A MAN ON THE FARM

 

      THIS WORLD IS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE TO LIVE IN THOUGHT BILL AS HE SAT SURVEYING HIS WORLD IN FRONT OF HIM. BILL WAS BORN AND RAISED ON THIS FARM AS WAS HIS FATHER AND GRANDFATHER ON THIS FARM HIS GREAT GRANDFATHER HAD HOME STEADED. SO BILL HAD A LOT OF HISTORY HERE. HE KNOW OR KNOW ABOUT MOST OF THE PEOPLE IN THE COUNTY. THE FARM HAD BEEN GOOD TO HIM AS IT HAD BEEN TO HIS FORBEARERS.  AT THIS TIME IN HIS LIFE BILL WAS 62 STILL IN GOOD SHAPE. BILL HAD WORKED HARD ALL HIS LIFE, WHICH WAS THE REASON THE FARM HAD BEEN GOOD. HE DID NOT MAKE IT TO COLLAGE OH HE HAD THE GRADES BUT MARRIAGE TO HIS HIGH SCHOOL SWEETHEART THEN A BABY AN STUFF LIKE THAT HE JUST NEVER MADE IT TO COLLEGE. WITH TWO BOYS AND A GIRL AND THE FARM HE HAD A FULL LIFE BILL DID SEE TO IT THAT HIS CHIRLDREN WENT TO COLLEGE THOUGH.  ALL OF THEN WERE GONE NOW, FROM THE HOME THAT IS. HIS WIFE WAS THE ONLY ONE REALLY GONE SHE HAD DIED SOME TEN YEARS BEFORE. THE BOY’S HAD ENGINEERING DEGREES. ONE WORKED ALL OVER THE COUNTRY THE OTHER WORKED FOR A BIG COMPANY 1000 MILES AWAY. THE GIRL HAD HER TEACHING CERTIFIC AND TOUGHT FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS BUT RIGHT NOW SHE HAD A NEW GRAND SON THE LIGHT OF BILL’S EYE. BUT EVEN SHE WAS 150 MILES AWAY. AND BILL HAD NEVER BEEN MUCH OF A TRAVELER. SO HE DID NOT SEE MUCH OF THEM.

      BILL SAT ON HIS FRONT PORCH LOOKING OUT AT HIS FARM A CONTEMPLATEING ALL THIS. HE DID NOT WORK THE FARM ANY MORE HE COULD LEASE THE LAND AND MADE ALL THE MONEY HE NEEDED. ALL IN ALL LIFE HAD BEEN GOOD TO BILL EXCEPT HE DID MISS HIS SWEETHEART IF SHE COULD ONLY HAVE LIVED LONG ENOUGH TO ENJOY THIS PART OF LIFE WITH HIM THINGS WOULD BE BETTER. AT THIS TIME BILL HAD TO ADMIT TO HIMSELF HE WAS LONELY.. TOMORROW I’LL GO VISIT MY GRAND SON THOUGHT BILL. I HAVE TO GET OUT OF THIS RUT THOUGHT BILL I STILL GOT LOTS OF LIVING LEFT. BY THIS TIME THE MOON HAD COME UP AND IT WAS SO BRIGHT BILL COULD STILL SEE THE FARM LAND OUT IN FRONT OF HIM. THE MOON BATHED THE LAND IN SOFT LIGHT SO YOU DID NOT SEE THE IMPERFECTIONS. EVERY THING LOOKS PERFICT OUT THERE THOUGHT BILL, YES I MUST GET OUT OF THIS RUT.

        THE SUN WAS UP BRIGHT AND EARLY THE NEXT MORNING AND SO WAS BILL. HE LOADED A FEW THINGS INTO HIS CAR , HE HAD NO IDEA HOW LONG HE WOULD BE GONE AND AS HE THOUGHT OF THIS HE THOUGHT WITH SOME REGRET WHAT DIFFERENTS DOES IT MAKE I’LL BE GONE AS LONG AS I WANT TO .THERE WAS NOTHING TO TAKE CARE OF OR LOCK UP BEFORE HE LEFT HECK THE HOUSE NEVER DID HAVE A KEY , SO HE JUST SHUT THE DOOR AND LEFT .THE DRIVE WAS UN EVENTFUL UNTIL BILL STOPED AT A ROAD SIDE PARK TO HAVE A CUP OF COFFEE AN REST . AS HE WAS SETING THERE HIS MIND A BLANK . SUDDENLY HE HEARD THIS TERRIBLE SCREEM , JUNPING UP TO SEE WHAT IT WAS , BILL SAW THIS WOMAN WHO HAD BEEN STANDING BESIDE A CAR  COLLAPSE AN FALL TO THE GROUND . BILL RUSHED OVER ,. SHE LAY THERE ALL CRUMPLED UP BILL CHECKED HER PULSE IT WAS GOOD , SO HE ROLLED HER OVER ON HER BACK THEN HE COULD SEE THE BLOOD ON HER HANDS . AT THIS HE LOOKED UP AN YELLED CAN ANYONE CALL    911.  BILL COVERED HER WITH HIS COAT , THEN LOOKED AT THE CAR SHE WAS STANDING BY THE DOOR WAS OPEN AN ON THE SEAT BILL COULD SEE A MAN HIS HEAD COVERED WITH BLOOD LAYING THERE MOTIONLESS. BY THIS TIME A SMALL CROWED HAD GATHERED AND YOU COULD HEAR THE OH’S AND OH MY GOD’S AND BILL SAID I GUESS WE HAD BETTER CALL THE POLICE TOO AN SOME ONE DID .

AS TIME PASSED THE WOMAN BEGAIN TO STIR,THEN SHE SAT UP WITH A JERK AND REACHED FOR THE CAR . BILL TOLD HER TO LAY DOWN AN STAY THERE . SHE STARTED TO CRY AN YELL FOR   JIM – JIM . BILL STILL KNEELING BESIDE TOLD HER THE MEDIC’S WERE ON THEIR WAY AND IT WAS  BETTER IF SHE JUST LAY THERE AN WAIT , SO SHE SETTLED DOWN TO CRYING SOFTLY TO HER SELF . BILL TO HIMSELF THOUGH IF THAT IS HER HUSBAND THIS IS AN AWFUL SITUATION . I WONDER WHAT HAPPENED ?

        THE MEDIC’S SHOWED UP , FIRST THEY LOOKED AT THE MAN BUT QUICKLY TURNED TO THE WOMAN . GIVING HER A GOOD CHECK OVER AN DETURIMEND SHE WAS ALL RIGHT . AFTER THIS THE MEDIC SAID DID ANY ONE CALL THE POLICE ? YES SAID BILL THEY ARE ON THEIR WAY  AND ALMOST IMMEDIATELY THEY DROVE UP . THE MEDIC’S'’ TOOK THE WOMAN TO THEIR TRUCK TO CLEAN HER UP  . THE POLICE LOOKED IN THE CAR THEN TURNED TO THE MEDIC’S AN SAID DON’T CLEAN HER ANY MORE YOU MAY BE DISTROYING EVIDENCE  AT THIS BILL WAS SHOCKED , WHAT EVIDENCE ?  WHAT ARE THEY TALKING ABOUT ? SO HE ASK THEM WHAT IS GOING ON . LOOK AT THE BODY YOURSELF  THERE’S BEEN A KILLING HERE .AN BY THE WAY WHO ARE YOU AN WHAT HAVE YOU GOT TO DO WITH ALL THIS .  BILL INTROUDECED HIMSELF AN ONE OF THE POLICE MAN SAID SAY YOU LIVE IN THE NEXT COUNTY MY DAD JACK CLEAVER  KNOW YOU,  ALLWAYS  SPOKE  VERY HIGHLY OF YOU TO  . HOW DID YOU GET MIXED UP IN THIS  . BILL TOLD THEM HOW HE CAME TO BE THERE . THEY TOLD HIM IT WAS GOOD HE WAS THERE TO HELP BUT THEY WOULD TAKE IT FROM THERE .  BILL WENT BACK TO HIS CAR BUT SOME HOW HE COULD NOT LEAVE. A CORONER SHOWED UP AN WENT OVER EVERYTHING . BILL COULD HEAR THEM TALKING AS THE CORONER TOLD THE POLICE  IT WAS AN  APPERANT SUICIDE. THE MAN STILL HAD THE GUN IN HIS HAND ,SHE MUST HAVE GOTTON THE BLOOD ON HER HANDS WHEN SHE TOUCHED HIM . BILL COULD STILL HEAR THEM TALKING WHEN THEY TALKED TO HER . BY THIS TIME SHE HAD CALMED DOWN ENOUGH TO TALK . SHE TOLD THEM SHE AND HER HUSBAND WERE DRIVING TO A NEW TOWN WHERE HER HUSBAND HOPED TO GET A JOB . HE HAD BEEN OUT OF WORK FOR SOME TIME AN THIS WAS GOING TO BE A NEW START FOR THEM . WELL THE POLICE TOLD HER THEY WERE GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE THE CAR AND ALL TO COMPLETE THE INVESTAGATION . AT FIRST SHE SAID O.K. THEN SHE SAID BUT WHERE DO I GO I HAVE VERY LITTLE MONEY AN WITH OUT THE CAR AND AS SHE SAID THAT SHE BROKEDOWN AGAIN , THE REALITY OF IT ALL WAS STARTING TO DAWN ON HER . THE POLICE SAID WE CAN TAKE YOU IN TO TOWN AND ARRANGE SOME PLACE FOR YOU TO STAY . THERE WILL BE A CORONER’S INQUEST TO DETURMEND THE CAUSE OF DEATH AND YOU WILL HAVE TO BE PRESENT BUT THAT MAY TAKE A WEEK OR TWO . AT THIS SHE SEEMED TO FALL APART AGAIN . BILL COULD SEE THE POLICE MAN BIT HIS LIP AN EXPRESS REAL CONCERN. AT THIS BILL CAME FORWARD . OFFICER HE SAID I HAVE A BIG EMPTY HOUSE AND I’M SURE YOU KNOW WHERE I LIVE COULD I BE OF HELP HERE .OH YES SAID THE POLICEMAN I HAVE BEEN TO YOUR FARM AND I HAVE COMPLETE FATH IN YOU BUT ARE YOU SURE YOU WANT TO GET INVOLVED IN THIS . BILL SAID A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE HELPED ME ALLONG THE WAY AND NOW I THINK IT’S PAY BACK TIME . I DON’T KNOW THIS WOMAN BUT RIGHT NOW SHE NEEDS A FRIEND . YOU CAN SAY THAT AGAIN SAID THE POLICE MAN ., NOW JUST FOR THE RECORD GIVE US YOUR FULL NAME  AN ADDRESS AN PHONE NUMBER  WE WILL CALL WHEN WE NEED HER .. BILL LOOKED AT THE WOMAN AND IF HE HAD EVER SEEN A BEAT PUPPY DOG THAT WAS JUST WHAT SHE LOOKED LIKE .

