the turmoil-第29章

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bigger。　　I　tell　you　this　business　life　is　no　fool's　job　nowadaysa　man's　got

to　have　eyes　in　the　back　of　his　head。　　You　hear　talk；　sometimes；　'd　make　you

think　the　millennium　had　comebut　right　the　next　breath　you'll　hear　somebody

hollerin'　about　'the　great　unrest。'　　You　BET　there's　a　'great　unrest'！　　There

ain't　any　man　alive　smart　enough　to　see　what　it's　goin'　to　do　to　us　in　the

end；　nor　what　day　it's　got　set　to　bust　loose；　but　it's　frothin'　and　bubblin'

in　the　boiler。　　This　country's　been　fillin'　up　with　it　from　all　over　the　world

for　a　good　many　years；　and　the　old　camp…meetin'　days　are　dead　and　done　with。

Church　ain't　what　it　used　to　be。　　Nothin's　what　it　used　to　beeverything's

turned　up　from　the　bottom；　and　the　growth　is　so　big　the　roots　stick　out　in　the

air。　　There's　an　awful　ruction　goin'　on；　and　you　got　to　keep　hoppin'　if　you're

goin'　to　keep　your　balance　on　the　top　of　it。　　And　the　schemers！　　They　run　like

bugs　on　the　bottom　of　a　boardafter　any　piece　o'　money　they　hear　is　loose。

Fool　schemes　and　crooked　schemes；　the　fool　ones　are　the　most　and　the　worst！

You　got　to　FIGHT　to　keep　your　money　after　you've　made　it。　　And　the　woods　are

full　o'　mighty　industrious　men　that's　got　only　one　motto：　'Get　the　other

fellow's　money　before　he　gets　yours！'　　And　when　a　man's　built　as　I　have；　when

he's　built　good　and　strong；　and　made　good　things　grow　and　prosperTHOSE　are

the　fellows　that　lay　for　the　chance　to　slide　in　and　sneak　the　benefit　of　it

and　put　their　names　to　it！　　And　what's　the　use　of　my　havin'　ever　been　born；　if

such　a　thing　as　that　is　goin'　to　happen？　　What's　the　use　of　my　havin'　worked

my　life　and　soul　into　my　business；　if　it's　all　goin'　to　be　dispersed　and

scattered　soon　as　I'm　in　the　ground？〃



He　strode　up　and　down　the　long　room；　gesticulatinglittle　regarding　the

troubled　and　drowsy　figure　by　the　fireside。　　His　throat　rumbled　thunderously；

the　words　came　with　stormy　bitterness。　　〃You　think　this　is　a　time　for　young

men　to　be　lyin'　on　beds　of　ease？　　I　tell　you　there　never　was　such　a　time

before；　there　never　was　such　opportunity。　　The　sluggard　is　despoiled　while　he

sleepsyes；　by　George！　if　a　may　lays　down　they'll　eat　him　before　he

wakes！but　the　live　man　can　build　straight　up　till　he　touches　the　sky！　　This

is　the　business　man's　day；　it　used　to　be　the　soldier's　day　and　the　statesman's

day；　but　this　is　OURS！　　And　it　ain't　a　Sunday　to　go　fishin'it's　turmoil！

turmoil！and　you　got　to　go　out　and　live　it　and　breathe　it　and　MAKE　it

yourself；　or　you'll　only　be　a　dead　man　walkin'　around　dreamin'　you're　alive。

And　that's　what　my　son　Bibbs　has　been　doin'　all　his　life；　and　what　he'd　rather

do　now　than　go　out　and　do　his　part　by　me。　　And　if　anything　happens　to

Roscoe〃



〃Oh；　do　stop　worryin'　over　such　nonsense；〃　Mrs。　Sheridan　interrupted；

irritated　into　sharp　wakefulness　for　the　moment。　　　〃There　isn't　anything　goin'

to　happen　to　Roscoe；　and　you're　just　tormentin'　yourself　about　nothin'。

Aren't　you　EVER　goin'　to　bed？〃



Sheridan　halted。　　〃All　right；　mamma；〃　he　said；　with　a　vast　sigh。　　〃Let's　go

up。〃　　And　he　snapped　off　the　electric　light；　leaving　only　the　rosy　glow　of　the

fire。



〃Did　you　speak　to　Roscoe？〃　she　yawned；　rising　lopsidedly　in　her　drowsiness。

〃Did　you　mention　about　what　I　told　you　the　other　evening？〃



〃No。　　I　will　to…morrow。〃



But　Roscoe　did　not　come　down…town　the　next　day；　nor　the　next；　nor　did　Sheridan

see　fit　to　enter　his　son's　house。　　He　waited。　　Then；　on　the　fourth　day　of　the

month；　Roscoe　walked　into　his　father's　office　at　nine　in　the　morning；　when

Sheridan　happened　to　be　alone。



〃They　told　me　down…stairs　you'd　left　word　you　wanted　to　see　me。〃



〃Sit　down；〃　said　Sheridan；　rising。



Roscoe　sat。　　His　father　walked　close　to　him；　sniffed　suspiciously；　and　then

walked　away；　smiling　bitterly。　　〃Boh！〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃Still　at　it！〃



