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Show COURTHOUSE ENCOUNTER By Sally S. Eads L OLD Hiram Gaylord had walked from the farm to the county courthouse In town. He liked to walk, and walking helped when a body was troubled and, too, he had business to talk over with himself. Of course, he couldn't talk to himself him-self when he was asittln' in the back seat of niece Betty's car, with Charlie, her husband drlvin' since they were bringing him to court to prove that he was demented. de-mented. He had asked Laurie Warner to meet him her this morning. She must be in the courtroom now, for she was always prompt. Laurie was his wife's niece, and after Ma died three years ago, he had wanted Laurie and her husband, Tom, and the children to live with him. He had no living children of his own. But Tom was allin' then, and Betty and Charlie persuaded him to let them come instead. Now, they claimed he was not capable of attending to business and wanted Charlie appointed as his guardian. "Hml" said Old Hiram to himself. him-self. "They want control of my fine farm with the nice home on it, and my war pension." He walked up the courthouse steps and down the hall, looking l for the courtroom. He paused in front of the door. Betty and Charlie were sitting with their lawyer. Laurie was sitting alone. Old Hiram Hi-ram took off his panama hat, ran a comb through his white hair, and went in. He had a minute in which to whisper something to the Judge. His honor pointed to a legal document docu-ment spread out on his desk, but said nothing. The judge's gavel sounded awfully aw-fully loud, and Old Hiram was nervous anyway. Laurie patted his hand and smiled. He sat in shocked silence, as Betty and Charlie told of thecrazy thlnKS he was supposed to have done like talkin' to himself. Well, who in tarnation did he have to talk to? Certainly not Betty or Charlie, and if he went to town one of them followed him to pre vent him from telling anyone about how they treated him. And they said he gave away his money, as much as ten dollars at a time. Of course, he had always helped the needy, and he and Ma had always given one-tenth of their income in-come to the church. A tenth was the Lord's they thought. He and Ma had prospered and lived well. The evidence proved Old Hiram feeble-minded. He felt humiliated. Betty and Charlie looked smug, and Laurie was so angry her dark eyes sparked fire. He hadn't had a chance to speak for himself. But . . . Was the judge speakin' for him? "How long would you say Mr. Gaylord has been demented?" "About a year. Your Honor," "Would you say that he was of sound mind when he allowed you to move to his home two years ago?" "Yes, Your Honor." The judge picked up a legal paper from his desk. "Here's articles ar-ticles of agreement, made out and signed by Mr. Hiram Gaylord three years ago, in which he agrees to allow Mrs. Laurie Warner and her family to move into his home and take care of him for the remainder re-mainder of his natural life- In payment pay-ment for this service, he agrees to will his home and farm to Mrs. Warner. Do you wish to sign this agreement, Mrs. Warner?" he asked. "Yes, Your Honor." She stepped to the desk, and read and signed the agreement. Betty and Charlie left in a huff, amid smiles from the courtoom audience. Old Hiram stood up. He had re-sumed re-sumed his military bearing. His 1 appearance demanded attention. "Judge," he said. "I've got to get an eviction notice written up. Got to get rid of my undesirable tenants." He left the courtroom, holding Laurie's arm protectively, bowing in response cheers from th audience. , |