     THE WOMAN SAID LITTLE JUST GOT IN THE CAR WITH BILL , ALL SHE HAD WAS HER PURSE  NO COAT OR ANYTHING  AS THEY ROAD SHE WOULD SIT QUITLY BUT AT TIMES  SHE WOULD BREAK DOWN AN CRY SOFTLY . OTHER THAN TELLING HER HIS NAME BILL SAID NOTHING . BILL SUMISED SHE WAS ABOUT  40 MAYBE 45  NOT WHAT YOU WOULD CALL ATTRACTIVE BUT NICE LOOKING . BILL THOUGHT I WONDER WHAT BROUGHT HER TO THIS .  NO I WILL LET HER TELL ME WHEN AND IF SHE CAN.. BY THE TIME THEY REACHED THE FARM SHE HAD FALLIN ASLEEP . AS BILL SLOWED DOWN AN TURNED INTO THE DRIVEWAY SHE WOKE UP AN LOOKED AROUND . SHE SAID WHAT A BEAUTFUL PLACE TO LIVE AT THIS REALIZING WHY SHE WAS HERE SHE STARTED TO CRY AGAIN . BILL TRIED TO CALM HER AND SHE DID QUITE DOWN .

         THEY ENTERED THE HOUSE AN BILL FIXED SOME COFFEE AS SHE WASHED UP THEN SHE CAME IN TO THE KITCHEN AN SAT DOWN . BILL GAVE HER A CUP OF COFFEE AN ASK HER IF SHE WANTED SOME THING TO EAT . SHE SAID YES I DON’T THINK I HAVE EATIN ALL DAY . BILL FIXED SOME SANDWITCH;S AN THEY ATE IN SILENCE  . AFTER EATING BILL SHOWED HER TO A ROOM FOUND SOME OF HIS WIFE’S BED CLOTHES AS HE GAVE THEM TO HER SHE SAID IF YOU DON’T MIND I’LL TURNIN NOW I’M VERY TIRED . THAT NIGHT WAS A RESTLESS ONE  EVEN FOR  BILL HE WOULD FALL ASLEEP ONLY TO WAKE UP AGAIN,  AT TIMES HE COULD HEAR HER CRYING THIS MADE BILL THINK OF WHEN HE LOST HIS SWEETHEART HE WAS JUST AS HEART BROKEN AN THE YEARS SENCE HAD NOT LESSIONED THE PAIN ., SHE WOULD ALWAYS BE HIS SWEETHART .

      THE NEXT NORNING THE SUN WAS UP HIGH WHEN THEY GOT OUT OF BED . IT WAS ONE OF THOSE BEAUTFUL MORNINGS YOU CAN ONLY EXPERIENCE ON A FARM .

       BILL WAS MAKING BREAKFAST WHEN SHE WALKED IN TO THE ROOM SHE LOOKED AT HIM THROUGH RED RIMED EYE’S AN SAID GOOD MORINING . THE DOOR TO THE KITCHEN WAS ALREADY OPEN AN SHE WALKED OUT ON THE PORCH . TURNING SHE SAID YOU HAVE LIVED HERE ALL YOUR LIFE ? I DON’T THINK I HAVE EVER SEEN SUCH INCREDABLE BEAUTY IN ONE SPOT LIKE THIS . AN TO LIVE HERE ALL YOUR LIFE YOU ARE TRULY BLESSED . BILL SAID YOUR BREAKFAST IS READY AND YES BILL SAID I HAVE ALWAYS FELT THAT WAY TO  .AS THEY ATE BILL SAID NOW WHAT DO I CALL YOU I NEVER DID GET YOUR NAME . MY NAME  IS HELEN ,HELEN BOSTIC EVEN AS SHE SAID IT TEARS CAME AGAIN TO HER EYES BUT SHE COUGHT HER SELF , I’VE GOT TO STOP THIS SHE SAID

   JIM IS GONE , I KNOW THAT BEFORE I STOPED AT THE REST AREA AND RIGHT NOW I ALMOST FEEL ANGER AT HIM FOR LEAVING ME THAT WAY . IN THE LAST FEW YEARS OUR MARRIAGE  HAS HAD IT’S UP’S AND DOWN’S BUT THERE WAS A TIME WHEN I LOVED HIM DEARLY. HE WAS A GOOD MAN AND HE TRIED BUT THINGS JUST DID NOT GO HIS WAY . WE WERE ON OUR WAY TO A NEW START BUT I GUESS HE COULD NOT FACE UP TO IT ALL . O MY GOD I THINK I’LL BE SICK AND SHE RAN FOR THE BATH ROOM .WHEN SHE GOT BACK LOOKING A LITTLE PALE , SHE SAID I’M SORRY I JUST GOT A FLASH BACK OF HIM LAYING THERE . BILL SAID WOULD YOU LIKE TO WALK AROUND THE FARM . OH YES SHE SAID LETS GO . AS THEY WALKED BILL TOLD HER ALL ABOUT HIS FARM . HIS FATHER AN GRANDFATHER AN EVEN HIS GREATGRANDFATHER . THIS WOMAN WAS SURE EASY TO TALK TO BUT AT TIMES SHE WOULD BE QUITE FOR A TIME THEN LIKE SNAPING A SWITCH SHE WOULD BE BACK . ALL THIS BILL COULD UNDERSTAND THE LOSS OF HIS SWEETHEART HAD DONE THE SAME THING TO HIM . IT WAS LONG AGO BUT TO BILL IT WAS NOT . ON ANY FARM THERE ARE ALWAYS THINGS TO BE DONE SO BILL TOLD HER HE HAD SOME CHORES TO DO AN LEFT HER AT THE HOUSE . DURING THE DAY BILL WOULD LOOK UP AN SEE HER SOME TIMES SITTING ON THE PORCH AN SOMETIMES WALKING AROUND . AT THE EVENING MEAL SHE TOLD BILL THAT SHE COULD NOT THINK OF A TIME WHEN SHE HAD RELAXED SO MUCH AS SHE HAD TODAY

      LATER IN THE DAY THE POLICEMAN CALLED TO TELL BILL OR  RATHER MRS. BOSTIC THAT SHE WAS TO BE IN COURT IN TWO DAYS  . BILL ASSURED HIM SHE WOULD BE THERE .

        BILL TURNED TO HELEN AN SAID I GUESS YOU HEARD THAT . HELEN SAID YES  I WONDER WHAT THIS ALL MEANS , I DON’T HAVE A CLUE ABOUT WHY  JIM DID THAT . AGAIN TEARS CAME TO HER EYES BUT SHE QUICKLY WIPED THEM AWAY . WE LEFT EARLY IN THE MORNING AND JIM WAS REAL NERVICE ABOUT SOME THING , HE DROVE FOR A WHILE AN THEN ASK ME TO TAKE OVER. BILL SAID YOU DON’T HAVE TO TELL ME THIS .   HELEN LOOKED AT HIM AN SAID DO YOU MIND IF I TALK ABOUT IT , I FEEL I HAVE TO GET IT OFF MY MIND . BILL LOOKED AT HER AN SAID NO IF IT WILL MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER GO AHEAD AN TALK , I LOST MY WIFE ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO AN THE PAIN IS STILL WITH ME . HELEN LOOKED AT BILL AN WITH SYMPATHY IN HER EYES NODDED TO HIM AND WENT RIGHT ON WITH HER STORY. JIM DID NOT TALK MUCH AS I DROVE BUT I COULD TELL HE WAS BECOMEING MORE AN MORE AGATATED. THEN HE GOT REAL QUITE I THOUGHT HE HAD SETTLED DOWN AND I BECAME LOST IN MY OWN THOUGHTS .SUDDENLY I HEARD THE SHOT AN JIM FELL AGAINST ME . I PULLED INTO THAT ROAD SIDE PARK JUMPED OUT OF THE CAR SAW JIM LAYING THERE ON THE SET WITH BLOOD ALL OVER HIS HEAD ; OH GOD IT STILL MAKES ME SICK , .BILL SAID YOU DON’T HAVE TO GO ON . HELEN SAID NO NO I MUST , OF COURSE THE NEXT THING I REMEMBER IS YOU KNEELING OVER ME . WHY DID HE DO IT ? I HAD NO WORNING , I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE HE GOT THE GUN.. RIGHT NOW I FEEL ANGER TOWARDS HIM FOR DOING THIS TO ME  AND YET I LOVED HIM ?  OH DEAR GOD WHAT AM I GOING TO DO NOW . I HAVE NO PLACE TO GO , I HAVE NOTHING . I FEEL MY WHOLE LIFE HAS BEEN A FAILURE AND I WONDER IF I CONTRIBUTED  TO JIM DOING THAT   BUT I DON’T KNOW WHAT I COULD HAVE DONE TO MAKE THINGS DIFFERENT . WITH THAT SHE PUT HER FACE IN HER HANDS AN CRYED SOFTLY . BILL GOT UP AN LEFT HER TO HERSELF AS HE MADE SOME COFFEE .BY THE TIME BILL HAD THE COFFEE MADE HELEN HAD COMPOSED HERSELF  AND AS BILL BROUGHT HER COFFEE SHE LOOKED UP AT HIM AN SAID THANK YOU , I FEEL MUCH BETTER NOW . THEY DRANK THEIR COFFEE IN SILENCE AND WHEN FINISHED BILL SAID WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO FOR A DRIVE AN SEE SOME OF THIS COUNTRY . I’M PERFICTLY HAPPY TO JUST STAY HERE SHE SAID BUT IF YOU HAVE SOME MORE OF THIS BEAUTFUL COUNTRY TO SHOW ME FINE LETS GO .THEY DROVE OUT OF THE DRIVE WAY  AN . BILL DROVE AROUND HIS FARM  TELLING  HELEN FIRST I’LL SHOW YOU AROUND MY FARM . HE TOLD HER ABOUT EACH FIELD , WHAT HE HAD RAISED ON THEM AND THAT HE DID NOT FARM NOW JUST RENTED THE FIELDS OUT . AS THEY GOT TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FARM THEY CAME UPON A SMALL LAKE HELEN LOOKED SURPRISED WITH A LAKE LIKE THIS WHY DIDN’T YOU BUILD THE HOUSE CLOSE TO IT . OH BILL SAID MY GREATGRANDFATHER BUILT THE FIRST HOUSE AND IN THOSE DAYS YOU NEVER BUILT CLOSE TO A LAKE  . WHY SAID HELEN ? BILL LOOKED AT HER ,SMILED AN SAID : MOSQUITOS: IN THE OLD DAYS THEY COULD NOT DO MUCH ABOUT THEM . BUT I HAVE OFTEN THOUGHT ABOUT PUTTING A HOUSE NEAR HERE . IT IS BEAUTIFUL . BUT I NEVER GOT AROUND TO IT .. THEY GOT OUT OF THE CAR  AN  SAT BY THE LAKE , IT WAS WARM WITH A SLIGHT BREES, THEY SAT THERE FOR A LONG TIME JUST WATCHING THE WATER AN THE WIND MAKING RIPPLES ON IT . FINALY HELEN LAID BACK ON THE GRASS  AN LOOKING UP TO THE SKY SHE SAID THIS IS AS CLOSE TO HEAVEN  AS I HAVE EVER BEEN AND CLOSED HER EYES . BILL LOOKED AT HER AN COULD SEE A TEAR ROLLING DOWN FROM EACH EYE . BILL KEEP HIS SILENCE HE KNOW SHE WAS IN HER DREAM LAND AND NO WORDS NEEDED TO BE SPOKEN . WITH HER EYES STILL CLOSED SHE REACHED OUT AN TOOK HIS HAND AND HELD IT FIRMLY FOR A LONG TIME . BILL WAS SUPPRISED HOW GOOD IT FELT JUST TO SIT THERE AND HOLD HER HAND  HELEN SAT UP LET GO OF HIS HAND AND LOOKED AT HIM FOR A TIME THEN SAID I HOPE YOU DIDN’T MIND ME DOING THAT , I JUST HAD TO GRAB AHOLD OF SOME ONE . BILL LOOKED AT HER   MIND ? I LIKED IT , THAT’S THE FIRST TIME I HAVE HELD THE HAND OF AN OTHER WOMAN SENCE MY SWEETHEART DIED . HELEN LOOKED AT HIM AN SAID IS THAT WHAT YOU CALLED YOUR WIFE . YES SAID BILL ALL THE DAYS WE WERE MARRIED , HE NAME WAS BETH BUT I ALWAYS CALLED HER SWEETHEART MY SWEETHEART. AND HOW LONG HAS SHE BEEN DEAD  SOME 10 YEARS THAT’S A LONG TIME TO GREVE FOR A WIFE SHE MUST HAVE BEEN SOME WOMAN SAID HELEN . YES SHE WAS ANSWERED BILL . THEY GOT UP WENT BACK TO THE CAR AN BILL DROVE AROUND SOME MORE FINSLLY BILL DROVE BACK TO THE HOUSE . WHEN HELEN GOT OUT OF THE CAR SHE TOLD BILL THIS HAS BEEN ONE OF THE BEST DAYS OF MY LIFE , I CAN’T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR ME . BILL LOOKED AT HER I SENCERLY HOPE I HAVE HELPED YOU , I KNOW YOU STILL HAVE SOME BAD TIMES TO GO THROUGH BUT LETS TAKE THAT WHEN IT COMES .

