The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1934-03-23
THE MEDDLER By Ben Anes William,

last: "Bi1l, you're wrong about the
boy!"
"Then why doesn't he face the guns
like q mani"
Hes young, and troubled, and very
much in love! Give him time!"
The county attorney considered this
in silence for q while, but he shook his
head at last. IT tell you," he insisted,
"if he lets you stand the gaff he's not
worth a s%nowdrop on the fire!"
Uncle Frank wiped his brow, and he
urged: bill, you're a cannibal! You've
got me. What more do you want? I'm
an old man and I'll plead guilty; save
the county's money. Take what you
can get. You'll eve convict Ted after
I go no the stand!"
Bill looked at him gravely. "You'd go
that farI"
II dealt the hand" said Uncle Frank.
I'm aiming to play my cardsl"
The younger man nodded, and he
leaned back in his chair, considering.
Silence held them for a while and sud-
denly the clock in the town hall tolled
the hour, the long strokes reverberating
through the room. Bill Magaw listened
with a quickening attention; and he
looked at his watch, and then he looked
at the older mar
That's twelve o'clock" he said in
a tone Of stark finality. "Ted must
know you're here, and why. If he
doesn't come hunting me within ten
minutes I'm going hunting him."
Uncle Frank made q movement as
though to speak, but Bill insisted:
That's flat, Frank! Helen or no Helen.
I hate a coward! I'll give him this
much chance. If he comes, you win.
Well wait and see 49,"
So they waited, and Bill Magaw, out
wardly calm, sat immobile in his chair.
But to Uncle Frank the minutes were
long indeed. He felt his brow grow
moist, and his tongue was dry, and
when he could be silent no longer, he
protested:
bill, something might keep the boy!"
"Six minutes past" said the county
attorney implacably.
Frank cried again:
"Bill, he'd eaten lunch first! Give
him a little -" He checked, listen
ed, and broadly then he smiled.
'"There," he whispered. There he
comes now!"
So they heard a step upon the stair,
and a moment later the door opened
and young Ted Pring stood before them
here.
The two older men looked at the boy,
and Ted grinned, but his lips were
white. He came in and closed the door
behind him, and he looked at Uncle
Frank and then at Bill. Then without
speaking he crossed to where Bill sat.
He said slowly:
"Uncle Franks a plain and fancy
liar, Mr.. Magaw. I stole the money.
Stock market! Hill & Hudson, Devon
shire street, Boston, were my brokers.
You'll find the account on their books"
Bill looked at him for a long min
ute, and he said then: Frank tells me
he cashed those checks himself"
The boy produced half a dozen bits
of paper and he laid them on the desk.
Here" he said. Here are the deposit
slips, in his own hand!"
Bill picked them up, scanned them
briefly, and he nodded at Uncle Frank.
The old man cried irascibly:
"Ted, you young jackass, you should
have burned those long ago!"
But Ted answered huskily: why, I
set out to, sir. I was going to let it fall
on you if-the worst came! But I kept
them. I guess I thought all along I
might want to change my mind!"
When half an hour later Ted was
gone-it needed Bill Magaw himself to
make him go, to submit to his own SAL
vation-Bil looked at Uncle Frank with
a wry grin.
"Well, that's that he said. you've
had your way. Now how come, Frank?
What did you do it for?"
Uncle Frank Dickerson chuckled.
"I've been teaching youngsters to think
straight for a good many years, Bill"
he confessed. "It's got so it's a habit
with mel"
He rose and Bill faced him, grim
ming. you're a nuisance, Frank" he
insisted. But you've got your good
points, too" They clasped hands, and
as Uncle Frank started toward the door
Bill asked: What are you up to now?"
Uncle Frank reminded him: I've got
to go and tend to Amasa!"
Bill c%huckled, and he shook his head.
NO. I took care of Amasa a while
ago.!"
"You what?" Uncle Frank exploded.
"Sure," Bill insisted. "Out in the hall!
I told him you'd lent me the money on
a private matter, promising him a check
this afternoon"
Uncle Frank stared at him. "You
meant to hush it up!"
Sure. If your foot had slipped I
meant to look out for you 49,"
There was a blaze in the older mans
usually kindly eyes. what right had
you?" he demanded. 1T was my af-
fair!"
why, Frank" Bill protested in be-
wildered apology. "You know how it is.
You've helped enough people in your
time! If you were in trouble I.want-
ed to 49,"
But Uncle Frank said in a cold fury:
Rin - fhorasc o~1tHio~ r Loko y,Crco