Show The Fiction MEAT LOAF By Richard H H. H Wilkinson Corner FELIX BRENDLINGER S SHERIFF ER was just about to sit downto down to o his supper when the telephone rang He looked at the instrument ruefully Before him was a heaping heaping heaping heap heap- ing plate of meat loaf fried potatoes potatoes pota- pota toes oes and fresh green peas Felix sighed glanced across at Elvira then moved to the wall phone Hello he said This is Chris Verne out at the Rowland camp came a low and excited vo voice ce 3 S Fiction s Just broken Into the front room Im I'm hiding in the library but I may need help It was five miles to the Rowland camp by way of the river road Felix made it in eight minutes despite the ancient vintage of his car Chris Verne came down the steps to meet him Too late Sheriff He Be got away We had quite a tussle but be he whacked me on the melon melon melon mel mel- on and I was out like Jilee a light for three or four minutes The tall rangy caretaker gingerly felt of a bump on his head Felix Get away with anything asked Dont know yet I was looking when you drove up Come on in and well we'll see The caretaker r w went nt directly to n the safe behind the fireplace Hell he ejaculated Well I Ican Ican Ican can kiss this job goodbye Rowland will never keep me on when he finds out those bonds are gone Bonds He was up here over the week week- end He had a lot of negotiable bonds and left them in the safe Figured this would be the last place ilace anyone would look Well WeB he figured wrong Did you get a look at the thief Not much of ot one It was dark I was in the kitchen getting myself I w i x I t I d Chris shot a quick sharp look at the officer but Felix already had begun to browse around some supper when I heard hoard a noise in front I switched on the light and listened It sounded like someone someone someone some some- one was trying to pick the front door lock Thinking of the bonds I I sneaked into the library It was inky dark I hastily dialed you then went groping for the rifle rille Rowland keeps behind the safe It was right then something hit me meon meon meon on the head n HUMM Felix stood in the center of the floor and looked around the room The dial telephone was on the desk with the receiver dangling on its cord Chris mind callin caJUn Elvira an telling her Ill I'll be home shortly an anto anto anto to keep my supper hot I left it ina in ina a hurry Meantime Ill I'll take a look lookaround lookaround lookaround around here Chris shot a quick sharp look at atthe atthe atthe the officer but Felix had already begun to browse around So the caretaker crossed to the desk picked up the receiver and began to dial He had whirled out two numbers when suddenly the lights went out Hey Chris yelled startled Who did that Keep right on dialing Chris Felix said from the doorway Fuse musts blown Dont be dumb I cant can't dial in inthe inthe inthe the dark Try it it Felix insisted Are you crazy I cant can't see a thing I G o 0 o 0 d dl said Felix FeIL He Be snapped on the lights In his hand he held the old time long barrelled six-shooter six that had served him during his bis many years as law officer All right Chris dialing any more Say what is this The caretaker caretaker caretaker care care- taker replaced the receiver on its hook slowly Well talk about it later Chris an look around for the bonds In Inthe Inthe Inthe the meantime you come with me You can spend the night in the lockup lockup lockup lock lock- up an by jinks without no supper too That's what you git for makin me let mine go cold Chris blinked What the devil are you talking about Come come Chris Play aint gonna do you any good I got gota a hunch it was you stole them bonds and busted the lock on the front door too At any rate you didn't hastily dial my number inthe inthe in inthe the dark like you said You just settled yoUr your own hash by proving it cant can't be done An of hash bash come along |