        OH I CAN’T EXPECT YOU TO DO ANY MORE FOR ME SAID HELEN YOU HAVE  DONE SO MUCH ALREADY I WILL NEVER KNOW HOW TO REPAY YOU . BIIL SAID  I STEPED INTO THIS WITH MY EYES WIDE OPEN AN I’M GOING TO SEE IT TO THE END . THEN HE ADDED IF YOU WANT ME TO . WELL IN TRUTH SAID HELEN I DON’T KNOW WHAT ELSE I CAN DO AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL YOU HAVE DONE FOR ME . BILL LOOKED AT HER AN SAID AS YOU GO THROUGH LIFE YOU DO THINGS FOR PEOPLE AND THEY DO THINGS FOR YOU RIGHT NOW I FEEL A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE DONE THINGS FOR ME AND THIS IS PAY BACK TIME SO I’M GLAD TO DO IT AND I HOPE YOU WILL ACCEPT IT JUST LIKE THAT . I CAN WELL REMEMBER HOW I FELT WHEN MY SWEETHEART DIED SO  I CAN GUESS HOW YOU FEEL .THEY WENT IN THE HOUSE AN THIS TIME HELEN HELPED BILL FIX DINNER AND AFTER DINNER HELEN SAID BILL I HAVE A GOOD IDEA HOW YOU FELT ABOUT YOUR SWEETHEART AND I MUST CONFESS I DON’T THINK JIM AND I EVER HAD THAT KIND OF LOVE , HE WAS A NICE GUY BUT I KNOW HE WAS WEAK ,I THINK HE LOVED ME AS MUCH AS HE COULD BUT BUT .SHE TRAILED OFF .BILL BROKE IN NOW THAT’S ENOUGH OF THAT LETS GO OUT AN WATCH THE MOON COME UP .THIS FARM IS JUST AS PRETTY MAYBE PRETTYER BY THE MOON LIGHT .. THEY SAT WATCHEING THE MOON UNTIL IT WAS LATE . THE NEXT DAY WENT MUCH THE SAME BILL SHOWED HELEN MORE OF THE COUNTRY . HELEN TOLD BILL SHE HAD LIVED IN A CITY ALL HER LIFE AN NEVER THOUGHT MUCH ABOUT THE CONTRY UNTIL  NOW . MAYBE IT TOOK SOME THING LIKE THIS TO MAKE ME APPRECIATE THE BEAUTY AN SERENITY OF A FARM BUT I CAN TELL YOU NOW THAT I WILL NEVER FORGET IT . 

         THE DAY WAS HERE HELEN HAD TO BE  AT THE HEARING . HELEN LAMENTED THAT SHE HAD NO OTHER CLOTHES SO THESE WOULD HAVE TO DO . BILL HAD GIVEN AWAY ALL OF HIS SWEETHARTS CLOTHES  SO HE HAD NOTHING TO OFFER . WHEN THEY PULLED UP IN FRONT OF THE CORONER OFFICE THE POLICEMAN MEET THEM AND LEAD THEM IN TO THE HEARING ROOM .. THE ROOM WAS RATHER SIMPLE JUST A TABLE WITH CHAIRS. AT THE FAR END WITH CHAIRS IN FRONT OF IT . HELEN AND BILL SAT DOWN IN THE FRONT ROE . BEHIND THEM SAT THE TWO POLICE MAN AND A COUPLE OF OTHER PEOPLE TO . AFTER A COUPLE OF MINUTES THE JUDGE CAME IN AND ALL STOOD UP . THE JUDGE SAID YOU MAY ALL SIT DOWN NOW AN SAT HIMSELF . THE JUDGE LOOKED OVER THE PAPERS HE HAD IN FRONT OF HIM THEN LOOKED AT HELEN ; YOU I PRESUME ARE THE WIDOW . HELEN SAID YES . THEN THE JUDGE LOOKED AT BILL AND WITH A LOOK OF RECOGNITION SAID BILL WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE . AT THIS BILL REALIZED THE JUDGE  WAS A CHILDHOOD FRIEND , HE HAD NOT SEEN HIM FOR YEARS ; TOM SAID BILL I  HAVENT SEEN YOU FOR A LONG TIME . O. K. SAID THE JUDGE RETURNING TO HIS FORMAL  CHARACTER LETS GET ON WITH THIS . THE CORNER HAS EXAMINED –A- ER- EVERY THING AND HAS DETERMOND THAT THIS IS A SUICIDE PLAIN AND SIMPLE . NOW MRS. BOSTIC CAN YOU SHED ANY LIGHT ON TO WHY YOUR HUSBAND DID THIS , JUST SPEAK FROM THERE . HELEN LOOKED AT BILL THEN TO THE JUDGE AS SHE SAID I HAVE RACKED MY BRAIN OVER THIS AND I CAN’T HONESTLY SAY FOR SURE – I KNOW JIM FELT HIMSELF A FAILURE HE HAD GONE FROM JOB TO JOB THE LAST FEW YEARS, HE WAS A GOOD MAN AT LEAST TO ME .HE TOLD ME HE HAD A JOB IN THE NEXT TOWN , I DON’T KNOW WHAT IT WAS . THE LAST FEW WEEKS JIM DID NOT TALK MUCH . AT THIS THE JUDGE BROKE  IN  DID YOU KNOW HE HAD A GUN ? NO SAID HELEN , I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE HE GOT IT ETHER  . THE JUDGE SAT LOOKING AT HELEN FOR A FEW MINUTES THEN SAID  YOU CAN SHEAD NO MORE LIGHT ON THIS THEN ? NO SAID HELEN . WELL SAID THE JUDGE I AM GOING TO HAVE TO RULE THIS A SUICIDE , THE DECESED DIED BY HIS OWN HAND . HE THEN BANGED DOWN HIS GAVEL AN SAID THIS COURT OF INQUIRY IS ADJOURNED . THAT DONE THE JUDGE GOT UP AN SAT NEXT TO BILL . BILL I HAVEN’T SEEN YOU SENCE WE WENT TO SCHOOL TOGATHER , I HEARD YOU STAYED ON THE FARM WHILE I WENT OF TO COLLAGE FINALLY  GETTING INTO LAW  AND ENDING UP HERE . I THOUGHT ABOUT YOU A LOT I DON’T THINK I HAVE HAD AN OTHER FRIEND LIKE YOU SENCE ETHER . ONE OF THESE DAYS I WANT TO COME OUT TO YOUR FARM AN SPEND THE WHOLE DAY JUST TALKING ABOUT THE OLD DAYS . I HEARD YOU LOST YOUR WIFE  WELL I LOST MINE TOO A FEW YEARS AGE , I HOPE YOU HAVEN’T BEEN AS LONELY AS I HAVE . MY KIDS ARE SCATTERED ALL OVER THE COUNTRY  AND I HARDLY SEE THEM ANY MORE . BILL REACHED OUT FOR THE JUDGE’S HAND  AND HOLDING IT MORE THAN SHAKEING  IT SAID TOM IT SEEMS SO LONG AGO AND YET ONLY YESTERDAY  THAT WE PLAYED FOOTBALL TOGATHER . YES THE LAST TEN YEARS SENCE I LOST MY SWEETHEART HAVE   BEEN THE LONELIEST  OF MY LIFE   MY KIDS  ARE GONE  LIVING THEIR OWN LIVES   . WELL SAID THE JUDGE HOW IN THE WORLD DID YOU GET MIXTED UP IN THIS . WELL SAID BILL RATHER INOCENTLY  . I WAS AT THE ROAD SIDE PARK WHERE HELEN PULLED OFF  THE ROAD AND WHEN SHE FAINTED I WAS RIGHT NEAR HER AN GOT TO HER FIRST . YES I READ THAT  SAID TOM BUT WHY DID YOU GET INVOLVED  THE OFFICER TOLD ME YOU VOLINTERED TO TAKE MRS. BOSTIC AND HAVE HER HERE FOR THE HEARING . BILL THOUGHT FOR A LONG TIME THEN SAID YOU KNOW TOM I CAN’T REALY TELL YOU , IT WAS SOME THING  ABOUT HER .I GUESS  I FELT THAT IF SOMEONE EVER NEEDED A FRIEND IT WAS HER  , I WAS ON MY WAY TO VISIT MY GRANDSON, THAT I DON’T SEE VERY OFTEN, WHEN THIS HAPPENED  . YOU KNOW I HAVEN’T THOUGHT ABOUT HIM SENCE . I’M RETIRED NOW TOM AND I GOT TO ADMIT I WAS LONELY  YOU KNOW YOU GO THROUGH LIFE AN PEOPLE HELP YOU HERE AN THERE AND I FELT IT WAS PAY BACK TIME , YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN TOM , BILL I HAVE BEEN IN LAW MOST OF MY LIFE AND HERE YOU MEET SOME OF THE LOWEST TYPES BUT EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE YOU RUN INTO SOME LIKE YOU , YOU ARE STILL THE FINE FRIEND I USED TO KNOW , BY THE WAY I NOTICED YOU CALLING HER HELEN IS THERE SOMETHING GOING ON HERE . BILL LOOKED AT TOM WITH A LOOK OF SURPRIZE AN PAUSED , MY GOD I NEVER THOUGHT OF IT THAT WAY BUT IT HAS BEEN PLEASANT HAVING HER AROUND , I FEEL SHE’S A GOOD WOMAN . IF YOU WANT MY ADVISE SAID TOM  GO FOR IT , YOUR STILL A YOUNG MAN . I WISH I COULD MEET SOME ONE LIKE THAT . WELL SAID TOM I HAVE GOT TO GO , LOTS TO DO FOR A JUDGE THESE DAYS . BUT I MEAN IT I’LL CALL YOU ONE OF THESE DAYS AN WE WILL SPEND SOME TIME TOGATHER . GREAT SAID BILL I’LL LOOK FORWARD TO IT .

