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till I heard her talking when she was so sick； and I believe if you'd heard
her then you wouldn't speak so hard…heartedly about her； I believe you might
have forgiven her like I have。 That's all。 I never cared anything for any
girl but her in my life； but I was so busy with business I put it ahead of
her。 I never THOUGHT about her； I was so busy thinking business。 Well； this
is where it's brought us toand now when you talk about 'business' to me I
feel the way you do when anybody talks about Gurney to you。 The word
'business' makes me dizzyit makes me honestly sick at the stomach。 I
believe if I had to go down…town and step inside that office door I'd fall
down on the floor； deathly sick。 You talk about a 'month's vacation' and I
get just as sick。 I'm rattledI can't planI haven't got any planscan't
make any； except to take my girl and get just as far away from that office as
I canand stay。 We're going to Japan first； and if we〃
His father rustled the paper。 〃I said good…by； Roscoe。〃
〃Good…by；〃 said Roscoe； listlessly。
Sheridan waited until he heard the sound of the outer door closing； then he
rose and pushed a tiny disk set in the wall。 Jackson appeared。
〃Has Bibbs got home from work？〃
〃Mist' Bibbs？ No； suh。〃
〃Tell him I want to see him； soon as he comes。〃
〃Yessuh。〃
Sheridan returned to his chair and fixed his attention fiercely upon the
newspaper。 He found it difficult to pursue the items beyond their explanatory
rubricsthere was nothing unusual or startling to concentrate his attention：
〃Motorman Puts Blame on Brakes。 Three Killed when Car Slides。〃
〃Burglars Make Big Haul。〃 〃Board Works Approve Big Car…line
Extension。〃 〃Hold…up Men Injure Two。 Man Found in Alley； Skull
Fractured。〃 〃Sickening Story Told in Divorce Court。〃 〃Plan New
Eighteen…story Structure。〃 〃School…girl Meets Death under
Automobile。〃 〃Negro Cuts Three。 One Dead。〃 〃Life Crushed Out。
Third Elevator Accident in Same Building Causes Action by
Coroner。〃 〃Declare Militia will be Menace。 Polish Societies
Protest to Governor in Church Rioting Case。〃 〃Short 3；500 in
Accounts； Trusted Man Kills Self with Drug。〃 〃Found Frozen。
Family Without Food or Fuel。 Baby Dead when Parents Return Home
from Seeking Work。〃 〃Minister Returned from Trip Abroad Lectures
on Big Future of Our City。 Sees Big Improvement during Short
Absence。 Says No European City Holds Candle。〃
（Sheridan nodded approvingly here。）
Bibbs came through the hall whistling； and entered the room briskly。 〃Well；
father； did you want me？〃
〃Yes。 Sit down。〃 Sheridan got up； and Bibbs took a seat by the fire； holding
out his hands to the crackling blaze； for it was cold outdoors。
〃I came within seven of the shop record to…day；〃 he said。 〃I handled more
strips thand any other workman has any day this month。 The nearest to me is
sixteen behind。〃
〃There！〃 exclaimed his father； greatly pleased。 〃What'd I tell you？ I'd like
to hear Gurney hint again that I wasn't right in sending you there I would
just like to hear him！ And youain't you ashamed of makin' such a fuss about
it？ Ain't you？〃
〃I didn't go at it in the right spirit the other time；〃 Bibbs said； smiling
brightly； his face ruddy in the cheerful firelight。 〃I didn't know the
difference it meant to like a thing。〃
〃Well； I guess I've pretty thoroughly vindicated my judgement。 I guess I
HAVE！ I said the shop 'd be good for you； and it was。 I said it wouldn't
hurt you； and it hasn't。 It's been just exactly what I said it would be。
Ain't that so？〃
〃Looks like it！〃 Bibbs agreed； gaily。
〃Well； I'd like to know any place I been wrong； first and last！ Instead o'
hurting you； it's been the makin' of youphysically。 You're a good inch
taller'n what I am； and you'd be a bigger man than what I am if you'd get some
flesh on your bones； and you ARE gettin' a little。 Physically； it's started
you out to be the huskiest one o' the whole family。 Now； then；
mentallythat's different。 I don't say it unkindly； Bibbs； but you got to do
something for yourself mentally； just like what's begun physically。 And I'm
goin' to help you。〃
Sheridan decided to sit down again。 He brought his chair close to his son's；
and； leaning over； tapped Bibbs's knee confidentially。 〃I got plans for you；
Bibbs；〃 he said。
Bibbs instantly looked thoroughly alarmed。 He drew back。 〃II'm all right
