Show J. ke C iY t j A r f BOOTH BAR G ON AUTHOR OF of- of OF HT CANAAN THE T E CONQUEST p PENROD ETC I LII Ig D 9 5 BY I IGHT SYNOPSIS Sheridan's attempt to make a business business business busi- busi busil Bibbs start starting starting ness man mau of oC his son by ing lug him in the m machine shop ends iu lu Bibbs going to a sanitarium a nervous nervous nervous nerv nerv- ous wreck Ou On his return Bibbs Dibbs 1 b 6 met at the station by his sister Edith Edithh He finds himself an inconsiderable and unconsidered figure In tho the NewHouse Newhouse New NewHouse House of the Sheri dans He sees secs Mary Vertrees looking at him from froma a 3 summer summer summerhouse house next door The Vet Vcr tre ses old town famil family and Impoverished impoverished call on the Sheri dans new- new newt rich ly-rich and afterward discuss them Mary puts Into words her parents unspoken wish that she marry one of oC the Sheridan boys At the Sheridan housewarming banquet Sheridan spreads himself Mary frankly encourages encourages encourages en- en Jim Sheridan's attention and Bibbs hears he is to be sent back to the machine shop Mary May tells her mother about the banquet and shocks her mother by talking of Jim as a matrimonial possibility Jim tells Mary Bibbs is not a lunatic lunatic just just queer Ho He proposes to Mary Mar who half hair accepts him Sheridan tells Bibbs he must go back to the machne shop as soon as he lie is strong enough in spite of oC Bibbs Bibb's plea pica to be allowed to write Bibbs has to break to his father the news of Jims Jim's sudden death All the rest of oC the family helpless in their grief grieC Bibbs becomes temporary master of oC the house Atthe Atthe At the funeral he meets Mar Mary and rides home with her Mrs Sheridan pleads with Bibbs to return to the machine shop for Cor his fathers father's sake and he lie consents Mutual love of music grouses an Intimate friendship be- be Bibbs and Mary Mary sellI sells sell I ler air r piano to help out the finances othe ot of he lie Vertrees family Sheridan finds Roscoe Rocoe in an intoxicated condition during office hours and takes him homo home Friendship between Bibbs and Mary ripens into a more intimate intimate intimate inti- inti mate relation and under Marys Mary's influence in influence in- in fluence Bibbs decides to return to the machine shop Sheridan finds his son Roscoe's affairs in a muddled condition owing to his intemperate habits Bibbs under the Inspiration of Marys friendship makes good inthe inthe in the machine shop Sheridan is injured injured injured in- in while attempting to show the boy how to do his work when And And And when Bibbs brought the bag hag to tolie he lie washroom he found the Ule doctor still grasping Sheridan's wrist holding the Injured hand over a basin Sheridan had bad lost color and temper too He lie glared over his shoulder at his ills son sou a athe as ay the latter handed the bag to Gurney You go on back bae to your work Il ho he said Ive had bad worse snips than that from a pencil sharpener Oh Ob no you haven't said Gurney u I have e too Sheridan retorted an an- Bibbs you go on back to your work Theres There's no reason to stand around here ole Doc Doe Gurn Gurney y to keep himself awake on a scratch that only needs a little I slipped or it wouldn't happened You get back on your job All AH right said ald Bibbs Here Sheridan bellowed as us hisson hisson his son eon was passing out ont of the he door You Yon watch out when youre you're that machine You hear what I say sar I slipped or I 1 wouldn't got scratched but you you youre youre you're liable to get your jour whole hand band cut off You i keep your eyes open Yes sir And Bibbs returned to the zinc eater thou thoughtfully Half nn an hour later Gurney touched him on the shoulder and beckoned him outside where conversation was as pox pas Bible sible I OIL sent sont him home Bibbs Hell He'll Five to be careful of that hand Go get your overalls off Ill I'll t take ike you vuu