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striving to forward the personal ambitions of their owners。 The control of
the city lay not with them； but was usually obtained by giving the hordes of
negroes gin…money； and by other largesses。 The revenues of the people were
then distributed as fairly as possible among a great number of men who had
assisted the winning side。 Names and titles of offices went with many of the
prizes； and most of these title…holders were expected to present a busy
appearance at times； and； indeed； some among them did work honestly and
faithfully。
Bibbs had been very ignorant。 All these simple things； so well known and
customary； astonished him at first； and oncein a brief moment of forgetting
that he was done with writinghe thought that if he had known them and
written of them； how like a satire the plainest relation of them must have
seemed！ Strangest of all to him was the vehement and sincere patriotism。 On
every side he heard itit was a permeation； the newest school…child caught
it； though just from Hungary and learning to stammer a few words of the local
language。 Everywhere the people shouted of the power； the size； the riches；
and the growth of their city。 Not only that； they said that the people of
their city were the greatest； the 〃finest；〃 the strongest； the Biggest people
on earth。 They cited no authorities； and felt the need of none； being
themselves the people thus celebrated。 And if the thing was questioned； or if
it was hinted that there might be one small virtue in which they were not
perfect and supreme； they wasted no time examining themselves to see if what
the critic said was true； but fell upon him and hooted him and cursed him； for
they were sensitive。 So Bibbs； learning their ways and walking with them；
harkened to the voice of the people and served Bigness with them。 For the
voice of the people is the voice of their god。
Sheridan had made the room next to his own into an office for Bibbs； and the
door between the two rooms usually stood openthe father had established that
intimacy。 One morning in February； when Bibbs was alone； Sheridan came in；
some sheets of typewritten memoranda in his hand。
〃Bibbs；〃 he said； 〃I don't like to butt in very often this way； and when I do
I usually wish I hadn'tbut for Heaven's sake what have you been buying that
ole busted inter…traction stock for？〃
Bibbs leaned back from his desk。 〃For eleven hundred and fifty…five dollars。
That's all it cost。〃
〃Well； it ain't worth eleven hundred and fifty…five cents。 You ought to know
that。 I don't get your idea。 That stuff's deader 'n Adam's cat！〃
〃It might be worth somethingsome day。〃
〃How？〃
〃It mightn't be so deadnot if We went into it；〃 said Bibbs； coolly。
〃Oh！〃 Sheridan considered this musingly； then he said； 〃Who'd you buy it
from？〃
〃A brokerFansmith。〃
〃Well； he must 'a' got it from one o' the crowd o' poor ninnies that was
soaked with it。 Don't you know who owned it？〃
〃Yes； I do。〃
〃Ain't sayin'； though？ That it？ What's the matter？〃
〃It belonged to Mr。 Vertrees；〃 said Bibbs； shortly； applying himself to his
desk。
〃So！〃 Sheridan gazed down at his son's thin face。 〃Excuse me；〃 he said。
〃Your business。〃 And he went back to his own room。 But presently he looked
in again。
〃I reckon you won't mind lunchin' alone to…day〃he was shuffling himself into
his overcoat〃because I just thought I'd go up to the house and get THIS over
with mamma。〃 He glanced apologetically toward his right hand as it emerged
from the sleeve of the overcoat。 The bandages had been removed； finally； that
morning； revealing but three fingers the forefinger and the finger next to
it had been amputated。 〃She's bound to make an awful fuss； and it better
spoil her lunch than her dinner。 I'll be back about two。〃
But he calculated the time of his arrival at the New House so accurately that
Mrs。 Sheridan's lunch was not disturbed； 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。
〃What's the matter； papa？〃 she asked； quickly。 〃Has anything gone wrong？ You
ain't sick？〃
〃Me！〃 He laughed loudly。 〃Me SICK？〃
〃You had lunch？〃
〃Didn't want any to…day。 You can give me a cup o' coffe； though。〃
She rang； and told George to have coffee made； and when he had withdrawn she
said querulously； 〃I just know there's something wrong。〃
