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to it an intolerable force。 He swore she should cool； and thus set her on
fire。
Edith planned neatly。 She fought hard； every other evening； with her father；
and kept her bed between times to let him see what his violence had done to
her。 Then； when the mere sight of her set him to breathing fast； she said
pitiably that she might bear her trouble better if she went away； it was
impossible to be in the same town with Lamhorn and not think always of him。
Perhaps in New York she might forget a little。 She had written to a school
friend； established quietly with an aunt in apartmentsand a month or so of
theaters and restaurants might bring peace。 Sheridan shouted with relief； he
gave her a copious cheque； and she left upon a Monday morning； wearing violets
with her mourning and having kissed everybody good…by except Sibyl and Bibbs。
She might have kissed Bibbs； but he failed to realize that the day of her
departure had arrived； and was surprised； on returning from his zinc…eater；
that evening； to find her gone。 〃I suppose they'll be maried ther；〃 he said；
casually。
Sheridan； seated； warming his stockinged feet at the fire； jumped up； fuming。
〃Either you go out o' here； or I will； Bibbs！〃 he snorted。 〃I don't want to
be in the same room with the particular kind of idiot you are！ She's through
with that riff…raff； all she needed was to be kept away from him a few weeks；
and I KEPT her away； and it did the business。 For Heaven's sake； go on out o'
here！〃
Bibbs obeyed the gesture of a hand still bandaged。 And the black silk sling
was still round Sheridan's neck； but not word of Gurney's and no excruciating
twinge of pain could keep Sheridan's hand in the sling。 The wounds； slight
enough originally； had become infected the first time he had dislodged the
bandages； and healing was long delayed。 Sheridan had the habit of gesture； he
could not 〃take time to remember；〃 he said； that he must be careful； and he
had also a curious indignation with his hurt； he refused to pay it the
compliment of admitting its existence。
The Saturday following Edith's departure Gurney came to the Sheridan Building
to dress the wounds and to have a talk with Sheridan which the doctor felt had
become necessary。 But he was a little before the appointed time and was
obliged to wait a few minutes in an anteroom there was a directors' meeting
of some sort in Sheridan's office。 The door was slightly ajar； leaking
cigar…smoke and oratory； the latter all Sheridan's； and Gurney listened。
〃No； sir； no； sir； no； sir！〃 he heard the big voice rumbling； and then；
breaking into thunder； 〃I tell you NO！ Some o' you men make me sick！ You'd
lose your confidence in Almighty God if a doodle…bug flipped his hind leg at
you！ You say money's tight all over the country。 Well； what if it is？
There's no reason for it to be tight； and it's not goin' to keep OUR money
tight！ You're always runnin' to the woodshed to hide your nickels in a crack
because some fool newspaper says the market's a little skeery！ You listen to
every street…corner croaker and then come and set here and try to scare ME out
of a big thing！ We're IN on this understand？ I tell you there never WAS
better times。 These are good times and big times； and I won't stand for any
other kind o' talk。 This country's on its feet as it never was before； and
this city's on its feet and goin' to stay there！〃 And Gurney heard a series
of whacks and thumps upon the desk。 〃'Bad times'！〃 Sheridan vociferated； with
accompanying thumps。 〃Rabbit talk！ These times are glorious； I tell you！
We're in the promised land； and we're goin' to STAY there！ That's all；
gentlemen。 The loan goes！〃
The directors came forth； flushed and murmurous； and Gurney hastened in。 His
guess was correct： Sheridan had been thumping the desk with his right hand。
The physician scolded wearily； making good the fresh damage as best he might；
and then he said what he had to say on the subject of Roscoe and Sibyl； his
opinion meeting； as he expected； a warmly hostile reception。 But the result of
this conversation was that by telephonic command Roscoe awaited his father； an
hour later； in the library at the New House。
〃Gurney says your wife's able to travel；〃 Sheridan said brusquely； as he came
in。
〃Yes。〃 Roscoe occupied a deep chair and sat in the dejected attitude which
had become his habit。 〃Yes； she is。〃
〃Edith had to leave town； and so Sibyl thinks she'll have to； too！〃
〃Oh； I wouldn't put it that way；〃 Roscoe protested； drearily。
〃No； I hear YOU wouldn't！〃 There was a bitter gibe in the father's voice； and
he added： 〃It's a good thing she's goin' abroadif she'll stay there。 I
shouldn't think any of us want her here any moreyou least of all！〃
〃It's no use your talking that way；〃 said Roscoe。 〃You won't do any good。〃
〃Well； when are you comin' back to your office？〃 Sheridan used a brisker；
kinder tone。 〃Three weeks since you showed up there at all。 When you goin'
to be ready to cut out whiskey and all the rest o' the foolishness and start
in again？ You ought to be able to make up for a lot o' lost time and a lot o'
spilt milk when that woman takes herself out o' the way and lets you and all
the rest of us alone。〃
〃It's no use； father； I tell you。 I know what Gurney was going to say to you。
I'm not going back to the office。 I'm DONE！〃
〃Wait a minute before you talk that way！〃 Sheridan began his sentry…go up and
down the room。 〃I suppose you know it's taken two pretty good men about
sixteen hours a day to set things straight and get 'em runnin' right again；
down in your office？〃
〃They must be good men。〃 Roscoe nodded indifferently。 〃I thought I was doing
about eight men's work。 I'm glad you found two that could handle it。〃
〃Look here！ If I worked you it was for your own good。 There are plenty men
drive harder 'n I do； and〃
〃Yes。 There are some that break down all the other men that work with 'em。
They either die； or go crazy； or have to quit； and are no use the rest of
their lives。 The last's my case； I guess'complicated by domestic
difficulties'！〃
〃You set there and tell me you give up？〃 Sheridan's voice shook； and so did
the gesticulating hand which he extended appealingly toward the despondent
figure。 〃Don't do it； Roscoe！ Don't say it！ Say you'll come down there
again and be a man！ This woman ain't goin' to trouble you any more。 The work
ain't goin' to hurt you if you haven't got her to worry you； and you can get
shut o' this nasty whiskey…guzzlin'； it ain't fastened on you yet。 Don't
say〃
〃It's no use on earth；〃 Roscoe mumbled。 〃No use on earth。〃
〃Look here！ If you want another month's vacation〃
〃I know Gurney told you； so what's the use talking about 'vacations'？〃
〃Gurney！〃 Sheridan vociferated the name savagely。 〃It's Gurney； Gurney；
Gurney！ Always Gurney！ I don't know what the world's comin' to with
everybody runnin' a