          HELEN HAD WALKED OUT SIDE AND WAS TALKING TO THE POLICEMAN WHEN BILL GOT THERE . AS BILL WALKED UP HELEN TURNED TO HIM AN SAID, THIS GENTELMAN JUST TOLD ME THAT JIM’S BODY WAS IN THE FUNERAL HOME AND I SHOULD TAKE CARE OF HIM AS SOON AS I CAN  ALSO HE HAS CLEANED UP THE CAR AND I CAN GET IT ANY TIME . BILL TURNED TO THE OFFICER AN SAID THAT WAS MIGHTY NICE OF YOU OFFICER I  KNOW YOU DID NOT HAVE TO DO THAT . THE OFFICER SAID I GUESS I FELT THE SAME WAY YOU DID SHE NEEDED A FRIEND , GLAD I COULD HELP AND YOU MRS. BOSTIC IT HAS BEEN NICE MEETING YOU EVEN UNDER THE  CIRCUMSTANCES. TURNING TO BILL HE SAID I GUESS I’LL SEE YOU AROUND BILL AND WAS GONE .

    HELEN LOOKED AT BILL AN SAID I GUESS WE PART HERE I HAVE MY CAR NOW AND I CAN BE ON MY WAY . THERE ARE NO WORDS THAT CAN EXPRESS MY GRATATUDE , YOU HAVE BEEN LIKE AN ANGLE THAT CAME OUT OF NO WHERE AN TOOK CARE OF ME . BILL WAS STOPED HE DID NOT KNOW WHAT TO SAY SOME HOW HE HAD NOT EXPECTED THIS . 

BUT – BUT WHERE WILL YOU GO HE BLURTED OUT . OH I DON’T KNOW SAID HELEN I GUESS I WILL DRIVE TO THE NEXT TOWN AN SEE IF I CAN FIND WORK , I MUST START SOME WHERE  . BILL SUDDENLY FELT LOST AND HE LOOKED IT .. HELEN SAID TELL YOU WHAT IF I DON’T FIND WORK I WILL COME BACK TO THE FARM TONIGHT HOW’S THAT . BETTER YET SAID BILL COME BACK TO THE FARM ANY WAY , YOU CAN STAY AS LONG AS YOU WANT , AT LEAST ONTIL YOU GET ON YOUR FEET , HOW’S THAT ,  O. K. SAID HELEN .I’LL SEE YOU TO NIGHT . BILL HEADED HOME NOT UNDERSTANDING THE WAY HE FELT , HE DID NOT FEEL BAD BUT WHAT WAS WRONG ? BLL FOOLED AROUND THE REST OF THE DAY NOT GETTING ANYTHING DONE . THE DAY SEEMED TO BE THE LONGEST HE HAD EVER HAD . AS EVENING CAME ON BILL KI P LOOKING AT THE ROAD . LOOK ALL HE HAD BUT STILL SUDDENLY THERE SHE WAS TURNING INTO THE DRIVEWAY . BILL COUGHT HIMSELF RUNING OUT THE DOOR , WHAT IS THE MATTER WITH ME HE THOUGHT AN WENT TO GREET HER . SHE TO  ALL MOST RAN TO HIM AND WHEN THEY MET SHE REACHED OUT HER ARMS AN ENBRACED BILL AND HE  HER  . BILLS ARMS DROPED AS HE REALIZED WHAT HE WAS DOING AND HERS FELL MORE SLOWLY . SHE LOOKED AT HIM AN SAID WELL I HAD NO LUCK FINDING A JOB  TO DAY . BUT I WILL TRY AGAIN TOMORROW . BILL FIXED DINNER FOR THEM AND AS THEY SAT ON THE PORCH AN WATCHED THE MOON COME UP HELEN TOLD HIM ABOUT HER DAY LOOKING FOR WORK . BILL KNOW THAT IN SMALL TOWNS THERE WAS NEVER MUCH WORK FOR A STRANGER AN TOLD HER SO. BUT I HAVE TO TRY SHE SAID IF I DON’T FIND WORK HERE I GUESS I WILL HAVE TO HEAD FOR THE BIG CITY , I KNOW SOME PEOPLE THERE AN THAT HELPS.

        BILL WAS QUITE FOR A LONG TIME , THEN WITH OUT LOOKING AT HER SAID , IF YOU DON’T FIND WORK WHAT WOULD BE SO WRONG WITH STAYING HERE AT LEAST FOR A WHILE .. HELEN WAS QUITE FOR A LONGER TIME THEN LOOKING A T BILL SAID  I KNOW YOU MENT THAT BUT WOULD IT BE PROPER , WHAT WOULD YOUR CHILDREN SAY  BILL YOU HAVE BEEN SO GOOD TO ME I DON’T WANT TO DO ANYTHING THAT MIGHT HURT YOU IN ANY WAY . TURNING TO HELEN BILL SAID I HAVE BEEN ALONE FOR OVER TEN YEARS , MY CHILDREN ARE GONE THEY HAVE THEIR OWN LIVE’S   . I LOVED MY SWEETHEART BUT LIFE GOES  ON . JUST LAST WEEK I HAD TO ADMIT TO MYSELF I WAS LONELY , I HAVEN’T HAD A LONELY DAY SENCE YOU CAME TO ME . RIGHT NOW I FEEL THAT IS WHY  IT WAS YOU CAME TO ME .OH BILL SAID HELEN I FEEL SO GUILTIY THE LOVE I HAD FOR JIM HAD ALL MOST VANISHED WHEN HE DIED BUT THIS SEEMS SO SOON . I-I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO SAY . I KNOW I COULD LOVE YOU , ANY WOMAN IN HER RIGHT MIND WOULD LOVE YOU BUT – BUT ? BILL TURNED TO HELEN  THAT’S IT THEN  I WANT YOU TO STAY HERE AND WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENES  O. K.--. . O.K.

      THE NEXT DAY HELEN TRIED AGAIN TO FIND WORK BUT NO LUCK THIS TIME ETHER. . SHE RETURNED TO BILL DISCOURGED . O.K. SAID BILL MHY DON’T YOU TAKE A BREAK FROM IT AN JUST RELAX FOR A WHILE, I’VE GOT EVERY THING WE NEED AND THEN I CAN SHOW YOU AROUND SOME MORE . O.K. SAID HELEN AND THEY DID . THE DAYS WENT BY AS THEY ENJOYED THEM SELVES  ONE MORNING  BILL SAW A STRANGE CAR PULL IN TO THE DRIVE WAY , IT WAS TOM THE JUDGE HIS OLD FRIEND . BILL GREETED HIM AN SAID I THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING TO CALL . TOM SAID GET IN THE CAR BILL THIS IS NOT A SOCIAL CALL . IS  THAT HELEN BOSTIC STILL STAYING HERE . YES SAID BILL . WELL SAID TOM  IT’S COMON PRACTICE TO PUT THE NAMES OF PEOPLE INVOLVED IN POLICE BUSINESS ON THE COMPUTER WELL TO DAY WE GOT AN INQUIRY ABOUT JIM AND HELEN BOSTIC FROM A CITY A FEW STATES AWAY . IT SEEMS THEY FIT THE DISCRIPTIONS OF SOME PEOPLE WANTED FOR QUESTIONING IN A SWINDEL AND MURDER SEEMS THEY GOT AWAY WITH A LOT OF MONEY AND IN THE PROSES A MAN DIED . HE DIED OF A HEART ATTACK BUT IT STILL MEANS THEY WERE RESPONSIBLE.. NOW I SHOULD HAVE THE POLICE PICK HER UP BUT I THOUGHT IF YOU COULD GET HER TO TURN HERSELF IN IT WOULD BE BETTER FOR HER . SHE DID SEEM LIKE A NICE PERSON AND I HAVE LEARNED TO PICK THEM BUT I GET FOOLED A LOT .TOO. O.K. SAID BILL I WILL HAVE HER IN THERE IN AN HOUR OR SO , I JUST CAN’T BELIVE THIS ABOUT HER . AS TOM PULLED OUT OF THE DRIVE WAY BILL HEADED FOR THE HOUSE AS HE ENTERED  HELEN MET HIM AT THE DOOR . THAT LOOKED LIKE THE JUDGE SAID HELEN WHAT DID HE WANT ? BILL LOOKED AT HER FOR SOME TIME AND AS HE LOOKED HER FACE SEEMED TO FALL TEARS CAME TO HER EYES , THEY WANT ME TO COME IN DON’T THEY . YES SAID BILL I REALLY DON’T KNOW WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT BUT YOU MUST GO IN .COME ON I WILL TAKE YOU . NO I WILL GO BY MYSELF SAID HELEN . NO I TOLD THE JUDGE I WOULD BRING YOU IN AND I WILL SAID BILL HELEN SAID NO MORE JUST GOT HER THINGS AN WENT WITH BILL TO THE CAR . AS THEY GOT CLOSE TO THE CITY HELEN SAID  I AM REALLY SORRY I GOT YOU INTO THIS I WAS HOPEING AGAINST HOPE THAT I WOULD GET FREE OF ALL THIS . YOU REALLY HAVE BEEN AN ANGLE TO ME . AS SHE GOT OUT OF THE CAR SHE TOOK BILLS  HAND SQUESED IT AN WALKED TO THE TWO POLICEMAN WAITEING FOR HER . BILL JUST SAT THERE THINKING I SUPPOSE I HAVE BEEN USED BUT WHY DO I FEEL SO BAD . I JUST CAN’T IMAGING HER BEING A BAD WOMAN  OH I GUESS I WILL LEARN MORE ABOUT HER AT THE TRIAL AND I’LL BE THERE . THE DAYS AND WEEKS WENT BY BILL LEARNED WHEN THE TRIAL WOULD START AND ON THE FIRST DAY HE WAS THERE .

