[00:00.00]Text A Fiddle and the Law
[00:06.30]Special Agent X came to a cabin about two miles up the mountain.
[00:12.96]He had come to get Cal Richards,an armed and dangerous killer.
[00:19.20]Through a broken window,he saw a man with a beard watching him closely.
[00:25.57]Agent X drew a deep breath.
[00:29.10]He stepped up to the cabin door with a cheerful"Hello!"
[00:34.43]Beside the fireplace,an old man sat silently.
[00:39.29]Still standing near the window was the bearded man--a gun in his hands.
[00:45.64]"Government man,aren't you?"said the man with the gun.
[00:50.78]"Yes,"replied the agent with a friendly smile.
[00:55.01]"You must be Pappy Richards."
[00:58.36]"Sure.I'm Cal's pa.And you're not going to get him."
[01:04.31]The gun pointed at the G-man.
[01:07.66]Agent X looked around the cabin.
[01:11.21]I've been assigned to do it."he said.
[01:14.76]But I can see he isn't here today.
[01:18.32]I guess I'll have to come again.
[01:21.79]Then he caught sight of a violin hanging on the wall.
[01:25.84]"Who plays the fiddle?"he asked.
[01:29.10]For a moment there was silence.
[01:32.55]Then the old man by the fire spoke up.
[01:36.52]"Pappy,"he said."He's the best fiddler in these parts.
[01:41.98]"You ought to hear him play Turkey in the Straw."
[01:45.82]The G-man seemed deeply impressed.
[01:49.58]"You don't say!I play a little myself.
[01:54.26]Mind if I look at the violin?"
[01:57.63]As he crossed the room to the instrument,
[02:00.69]he knew that the gun was still aimed at him.
[02:04.63]He felt sweat on his forehead,
[02:08.18]but he took the violin from the wall as calmly as if he were a welcome visitor.
[02:14.14]He turned it carefully and wiped off the bow.
[02:19.39]Then he broke into the lively music of Turkey in the Straw.
[02:24.54]The old man began to beat time,tapping one foot on the dirt floor.
[02:30.41]But Pappy stood unmoved,gun in hand and eyes alert.
[02:35.38]One tune after another Agent X played,occasionally glancing at Pappy.
[02:41.62]Suddenly the music changed,
[02:44.88]and from the strings came the sweet notes of an old folk song.
[02:50.21]Agent X was playing better than he had ever played in his life.
[02:55.18]Pappy Richards stood enchanted,
[02:58.83]the defiance in his eyes giving way to a look of wonder.
[03:03.98]The gun was now pointed toward the floor.
[03:07.74]When the final notes of the song died away,Pappy placed the gun in a corner.
[03:13.59]"Well,stranger,"Pappy said,"that was first-class fiddling.
[03:19.65]Maybe you'll stay for dinner and play some more for us."
[03:23.81]After they had eaten,
[03:26.76]the three men sat in the spring sunshine outside that cabin.
[03:32.01]They talked about fiddle tunes and the fiddlers that Pappy and the old man had known here in the mountains.
[03:38.96]They talked for an hour,and not once did anyone speak of the reason for the G-man's visit.
[03:45.52]Once more the bow danced across the strings;
[03:50.19]and so another hour passed quickly.
[03:53.95]Still not a word was said about Cal Richards.
[03:58.60]Finally the agent said,"Sorry!I must be getting back to the village."
[04:04.64]Pappy's friend eyed him for a moment and said,
[04:08.76]"How about Cal?You want him,don't you?"
[04:13.62]There was a touch of amusement in his voice.
[04:17.59]"Well,no,"said the G-man with a smile. "I don't want him.
[04:22.56]The government wants him,and you know how it is when the government wants a man.
[04:28.20]It may take days or months or years to get him,
[04:32.93]but they'll get him.And the longer it takes,the worse off he is."
[04:39.20]"Does the government always get the guy it wants?"
[04:43.04]"No,not always.Sometimes he dies."
[04:47.90]Pappy,sitting on a nearby log,was deep in thought.
[04:52.26]"See here,stranger,"he interrupted suddenly.
[04:56.52]"I like the way you talk and I like the way you fiddle.
[05:00.98]I guess you're a decent guy."
[05:04.22]He paused as if it were hard to go on.
[05:08.38]Then,he said in a thick voice,"I--well,I'll have a talk with Cal.
[05:15.82]I think he might give himself up tomorrow.
[05:19.90]You be at the sheriff's office at noon!"
[05:23.66]"Noon tomorrow!"said the agent,
[05:27.03]wondering if he looked as surprised as he felt." So long until then."
[05:32.67]After he left,he wiped his sweating forehead and sighed with relief.
[05:38.63]The next day as the village clock struck twice,
[05:43.28]announcing the hour of noon,
[05:46.62]a bearded man came up the street toward the sheriff's office.
[05:51.37]With him was a young fellow whose appearance told of many days in hiding.
[05:57.33]The G-man was waiting.
[06:00.49]"Stranger,"said Pappy."Here is Cal,my son." |