DENTON CROUCH 32

at the probate hearing there was only five people this time. abe sat on a bench by himself while denton will jody and pearl held down another. the judge came in and took his place on a high stand behind a desk.he shuffled some papers and read through a couple of pages then layed them down and looked at abe. " have you brought the prood i asked you for sir?" " no. everyone knows who i am i dont need to prove to nobody who i am or if alvie was my brother. i want everything that was his."abe had a beligerent tone when he spoke. the wrong thing to do with this old man on the bench. with out looking up the judge simply said" your excused." "excused hell! i want whats mine now!" abe stood up and pounded his fist on the back of the bench. "sherrif remove this man from my court. incarcerate him if its warrented ill think of charges later." the judge stated in a firm steady voice. will and denton stood, each wore their badges and side arms will pointed to the door and in a firm voice said" out!" abe stood there looking at the two of them but didnt move at first. but when will and denton started to him he spun on his heel and went out the door. will and denton sat back down. the judge began reading out loud the list of things that belonged to alvie when he got through he nlooked at pearl " were you indentured to this man?" pearl looked at jody then back at the judge. " alvie said he paid my pa three hundred dollers for me. i never saw my family again." denton then explained the beating she was takeing in the street and the reason he was forced to shoot alvie. the judge listened quietly takeing it all in. then he asked who was acting in pearls intrests.jody and will both raised their hands. " its my understanding that you have provided this young woman shelter and sustanance. is that correct?" the judge asked. " yes your honor. she has been helping me at my boarding house." jody answered. " how old are you young lady?" he looked at pearl. " ime not sure , maybe 14 years old. when i came to jody i couldnt read or write and couldnt do my sums. she has been teaching me tho." pearl replied. the judge nodded and looked trough the papers again finally he looked up" after a lot of thought i think the best way to dispose of alvie krafts property is for the sherrif to hold a public auction. then the funds be brought to the court. the funds will be placed at the bank for this young lady s care as needed. when she turns 1`8 all remaining funds will be turned over to her." the judge rapped his gavel on the desk top and stood up" set a date for the sale sherrif, then notify me keep me apraised as to circumstances of this young ladys wel being." he then left the room. " well pearl your set until you turn 18." denton put his hand on her shoulder. the four started out the door to return to the boarding house. once out on the street they ran right into abe. " you cant steal my brothers property from me! and your not going to steal my cows! ill get even if its the last thing i do!" the four brushed by him and went on up the street. he stood there in the street yelling at them. denton turned to will" how long we gotta take that?" "i think if we be patient he will do something illegal then we deal with him. the state has a new priso in florence maybe he needs to take up residence there." will answered. as he turned away at the boarding house." i got to set up a sale. see ya>"