Evening star., 1932-10-30
JANE REDFIELD HOOVER

JANE REDFIELD HooV
T was the day after Happy Ledlow's funeral
William Hoskns, the pioneer lawyer, was
thinking his old friends nephew certainly
hadn't let the grass grow under his feet.
Mr.. Hoskins began the dapper Claude
Ledlow you're my uncle's lawyer?"
$50. In way, Claude" The lawyer waited
The nephew's yellowed fingers were twitching
He squirmed in his chair. He lit another Gig
aret
The estate is mine if there's no will, isn't
it?" he finally asked huskily. his tongue licking
his slack lips.
So" replied the lawyer.
well, did he make one, didn't hep"
Hard to say Claude. He might have and
then again he mightn't. Tie old gentleman
hated what he called legal red tape; and he
was procrastinator. Loved life, and felt young
as ever"
He never made his will Mr. Hoskins! know
his shiftless ways So I'm here to ask for an ad-
vance on the estate I need money. Today"
The face of old Happy Ledlows only legal
heir look of fear
so. What's wrong. Claude? Your uncle GER
tainly tried his best to keep you straight"
oh cripes cut out the sermon! I'm not
asking anything that isn't legal, am ~"
so. But, I can't accommodate you today,
Claude"
you're holding out me! Have you got his
will?" demanded the importunate heir hotly.
The boy had a right to know of course.
Keep your shirt on, Claude. When your
uncle left town he had made no will. He'd
have given it to me to put in my safe. But
can't accommodate you today"
Claude Ledow, perforce left the old lawyers
Office angry, thwarted, but not without hope
Old Happy Ledlow's best friend opened the
windows to air out Claude's Zebra cigaret
smoke.
The this -and-that backdoor lizard" he NUT
tered, as he lit his pipe ITO think Of Happys
honest money all going to him! So"
THOSE three pioneers of Boise, Idaho
Cyrus Happy) Ledlow, retired prospector;
William Hoskins, lawyer and politician. and
Hiram Patten, feed merchant-had been close
triunvirate. They had been through hell and
high water together in Idaho City mining camp
throughout the roaring sixties.
Hoskins and Ledlow were known to be well
fixed" in their later years, although Ledlow
never outgrew his old-time primitive ways. But
Patten-the only family man of the three-had
little besides his home in the old Boise town.
site
For 20 years had Happy Ledlow lived on the
Patten place, insisting paying Hiram rent for
the weathered cabin in which he dwelt alone,
but refusing pay for his care of the Patten
grounds. "Shucks, Hiram!" he had told Patten
in the beginning, and so it was left.
year ago old Happy LedloW had given $4,000
20 the chdrens home; had endowed free hos
pital bed None but himself and the recipients
knew the range of his private charities. But,
as his crafty nephew had surmised the old man
had plenty left.
In his cozy cabin near the waterwheel near
his friends, the old prospector had been happy.
He liked "baching." Sometimes he dined with
the Pattens fine in his ancient, shiny Prince
apd re hjc lad CHI
paper collar and old congress CATERS.
| IAPPY and serene, until that bright morn
] ] ing in May.
He had risen with the SUM- He searched the
flower and vegetable gardens, the perennial bor-
iers, for weeds; and, finding none, decided to do
his washing and freddy up" his cabin. He had
moved the lawn yesterday, had sprayed and
irrigated.
he reflected as he stood under his vine-shaded
cabin lean-to, surveying the beautiful grounds
He seldom thought of his rascally defaulting
brother, whom he had not seen for years. He
wondered why he did today
He heard Beth Patten answering the call of
her sweetheart, John Abbott. Saw Beth get
into Johnnys old roadster to 60 down valley
TO the turkey ranch Johnny was buying on time.
That was good for Johnny. A likely young
pair! Johnny had no folks and Beth's dad
wasn't fixed to do anything for her. Well
wouldn't harm those two to get lift. Maybe
come Christmas. Happy Ledlow chuckled
knowingly as he watched their dust down the
street
He'd get his work done while it was COOL and
then he'd laze under the locust tree by the
waterwheel with that new magazine. paris
Youth" looked inviting. although the girl on
the cover was skinny. Couldn't hold a candle to
Lillian Russell. All, there was a womani
As he worked the old man thought of many
a$
No, he didn't want his property to go to the
State Done enough for Idaho Bill Hoskins