Hefeltverylonely,andthiswas,daily,hishardesthour。ForalongtimeheandJimhadlunchedtogetherhabitually。Roscoepreferredaclubluncheon,butJimandhisfatheralmostalwayswenttoasmallrestaurantneartheSheridanBuilding,wheretheyspenttwentyminutesintheconsumptionoffood,andtwentyintalk,withcigars。Jimcameforhisfathereveryday,atfiveminutesaftertwelve,andSheridanwasagaininhisofficeatfiveminutesbeforeone。ButnowthatJimnolongercame,Sheridanremainedaloneinhisoffice;hehadnotgoneouttolunchsinceJim\'sdeath,nordidhehaveanythingsenttohim——hefasteduntilevening。
ItwasthetimehemissedJimpersonallythemost——thevoiceandeyesandhandshake,allbriskandalert,allbusiness—like。ButthesethingswerenotthekeenestinSheridan\'sgrief;hissenseoflosswentfardeeper。Roscoewasdependable,asteadyoldwheel—horse,andthatwasagreatcomfort;butitwasinJimthatSheridanhadmosthappilyperceivedhisownlikeness。Jimwastheonewhowouldhavebeensuresttokeepthegreatpropertygrowinggreater,yearbyyear。Sheridanhadfallenasleep,nightafternight,picturingwhatthegrowthwouldbeunderJim。HehadbelievedthatJimwasabsolutelycertaintobeoneofthebiggestmeninthecountry。Well,itwasalluptoRoscoenow！
ThatremindedhimofaquestionhehadinmindtoaskRoscoe。ItwasaquestionSheridanconsideredofnopresentimportance,buthiswifehadsuggestedit——thoughvaguely——andhehadmeanttospeaktoRoscoeaboutit。
However,Roscoehadnotcomeintohisfather\'sofficeforseveraldays,andwhenSheridanhadseenhissonathometherehadbeennoopportunity。
Hewaiteduntilthegreaterpartofhisday\'sworkwasover,towardfouro\'clock,andthenwentdowntoRoscoe\'soffice,whichwasonalowerfloor。