the turmoil-第37章

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the　library；　and　he　was　convinced　that　the　mere　glimpse　of　him；　just　then；

would　prove　nothing　less　than　insufferable　for　his　father。　　For　that　reason　he

was　about　to　make　his　escape　into　the　gold…and…brocade　room；　intending　to　keep

out　of　sight；　when　he　heard　Sheridan　vociferously　demanding　his　presence。



〃Tell　him　to　come　in　here！　　He's　out　there。　　I　heard　George　just　let　him　in。

Now　you'll　SEE！〃　　And　tear…stained　Mrs。　Sheridan；　looking　out　into　the　hall；

beckoned　to　her　son。



Bibbs　went　as　far　as　the　doorway。　　Gurney　sat　winding　a　strip　of　white　cotton；

his　black　bag　open　upon　a　chair　near　by；　and　Sheridan　was　striding　up　and

down；　his　hand　so　heavily　wrapped　in　fresh　bandages　that　he　seemed　to　be

wearing　a　small　boxing…glove。　　His　eyes　were　bloodshot；　his　forehead　was

heavily　bedewed；　one　side　of　his　collar　had　broken　loose；　and　there　were

blood…stains　upon　his　right　cuff。



〃THERE'S　our　little　sunshine！〃　he　cried；　as　Bibbs　appeared。　　〃THERE'S　the　hope

o'　the　familymy　lifelong　pride　and　joy！　　I　want〃



〃Keep　you　hand　in　that　sling；〃　said　Gurney；　sharply。



Sheridan　turned　upon　him；　uttering　a　sound　like　a　howl。　　〃For　God's　sake；　sing

another　tune！〃　he　cried。　　〃You　said　you　'came　as　a　doctor　but　stay　as　a

friend；'　and　in　that　capacity　you　undertake　to　sit　up　and　criticize　ME　〃



〃Oh；　talk　sense；〃　said　the　doctor；　and　yawned　intentionally。　　〃What　do　you

want　Bibbs　to　say？〃



〃You　were　sittin'　up　there　tellin'　me　I　got　'hysterical''hysterical；'　oh

Lord！　　You　sat　up　there　and　told　me　I　got　'hysterical'　over　nothin'！　You　sat

up　there　tellin'　me　I　didn't　have　as　heavy　burdens　as　many　another　man　you

knew。　　I　just　want　you　to　hear　THIS。　　Now　listen！〃　　He　swung　toward　the　quiet

figure　waiting　in　the　doorway。　　〃Bibbs；　will　you　come　down…town　with　me　Monday

morning　and　let　me　start　you　with　two　vice…presidencies；　a　directorship；

stock；　and　salaries？　　I　ask　you。〃



〃No；　father；〃　said　Bibbs；　gently。



Sheridan　looked　at　Gurney　and　then　faced　his　son　once　more。



〃Bibbs；　you　want　to　stay　in　the　shop；　do　you；　at　nine　dollars　a　week；　instead

of　takin'　up　my　offer？〃



〃Yes；　sir。〃



〃And　I'd　like　the　doctor　to　hear：　What　'll　you　do　if　I　decide　you're　too

high…priced　a　workin'…man　either　to　live　in　my　house　or　work　in　my　shop？〃



〃Find　other　work；〃　said　Bibbs。



〃There！　　You　hear　him　for　yourself！〃　Sheridan　cried。　　〃You　hear　what〃



〃Keep　you　hand　in　that　sling！　　Yes；　I　hear　him。〃



Sheridan　leaned　over　Gurney　and　shouted；　in　a　voice　that　cracked　and　broke；

piping　into　falsetto：　〃He　thinks　of　bein'　a　PLUMBER！　　He　wants　to　be　a

PLUMBER！　　He　told　me　he　couldn't　THINK　if　he　went　into　businesshe　wants　to

be　a　plumber　so　he　can　THINK！〃



He　fell　back　a　step；　wiping　his　forhead　with　the　back　of　his　left　hand。

〃There！　　That's　my　son！　　That's　the　only　son　I　got　now！　　That's　my　chance　to

live；〃　he　cried；　with　a　bitterness　that　seemed　to　leave　ashes　in　his　throat。

〃That's　my　one　chance　to　livethat　thing　you　see　in　the　doorway　yonder！〃



Dr。　Gurney　thoughtfully　regarded　the　bandage　strip　he　had　been　winding；　and

tossed　it　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　Bibbsand　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　MIGHTin　timeit'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？'〃