for tor a drive e and leave you at horn ham Cant said Bibbs Got to stick slik to my job till the whistle blow blows s No uNo you dont don't dont the doctor returned smothering a yawn He wants h me l' e to take you down to my office au and give ive you TOU an overhauling to see how mur much h harm these four foul days on the machine have done you I guess you folks folk h have Jaye n e got that old min pretty thoroughly upset between yon you up at your But I dont don't iJ intend ll l to go over you 1 I Ican can eln see with my eyes eye half Bhul shut shut- Yes s. Bibbs Hibbs Interrupted what they thoy are are I say Bay I can enn see youre you're dart starting n out at lea lent t. t in n god bond 1 shape What What's wade made wadee Yae e u in e I 1 IiI like tl the Jl said Bai ll Well Seil lI wI HI ir dl r r 7 1 11 chum t r J II l r c 1 it t. edly er cao AJI i fah d t- t a f- f thrive i with inc mo You can tal take the thc time ott olf that lie allowed for COr the examination examination examina examina- l tion and and said Im lIIl Not at ut all nil going solus to stand by the old Inc eater cater till five live I tell you I like it ht Then I suppose tha that's t the tile end n of or your our wanting to write I OIl dout dont know about Unit that ra said ill thou thoughtfully but hut the zinc eater doesn't Interfere with my thinking at least Its It's better than being In business busi busl business ness Im I'm fU sure mire of ot that I dont don't want t anything to change e Id I'd be content ont nt to J lead lend ju just t the life liCe Im I'm leading now to the en end of ot my du days s You do beat heat the devil exclaimed Gurney Your fathers father's right when he t tells me nie youre you're a l mystery Uy tery Perhaps the Almighty knew what he was about when he made mad you but It takes a lot lotof lotof c of faith to believe e it Well Im I'm o off alT IT Go on back to your our murdering old olli machine ma mu- chine 11 lie Ile climbed into his hiM car which he operated himself but he refrained refrained re re- f from setting settin it immediately in r motion Well I rubbed it in ou on the theold theold o old man that you had warned him not notto notto t to slide his hand along too fur CUI and amI t that he got hurt because be he didn't pay attention to your warning and because lIe he was trying to show you OU how to do llo g something you were already doing a g great deal better than he Ile could You t tell him Ill I'll be around to look at nt It a and change the dressing tomorrow u morning mornin Gool Goodby by lint Hut when he paid the promised visit the next morning he did more than thau change the Ule dressing upon the damaged hand The injury was severe of its j kind and Gurn Gurney y spent a long time 0 over It it though Sheridan was rebellious a and scornful being brought to a u degree degree degree de- de g gree of ot tractability only by means of ot I horrible threats and talk of or t tion However er he appeared at the dinner table tattle with Ili his hand supported In a sling which l he seemed to regard as ag an nn Indignity while the tile natural inquiries in in- inquiries j upon the subject t evidently g struck him as deliberate insults Mrs Irs Sheridan ha having V been unable to contain con On t tain tamu her solicitude several e times during during dur duro I ing Ins the day duy and having hwing been checked each time ia in a manner that blanched ed edher her cheek hastened to warn Ro Roscoe coe and Sibyl upon their arrival at I five t to omit any reference to the injury and t to a avoid void even looking at the sling sUng If It t they possibly could CHAPTER The dined on Sundays at It five Sibyl had hall taken pains not to arrive arrive arrive ar ar- rive either before or niter after the hand was precisely on the hour and the t members of ot the family were all seated t at the table within two minutes minute after atter s she and Roscoe Hoscoe had entered the house bouse it was a glum gathering overhung with portents