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 better to 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' coffee, 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She rang, and told George to have coffee made, and when he had withdrawn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 responded, 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
flattering--for a minute! 'Bibbs couldn't help havin' business brains,'
he says, 'bein' YOUR