now； father。〃
〃Listen。〃 Sheridan settled himself in his chair； and spoke in the tone of a
reasonable man reasoning。 〃Listen here； Bibbs。 I had another blow to…day；
and it was a hard one and right in the face； though I HAVE been expectin' it
some little time back。 Well； it's got to be met。 Now I'll be frank with you。
As I said a minute ago； mentally I couldn't ever called you exactly strong。
You been a little weak both ways； most of your life。 Not but what I think you
GOT a mentality； if you'd learn to use it。 You got will…power； I'll say that
for you。 I never knew boy or man that could be stubbornernever one in my
life！ Now； then； you've showed you could learn to run that machine best of
any man in the shop； in no time at all。 That looks to me like you could learn
to do other things。 I don't deny but what it's an encouragin' sign。 I don't
deny that； at all。 Well； that helps me to think the case ain't so hopeless as
it looks。 You're all I got to meet this blow with； but maybe you ain't as
poor material as I thought。 Your tellin' me about comin' within seven strips
of the shop's record to…day looks to me like encouragin' information brought
in at just about the right time。 Now； then； I'm goin' to give you a raise。 I
wanted to send you straight on up through the shopsa year or two； maybe
but I can't do it。 I lost Jim； and now I've lost Roscoe。 He's quit。 He's
laid down on me。 If he ever comes back at all； he'll be a long time pickin'
up the strings； and； anyway； he ain't the man I thought he was。 I can't count
on him。 I got to have SOMEBODY I KNOW I can count on。 And I'm down to this：
you're my last chance。 Bibbs； I got to learn you to use what brains you got
and see if we can't develop 'em a little。 Who knows？ And I'm goin' to put my
time in on it。 I'm goin' to take you right down…town with ME； and I won't be
hard on you if you're a little slow at first。 And I'm goin' to do the big
thing for you。 I'm goin' to make you feel you got to do the big thing for me；
in return。 I've vindicated my policy with you about the shop； and now I'm
goin' to turn right around and swing you 'way over ahead of where the other
boys started； and I'm goin' to make an appeal to your ambition that 'll make
you dizzy！〃 He tapped his son on the knee again。 〃Bibbs； I'm goin' to start
you off this way： I'm goin' to make you a director in the Pump Works Company；
I'm goin' to make you vice…president of the Realty Company and a
vice…president of the Trust Company！〃
Bibbs jumped to his feet； blanched。 〃Oh no！〃 he cried。
Sheridan took his dismay to be the excitement of sudden joy。 〃Yes； sir！ And
there's some pretty fat little salaries goes with those vice…presidencies； and
a pinch o' stock in the Pump Company with the directorship。 You thought I was
pretty mean about the shopoh； I know you did！but you see the old man can
play it both ways。 And so right now； the minute you've begun to make good the
way I wanted you to； I deal from the new deck。 And I'll keep on handin' it
out bigger and bigger every time you show me you're big enough to play the
hand I deal you。 I'm startin' you with a pretty big one； my boy！〃
〃But I don'tI don'tI don't want it！〃 Bibbs stammered。
〃What 'd you say？〃 Sheridan thought he had not heard aright。
〃I don't want it； father。 I thank youI do thank you〃
Sheridan looked perplexed。 〃What's the matter with you？ Didn't you
understand what I was tellin' you？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃You sure？ I reckon you didn't。 I offered〃
〃I know； I know！ But I can't take it。〃
〃What's the matter with you？〃 Sheridan was half amazed； half suspicious。
〃Your head feel funny？〃
〃I've never been quite so sane in my life；〃 said Bibbs； 〃as I have lately。 And
I've got just what I want。 I'm living exactly the right life。 I'm earning my
daily bread； and I'm happy in doing it。 My wages are enough。 I don't want any
more money； and I don't deserve any〃
〃Damnation！〃 Sheridan sprang up。 〃You've turned Socialist！ You been
listening to those fellows down there； and you〃
〃No； sir。 I think there's a great deal in what they say； but that isn't it。〃
Sheridan tried to restrain his growing fury； and succeeded partially。 〃Then
what is it？ What's the matter？〃
〃Nothing；〃 he son returned； nervously。 〃Nothingexcept that I'm content。 I
don't want to change anything。〃
〃Why