it's an encouragin' sign. I don't deny that, at all. Well, that
helps me to think the case ain't so hopeless as it looks. You're all
I got to meet this blow with, but maybe you ain't as poor material as
I thought. Your tellin' me about comin' within seven strips of the
shop's record to-day looks to me like encouragin' information brought
in at just about the right time. Now, then, I'm goin' to give you a
raise. I wanted to send you straight on up through the shops--a year
or two, maybe--but I can't do it. I lost Jim, and now I've lost
Roscoe. He's quit. He's laid down on me. If he ever comes back at
all, he'll be a long time pickin' up the strings, and, anyway, he
ain't the man I thought he was. I can't count on him. I got to have
SOMEBODY I KNOW I can count on. And I'm down to this: you're my last
chance. Bibbs, I got to learn you to use what brains you got and see
if we can't develop 'em a little. Who knows? And I'm goin' to put my
time in on it. I'm goin' to take you right down-town with ME, and I
won't be hard on you if you're a little slow at first. And I'm goin'
to do the big thing for you. I'm goin' to make you feel you got to do
the big thing for me, in return. I've vindicated my policy with you
about the shop, and now I'm goin' to turn right around and swing you
'way over ahead of where the other boys started, and I'm goin' to make
an appeal to your ambition that'll make you dizzy!" He tapped his son
on the knee again. "Bibbs, I'm goin' to start you off this way: I'm
goin' to make you a director in the Pump Works Company; I'm goin' to
make you vice-president of the Realty Company and a vice-president of
the Trust Company!"

Bibbs jumped to his feet, blanched. "Oh no!" he cried.

Sheridan took his dismay to be the excitement of sudden joy. "Yes,
sir! And there's some pretty fat little salaries goes with those