          BILL WALKED INTO THE COURT ROOM . THIS ROOM WAS MUCH MORE ORINATE THAN THE ONE AT THE CORONER INQUEST . THIS WAS A  LARGER CITY AND COULD AFFORD AND ALSO NEEDED THIS BIG A COURT ROOM . THERE WERE SOME PEOPLE ALREADY SETTING  THERE BUT THE ROOM WAS NOT FULL BY ANY MEANS .. AFTER A TIME THE PROSECUTING  ATTORNEY AND HIS  STAFF  CAME IN AND IMEDITELY STARTED TALKING TO EACH OTHER , BRING OUT PAPERS AN GOING OVER THEM . THEN BILL SAW HELEN COMEING IN WITH HER  ATTORNEY . IT SUDDENLY DAWNED ON BILL HOW DID SHE GET AN ATTORNEY , SHE HAD NO MONEY , HE MUST BE A PUBLIC DEFENDER. OH MY GOD THOUGHT BILL SHE NEEDS MORE THAN THAT ,RIGHT NOW I FEEL THAT I HAVE ABANDON HER .  THE JUDGE CAME IN ALL STOOD UP THEN SAT DOWN . THEN THE JURY 

FILED IN AN SAT DOWN . AS BILL SAW THEM COME IN HE THOUGHT TO HIM SELF I DON’T SEE A SYMPATHIC LOOKING SOUL IN THE BUNCH .. ALL WAS CALLED TO ORDER AN THE PROSSECUTOR STOOD UP AND ADDRESSED THE JURY  ; IN THIS CASE THE COUNTY  VIRUSES MRS. HELEN BOSTIC WE INTEND TO PROVE THAT SHE DID WILLFULLY ADD HER DECISTS HUSBAND JAMES  BOSTIC  IN SWINDLING  MR. OREN GOSHY OUT OF SOME  FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS AND AS A RESULT OF THIS  MR. GOSHY BEEN AN ELDERLY MAN SUFFERED A HEART ATTACH AN DIED  MAKING  MR. AN MRS  BOSTIC GUILTY OF MURDER AS WELL AS THEFT .. WITH THAT HE SAT DOWN . HELEN’S ATTORNEY GOT UP AN WALKED OVER TO THE JURY SEATS LOOKED AT EACH JUROR FOR WHAT SEEMED LIKE FIVE MINUTES , AT FIRST BILL THOUGHT HE DOES NOT KNOW WHAT TO SAY ? FINALY HE SAID AND WE INTEND TO PROVE THAT MRS. BOSTIC WAS A VICTOM OF HER HUSBAND AS MUCH AS MR. GOSHY  . THEN THE REAL TRIAL STARTED . THE PROSECUTION  PUT A MR. WILKONS  ON THE STAND . YOU WERE MR. GOSHY’S BOOKKEEPER  WERE YOU NOT TO WHICH HE ANSWERED YES .CAN YOU TELL THE JURY HOW YOU FIRST DISCOVERED HE WAS LOSING MONEY . YES  AS YOU KNOW I HAVE BEEN MR. GOSHY’S BOOK KEEPER FOR SOME THIRTY YEARS IN ALL THIS TIME HE WAS OF SOUND MIND UNTIL THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS , THEN I COULD TELL HE WAS HAVING TROUBLE MENTALLY THAT IS .

 THEN I NOTICED HE WAS WRITING A NUMBER OF CHECKS TO THIS MR. BOSTIC . I QUESTIONED HIM ABOUT IT BUT HE PUT ME OFF WITH  “OH HE IS DOING A LOT OF WORK FOR ME “ SO I THOUGHT NOTHING MORE OF IT UNTIL I REALIZED  MR. BOSTIC HAD GOTTEN SOME FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS IN LESS THAN A YEAR . WELL I CALLED MR. BOSTIC AND ASK HIM WHAT HE WAS DOING FOR MR. GOSHY AN TOLD HIM AS MR. GOSHY’S BOOKKEEPER I HAD TO PUT DOWN SOME THING IN THE BOOKS . HIS ANSWER WAS ALL I HAVE DONE IS ODD JOBS. WELL THIS MADE ME VERY  CURIOUS, HOW COULD ODD JOBS ADD UP TO FIFTY THOUSAND ? SO I WENT TO MR. GOSHY AN ASK HIM WHAT WAS GOING ON . WELL WHEN HE REALIZED THE CHECKS ADDED UP TO THAT MUCH HE GOT VERY UPSET . NO NO HE SAID I DID NOT WRITE THAT MANY CHECKS  . AT THIS THE  PROSECUTING ATTORNEY [ P.A.]  SAID AND DO YOU HAVE THE CHECKS WITH YOU . YES I DO SAID MR, WILKONS HANDING THEM TO THE P.A. . O.K. SAID THE P.A. WE HAVE TWELVE CHECKS HERE WRITIN FOR VARIOUS  AMOUNTS AND HANDED THEM TO THE JURY TO EXAMINE  NOW SAID THE P.A. WHAT DID YOU DO THEN . I WENT TO SEE HR. BOSTIC AND CONFRONTED HIM WITH THE CHECKS  SAID MR. WILKONS  HE  DENIED SEEING MORE THAN ONE CHECK , TO WHICH I SAID THESE ARE YOUR  SIGNATURES ARE THEY NOT TO WHICH HE SAID THEY SURE LOOK LIKE MINE BUT I DID NOT SIGN THEM . AFTER THAT I WENT BACK TO MR. GOSHY AN WE TRIED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING . WHEN WE COMPAIRED THE CHECKS WE REALIZED THE SIGNATORIES OF MR. GOSHY WERE ALL EXACTLY THE SAME   . WELL YOU KNOW ONE DOSE NOT SIGN HIS  NAME EXACTLY THE SAME EVERY TIME , THERE ARE ALWAYS  SLIGHT VARIEATIONS .. THE P.A. SAID AND WHAT DID YOU DO THEN . WELL SAID HR. WILKONS I WENT TO MR. BOSTIC AND CONFRONTED HIM WITH WHAT WE HAD FOUND , HE IMMEDIATELY DENIED KNOWING ANY THING ABOUT THE OTHER CHECKS AND BECAME VERY UP SET. I LEFT HIM AND CALLED MR. GOSHY AN TOLD HIM HE WOULD HAVE TO FILE A COMPLANT AND SHOULD RIGHT AWAY .. I GUESS I SHOULD HAVE COUGHT IT BUT  I DID NOTICE  MR. GOSHY WAS VERY UPSET,  BUT I DIDN’T,  AND I FEEL BAD ABOUT THAT . IT WAS THAT NIGHT HE HAD A HEART ATTACH . MR. GOSHY WAS A LONG TIME FRIEND OF MINE AND I MISS HIM TERRIBLY . THE  P.A.- WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THAT . I CALLED THE POLICE AND THEN MET WITH YOU . LET THE JURY KNOW SAID THE P.A. THAT AFTER MEETING WITH MR. WILKONS WE TRIED TO LOCATE MR. BOSTIC BUT HE HAD ALREADY FLED NOT EVEN PAYING HIS RENT OR ANY THING . UNTIL MR. BOSTIC SHOOT HIMSELF  WE COULD NOT LOCATE HIM  OR HIS WIFE  .