The air seemed charged oo t awaiting any tiny i ignition to explode and Mrs Irs Sheridan's expression as f she sat with her eyes fixed upon her husband was that t of ot a person perRon engaged In prayer Edith was pale and intent Roscoe looked j Sibyl looked ill and Sheridan j looked both ill and explosive Bibbs BIbb j had more color than any any of of the these e and Ind there was a strange brightness like a alight alight light upon his face It was curious to se see anything so happy in the tense gloom of that household Edith ate little Slip She u never once looked at nt Sibyl thou though b Sibyl now and aUlI then gave her bel a quick quilk glance Iante hl heavily vily charged and then looked a away way l hoscoe hos- hos oscoe os- os coe ate nothing He De did not once look at his bi father though his father tather gaze gazed heavily ily at him most must of the time tiun And between Edith and Sibyl and between n Roscoe Hoscoe and his hir father e hitter bitter wire wireless ireless less it on Sr continually ron con Of- Of timi illy to be taking place ii the flip long lon prevailing during this thi- enlivening en li Cu in ceremony of ut S tit 1111 ref tion Didn t you go to church chunh this his morn mornIn morning In ln ing Bibb Ills his mother fi 1 ii d i in ill ii tic the art to break up UI one Jue of Lhost t Iv Intervals I 1 think so he Iw an answered as fiS from froma lOll ml mla a l rosi alt it trance You think so Dont Don't you know Oh Oli yes Yes I went to church huith Wn What YLa it t w was s the sermon a about bout Whit hal mother Cant you hear 1 in- in she be Tied fried I hI hInRIc asked d you what t the till sermon si rmon was wis about ut II He roused himself I tb think It w r is about about- He lie n fio d si Se scenting to tit cui- cui 11 his will to recollect 1 thin it was vs-as about sot nO in m till the BillIe V art n 1 et t e i wap sas gl id o ell of rn ti n opportunity to If ive the mom and aid jn Ic-jn n upon Ail sf Ml-sf t la TI's f ni s shoulder houlder in the pantry ry lie Ile dont don't Know they ws wn v js any r lie III concluded IJ hiving narrated the d t umro III ni dialogue All 1 he e I Inu no lOI v Ls Is i I 1 I'S v S y-s s 's rith ih ith it at 1 lady idy t li nc nex acs' acs du o re r r rea e v Wl a i- i in n nII h Did Dill you ou go 0 to ail by yourself yourself your your- fur self sef L lib 1 SiM 1 an a i 1 d dV V n 0 In hr ver d. d No 0 I dills didn t o u Olf 4 ir h I rl 1 n tin the c u r n nai ai an upward is t r r n- n L' L of m Trl iuSa in Ill iu- Sa 1 IlIJ To v 10 ca IL it t L. L J t L l tr t- t r I i. i I e of oC hilarious hilarIous' comprehension Ob Oh Ohl looked at her studiously but she elie spoke poke no further And Awl coni the conversation nt tit the logo feast a st st. Coffee COrrle came finally wa was di disposed ed edor of or quickly and the party dispersed to other oilier parts of the lIte house Bibbs followed fol fol- lowed Ill liN father wr mini ind Roscoe In Into to the library Hrnry but hut huta was a not well received You YO go and listen to tu the graph with the women folks folks Sheridan Shied Sheri dan 11 commanded Bibbs retreated Sometimes you Oll do Deem to be lie a hard bard sort of man hi Iw said However he went Into the and gilt room to otc hi his mother and his Ills sister ant and his ills sister sister- In law had helplessly withdrawn according ac ne cording to their Sabbatical custom 31 Mr I r- r Sheridan was looking over a collection col collection lection of oC records consisting exclusively sivel- sivel of Caruso and ragtime Sh She selected one of the latter remarking that she thought It right pretty and followed it with one of the tile former and nud the same sume remark As 8 the second reached Its conclusion G George appeared In the broad doorway doorway door door- way but he did not speak Instead he favored E Edith with wIlli a u ben benevolent s smile and she sIte immediately left the room George disappearing after atter her In the tile hall with an air of