the turmoil-第34章

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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'　around　squealin'；　'The　doctor　says　this；'　and；　'The　doctor

says　that'！　　It　makes　me　sick！　　How's　this　country　expect　to　get　its　Work　done

if　Gurney　and　all　the　other　old　nanny…goats　keep　up　this　blattin''Oh；　oh！

Don't　lift　that　stick　o'　wood；　you'll　ruin　your　NERVES！'　So　he　says　you　got

'nervous　exhaustion　induced　by　overwork　and　emotional　strain。'　　They　always

got　to　stick　the　Work　in　if　they　see　a　chance！　　I　reckon　you　did　have　the

'emotional　strain；'　and　that's　all's　the　matter　with　you。　　You'll　be　over　it

soon's　this　woman's　gone；　and　Work's　the　very　thing　to　make　you　quit　frettin'

about　her。〃



〃Did　Gurney　tell　you　I　was　fit　to　work？〃



〃Shut　up！〃　Sheridan　bellowed。　　〃I'm　so　sick　o'　that　man's　name　I　feel　like

shootin'　anybody　that　says　it　to　me！〃　　He　fumed　and　chafed；　swearing

indistinctly；　then　came　and　stood　before　his　son。　　〃Look　here；　do　you　think

you're　doin'　the　square　thing　by　me？　　Do　you？　　How　much　you　worth？〃



〃I've　got　between　seven　and　eight　thousand　a　year　clear；　of　my　own；　outside

the　salary。　　That　much　is　mine　whether　I　work　or　not。〃



〃It　is？　　You　could　'a　pulled　it　out　without　me；　I　suppose　you　think；　at　your

age？〃



〃No。　But　it's　mine；　and　it's　enough。〃



〃My　Lord！　　It's　about　what　a　Congressman　gets；　and　you　want　to　quit　there！　I

suppose　you　think　you'll　get　the　rest　when　I　kick　the　bucket；　and　all　you　have

to　do　is　lay　back　and　wait！　　You　let　me　tell　you　right　here；　you'll　never　see

one　cent　of　it。　　You　go　out　o'　business　now；　and　what　would　you　know　about

handlin'　it　five　or　ten　or　twenty　years　from　now？　Because　I　intend　to　STAY

here　a　little　while　yet；　my　boy！　　They'd　either　get　it　away　from　you　or　you'd

sell　for　a　nickel　and　let　it　be　split　up　and　〃　　He　whirled　about；　marched　to

the　other　end　of　the　room；　and　stood　silent　a　moment。　　Then　he　said；　solomnly：

〃Listen。　　If　you　go　out　now；　you　leave　me　in　the　lurch；　with　nothin'　on　God's

green　earth　to　depend　on　but　your　brotherand　you　know　what　he　is。　　I've

depended　on　you　for　it　ALL　since　Jim　died。　　Now　you've　listened　to　that　dam'