    NOW MR. WILKONS DO YOU HAVE ANY KNOWLADGE OF HOW MR. BOSTIC SUPPORTED HIMSELF AND MRS. BOSTIC OTHER THAN THAT ONE CHECH . NO SIR   SAID MR. WILKONS AND I ASKED AROUND AND COULD FIND NO ONE WHO HAD EMPLOYED HIM . . THE P.A. THEN I TAKE IT YOU KNOW OF NO ONE ELSE WHO COULD HAVE DONE THIS . NO  SAID MR. WILKONS AND AS I HAVE SAID I FEEL GUILTY ABOUT THIS  I SHOULD HAVE COUGHT IT SOONER BUT WHEN I WAS TOLD IT WAS O.K. I LET IT SLIDE .. THE P.A. SAID THAT IS ALL I HAVE  WITH  THIS MAN . THE JUDGE TURNED TO HELEN ‘S  ATTORNEY AN SAID ANY CROSS EXAMINATION . HE LOOK UP AN SAID NOT AT THIS TIME . BILL FLUSHED RED WHAT’S THE MATTER WITH HIM BILL THOUGHT ANY ONE COULD HAVE SIGNED THOSE CHECKS .. THE P.A. STOOD UP AN SAID I WOULD LIKE TO CALL MISS. ROSE TOMPSON . AFTER THE SWEARING IN HE SAID TO HER YOU WORK AT THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK DO YOU NOT , YES SHE SAID , NOW DO YOU REMEMBER MR. BOSTIC COMEING TO YOUR BANK . YES , HOW MANY TIMES ? . OH HE CAME IN MANY TIMES , WE WERE ON A FIRST NAME BASCIS . HOW WOULD YOU DISCRIBE HIM . THE FIRST THING I NOTICED ABOUT HIM WAS HE WAS NERVICE AT TIMES HIS HANDS WOULD SHAKE , SOME TIMES  IT WOULD TAKE A WHILE TO GET HIS CHECKS SIGNED OTHER THAN THAT I THOUGHT HE WAS A NICE PERSON . DO YOU HAVE COPYS OF THE CHECKS HE SIGNED  AT YOUR BANK . YES AT YOUR DIRECTION I BROUGHT THEM WITH ME  HERE THEY ARE . . THE P.A. TOOK THEM HANDED THEM TO THE JURY AN SAID THIS IS EXIBET C , I THINK THE JURY SHOULD +LOOK VERY CLOSELY AT THE SIGNUTURES ON EACH CHECK , NOTICE HOW THE SIGNATURES OF MR. GOSHY LOOK ALMOST THE SAME AND REMEMBER NO ONE SIGNS THEIR SIGNUTURE EXACTLY THE SAME ALL  THE  TIME  AT THIS HELEN’S ATT. STOOD UP AN SAID I OBJECT YOUR HONOR THE P.A. IS LEADING THE JURY TO  A CONCLUSION . THE JUDGE LOOKED AT HIM FOR A MINUTE AN SAID  I WILL ALLOW IT THAT IS PRETTY MUCH COMON KNOWLEDGE . O.K. SAID THE P.A. HOW MUCH DO THESE CHECKS ADD UP TO . FIVE THOUSAND  AND FIFTY DOLLARS . THE P.A. SEEMED STUNDED FOR A MOMENT , WERE NOT ALL THE CHECKS FROM  MR. GOSHY  CASHED AT YOUR BANK . NO SAID MISS TOMPSON , JUST THIS ONE  FOR 500.00 DOLLARS . WITH THAT THE P.A. WENT TO HIS DESK AND EXAMINED ALL THE CHECKS . OH I SEE HE CASHED THE OTHERS OUT OF TOWN . WITH THAT HELEN’S ATT. STOOD UP YOUR HONOR  A SIDE BAR PLEASE .. BILL COULD HARDLY HEAR  AS HELEN’S ATT. SAID YOUR HONOR THIS WAS NOT DISCLOSED TO ME . THIS IS THE FIRST I HAVE HEARD THAT THE CHECKS WERE CASHED AT A DIFFERENT BANK , THAT IS NOT FAIR TO ME OR THE DEFENDANT , IF I HAD KNOWEN THAT I WOULD HAVE PREPAIRD MY DEFENCE DIFFERENT . THE  P. A. SAID WELL I DID NOT KNOW IT UNTIL NOW . THE JUDGE BROKE IN SAYING BUT YOU SHOULD HAVE KNOWIN AND YOU MR. HING ARE A LAWER YOU TOO SHOULD HAVE KNOWIN  , NOW TO THE BOTH OF YOU THE FIRST RULE OF A LAWER IS KNOW THE FACTS . SENCE YOU BOTH FELL DOWN ON THIS I’M GOING TO LET IT SLIDE FOR NOW . O.K. PROCEED . . THE P.A. RETURNED TO HIS DESK GOT SOME MORE PAPERS LOOKED AT THEM THEN SAID NOW MISS TOMPSON I SEE THERE ARE OTHER CHECKS CASHED BY THE DECESIST DID YOU CASH THEM  YES SER SHE SAID I CASH MOST OF THE CHECHS AT OUR BANK .. THE P.A. LOOKED AT MORE PAPERS THEN SAID  I GUESS THAT IS ALL I HAVE TO ASK YOU .  THE JUDGE LOOKED AT MR. HING  DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ? YES HE SAID  MISS. TOMPSON HOW LONG HAVE YOU WORKED AT THE BANK . ABOUT TWELVE YEARS  , IN THAT TIME IN YOUR POSITION AS THE MAIN CHECK CASHIER I MAGINE  YOU HAVE DEVELEPED A SHARP EYE FOR  A CHECH FORGER . YES I THINK I HAVE , THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW GET BY ME BUT ONLY A FEW . THE   P.A. STOOD UP I OBJECT YOUR HONOR  MISS TONPSON  IS NOT QUALIFIED TO GIVE SUCH AN OPENION   THE JUDGE  SAID I DISAGREE WITH YOU ON THAT   TWELVE YEARS CASHING CHECKS AN SHE STILL HAS HER JOB I FEEL SHE IS QUALIFIED YOU MAY ANSWER THE QUESTION MISS. TOMPSON  . OH SAID MISS. TOMSON WHAT WAS THE QUESTION . MR.HING  O.K. MISS TOMPSON NOW THAT YOUR EXPERTICE HAS BEEN ASTABLISHED HOW WOULD YOU DISCRIBED MR. BOSTIC  OR RATHER HOW WOULD OR DID YOU SIZE  HIM UP . I WILL TELL YOU THIS WHEN HE CAME INTO THE BANK TO CASH A CHECK FOR THE FIRST TIME I LOOKED AT HIM AN TALKED TO HIM AND AFTER THAT I CASHED HIS CHECK I FELT NO PROBLIM WITH HIM . . HAVE YOU SEEN THE CHECKS THAT WERE CASHED AT A DIFFERENT BANK  . NO I HAVE NOT , IFYOU LOOKED COULD YOU TELL IF MR. BOSTIC   SIGNED THEM . I COULD TRY . MR. HING HANDED  ALL THE CHECKS TO HER NOW DON’T LOOK AT THE  BANK STAMP JUST LOOK AT THE SIGNATURES  LAY THOSE YOU THINK  HE SIGNED IN ONE PILE AND ALL OTHERS IN AN OTHER  PILE . MISS. TOMPSON LOOKED AT EACH CHECK SCRUTINIZING EACH ONE AND LAYING THEM IN THERE RESPECTIVE PILES . IT TOOK  SOME TIME BECAUSE SHE WAS VERY CARFUL, FINALY SHE WAS DONE  MR. HING PICKED UP THE LARGEST PILE  AND SAID ARE ALL THESE  IN YOUR OPENION MR. BOSTIC ‘S  SIGNATURE  YES THEY ARE  , AND THIS OTHER PILE ARE NOT , THAT IS TRUE . LET THE JURY KNOW THAT THE CHECKS WITH MR. BOSTIC’S  SIGNATURE  CONTAINS THE  FIRST CHECK  THAT MR.  GOSHY SIGNED FOR  $500.00 , THE OTHERS ARE FOR VARIES CHECKS WRITION  ON A BANK OUT OF STATE .AND ALL THEY ADD UP TO IS  $ 5,050.00 DOLLARS . ENOUGH FOR A COUPLE TO BARLY LIVE ON FOR THE LINGTH OF TIME ALL THIS TOOK PLACE . ABOUT THIS TIME BILL COULD SEE HELEN WAS STARTING TO LOOK PALE  ANDHE WAVED AT HER ATT. AN POINTED AT HER . THE ATT. LOOKED AN SAID YOUR HONOR MY CLIENT IS NOT FEELING WELL AT THIS TIME MAY WE HAVE A RECESS . O.K. SAID THE JUDGE IT IS  11,40 SO WE WILL RECONVENE  AT 1:00 P.M..  AS HELEN WAS LEAD OUT OF THE COURT SHE SAW BILL AN GAVE HIM A WEAK SMILE  . BILL REALIZED HE WAS HUNGRY TO SO HE WENT TO THE NEAREST RESTRANT AS HE WALKED IN HELEN CALLED TO HIM  AND HE WENT OVER . HELEN SAID BILL THIS IS MR. HING  HE HAS BEEN VERY GOOD TO ME  MR. HING  BILL IS A FRIEND I MET WHEN MY HUSBAND  A ER DIED . HE WAS VERY GOOD TO ME THEN .BUT HE DID NOT KNOW ABOUT MY PAST THEN EATHER  ., COME ON BILL AND HAVE LUNCH WITH US , THAT IS IF YOU DON’T MIND BEING SEEN WITH ME ? ,   BILL LOOKED AT HELEN AN SAID THERE IS NOTHING WRONG , AS FAR AS I AM CONCEREND , BEING SEEN WITH YOU .  MR HING LOOKED AT BILL AN SAID WHO ARE YOU BILL I DON’T RECALL SEEING YOU AROUND HERE BEFORE . OH I AM JUST A MAN ON A FARM . NOT AROUND HEAR OVER IN THE NEXT STATE . I MET HELEN WHEN HER HUSBAND DID IT AND I FELT SHE COULD USE A FRIEND AND I AM STILL CONCERNED ABOUT HER . I THOUGHT YOU WERE HANDLING IT WRONG AT FIRST TODAY BUT AS THE MORNING WENT ON I NOW THINK YOUR ALL RIGHT.. YES SAID MR HING ALL TRIALS  ARE AUCKWARD TO GET STARTED . LIKE IN A FIST FIGHT YOU FEEL YOUR  OPPONENT OUT FIRST .NOW LETS EAT AND GET BACK TO THE TRIAL .

   THE TRIAL RESUMED AND THE ARGUMENTS WENT BACK AN FORTH . NEATHER MAKING MUCH HEAD WAY UNTIL THE P.A. CALLED  A WITNESS  AND BILL SAW HELEN’S FACE TURN BRIGHT RED  AN THEN GO PALE .. AS THE WOMAN TOOK THE  STAND SHE LOOKED POSSITIVLY MEAN, LIKE SOME ONE  FEDUP ON LIFE . THE P.A. APPROCHED HER  AND ASK IF SHE KNOW ANY ONE  IN THE ROOM . WELL I SURE AS HELL KNOW HER POINTING AT HELEN . NOW WILL YOU EXPLAIN YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH MRS. BOSTIC . I SURE WILL SHE TRIED TO STEEL MY HUSBAND AND NEVER TOLD HIM SHE WAS MARRIED . WITH THIS MR. HING JUMPED UP  YOUR HONOR I OBJECT WHAT HAS THIS GOT TO DO WITH THIS TRIAL . THE P.A. STOOD UP AN SAID YOUR HONOR IT GOES TO CHARACTER  , I WANT TO SHOW WHAT KIND OF WOMAN MRS. BOSTIC IS  AN THIS WOMAN HAS HAD DEALINGS WITH HER BEFOR. . O.K. SAID THE JUDGE I WILL LET IT CONTINUE BUT DO NOT GET CARRIED AWAY

WITH THIS CONSULER JUST STICK TO THE FACTS . ALL RIGHT MRS. ROSCO  TELL US JUST WHAT HAPPENED   . O.K. THIS WOMAN  JUST THEN THE JUDGE BUTTED IN AN DIRECTED HER TO ADDRESS MRS. BOSTIC BY HER  NAME , WELL MRS. B-O-S-T-I-C  WAS TRYING TO MAKE A PLAY FOR MY HUSBAND  AS I SAID SHE WAS TRYING TO GET HIM TO GIVE HER MONEY AND HE DID WRITE HER SOME CHECKS –BUT MY FRIEND WORKS IN OUR BANK AN SHE CALLED ME WHEN SHE GOT THE SECONDIT CHECK  AN I WENT RIGHT DOWN THERE AN PUT A STOP TO THAT . THEN I WENT TO HER AN CONFRONTED HER AN TOLD HER IN NO UNSERTAIN TERMS TO STAY A WAY FROM MY HUSBAND . WOULD YOU BELIVE SHE HAD THE GALL TO TELL ME TO MY FACE THAT SHE DID NOT KNOW MY HUSBAND , AFTER SHE HAD SIGNED THOSE CHECKS TO . DID ANY THING ELSE HAPPEN MRS ROSCO  YES , THAT OLD FOOL GAVE HER AN OTHER CHECK , BUT I HAD ALLREADY TOLD THE BANK NOT TO HONOR THEM SO SHE DID NOT GET ANY MONEY THAT TIME ..  HOW  MUCH MONEY DID ALL THIS AMOUNT TO SAID  THE P.A.  YOU MEAN HOW MUCH DID SHE GET . YES WHAT WAS THE TOTOL AMOUNT . IT TOTOLED TO $ 8.50 . . DID MRS. BOSTIC MAKE A PLAY OR TRY TO ENTICE YOU HUSBAND AWAY FROM YOU MRS, ROSCO  SHE SURE DID  WHY HE EVEN TOLD ME HE LIKED HER . IS YOUR HUSBAND IN THE COURT ROOM NOW .  NO THAT COWERED WOULD NOT COME . AT THIS MR.HING STOOD UP AN SAID YOUR HONOR THIS HAS GONE FAR ENOUGH THE P.A. HAS NOTHING HERE BUT A SPITFUL  AND BITTER OLD WOMAN .I WANT HER TESTAMONY STRICTION FROM THE RECORDS . NO SAID THE P.A. THIS STILL GOES TO CHARACTER . O.K. SAID MR. HING  THEN I WANT A  SUPININA TO HAVE MR. ROSCO IN COURT TOMORROW . YOU HAVE IT SAID THE JUDGE . YOUR HONOR I OBJECT SAID THE P.A. . OBJECTTION  OVER RULED  YOU STARTED THIS  CONSULAR  NOW MRS . ROSCO YOU MAY STEP DOWN BUT I WANT BOTH YOU AND YOUR HUSBAND IN COURT TOMORROW DO YOU UNDERSTAND . YES  JUDGE WE WILL BE HERE . NOW MR. P.A. I WANT YOU TO INSTRUCT THE ROSCO’S IN HOW TO ADDRESS A JUDGE  I THINK THAT IS ENOUGH FOR TODAY COURT IS ADJURNED  .