〃Yourswith　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　flameand　won　in　a　walk！　　What's　taken　Roscoe　from　you？

Timbers　bear　just　so　much　strain；　old　man；　but　YOU　wanted　to　send　the　load

across　the　broken　bridge；　and　you　thought　you　could　bully　or　coax　the　cracked

thing　into　standing。　　Well；　you　couldn't！　Now　here's　Bibbs。　　There　are

thousands　of　men　fit　for　the　life　you　want　him　to　leadand　so　is　he。　　It

wouldn't　take　half　of　Bibbs's　brains　to　be　twice　as　good　a　business　man　as　Jim

and　Roscoe　put　together。〃



〃WHAT！〃　Sheridan　goggled　at　him　like　a　zany。



〃Your　son　Bibbs；〃　said　the　doctor；　composedly；　〃Bibbs　Sheridan　has　the　kind

and　quantity　of　'gray　matter'　that　will　make　him　a　success　in　anythingif　he

ever　wakes　up！　　Personally　I　should　prefer　him　to　remain　asleep。　　I　like　him

that　way。　　But　the　thousands　of　men　fit　for　the　life　you　want　him　to　lead

aren't　fit　to　do　much　with　the　life　he　OUGHT　to　lead。　Blindly；　he's　been

fighting　for　the　chance　to　lead　ithe's　obeying　something　that　begs　to　stay

alive　within　him；　and；　blindly；　he　knows　you'll　crush　it　out。　　You've　set　your

will　to　do　it。　　Let　me　tell　you　something　more。　　You　don't　know　what　you've

become　since　Jim's　going　thwarted　youand　that's　what　was　uppermost；　a

bafflement　stronger　than　your　normal　grief。　　You're　half　mad　with　a　consuming

fury　against　the　very　self　of　the　lawfor　it　was　the　very　self　of　the　law

that　took　Jim　from　you。　　That　was　a　law　concerning　the　cohesion　of　molecules。

The　very　self　of　the　law　took　Roscoe　from　you　and　gave　Edith　the　certainty　of

beating　you；　and　the　very　self　of　the　law　makes　Bibbs　deny　you　to…night。　　The

LAW　beats　you。　　Haven't　you　been　whipped　enough？　　But　you　want　to　whip　the　law

you've　set　yourself　against　it；　to　bend　it　to　your　own　ends；　to　wield　it　and

twist　it〃



The　voice　broke　from　Sheridan's　heaving　chest　in　a　shout。　　〃Yes！　　And　by　God；

I　will！〃



〃So　Ajax　defied　the　lightning；〃　said　Gurney。



〃I've　heard　that　dam'…fool　story；　too；〃　Sheridan　retorted；　fiercely。　〃That's

for　chuldern　and　niggers。　　It　ain't　twentieth　century；　let　me　tell　you！

〃Defied　the　lighning；'　did　he；　the　jackass！　　If　he'd　been　half　a　man　he'd　'a'