successful i diplomacy He made mude It t perfectly clear that Edith had given him secret instructions instructions in in- and that it had been his pride and pleasure to fulfill them to the letter Sibyl stiffened In her chair her lips hips 1 parted and she sile watched with curious eyes the vanishing back buck of the white jacket that she asked In a u low voice but sharply Heres another right pretty record i said Mrs Sheridan affecting with affecting with patent nervousness not nervousness not to hear bear And she he unloosed the music Sibyl bit her Up lip and nud began to tap 1 her chin with the brooch After a little while she turned to Bibbs who reposed at nt half balf length in a It gold chair with his eyes closed Where did dill Edith go she asked curiously Edith he repeated opening his eyes blankly uI Is she gone Sibyl got up and stood in the doorway door door- way She leaned against the casing i still tapping her chin with the brooch Her ner eyes were dilating she was suddenly suddenly sud sod i denly at hI high h tension and her expression expression sion slon had become one of ot sharp excite excite- ment She listened intently When the record was spun out she could hear bear Sheridan rumbling in tit the library during the ensuing silence and voice foice querulous and hu husky ky I wont won't S say I anything at all I tell you you might Just as us well veil let me alone But Hut there were other sounds a rustling rus rus- and murmur whispering low protesting cadences In a a. male mal voice voice Andas Mrs Irs Sheridan started another record a sudden vital resolve leaped like fire in the eyes of ot Sibyl She walked down the hall hull and straight Into the smoking room LaD Lamhorn Jorn and Edith both sprang prall to their feet teet s separating Edith became Instantly deathly white with a rage that set et t her Iler shaking head to foot Coot and Lamhorn stutt stuttered red as h he tried to speak But Edith's shaking was WUI not so violent vio lent as Sibyls Sibyl's nor was her face so white At sl sight ht of ot them there and of or their embrace all a possible consequences became became be be- came nothing to Sibyl She curtsied holding up her skirts and contorting her lips Ups to the semblance semblance- of ot a smile Sit Just as you were both were both of or you she be said And then to Edith Did you tell my husband I had been telephoning telephoning ing to Lamhorn Lamborn You march out of here said Edith fiercely March straight ht out of ot here Sibyl leveled a forefinger at Lam Lam- horn Did you tell teU her Id I'd been beetsi telephoning ing fug you I wanted you to come come Oh good God said Hush You knew shed she'd tell my husband didn't you she sIte cri cried d. d You knew ilia that t Hush Bush Ill hi begged panic ken That was a m ilia manly Illy thing to do Oil Oh it was as like a a. g You wouldn't omo wouldn't for fur five you ome-you you I ven 1 n I- I emit no l minutes to heir hear hit t I hid had to s i i 1 You Yon were Hrc tiled tired of n hit limit t I li haul nl to r v i I You'd hi ud it III ill a 1 i thou HI ma 1 I tn tile e i nd j you sun on V t M n II t d r 11 No o o I In 14 s i III 1 i i t c II I i II 1 I ll lull limit yon yuil v u HUM ti 11 II Hi flint it lit m i I Im II J she told i ply 11 In ha 1 ml Y in i a m Ili Ii Edith s in II h IIII t il In i V in a i t IM I'M 1 m i l pit I in 1 i s of III f I I r t mm I u it I In I i um lI 1 i ito to M I i 1 l th ii- ii I ii nn 1 I n II mm- mm i no ID i UK i i L 11 i hi n ii tl to u ti time t IY I t i her IKI fi C art out of f tins this lion gnu sh Ii h shri sn i i i d 1 t J I I i i i- i iv 1 J uli i Dull t you v J i Ik tl to 1 K l lert 1 ert like hUe that No No I ln IUt t Pl Ie lout I ton t you yon on d dalE dal ui E Edith ith anti and t IK Ire m iii to s1 n Insults In In- lIlts at each OKU Miter i UK U J t each K td li i tin thrall 11 I tam ni au mi f LI i i close Their Tin ir vii vii-r j is In illi 1 and 1111 i r 1 J ind rIl l M H I 1 t r i 1 ti UtI t 1 K In d. d I lit |