South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-08-24


Trust Co. the biggest bank. and
sheridan, himself the biggest
builder and broker. and truster and
buster under the smoke OF dirty
and wonderful midland city that
piled tower on tower and spread it,
self ont over the plain Of fair
country.
Bibbs Sheridan was his odd
one. the family failure. Tie grew
up only iengthwise. and 20 % was
the dry scanoIding OF q man. Six
months In his fathers pump works
made necessary two years in "a sani-
tarium re returned 20 the new
house" on the outskirts Of the city
in time for the house warming
party. To this came Mary Vertrees,
whose family next door maintained
the biggest air Of respectability
upon a vanishing fortune. she
came under home prompunEs that
led her 10 dazzle with her wit and
beauty both Sheridan and James
Sheridan, ir.
When young Jim had proposed,
law. offered 20 help Mary iu return
for help in an affair Of her own.
Mary saw that in bartering. she
was 10 be bartered with Her soul
rebelled and she declined TO marry
Young Jim Sheridan. lie never got
the letter
Sheridan demanded of Bibbs If
ne would quit dreaming OF poetry
and follow with Roscoe and Jim 20
make the business and the city big
ger. Bibbs could not understand
why anybody wanted TO make
things bigger
"Damnatloni" roared Sheridan.
Did you ever hear the word Pros
perity' You ninny, Did you ever
hear the word Ambition" Did YOU
ever hear the word Progress" Look
at Jim. just completing two more
big warehouses at the pump works
in half the time the contractors
wanted. Jim took the contract
himself, found a fellow with a new
cement process and we begin using
them next week. Now. I'm Eoin
10 make a man Of you BY Cod I
ann! And Bibbs was given two
months 20 get his mental attitude
right for the pump works.
Miss Vetrees' note went 10 the
senior Sheridan. as that afternoon
one OF the new warehouse wallis
collapsed sending the inventor and
James Sheridan. jr.. 10 their eter-
nifty.
Bibbs had 20 manage the funeral
and ride from the cemetery with
Mary Vertrees. but neither spoke.
Hes not insane" said Mary TO her
mother "He looks dreadfully IN,
but has pleasant eyes"
Later Bibbs and Mary met as he
was passing her gate He apoI-
ogized: II hate a frozen fish
myself and that three miles was
too long for YOU to put up with one.
I've never been able 20 speak
quickly. because If 7 tried I'd STAN
mer My brother Roscoe whipped
me once for stepping on his slate
pencil IL took me so long 10 tell
him II was an accident he finished
before I did"
Instantly. Mary saw his nature
and suffering They walked or and
she invited him into the church 10
hear some Handel music. II meant.
she said. one thing above all others
20 her-cour2ge
Thereafter Bibbs went often 20
the home OF Mary Vertrees. You
see" he cOnfded 10 her. lit is all so
simple I am 10 feed long strips of
zinc into steel jaws that oite il i'm
10 little circles. 6S a minute I used
20 finch and the worlSmen laughed"
1T shan't hurt YOU" exclaimed
Mary. "All day long. I'll send my
thoughts 10 you; and YOU must re-
member that a friend stands be
side you"
Bibbs fed the old zinc eater. dis
covered its musical rhythm. and
sang his poetry in resonance there
with At night Bibbs scrubbed
ManueI labor is best. Your heart
can sing and your mind can breathe
while your hands are working. What
n turbulence is love- And lovers are
blind. But friendship walks gently
and with open eyes"
Trouble grew in the Sheridan
household. Roscoe took 10 drink:
then quit He had enough few
thousand a year. lie had been so
busy he had nearly lost his wife "A
woman has 10 have something in
life besides a business man. Now
we are going 10 Japan"
sheridan sent for Bibbs. his only
hope. offered him vice presidencies
salaries and shares: but Bibbs pre-
ferred happiness and nine dollars n
week. What's the. use" ne said,
"of being just bigger. diruer and
noisier7"
That evening Bibbs and Mary
read MaeterhnCk together and he
told her: Tomorrow. I'm one OF
the hands Of the pump works and
going 10 stay one. unless 1 am
thrown ont and decide TO study
plumbing
why not give Bibbs a chance 10
live2' said the family doctor
There's something finer in Bibbs
than his physical body You're half
mad with consuming fury against
the very self OF law Blu. YOU want
TO beat the law. So Ajax defed the