got　away　with　it。　　WE　don't　go　showin'　off　defyin'　the　lightning　we　hitch　it

up　and　make　it　work　for　us　like　a　black…steer！　　A　man　nowadays　would　just　as

soon　think　o'　defyin'　a　wood…shed！〃



〃Well；　what　about　Bibbs？〃　said　Gurney。　　〃Will　you　be　a　really　big　man　now

and〃



〃Gurney；　you　know　a　lot　about　bigness！〃　　Sheridan　began　to　walk　to　and　fro

again；　and　the　doctor　returned　gloomily　to　his　chair。　　He　had　shot　his　bolt

the　moment　he　judged　its　chance　to　strike　center　was　best；　but　the　target

seemed　unaware　of　the　marksman。



〃I'm　tryin'　to　make　a　big　man　out　o'　that　poor　truck　yonder；〃　Sheridan　went

on；　〃and　you　step　in；　beggin'　me　to　let　him　be　Lord　knows　whatI　don't！　　I

suppose　you　figure　it　out　that　now　I　got　a　SON…IN…LAW；　I　mightn't　need　a　son！

Yes；　I　got　a　son…in…law　nowa　spender！〃



〃Oh；　put　your　hand　back！〃　said　Gurney；　wearily。



There　was　a　bronze　inkstand　upon　the　table。　　Sheridan　put　his　right　hand　in

the　sling；　but　with　his　left　he　swept　the　inkstand　from　the　table　and　half…way

across　the　rooma　comet　with　a　destroying　black　tail。　　Mrs。　Sheridan　shrieked

and　sprang　toward　it。



〃Let　it　lay！〃　he　shouted；　fiercely。　　〃Let　it　lay！〃　　And；　weeping；　she　obeyed。

〃Yes；　sir；〃　he　went　on；　in　a　voice　the　more　ominous　for　the　sudden　hush　he　put

upon　it。　　〃I　got　a　spender　for　a　son…in…law！　　It's　wonderful　where　property

goes；　sometimes。　　There　was　ole　man　Tracyyou　remember　him；　DocJ。　R。　Tracy；

solid　banker。　　He　went　into　the　bank　as　messenger；　seventeen　years　old；　he　was

president　at　forty…three；　and　he　built　that　bank　with　his　life　for　forty　years

more。　　He　was　down　there　from　nine　in　the　morning　until　four　in　the　afternoon

the　day　before　he　diedover　eighty！　　Gilt　edge；　that　bank？　　It　was　diamond

edge！　　He　used　to　eat　a　bag　o'　peanuts　and　and　apple　for　lunch；　but　he　wasn't

stingy　he　was　just　livin'　in　his　business。　　He　didn't　care　for　pie　or

automobileshe　had　his　bank。　　It　was　an　institution；　and　it　come　pretty　near

bein'　the　beatin'　heart　o'　this　town　in　its　time。　　Well；　that　ole　man　used　to

pass　one　o'　these　here　turned…up…nose　and　turned…up…pants　cigarette　boys　on

the　streets。　　Never　spoke　to　him；　Tracy　didn't。　　Speak　to　him？　　God！　he

wouldn't　'a'　coughed　on　him！　　He　wouldn't　'a'　let　him　clean　the　cuspidors　at

the　bank！　　Why；　if　he'd　'a'　just　seen　him　standin'　in　FRONT　the　bank　he'd　'a'

had　him　run　off　the　street。　　And　yet　all　Tracy　　was　doin'　every　day　of　his

life　was　workin'　for　that　cigarette　boy！　　Tracy　thought　it　was　for　the　bank；

he　thought　he　was　givin'　his　life　and　his　life…blood　and　the　blood　of　his

brain　for　the　bank；　but　he　wasn't。　　It　was　every　bitfrom　the　time　he　went　in

at　seventeen　till　he　died　in　harness　at　eighty…threeit　was　every　last　lick

of　it　just　slavin'　for　that　turned…up…nose；　turned…up…pants　cigarette　boy。

AND　TRACY　DIDN'T　EVEN　KNOW　HIS　NAME！　　He　died；　not　ever　havin'　heard　it；

though　he　chased　him　off　the　front　steps　of　his　house　once。　　The　day　after

Tracy　died　his　old…maid　daughter　married　the　cigaretteand　there　AIN'T　any

Tracy　bank　any　more！　And　now〃his　voice　rose　again〃and　now　I　got　a

cigarette　son…in…law！〃



Gurney　pointed　to　the　flourishing　right　hand　without　speaking；　and　Sheridan

once　more　returned　it　to　the　sling。



〃My　son…in…law　likes　Florid