doctor；　and　he　says　maybe　you　won't　ever　be　as　good　a　man　as　you　were；　and

that　certainly　you　won't　be　for　a　year　or　soprobably　more。　　Now；　that's　all

a　lie。　　Men　don't　break　down　that　way　at　your　age。　　Look　at　ME！　　And　I　tell

you；　you　can　shake　this　thing　off。　　All　you　need　is　a　little　GET…up　and　a

little　gumption。　　Men　don't　go　away　for　YEARS　and　then　come　back　into　MOVING

businesses　like　oursthey　lose　the　strings。　　And　if　you　could；　I　won't　let

youif　you　lay　down　on　me　now；　I　won'tand　that's　because　if　you　lay　down

you　prove　you　ain't　the　man　I　thought　you　were。〃　　He　cleared　his　throat　and

finished　quietly：　〃Roscoe；　will　you　take　a　month's　vacation　and　come　back　and

go　to　it？〃



〃No；〃　said　Roscoe；　listlessly。　　〃I'm　through。〃



〃All　right；〃　said　Sheridan。　　He　picked　up　the　evening　paper　from　a　table；　went

to　a　chair　by　the　fire　and　sat　down；　his　back　to　his　son。　　〃Good…by。〃



Roscoe　rose；　his　head　hanging；　but　there　was　a　dull　relief　in　his　eyes。　〃Best

I　can　do；〃　he　muttered；　seeming　about　to　depart；　yet　lingering。　　〃I　figure　it

out　a　good　deal　like　this；〃　he　said。　　〃I　didn't　KNOW　my　job　was　any　strain；

and　I　managed　all　right；　but　from　what　Gurfrom　what　I　hear；　I　was　just　up　to

the　limit　of　my　nerves　from　overwork；　and　the　the　trouble　at　home　was　the

extra　strain　that's　fixed　me　the　way　I　am。　　I　tried　to　brace；　so　I　could　stand

the　work　and　the　trouble　too；　on　whiskey　and　that　put　the　finish　to　me！

II'm　not　hitting　it　as　hard　as　I　was　for　a　while；　and　I　reckon　pretty　soon；

if　I　can　get　to　feeling　a　little　more　energy；　I　better　try　to　quit　entirelyI

don't　know。　　I'm　all　inand　the　doctor　says　so。　　I　thought　I　was　running

along　fine　up　to　a　few　months　ago；　but　all　the　time　I　was　ready　to　bust；　and

didn't　know　it。　　Now；　then；　I　don't　want　you　to　blame　Sibyl；　and　if　I　were　you

I　wouldn't　speak　of　her　as　'that　woman；'　because　she's　your　daughter…in…law

and　going　to　stay　that　way。　　She　didn't　do　anything　wicked。　　It　was　a　shock　to

me；　and　I　don't　deny　it；　to　find　what　she　had　doneencouraging　that　fellow　to

hang　around　her　after　he　began　trying　to　flirt　with　her；　and　losing　her　head

over　him　the　way　she　did。　　I　don't　deny　it　was　a　shock　and　that　it　'll　always

be　a　hurt　inside　of　me　I'll　never　get　over。　　But　it　was　my　fault；　I　didn't

understand　a　woman's　nature。〃　　Poor　Roscoe　spoke　in　the　most　profound　and

desolate　earnest。　　〃A　woman　craves　society；　and　gaiety；　and　meeting　attractive

people；　and　traveling。　　Well；　I　can't　give　her　the　other　things；　but　I　can

give　her　the　travelingreal　traveling；　not　just　going　to　Atlantic　City　or　New

Orleans；　the　way　she　has；　two；　three　times。　　A　woman　has　to　have　something　in

her　life　besides　a　business　man。　　And　that's　ALL　I　was。　　I　never　understood

till　I　heard　her　talking　when　she　was　so　sick；　and　I　believe　if　you'd　heard

her　then　you　wouldn't　speak　so　hard…heartedly　about　her；　I　believe　you　might

have　forgiven　her　like　I　have。　　That's　all。　　I　never　cared　anything　for　any

girl　but　her　in　my　life；　but　I　was　so　busy　with　business　I　put　it　ahead　of

her。　　I　never　THOUGHT　about　her；　I　was　so　busy　thinking　business。　　Well；　this

is　where　it's　brought　us　toand　now　when　you　talk　about　'business'　to　me　I

feel　the　way　you　do　when　anybody　talks　about　Gurney　to　you。　　The　word

'business'　makes　me　dizzyit　makes　me　honestly　sick　at　the　stomach。　　I

believe　if　I　had　to　go　down…town　and　step　inside　that　office　door　I'd　fall

down　on　the　floor；　deathly　sick。　　You　talk　about　a　'month's　vacation'　and　I

get　just　as　sick。　　I'm　rattledI　can't　planI　haven't　got　any　planscan't

make　any；　except　to　take　my　girl　and　get　just　as　far　away　from　that　office　as

I　canand　stay。　　We're　going　to　Japan　first；　and　if　we〃



His　father　rustled　the　paper。　　〃I　said　good…by；　Roscoe。〃



〃Good…by；〃　said　Roscoe；　listlessly。





Sheridan　waited　until　he　heard　the　sound　of　the　outer　door　closing；　then　he