      AS THE PEOPLE WALKED OUT OF THE COURT ROOM BILL  WENT TO HELEN AN SAID WHERE ARE YOU STAYING . OH SHE SAID I’M BEING HELD AT THE JAIL I HAD NO MONEY FOR BAIL . I’M SORRY SAID BILL I SHOULD HAVE BEEN HERE . NO NO SAID HELEN  I CERTAINLY DID NOT EXPECT YOU TOO … AND AS THE OFFICERS CAME TO HER SHE SAID SEE YOU TOMORROW  I HOPE  . I’LL BE HERE SAID BILL ..  AS WAS HIS HABIT BILL WAS UP EARLY  THE NEXT MORNING SOME HOW BREAKFAST DID NOT GO DOWN SO GOOD  AND BILL THOUGHT HE WOULD WALK TO THE COURT . BILL GOT THERE WAY TO EARLY SO HE THOUGHT HE WOULD WALK AROUND TOWN . THE CITY WAS BIG AT LEAST TO BILL HE LONGED FOR THE OPEN SPACE OF HIS FARM   AS HE WAS LOOKING AT A PARTICULERLY  LARGE BUILDING HE NOTICED  THE WORDS  , GOSHY BUILDING ,  THIS GUY MUST HAVE BEEN REAL WEALTHY.  THOUGHT BILL AS HE WALKED BACK TO THE COURT BUILDING  STILL A BIT EARLY . AS HE ENTERED THE COURT ROOM SOME PEOPLE WERE ALREADY THERE AND SO WAS HELEN AND HER  ATT. GONG OVER SOME PAPERS . BILL SAT RIGHT BEHIND THEM . WHEN THE  ATT. LOOKED UP HE NODDED TO BILL  THEN HELEN  LOOKED  AND SAID I’M GLAD YOU’RE HERE . THE ATT. AND HELEN SEEMED TO BE DONE WITH WHAT EVER THEY WERE DOING  SO WHEN THE ATT. TURNED AROUND  BILL ASK HIM THIS GOSHY MUST HAVE BEEN A WEALTHY MAN .? OH VERY SAID THE ATT. AND THAT’S ONE THING THAT BOTHERS ME , THE LOSS OF FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS  WOULD MEAN NOTHING TO HIM  SO WHY DID IT KILL HIM   ?? . THE COURT ROOM FILLED UP AN IN CAME  MR. & MRS . ROSCO CAME IN  JUST BEFORE THE JUDGE  DID  AFTER ALL WAS SETTLED  THE JUDGE TOLD HIM TO TAKE THE   WITNESS CHAIR .. THE P.A. APPROCHED HIM AN SAID MR. ROSCO  WILL YOU GIVE US YOUR VERSION OF THE CHECK  SITUATION   ON THE CHECKS YOU GAVE MRS. BOSTIC .  MR. ROSCO  STARTED TO SAY SOME THING THEN STOPED , THEN STARTED AGAIN , HIS VOICE BREAKING . IT WAS OBIVIOUS HE WAS EMBARRASSED. AT THIS THE JUDGE BEING A WISE  MAN BROKE IN AN SAID MRS. ROSCO WOULD YOU LEAVE THE COURT ROOM WHILE YOUR HUSBAND GIVES HIS TESTIMONY . SHE STOOD UP AND UTTERED , WELL I NEVER, AND WALKED OUT . AFTER THIS MR. ROSCO  SETTLED DOWN AN SAID WHAT WAS THE QUESTION . JUST GIVE US YOUR VERSION OF WHAT THESE CHECKS YOU GAVE TO MRS. BOSTIC WERE FOR . O.K. SAID MR. ROSCO   HELEN OR MRS BOSTIC WORKED AT THIS RESTERANT I GO TO SOME TIMES AND THEY WONT CASH MY CHECKS ANY MORE BECAUSE MY WIFE STOPS PAYMENT ON THEM , SHE SAYS I CAN GET ALL THE FOOD I NEED AT HOME , BUT I LIKE TO STOP AT THE RESTERANT ONCE IN A WHILE AN VISIT WITH FRIENDS  AND HELEN BECAME A FRIEND . MY WIFE WONT LET ME CARRY MONEY  ANY MORE SO I HAVE TO WRITE CHECKS .. WELL HELEN TOLD ME SHE KNOW ABOUT THE RESTERANTS POLICY  BUT TO MAKE THE CHECKS OUT TO HER AND SHE WOULD TAKE CARE OF IT .. O.K. SAID THE P.A. IS THAT ALL THE ALEDGED AFFAIR WAS YOU HAD WITH MRS. BOSTIC . YES SHE WAS SUCH A NICE WOMAN  AN ALWAYS KEPT  MY COFFEE CUP FULL TOO. . THANK YOU MR. ROSCO THAT IS ALL I WANT .  THE JUDGE TURNED TO MR HING DO YOU WANT TO CROSS EXAMINE ? MR. HING . MR. HING STOOD UP  YOUR HONOR I WOULD LIKE ALL THE TESTAMONY OF THE ROSCO’S STRICKEON FROM THE RECORDS  IT IS OF NO VALUE IN THIS TRIAL . THE P.A. JUMPED UP YOUR HONOR I OBJECT  IT STILL GOES TO CHARACTER . THE JUDGE ALL MOST SNAPTED IT OUT NO .  MR P.A.  I CAN SEE NO VALUE IN THIS TESTAMONY  AND I WANT TO TELL THE JURY TO DIS REGARD ALL OF THE ROSCO’S TESTAMONY . NOW MR. P.A. DO YOU HAVE ANY THING ELSE .. AS HE STOOD UP THE P.A. WHISPERED IN HIS ASSOCATES EAR I THINK WE GOT THE POINT ACROSS  THERE IS NO WAY THE JURY CAN FOR GET THAT , YES YOUR HONOR I WOULD LIKE TO RECALL MR  WILKENS . AS WILKENS WALKED UP TO THE CHAIR  MR. HING GOT A PUZZLED LOOK ON HIS FACE . O.K. SAID THE P.A.  HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO TRACE WHERE THE MONEY FROM THESE CHECKS WENT ? YES I HAVE SAID MR. WILKEN AND IT WENT STRAIGHT  TO MR. BOSTIC .  HOW  DO YOU KNOW THIS SAID THE P.A. . I WENT TO THE BANKS WHERE THE CHECKS WERE CASHED AN GOT A TRANSSCRIPT OF HOW THE MONEY WAS HANDLED  AND IT WENT STRAIGHT TO MR. BOSTIC’S ACCOUNT  IN THE OTHER STATE . AND WHERE DID IT GO FROM THERE . IT WAS DRAWIN OUT IN IT’S ENTIRETY BY MR. BOSTIC , I HAVE THE TRANSSCRIP HERE . SO SAID THE P.A. IT IS YOUR OPENION THAT MR. AN MRS BOSTIC ENDED UP WITH THE MONEY . YES . HELEN’S FACE FLUSHED AN SHE COULD NOT HOLD IT IN , NO SHE YELLED WE GOT NO MONEY . AT THIS THE JUDGE SAID ORDER IN THE COURT .. THE P.A. SAT DOWN AN SAID I HAVE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS WE REST OUR CASE . THE JUDGE TURNED TO MR. HING DO YOU WISH TO CROSS EXAMINE ? YES I DO SAID MR. HING . MR WILKONS DO YOU HAVE ALL THIS PAPER PROVEING WHAT YOU JUST SAID . YES I DO , I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT . MR. WIKONS POINTED TO A BREFCASE ON THE P.A.’S  DESK IT IS IN THERE     MR. HING HANDED THE BREF TO MR. WILKENS . NOW I WOULD LIKE TO SEE ALL THIS PAPER YOU TALK ABOUT .  AS MR. WILKENS PRODUCED THE PAPERS MR. HING  EXAMINED EACH ONE .AFTER THIS HE LOOKED AT MR.WILKONS AN SAID  AS MR. GOSHY ‘S  BOOKKEEPER WERE YOU AUTHERISED TO SIGN CHECKS FOR HIM . YES BUT ONLY STANDERD PAYMENTS , NO RANDOM CHECKS ., I SEE AND IN DOING THIS DID YOU SIGN YOUR  NAME OR MR. GOSHY’S  NAME , ONLY MY NAME .  I SEE SAID MR. HING NOW WOULD YOU DO SOME THING FOR ME  I WANT YOU TO SIGN MR. GOSHY’S SIGNETURE , YOU DO KNOW HOW HE SIGNED HIS CHECKS  DON’T YOU .  . WELL AFTER THIRTY YEARS I CERTINLY OUGHT TOO . AND MR. WILKENS SIGNED THE BACK OF ONE OF THE PAPERS WITH MR. GOSHY’S  SIGNETURE .  O.K. SAID MR. HING  DID YOU AN MR. GOSHY HAVE A FRIENDLY RELATION SHIP .WE GOT ALONG , MR GOSHY WAS NOT A FRIENDLY PERSON . . MR. HING TURNED TO THE JUDGE AN SAID I WOULD LIKE TO CALL AN OTHER WITNESS BUT I WANT TO RESERVE  THE .RIGHT TO RECALL THIS ONE . YOUR HONOR I WOULD LIKE TO RECALL MISS TOMPSON , THAT DONE MR. HING SAID NOW MISS TOMPSON  I HAVE THE CHECKS YOU LOOKED AT YESTERDAY  THESE ARE THE ONES YOU SAID MR. GOSHY  DID NOT SIGN  NOW I WANT YOU TO COMPARE THEN TO THE SIGNATURE ON THIS PIECE OF PAPER .. MISS TOMPSON EXAMINED THE PAPER AND THE CHECKS TO  AFTER A FEW MINUTES SHE SAID IT IS MY OPENION THAT THEY ARE ALL SIGNED BY THE SAME PERSON . WITH THAT THE  P.A. JUMPED UP AN SAID YOUR HONOR SHE IS NOT A HAND WRITING EXPERT AND I OBJECT. THE JUDGE SAID I HAVE ALREADY STATED MISS. TOMPSON  IS AS EXPORT AS YOU ARE GOING TO GET , I WILL ACCEPT HER TESTAMONY . MR. HING SAID THANK YOU MISS TOMPSON  NOW I WOULD LIKE TO CALL MRS . BOSTIC TO THE CHAIR . ALL THE FORMIALITIES DONE  .  MR. HING  SAID NOW MRS. BOSTIC  YOU HAVE HEARD ALL THE  P.A.  HAS BROUGHT UP AGAINEST YOU  SO NOW TELL YOUR STORY  ..  HELEN  LOOKED UP  AT THE JURY AN SAID , WE MOVED HERE ABOUT A YEAR AGO  , MY HUSBAND THOUGHT HE HAD A JOB HERE BUT IT DID NOT HAPPEN . SO HE TOOK ODD JOBS  HOPEING SOME THING WOULD COME ALONG BUT THAT DID NOT HAPPEN . WE HAD SAVED SOME MONEY IN THE LAST TOWN WE WERE IN AND THAT’S  WHAT WE LIVED ON , I HAD WORKED AS A WAITRESS  AND THER WE MANAGED TO SAVE SOME MONEY . HERE IN THIS TOWN THOUGH HE FOUND SOME ODD JOBS I COULD FIND NOTHING . WE WERE GETTING READY TO LEAVE  JIM THOUGHT HE HAD A JOB IN THE NEXT TOWN AND BEING A MUCH BIGGER TOWN I WAS SURE I COULD FIND WORK TO . WELL WHEN MR. WILKENS CAME TO MY HUSBAND AN CONFRONTED HIM WITH FORGEING CHECKS  HE PANICKED  AND I TOO FELT AS HE DID HOW COULD WE DEFIND OURSELVES AGAINST MR. GOSHY WE WERE REALLY OUT OF MONEY SO WE JUST LOADED ALL WE COULD IN THE CAR AN TOOK OFF . JIM HAS HAD A ROUGH TIME IN THE LAST FEW YEARS , HE HAD A HARD TIME HOLDING A JOB AN BEING A PROUD MAN THAT REALLY BOTHERED HIM . I NOTICED LATELY HE WAS HAVING TROUBLE HOLDING HIS HANDS STEDDY AND HIS MOOD WAS CHANGING . HE WAS BECOMING NORE AND MORE DEPRESSED  BUT ONCE WE GOT ON THE ROAD HE SEEMED TO FEEL MUCH BETTER ALL MOST HAPPY . BUT AS WE CAME CLOSE TO THAT ROAD SIDE PARK  HE SUDDENLY PULLED SOME THING OUT OF HIS POCKET . I DID NOT KNOW IT WAS A GUN ONTIL IT WENT OFF ., I DON’T REMEMBER MUCH AFTER THAT BUT I MUST HAVE MADE IT IN TO THE PARK BECAUSE THAT WAS WHERE I CAME TOO . MR. HING STOOD LESSONING TO ALL THIS AS DID THE REST OF THE COURT ROOM WHEN HELEN STOPED TALKING HE ASK DID YOU  OR YOUR HUSBAND WRITE THESE CHECKS IN QUESTION ?  NO WE DID NOT , COULD YOUR HUSBAND HAVE DONE IT WITH OUT YOUR KNOWLEDGE , THERE IS NO WAY I CAN KNOW THAT  FOR SURE BUT  I HAVE KNOWN JIM FOE  TWENTY YEARS AND I CAN’T IMAGINE HIM EVER DOING ANY THING ILLEGAL. IF JIM WAS NOTHING ELSE HE WAS AN HONEST MAN . IN ALL OUR MARRIED LIFE I KNOW HE NEVER CHEATED ON ME . HAVE YOU ANY THING ELSE TO SAY IN YOUR DEFENCE . I AM TRYING TO THINK OF SOME THING , I KNOW WE HAVE NEVER HAD SO MUCH AS A TRAFIC TICKET . ALL RIGHT MRS. BOSTIC NOW I THINK THE P.A. HAS SOME QUESTIONS . THE P.A. STOOD UP AN SAID I SURE HAVE MRS. BOSTIC YOU SAY YOU HAVE ALLWAYS BEEN HONEST WELL HOW ABOUT SKIPING OUT ON YOUR RENT , WAS THAT THE ACT OF HONEST PEOPLE . NO  SIR  BUT WE PANICKED  AT THAT TIME  RENT WAS THE FARTHEST THING FROM OUR MINDS . . YOU KNOW SAID THE P.A. THE KIND OF  PANICK YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT IS MORE THE TYPE OF PANICK A GUILTY PERSON WOULD HAVE . WITH THIS MR. HING JUMPED UP AND SAID I OBJECT YOUR HONOR THE  P.A. IS NO PSYCHOLOGIST HE CAN’T KNOW WHAT KIND OF PANICK THEY WERE IN . SUSTAINED SAID THE JUDGE , THE JURY WILL DISREGARD THAT  STATEMENT , STICK TO WHAT YOU DO KNOW  MR. P.A. .  THEN THE JUDGE SAID  IT’S LUNCH TIME  WE WILL  RECONVENE AT I:00 P.M.  AS THEY FILED OUT HELEN WENT TO BILL . WHAT DID YOU THINK OF WHAT I SAID  ASKED HELEN . WELL SAID BILL I DON’T KNOW MUCH ABOUT LAW BUT YOU CONVENCED ME . YOU KNOW WHAT IS BOTHERING  ME IS IF YOU DID NOT WRITE THOSE  CHECKS WHO DID . MR. HING HAD BEEN WALKING BEHIND  THEM SPOKE UP AND SAID WAIT UNTIL THIS AFTERNOON  . I HAVE SOME SUPPRISES IN STORE . LUNCH WENT FAST AN BILL FELT HELEN WAS IN A BETTER MOOD TO . SO BACK TO THE COURT ROOM . BILL AND HELEN WERE ALMOST LATE SO COURT  WENT IN TO  SESTION  ALL MOST RIGHT AWAY . 