〃Nothin' in the world；〃 he responed； heartily； taking a seat at the head of
the table。 〃I thought I'd talk over a notion o' mine with you； that's all。
It's more women…folks' business than what it is man's； anyhow。〃
〃What about？〃
〃Why； ole Doc Gurney was up at the office this morning awhile〃
〃To look at your hand？ How's he say it's doin'？〃
〃Fine！ Well； he went in and sat around with Bibbs awhile〃
Mrs。 Sheridan nodded pessimistically。 〃I guess it's time you had him； too。 I
KNEW Bibbs〃
〃Now； mamma； hold your horses！ I wanted him to look Bibbs over BEFORE
anything's the matter。 You don't suppose I'm goin' to take any chances with
BIBBS； do you？ Well； afterwards； I shut the door； and I an' ole Gurney had a
talk。 He's a mighty disagreeable man； he rubbed it in on me what he said
about Bibbs havin' brains if he ever woke up。 Then I thought he must want to
get something out o' me； he go so flatteringfor a minute！ 'Bibbs couldn't
help havin' business brains；' he says； 'bein' YOUR son。 Don't be surprised；'
he says'don't be surprised at his makin' a success；' he says。 'He couldn't
get over his heredity； he couldn't HELP bein' a business successonce you got
him into it。 It's in his blood。 Yes； sir' he says； 'it doesn't need MUCH
brains；' he says； 'an only third…rate brains； at that；' he says； 'but it does
need a special KIND o' brains；' he says； 'to be a millionaire。 I mean；' he
says； 'when a man's given a start。 If nobody gives him a start； why； course
he's got to have luck AND the right kind o' brains。 The only miracle about
Bibbs；' he says； 'is where he got the OTHER kind o' brainsthe brains you
made him quit usin' and throw away。'〃
〃But what'd he say about his health？〃 Mrs。 Sheridan demanded； impatiently； as
George placed a cup of coffee before her husband。 Sheridan helped himself to
cream and sugar； and began to sip the coffee。
〃I'm comin' to that；〃 he returned； placidly。 〃See how easy I manage this cup
with my left hand； mamma？〃
〃You been doin' that all winter。 What did〃
〃It's wonderful；〃 he interrupted； admiringly； 〃what a fellow can do with his
left hand。 I can sign my name with mine now； well's I ever could with my
right。 It came a little hard at first； but now； honest； I believe I RATHER
sign with my left。 That's all I ever have to write； anywayjust the
signature。 Rest's all dictatin'。〃 He blew across the top of the cup
unctuously。 〃Good coffee； mamma！ Well； about Bibbs。 Ole Gurney says he
believes if Bibbs could somehow get back to the state o' mind he was in about
the machine…shopthat is； if he could some way get to feelin' about business
the way he felt about the shopnot the poetry and writin' part； but〃 He
paused； supplementing his remarks with a motion of his head toward the old
house next door。 〃He says Bibbs is older and harder 'n what he was when he
broke down that time； and besides； he ain't the kind o' dreamy way he was
thenand I should say he AIN'T！ I'd like 'em to show ME anybody his age
that's any wider awake！ But he says Bibbs's health never need bother us again
if〃
Mrs。 Sheridan shook her head。 〃I don't see any help THAT way。 You know
yourself she wouldn't have Jim。〃
〃Who's talkin' about her havin' anybody？ But； my Lord！ she might let him LOOK
at her！ She needn't 'a' got so mad； just because he asked her； that she won't
let him come in the house any more。 He's a mighty funny boy； and some ways I
reckon he's pretty near as hard to understand as the Bible； but Gurney kind o'
got me in the way o' thinkin' that if she'd let him come back and set around
with her an evening or two sometimesnot reg'lar； I don't meanwhyWell； I
just thought I'd see what YOU'D think of it。 There ain't any way to talk
about it to Bibbs himselfI don't suppose he'd let you； anyhowbut I thought
maybe you could kind o' slip over there some day； and sort o' fix up to have a
little talk with her； and kind o' hint around till you see how the land lays；
and ask her 〃
〃ME！〃 Mrs。 Sheridan looked both helpless and frightened。 〃No。〃 She shook
her head decidedly。 〃It wouldn't do any good。〃
〃You won't try it？〃
〃I won't risk her turnin' me out o' the house。 Some way； that's what I
believe she did to Sibyl； from what Roscoe said once。 No； I CAN'Tand；
what's more； it 'd only make things worse。 If people find out you're runnin'
after 'em they think you're cheap； and then they won't do as m