The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1925-07-02
t oell1ner's
Temptation
BY JIM MARSHALL


HoRNlNG sunshine flooded the green OF the Du"amlSl
'1 valley August Toener gas station operator squnted
in the glare from the highway and slowly cranked 10 gallons
into n customers Ford.
AS the Ford chugged away and August Tipped back the
pumphande Temptation fitted thru the truck gardens OF
the valley and sneakng into the station concealed herself
behind an oil drum.
August unaware squatted on an upumed apple box and
squinted thoughtfuly down the white highway.
Last January August added the letter 81 P" to his
and assumed the of administering the high justice the
middle and the low to the folks of the valley The gas sta
ton became potential of justice Folks round about
began to call August Judge"
Spring to the valley and the sun dried the highway
but for judgment to the gas station court
ROOM Summer replaced spring but the familiar "Ten dollars
and 10 days echoed amid the oil drums and gasoline
pumps
EoR six months Toelner, j. vbraed between hope and
l. fear
On the one hand he ardent desired to ascend the das
of Justice and from there mete out punishment honeyed
with good advice, to wrong-doers.
And the other hand he wanted to keep spoess the
scutcheon of Duwamish court without for six
monthsenviabe record for King county to shoot at meek
y and ashamed.
As Toener. j. unused these hopes and fears boy
came running
You're Jim Patrcls boy amt you?" said the Judge
Yes, sir, Judge said the boy. And my father has
Job for YOU Theys bunch of boss traders driving bunch
of bosses thru They let the lot get loose and they're likely
to trampe the truck My dad says for your court go
out n get action"
Within him the heart of Toener j.. sweled Here was
the chance he had been waiting The wheels of Duwamish
Justice unmovng for half year at last TO creak into
motion
Tell your dad I'll attend to it," said the Judge rising
from his apple box and handing himself down the Revised
Statutes from back Of the tire stock.
MORTIFIED by reading of the herd laws, Judge Toelner
prepared himself to issue summons start baffs and
constabIes their missions invoke the majesty of the law
and be Judge in fact, well as in name.
Then doubt struck him. He down the Revised Statutes
on bench, and pondered.
II he arrested the horse traders he might ascend the
das of justice and from there mete punishment and
advice But such tho deectabe in prospect would
smirch the white scutcheon of Duwamish
Long the Judge pondered. while the climbed in the
blue. Then, with sigh he went to his desk got
fair sheet of white paper dipped pen in ink and wrote,
engthiy.
The four horse traders that afternoon were delivered
missve, couched in kindly terms pointing out the nfai-
bty of the state herd law, of their fracture thereof
and of the dire results to follow continued noncompliance
1t was signed, in rounded hand: "Toelner, j."
The four gathered up their Is head Of horses and de-
parted from the valley Toelner j. new lift to his head
squared his shoulders and put back the Revised Statutes
T>EMPTAT1ON which had been fidgeting about behind
the oil barrels sneaked out of the station and fitted
up thru the green of the valley. August ToeIner gas
station operator pumped five gallons gas into Ford and
heard 1t chug away up the valley
Il Temptation miles away by this time and still going
August unaware squated an upturned apple box and
squirting down the white, road smiled contentedly
unrunuuu...an.s.uS