Hyder weekly herald., 1933-05-20
The Print of the Hand
By SIDNEY WALDO
C. by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.
 WNU Service

over 1t. Then he strengthened UT
 slowly and turned to Will Grainger
 the older of the murdered mans two
 pephews.
 You and Ruth and Tom Hatha way
 druv to church together in the car"
 "Yes."
 You left your brother, DanI and
 your uncle at home here-arguin'."
 They stayed home. Yes"
 "Arguin'!" the sheriff insisted. "rhat
 cant be covered up, Win. Plenty peo
 pie heard 'em. hot at it, as they went
 Dy to church. The winders was open" "fes, they was arguin'." And you three come home from | church separate"
 Yes. Separate" For the first time, the sheriff looked olrectly at Daniel. And how about you, Dan?"
 "e-got through arguin'; and l went for walk in the woods."
 The sheriff studied the lowered stub. born face of the .wenty-year-old boy Ihen he made little gesture of dis. tressed helplessness and began to lead the way toward the open shed door.
 once inside, the sheriff crossed the uneven plank floor to a broad work bench which ran along one side. Over part or the rough surface of the bench. smooth gray cardboard had been tackled Cartridge boxes, powder cans. small tools, and set of scales were neatly arranged on this clean surface. on two wooden pegs above the bench rested Winchester repeating rife.
 From his pocket the sheriff drew an empty brass shell. Taking a load ed cartridge from the nearest box. he compared the two He did not make the obvious statement that the two matched; or trouble to remind the others that rifle, cartridges and the reloading paraphernalia belonged to Daniel.
 Instead he turned to Tom Hath away. the tall spare elderly hired man. T reckon you knew the old miser, Tom, jest about as we'll as anybody liyin'."
 T reckon" the other agreed.
 You was workin' for him even be- fore the boys mother died, and they come to live with him."
 ITO live-on his charity" the other man amended. "As he always took pains to remind 'em."
 "l guess there ain't hardly been one cussed meanness he's put on 'em you ain't known of, and tried to help 'em bear"
 II tried to help the boys just so fur as could, sheriff." was the calm re- ply.
 "I tried to show lem the way of pa tience," Tom went on. "Especial- ly Dan and Ruth: after they'd fell in ] love. and was crazy to marry"
 And this morning." the sheriff sud denly broke In. their uncle told the boys--because of hard times-he'd have to cut down their trillin' pay When they knew he had plenty, and more. hoarded In the bank Money trey wanted, now. Needed, now. Money Dan had to have, now. Ain't that what his uncle and him was arguin' over?"
 That cant be denied" Tom said at ast, and his expression became deep- y thoughtful. "My mind was running llong them same lines. too, sheriff, as sat in church. It seemed to me Dan md Ruth ought to have that money, 'ome way. While they could still be 'oung and happy with it.
 "Sittin' there. took good look Jack over my own life-which all lies behind me now. any way you figure t, and 1t come to me how different hings would of been, if I'd had any ,ind of start. It all come to me plain. |
 would of married. Ruth might of 'een the daughter I never had. I'm mighty fond of them two, sheriff. So, Ill in all. couldn't hardly blame Dan or the stand he took"
 And, once more, the sheriff broke n abruptly. That's just the point, 'om. Just what I've been leadin' to. Ve all know you'd like to ease things or Dan. But here's where you veren't able to help any-and can't. certain things the law says neither nan nor boy can do. About your only