 THE P.A. STOOD UP AND SAID I HAVE NO MORE QUESTIONS  . MR. HINTG STOOD UP AND SAID WELL I HAVE I’D LIKE TO EXCUSE MRS. BOSTIC AN CALL MR, WILKEN BACK . THIS DONE  MR. HING WALKED UP TO HIM AN SAID I’M HOLDING THE CHECKS THAT ARE IN QUESTION MR. WILKONS NOW YOUR TESTAMONY IS YOU NEVER SAW THEM ONTIL THEY CAME BACK FROM THE BANK  IS THAT RIGHT , YES IT IS . ALL RIGHT THEN CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO ME AND THE COURT HOW THEY GOT FROM THE CHECK BOOK IN YOUR OFFICE  IN TO MR. BOSTIC’S POSITION  . A-A-A- THERE IS NO WAY TO PROVE THEY CAME FROM MY CHECK BOOK . OH  YES THERE IS MR. WILKON S THIS MORNING I GOT A COURT ORDER TO EXAMINE YOUR CHECK BOOK , I DON’T KNOW IF YOU REALIZE IT OR NOT BUT WHEN YOU TEAR OFF A CHECK OR ANY PIECE OF PAPER  NO TWO EVER TEAR THE SAME , THE POLICE WERE ABLE TOFIND THE EXACT PLACE YOU TORE THEM OFF AND TRIED TO BLAME IT ON POUR MR. BOSTIC . STUND MR. WILKENS  JUST SAT THERE LOOKING FIRST AT THE P.A. , AS IF FOR HELP,  THEN AT MR. HING  THEN HE BEARRIED HIS FACE IN HIS HANDS AND CRYED . MR. HING LOOKED AT THE JUDGE AND WITH OUT AN OTHER WORD  THE JUDGE SAID THIS TRIAL IS OVER I THINK WE CAN ALL SEE THAT THERE REALLY WAS NO CASE . I THANK THE JURY FOR YOUR TIME EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS NOTHING FOR YOU TO DO . YOU ARE NOW EXCUSED , BANG,  DOWN WENT THE GAVEL .BUT THE JUDGE WAS NOT THROUGH  MR P.A. I WANT YOU TO TAKE MR. WILKONS  IN TO CUSTODY RIGHT NOW . WHAT HE TRIED TO DO WAS DISPICTABLE . MRS. BOSTIC YOU ARE FREE TO GO  AS YOU CAN SEE THE LAW IS CLUMSEY SOME TIMES BUT SOME HOW IT ALLWAYS WORKS OUT FOR THE BEST . I WISH YOU GOOD LUCK  FROM NOW ON .

       MR. HING , HELEN AND BILL WALKED OUT OF THE COURT HOUSE  . HELEN  THROUGH HER HANDS UP IN THE AIR  AN EXCLAMED , I’M FREE AFTER ALL THIS  I’M FREE OH IT FEELS SO WONDERFUL  AN TURNING TO MR. HING SAID I DON’T KNOW HOW I CAN REPAY YOU . DON’T WORRY ABOUT IT HE SAID I WAS PAID BY THE COUNTY AND I THINK I FEEL ABOUT AS GOOD AS YOU DO IT’S SO GOOD TO WIN A CASE LIKE THIS . NOTHING DOES MORE FOR MY SELF ESTEEN THAN THIS . I AN GLAD TO HAVE KNOWN YOU AND DON’T THINK BADLY ABOUT THE LAW  AS THE JUDGE SAID IT MAY BE CLUMSEY SOME TIMES BUT SOME HOW IT SEENS TO WORK FOR THE BETTER OF ALL OF US , GOODBY  AND HE WAS GONE . HELEN WATCHED MR. HING WALK AWAY , THEN TURNED TO BILL , WILL I SGUESS THIS IS GOODBY FOR US TOO.. BILL SAID WHAT DO YOU MEAN ? WELL I SHOULDN’T THINK YOU WOULD WANT ME AROUND  AFTER THIS , AT THIS TIME I’M ALMOST A FALLEN WOMAN AND I HAVE NOTHING TO OFFER YOU . I HAVE EVEN HAD TO SELL THE CAR . AN I DON’T KNOW WHERE I WILL SLEEP TONIGHT , WITH THAT SHE BURST INTO TEARS. BILL GATHERED HER INTO HIS ARMS AN SAID YOU HAVE NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT AT THIS TIME I THINK I KNOW YOU AS WELL AS I KNOW ANY ONE AND I WANT YOU TO COME HOME WITH ME . HELEN LOOKED AT BILL ARE YOU SURE SHE SAID . I’M VERY SURE HE SAID AND HELD HER CLOSE TO HIM . AT THIS TIME THE JUDGE CAME OUT SAW THEM AN YELLED HAY NONE OF THAT IN THE STREETS OF THIS TOWN  BUT IF YOU WERE MARRIED FINE  THEY BOTH LOOKED AT HIM AN SAID WOULD YOU DO IT . THE JUDGE STOPED  LOOKED THEM OVER AN SAID I WOULD BE PROUD TO DO IT . JUST GIVE ME A CALL . BILL AN HELEN WALKED AWAY AS HAPPY AS TWO LOVE BIRDS COULD BE .