〃Yes；〃　said　Roscoe。　　〃I've　had　a　couple　of　drinks　this　morning。　　What　about

it？〃



〃I　reckon　I　better　adopt　some　decent　young　man；〃　his　father　returned。　〃I'd

bring　Bibbs　up　here　and　put　him　in　your　place　if　he　was　fit。　　I　would！〃



〃Better　do　it；〃　Roscoe　assently；　sullenly。



〃When　'd　you　begin　this　thing？〃



〃I　always　did　drink　a　little。　　Ever　since　I　grew　up；　that　is。〃



〃Leave　that　talk　out！　　You　know　what　I　mean。〃



〃Well；　I　don't　know　as　I　ever　had　too　much　in　office　hoursuntil　the　other

day。〃



Sheridan　began　cutting。　　〃It's　a　lie。　　I've　had　Ray　Wills　up　from　your　office。

He　didn't　want　to　give　you　away；　but　I　put　the　hooks　into　him；　and　he　came

through。　　You　were　drunk　twice　before　and　couldn't　work。　　You　been　leavin'

your　office　for　drinks　every　few　hours　for　the　last　three　weeks。　　I　been　over

your　books。　　Your　office　is　way　behind。　　You　haven't　done　any　work；　to　count；

in　a　month。〃



〃All　right；〃　said　Roscoe；　drooping　under　the　torture。　　〃It's　all　true。〃



〃What　you　goin'　to　do　about　it？〃



Roscoe's　head　was　sunk　between　his　shoulders。　　〃I　can't　stand　very　much　talk

about　it；　father；〃　he　said；　pleadingly。



〃No！〃　Sheridan　cried。　　〃Neither　can　I！　　What　do　you　think　it　means　to　ME？〃　He

dropped　into　the　chair　at　his　big　desk；　groaning。　　〃I　can't　stand　to　talk

about　it　any　more'n　you　can　to　listen；　but　I'm　goin'　to　find　out　what's　the

matter　with　you；　and　I'm　goin'　to　straighten　you　out！〃





Roscoe　shook　his　head　helplessly。



〃You　can't　straighten　me　out。〃



〃See　here！〃　said　Sheridan。　　〃Can　you　go　back　to　your　office　and　stay　sober

to…day；　while　I　get　my　work　done；　or　will　I　have　to　hire　a　couple　o'　huskies

to　follow　you　around　and　knock　the　whiskey　out　o'　your　hand　if　they　see　you

tryin'　to　take　it？〃



〃You　needn't　worry　about　that；〃　said　Roscoe；　looking　up　with　a　faint

resentment。　　〃I'm　not　drinking　because　I've　got　a　thirst。〃



〃Well；　what　have　you　got？〃



〃Nothing。　　　Nothing　you　can　do　anything　about。　　Nothing；　I　tell　you。〃



〃We'll　see　about　that！〃　said　Sheridan；　harshly。　　　〃Now　I　can't　fool　with　you

to…day；　　and　you　get　up　out　o'　that　chair　and　get　out　o'　my　office。　You　bring

your　wife　to　dinner　to…morrow。　　You　didn't　come　last　Sunday　but　you　come

to…morrow。　　I'll　talk　this　out　with　you　when　the　women…folks　are　workin'　the

phonograph；　after　dinner。　　Can　you　keep　sober　till　then？　You　better　be　sure；

because　I'm　going　to　send　Abercrombie　down　to　your　office　every　little　while；

and　he'll　let　me　know。〃



Roscoe　paused　at　the　door。　　〃You　told　Abercrombie　about　it？〃　he　asked。



〃TOLD　him！〃　　And　Sheridan　laughed　hideously。　　〃Do　you　suppose　there's　an

elevator…boy　in　the　whole　dam'　building　that　ain't　on　to　you？〃



Roscoe　settled　his　hat　down　over　his　eyes　and　went　out。





〃WHO　looks　a　mustang　in　the　eye？　Changety；　chang；　chang！　Bash！　Crash！　BANG！〃



So　sang　Bibbs；　his　musical　gaieties　inaudible　to　his　fellow…workmen　because　of

the　noise　of　the　machinery。　　He　had　discovered　long　ago　that　the　uproar　was

rhythmical；　and　it　had　been　intolerable；　but　now；　on　the　afternoon　of　the

fourth　day　of　his　return；　he　was　accompanying　the　swing　and　clash　of　the

metals　with　jubilant　vaquero　fragments；　mingling　improvisations　of　his　own

among　them；　and　mocking　the　zinc…eater's　crash　with　vocal　imitations：



Fearless　and　bold；　Chang！　Bash！　Behold！　With　a　leap　from　the　ground　To　the

saddle　in　a　bound；　And　awayand　away！　Hi…YAY！　WHO　looks　a　chang；　chang；　bash；

crash；　bang！　WHO　cares　a　dash　how　you　bash　and　you　crash？　NIGHT'S　on　the　way

