't keep clean what she already
had; and suppose, with it all, she made
he house altogether unpeaceful and
unlivabkr"
Just one minuter' Sheridan inter
rupted adding, with terrible courtesy,
IF yeu will permit me? Have you
ever been right about anything1"
Il don't quite"
Il ask the simple question: Have
you ever been right about anything
whatever in the course of your life7
Have You ever been right upon any
subject or question you've thought
aboat or talked about? Can you men
ti0n one singie time when you were
peOved r. be Fightr'
He was no1Hishing the bandaged
hand a. be spoke, but Bibbs said only.
III rye aiwayS bssn wrong before.
sosoly there's moso chance that I'm
pAf ab0o3 ~. u seems reaooasbbe