The Elk Mountain pilot., 1917-01-11
"A proker--Fansmith."

tne crown poor uluHleS ludt was
soaked with it. Don't You know who
owned it?"
Yes, l do"
"Ain't sayin', thought That it?
What's the matter?"
"It belonged to Mr.. vertrees," said
Bibbs, shortly, applying himself to his
desk
"Sow Sheridan gazed down at his
sons thin face. Excuse me-" he said.
your business" And he went back
to his own room. But presently he
looked in again.
II reckon you won't mind lunchin'
alone today"-he was shuftling himself
into his overcoat-"because just
thought I'd go up to the house and
get this over with mamma" He
glanced apologetirally toward his
right hand as 1t emerged from the
sleeve of the overcoat The bandages
had been removed, finally, that morn
ing, revealing but three fingers-the
foreflnger and the next to 1t had been
amputated. "She's bound to make an
awful fuss, and 1t better spoil her
lunch than her dinner. I'll be back
about two"
But he calculated the time of his ar
rival at the new house SO accurately
that Mrs. Sheridan's lunch was not dis
turbed, and she was rising from the
lonely table when he came into the
dining room. He had left his overcoat
in the hall. but he kept his hands in
his trousers pockets.
whats the matter, papa?" she
asked, quickly. HAS anything gone
wrong? You amt sick?''
"Mew He laughed loudly. "Me
sick?"
"You had lunch?"
''Didn't want any today. You can
give me cup O. coffee, though"
She rang. and told George to have
coffee made, and when he had with
drawn she said querulously. 81 just
know there's something wrong"
"Nothin' in the world" he respond
ed. heartily, taking a seat at the head
of the table Il thought I'd talk over
a notion O. mine with you. that's all.
It's more women-folks' business than
what It is mans. anyhow"
what about?"
why, ole Doc Gurney was up at the
office this morning awhile"
ITO look at your hand? How's he
say it's doin'T'
Fine! welL he went in and sat
around with Bibbs awhile"
Mrs. Sheridan nodded pessimistically.
II guess it's time you had him. too. l
knew Bibbs-"
Now, mamma, hold your horses! 1
wanted him to look Bibbs over before
anything's the matter. You don't sup
pose I'm goin' to take any chances
with Bibbs, do you? Well, afterwards,
l shut the door, and I an ole Gurney
had talk. He's a mighty disagreeable
man; he rubbed 1t in on me what he
said about Bibbs havin' brains If he
ever woke up. Then l thought he must
want to get something out O. me. he
got so fiattering-for n minute! 'Bibbs
couldn't help havin' business brains
he says, 'bein' your son. Don't be sur
prised,' he says-'don't be surprised at
his maxim a success he says he
couldn't get over his heredity; he
couldn't help bein' a business success
once you got him into 1t. It's in his
blood. Yes, SIR he says, 1T doesn't
need much brains.' he says, AN only
third-rate brains, at that he says, but
it does need special kind O. brains
he says, to be a millionaire. l mean,'
he says, when mans given start.
II nobody gives him start. why,
course he's got to have luck and the
right kind o. brains. The only mir
ecle about Bibbs,' he says, is where he
~. 1t, = - hrp 9
,ou made him quit usin' and throw
away"
But what d he say about his
b .alth?" Mrs. Sheridan demanded, I'M
p itiently, as George placed cup of
C ,free before her husband. Sheridan
fs,lped himself to cream and sugar.
snd began to sip the coffee.
"I'm comm to that" he returned.
lacidly. "See how easy 1 manage this
cup with my left hand, mamma"
"You been doin' that all winter.
What did"
Its wonderful" he interrupted, ad-
miringly, what fellow can do with
his left hand. l can sign my name
with mine now, wells l ever could
with my right. 1t came little hard
at first, but now, honest, I believe l
rather sign with my left. That's all
I ever have to write, anyway-just
the signature. Rests all dictatin'.'
He blew across the top of the cup
unctuously. Good coffee, mamma!
Well, about Bibbs. Ole Gurney says
he believes II Bibbs could somehow
get back to the state O. mind he was
in about the machine shop-that is, If
he could some way get to feelin' about
business the way he felt about the
shop-not the poetry and writin' part,
but" He paused. supplementing his
remarks with a motion of his head
hn oil "a