EACH　time　I　say；　Hi…YAY！　Crash；　chang！　Bash；　chang！　Chang；　bang；　BANG！



The　long　room　was　ceaselessly　thundering　with　metallic　sound；　the　air　was

thick　with　the　smell　of　oil；　the　floor　trembled　perpetually；　everything　was

implacably　in　motionnowhere　was　there　a　rest　for　the　dizzied　eye。　The　first

time　he　had　entered　the　place　Bibbs　had　become　dizzy　instantly；　and　six　months

of　it　had　only　added　increasing　nausea　to　faintness。　　But　he　felt　neither　now。

〃ALL　DAY　LONG　I'LL　SEND　MY　THOUGHTS　TO　YOU。　　YOU　MUST　KEEP　REMEMBERING　THAT

YOUR　FRIEND　STANDS　BESIDE　YOU。〃　　He　saw　her　there　beside　him；　and　the　greasy；

roaring　place　became　suffused　with　radiance。　　The　poet　was　happy　in　his

machine…shop；　he　was　still　a　poet　there。　　And　he　fed　his　old　zinc…eater；　and

sang：



Awayand　away！　Hi…YAH！　Crash；　bash；　crash；　bash；　CHANG！　Wild　are　his　eyes；

Fiercely　he　dies！　Hi…YAH！　Crash；　bash；　bang！　　Bash；　CHANG！　Ready　to　fling　Our

gloves　in　the　ring



He　was　unaware　of　a　sensation　that　passed　along　the　lines　of　workmen。　Their

great　master　had　come　among　them；　and　they　grinned　to　see　him　standing　with

Dr。　Gurney　behind　the　unconscious　Bibbs。　　Sheridan　nodded　to　those　nearest

himhe　had　personal　acquaintance　with　nearly　all　of　them　but　he　kept　his

attention　upon　his　son。　　Bibbs　worked　steadily；　never　turning　from　his

machine。　　Now　and　then　he　varied　his　musical　programme　with　remarks　addressed

to　the　zinc…eater。



〃Go　on；　you　old　crash…basher！　　Chew　it　up！　　It's　good　for　you；　if　you　don't


try　to　bolt　your　vittles。　　Fletcherize；　you　pig！　　That's　right　YOU'LL　never

get　a　lump　in　your　gizzard。　　Want　some　more？　　Here's　a　nice；　shiny　one。〃



The　words　were　indistinguishable；　but　Sheridan　inclined　his　head　to　Gurney's

ear　and　shouted　fiercely：　〃Talkin'　to　himself！　　By　George！〃



Gurney　laughed　reassuringly；　and　shook　his　head。



Bibbs　returned　to　song：



Chang！　Chang；　bash；　chang！　It's　I！　WHO　looks　a　mustang　in　the　eye？　Fearless

and　bo



His　father　grasped　him　by　the　arm。　　〃Here！〃　he　shouted。　　〃Let　ME　show　you　how

to　run　a　strip　through　there。　　The　foreman　says　you're　some　better'n　you　used

to　be；　but　that's　no　way　to　handleGet　out　the　way　and　let　me　show　you　once。〃



〃Better　be　careful；〃　Bibbs　warned　him；　stepping　to　one　side。



〃Careful？　　Boh！〃　　Sheridan　seized　a　strip　of　zinc　from　the　box。　　〃What　you

talkin'　to　yourself　about？　　Tryin'　to　make　yourself　think　you're　so　abused

you're　goin'　wrong　in　the　head？〃



〃'Abused'？　　No！〃　shouted　Bibbs。　　〃I　was　SINGINGbecause　I　'like　it'！　　I　told

you　I'd　come　back　and　'like　it。'〃



Sheridan　may　not　have　understood。　　At　all　events；　he　made　no　reply；　but　began

to　run　the　strip　of　zinc　through　the　machine。　　He　did　it　awkwardly　and　with

bad　results。



〃Here！〃　he　shouted。　　〃This　is　the　way。　　Watch　how　I　do　it。　　There's　nothin'　to

it；　if　you　put　your　mind　on　it。〃　　By　his　own　showing　then　his　mind　was　not

upon　it。　　He　continued　to　talk。　　〃All　you　got　to　look　out　for　is　to　keep　it

pressed　over　to〃



〃Don't　run　your　hand　up　with　it；〃　Bibbs　vociferated；　leaning　toward　him。



〃Run　nothin'！　　You　GOT　to〃



〃Look　out！〃　shouted　Bibbs　and　Gurney　together；　and　they　both　sprang　forward。

But　Sheridan's　right　hand　had　followed　the　strip　too　far；　and　the　zinc…eater

had　bitten　off　the　tips　of　the　first　and　second　fingers。　He　swore　vehemently；

and　wrung　his　hand；　sending　a　shower　of　red　drops　over　himself　and　Bibbs；　but

Gurney　grasped　his　wrist；　and　said；　sharply：



〃Come　out　of　here。　　Come　over　to　the　lavatory　in　the　office。　　Bibbs；