dan did not go in with him; he went home, and to his own room
without meeting any of his family. But as he passed Bibbs's door he
heard from within the sound of a cheerful young voice humming jubilant
fragments of song:

WHO looks a mustang in the eye?...
With a leap from the ground
To the saddle in a bound.
And away--and away!
Hi-yay!

It was the first time in Sheridan's life that he had ever detected
any musical symptom whatever in Bibbs--he had never even heard him
whistle--and it seemed the last touch of irony that the useless fool
should be merry to-day.

To Sheridan it was Tom o' Bedlam singing while the house burned; and he
did not tarry to enjoy the melody, but went into his own room and locked
the door.

CHAPTER XIX

He emerged only upon a second summons to dinner, two hours later, and
came to the table so white and silent that his wife made her anxiety
manifest and was but partially reassured by his explanation that his
lunch had "disagreed" with him a little.

Presently, however, he spoke effectively. Bibbs, whose appetite had
become hearty, was helping himself to a second breast of capon from
white-jacket's salver. "Here's another difference between Midas and
chicken," Sheridan remarked, grimly. "Midas can eat rooster, but rooster
can't eat Midas. I reckon you overlooked that. Midas looks to me like he
had the advantage there."

Bibbs retained enough presence of mind to transfer the capon breast to
his plate without dropping it and to respond, "Yes--he crows over it."

Having returned his antagonists's fire in this fashion, he blushed--for
he could blush distinctly now--and his mother looked upon him with
pleasure, thought the reference to Midas and roosters was of course
jargon to her. "Did you ever see anybody improve the way that child
has!" she exclaimed. "I declare, Bibbs, sometimes lately you look right
handsome!"

"He's got to be such a gadabout," Edith giggled.

"I found something of his on the floor up-stairs this morning, before
anybody was up," said Sheridan. "I reckon if people lose things in this
house and expect to get 'em back, they better get up as soon as I do."

"What was it he lost?" asked Edith.

"He knows!" her father returned. "Seems to me like I forgot to bring it
home with me. I looked it over--thought probably it was something pretty
important, belongin' to a busy man like him." He affected to search
his pockets. "What DID I do with it, now? Oh