, though--and I intend to," said Bibbs, quietly. "I don't think
you understand the condition of those buildings you want patched up."

"Now, see here," said Sheridan, with slow emphasis; "suppose I had my
mind set about this. JIM thought they'd stand, and suppose it was--well,
kind of a matter of sentiment with me to prove he was right."

Bibbs looked at him compassionately. "I'm sorry if you have a sentiment
about it, father," he said. "But whether you have or not can't make a
difference. You'll get other people hurt if you trust that process, and
that won't do. And if you want a monument to Jim, at least you want
one that will stand. Besides, I don't think you can reasonably defend
sentiment in this particular kind of affair."

"Oh, you don't?"

"No, but I'm sorry you didn't tell me you felt it."

Sheridan was puzzled by his son's tone. "Why are you 'sorry'?" he asked,
curiously.

"Because I had the building inspector up there, this noon," said Bibbs,
"and I had him condemn both those buildings."

"What?"

"He'd been afraid to do it before, until he heard from us--afraid you'd
see he lost his job. But he can't un-condemn them--they've got to come
down now."

Sheridan gave him a long and piercing stare from beneath lowered brows.
Finally he said, "How long did they give you on that option to convince
me?"

"Until two o'clock to-morrow afternoon."

"All right," said Sheridan, not relaxing. "I'm convinced."

Bibbs jumped up. "I thought you would be. I'll telephone the Krivitch
agent. He gave me the option until to-morrow, but I told him I'd settle
it this evening."

Sheridan gazed after him as he left the room, and then, though his
expression did not alter in the slightest, a sound came from him that
startled his wife. It had been a long time since she had heard anything
resembling a chuckle from him, and this sound--although it was grim and
dry--bore that resemblance.

She brightened eagerly. "Looks like he was startin' right well don't it,
papa?"

"Startin'? Lord! He got me on the hip! Why, HE knew what I
wanted--that's why he had the inspector up there, so't he'd have me beat
before we even started to talk about it. And did you hear him? 'Can't
reasonably defend SENTIMENT!' And the way he says 'Us': 'Took an option
for Us'! 'Stuff piled up on Us'!"

There was always an alloy for Mrs. sheridan. "I don't just like the way
he looks, though, papa."

"Oh, there's got to be something! Only one chick l