t into the open bag. "What's the matter with giving Bibbs a
chance to live?" he said, coolly. "I would if I were you. You've had TWO
that went into business."

Sheridan's mouth moved grotesquely before he could speak. "Joe Gurney,"
he said, when he could command himself so far, "are you accusin' me of
the responsibility for the death of my son James?"

"I accuse you of nothing," said the doctor. "But just once I'd like
to have it out with you on the question of Bibbs--and while he's here,
too." He got up, walked to the fire, and stood warming his hands behind
his back and smiling. "Look here, old fellow, let's be reasonable," he
said. "You were bound Bibbs should go to the shop again, and I gave you
and him, both, to understand pretty plainly that if he went it was at
the risk of his life. Well, what did he do? He said he wanted to go. And
he did go, and he's made good there. Now, see: Isn't that enough? Can't
you let him off now? He wants to write, and how do you know that he
couldn't do it if you gave him a chance? How do you know he hasn't some
message--something to say that might make the world just a little
bit happier or wiser? He MIGHT--in time--it's a possibility not to be
denied. Now he can't deliver any message if he goes down there with you,
and he won't HAVE any to deliver. I don't say going down with you is
likely to injure his health, as I thought the shop would, and as the
shop did, the first time. I'm not speaking as doctor now, anyhow. But
I tell you one thing I know: if you take him down there you'll kill
something that I feel is in him, and it's finer, I think, than his
physical body, and you'll kill it deader than a door-nail! And so
why not let it live? You've about come to the end of your string, old
fellow. Why not stop this perpetual devilish fighting and give Bibbs his
chance?"

Sheridan stood looking at him fixedly. "What 'fighting?'"

"Yours--with nature." Gurney sustained the daunting gaze of his fierce
antagonist equably. "You don't seem to understand that you've been
struggling against actual law."

"What law?"

"Natural law," said Gurney. "What do you think beat you with Edith? Did
Edith, herself, beat you? Didn't she obey without question something
powerful that was against you? EDITH wasn't against you, and you weren't
against HER, but you set yourself against the power that had her in its
grip, and it shot out a spurt of flame--and won in a walk! What's taken
Roscoe from you? Tim