Evening star., 1940-06-23
and the Rocking OK ceased to be healthy

ana tne Rocking TX ceased 10 De HedlLny
abode for the offender.
l first suspected this weakness of Larss
on day when Tabby, our old cat, caught a
mouse in the barn She was having great time
with it. Body crouched, tail swishing, she'd let
it get just so far away and then she'd pounce
on it and yank it back
Lars stalked into the barn in the middle Of
this performance, face black with fury. He
grabbed Tabby by her neck. shook her until
she yowled and threw her savagely from him.
Then he picked up the mouse, and the black
fury drained away from his face as he inspected
the creature for signs of possible injuries. He
Cuddled it tenderly in his hands for a moment,
leaning over, turned it loose in the grain box!
When protested Indignantly that the barn
was full of mice, that Tabby's sole mission in
life was their destruction, he grinned sheepishly
and said, "But this one was so fiddle, Mis- Cox
-. 50 liddle" had to laugh, but | couldn't
help wondering about Tabbys punishment had
she been a man tormenting child - or some
thing equally small - and in that flash of
second knew what Lars would have done to
such man and shuddered
IT WAS who really betrayed Lars in the end
on the very day that was to have been
gala day at Rocking Ok, the day the gelding
was completed. The last coat of paint had been
applied and now only the brand and some eyes
were needed. What could they use for eyes?
Sonny inquired anxiously, and l assured him
that Lars would take care of that. Careless
words. How little guessed their significance
at that time!
had occasion to go to town the day before,
and just as was leaving Jim asked me to stop
by the courthouse and bring back his brand
book, which his cousin Alec, who was sheriff of
our county, had borrowed.
l met Alec on the courthouse steps and
explained my Grand Gosh, Nancy!' he said,
Il got to see fellow before the stage pulls out.
Can't you get it? It's in the small left-hand
drawer of my desk"
The drawer stuck. pulled until was out
of breath, but could manage to open it only
an inch or two. Something bulky was holding
it. picked up paper knife and investigated;
pushed packet of some kind forward and
wedged the paper knife securely behind it
dSdiIl liz pdIhcl WdS Illio lHiiC, anu
bunch of pictures scattered out on the floor.
The topnlost one was a picture OF Lars! Under
meath, in letters that danced before my eyes,
caught black line: Assault uith intent TO kill.
hurriedy showed the package back into the
drawer. l didn't want to read any more. and l
got out of that room quickly.
OF one thing | was certain, couldn't tell
.Jirn His rock-ribbed New England conscience
would never permit him to withhold this knowl-
edge from Alec To betray Lars was unthink
able; we owed him everything Nothing could
strike 50 surely at my heart as the picture of
that flash of blue overalls . great, out
stretched arms A little boy, trusting enough to
hurtle himself through terrifying space to the
shelter of those arms.
Alec was a busy man; he had only been to
Rocking OK once in the past two years. He'd be
out of office in another year; he'd forget about
the picture If l kept silent Lars would be safe.
Next morning, early, Alec brought back the
brand book which I'd forgotten, drove the
thirty miles to Rocking Ok for no other reason.
Il can't STOP" he told us, and breathed a
frenzied prayer that Lars would stay put until
he was gone.
At that moment the screen door to the
kitchen slammed, and Sonny and Lars came
down the steps. My heart pounded Alec's back
,,,,, +,,-,,oj b,,+ 7 bod M acc,rapca that II