rose　and　pushed　a　tiny　disk　set　in　the　wall。　　Jackson　appeared。



〃Has　Bibbs　got　home　from　work？〃



〃Mist'　Bibbs？　　No；　suh。〃



〃Tell　him　I　want　to　see　him；　soon　as　he　comes。〃



〃Yessuh。〃



Sheridan　returned　to　his　chair　and　fixed　his　attention　fiercely　upon　the

newspaper。　　He　found　it　difficult　to　pursue　the　items　beyond　their　explanatory

rubricsthere　was　nothing　unusual　or　startling　to　concentrate　his　attention：



　　　　　　　〃Motorman　Puts　Blame　on　Brakes。　　Three　Killed　when　Car　Slides。〃

　　　　　　　〃Burglars　Make　Big　Haul。〃　　〃Board　Works　Approve　Big　Car…line

　　　　　　　Extension。〃　　〃Hold…up　Men　Injure　Two。　　Man　Found　in　Alley；　Skull

　　　　　　　Fractured。〃　　〃Sickening　Story　Told　in　Divorce　Court。〃　　〃Plan　New

　　　　　　　Eighteen…story　Structure。〃　　〃School…girl　Meets　Death　under

　　　　　　　Automobile。〃　　〃Negro　Cuts　Three。　　One　Dead。〃　　〃Life　Crushed　Out。

　　　　　　　Third　Elevator　Accident　in　Same　Building　Causes　Action　by

　　　　　　　Coroner。〃　　〃Declare　Militia　will　be　Menace。　　Polish　Societies

　　　　　　　Protest　to　Governor　in　Church　Rioting　Case。〃　　〃Short　3；500　in

　　　　　　　Accounts；　Trusted　Man　Kills　Self　with　Drug。〃　　〃Found　Frozen。

　　　　　　　Family　Without　Food　or　Fuel。　　Baby　Dead　when　Parents　Return　Home

　　　　　　　from　Seeking　Work。〃　　〃Minister　Returned　from　Trip　Abroad　Lectures

　　　　　　　on　Big　Future　of　Our　City。　　Sees　Big　Improvement　during　Short

　　　　　　　Absence。　　Says　No　European　City　Holds　Candle。〃

（Sheridan　nodded　approvingly　here。）



Bibbs　came　through　the　hall　whistling；　and　entered　the　room　briskly。　〃Well；

father；　did　you　want　me？〃



〃Yes。　　Sit　down。〃　　Sheridan　got　up；　and　Bibbs　took　a　seat　by　the　fire；　holding

out　his　hands　to　the　crackling　blaze；　for　it　was　cold　outdoors。



〃I　came　within　seven　of　the　shop　record　to…day；〃　he　said。　　〃I　handled　more

strips　thand　any　other　workman　has　any　day　this　month。　　The　nearest　to　me　is

sixteen　behind。〃



〃There！〃　exclaimed　his　father；　greatly　pleased。　　〃What'd　I　tell　you？　　I'd　like

to　hear　Gurney　hint　again　that　I　wasn't　right　in　sending　you　there　I　would

just　like　to　hear　him！　　And　youain't　you　ashamed　of　makin'　such　a　fuss　about

it？　　Ain't　you？〃



〃I　didn't　go　at　it　in　the　right　spirit　the　other　time；〃　Bibbs　said；　smiling

brightly；　his　face　ruddy　in　the　cheerful　firelight。　　〃I　didn't　know　the

difference　it　meant　to　like　a　thing。〃



〃Well；　I　guess　I've　pretty　thoroughly　vindicated　my　judgement。　　I　guess　I

HAVE！　　I　said　the　shop　'd　be　good　for　you；　and　it　was。　　I　said　it　wouldn't

hurt　you；　and　it　hasn't。　　It's　been　just　exactly　what　I　said　it　would　be。

Ain't　that　so？〃



〃Looks　like　it！〃　Bibbs　agreed；　gaily。



〃Well；　I'd　like　to　know　any　place　I　been　wrong；　first　and　last！　　Instead　o'

hurting　you；　it's　been　the　makin'　of　youphysically。　　You're　a　good　inch

taller'n　what　I　am；　and　you'd　be　a　bigger　man　than　what　I　am　if　you'd　get　some

flesh　on　your　bones；　and　you　ARE　gettin'　a　little。　　Physically；　it's　started

you　out　to　be　the　huskiest　one　o'　the　whole　family。　　Now；　then；

mentallythat's　different。　　I　don't　say　it　unkindly；　Bibbs；　but　you　got　to　do

something　for　yourself　mentally；　just　like　what's　begun　physically。　　And　I'm

goin'　to　help　you。〃



Sheridan　decided　to　sit　down　again。　　He　brought　his　chair　close　to　his　son's；

and；　leaning　over；　tapped　Bibbs's　knee　confidentially。　　〃I　got　plans　for　you；

Bibbs；〃　he　said。



Bibbs　instantly　looked　thoroughly　alarmed。　　He　drew　back。　　〃II'm　all　right

now；　father。〃



〃Listen。〃　　Sheridan　settled　himself　in　his　chair；　and　spoke　in　the　tone　of　a

reasonable　man　reasoning。　　〃Listen　here；　Bibbs。　　I　had　another　blow　to…day；

and　it　was　a　hard　one　and　right　in　the　face；　though　I　HAVE　been　expectin'　it


some　little　time　back。　　Well；　it's　got　to　be　met。　　Now　I'll　be　frank　with　you。

As　I　said　a　minute　ago；　mentally　I　couldn't　ever　called　you　exactly　strong。

You　been　a　little　weak　both　ways；　most　of　your　life。　　Not　but　what　I　think　you

G