Back in Mayberry, the telephone rang at the Taylor household. Aunt Bee ran to answer it.
"Hello?" she said.
"Hi, Bee. Did you see today's paper?" her friend, Clara Edwards asked.
"No, I haven't," Aunt Bee said.
"Go get the paper. There's something you should see," Clara told her.
"Why do I need to see it?" Aunt Bee asked.
"You'll see once you get the paper. It's on the front page," Clara said.
"Front page?" Aunt Bee asked.
"Yes. I'll hold while you go get it," Clara said.
"Okay," Aunt Bee said and left to get the paper at the front door.
"Morning, Aunt Bee," Opie said.
"Morning, Opie. Opie, would you get the newspaper for me?" Aunt Bee asked.
"Why?"
"Just do it!" Aunt Bee said.
She didn't know where Clara was getting at, so she watched as Opie went outside to get their newspaper.
"Here, Aunt Bee. Aunt Bee, look!" Opie said, surprised to see his father's picture in the front page.
"What?" Aunt Bee asked.
"Pa's in the paper!" Opie said.
She didn't know if that's what Clara wanted her to see or not.
"Give me that!" Aunt Bee said.
"It's front page, Aunt Bee," Opie said.
Aunt Bee took the paper from Opie. She saw the front page of The Mayberry Gazette.
"You're not joking, Opie!" Aunt Bee said.
Clara could hear Aunt Bee's surprised voice in the background of the telephone. This is what she wanted Aunt Bee to see in the newspaper. She remembered watching the ten o'clock news on television last night and seeing Andy on the news.
"We'll read this later, Opie. Right now I'm talking to Clara. You get ready for school," Aunt Bee said.
"I can't drive to school, Aunt Bee. I don't have my license," Opie reminded her.
"Hold on. I'll drive you," Aunt Bee said.
"Okay," Opie said.
"Clara, I saw the front page. Is that what you wanted me to see?" Aunt Bee asked.
"Yes, Bee. That's what I wanted you to see. Andy was on the news last night on TV," Clara said.
"I must have missed it because I went to bed with a headache. Did they interview Andy?" Aunt Bee asked.
"No. He was just seen," Clara said.
"I'll read the article after I drop Opie off at school. I have to go now so I can drive him to school," Aunt Bee said.
"All right, Bee. We'll talk later," Clara said and she hung up the telephone.
In town, Barney was sitting outside of the sheriff's office, reading that day's newspaper. He hadn't seen the front page yet but he wanted to check out the sports section. That's when Goober showed up.
"Hi, Barney," Goober said.
"Hi, Goob," Barney said.
"Have you seen last night's ten o'clock news or this morning's front page?" Goober asked.
"No. Why?" Barney asked.
"It's something about our sheriff," Goober said.
"I'm almost done reading the sports section," Barney said.
"Give me the paper," Goober said.
"Why?" Barney asked.
"I want to show you something," Goober said.
Barney gave Goober the paper without finishing the sports section.
"This is what I want you to see," Goober said, showing Barney the front page of The Mayberry Gazette.
The headline read: Deputy cold case solved
"Is this what you wanted me to see?" Barney asked, seeing the headline.
"Yes, Barney. It was Andy that solved this twelve – year – old case. Will you read it to me?" Goober asked.
"Don't you know how to read?" Barney asked, sighing.
"All right, Goob. I'll read," Barney said.
"Goody," Goober said.
"I love it when you read to me, Barney," Goober said.
"You know this ain't a bedtime story, Goober," Barney said.
"I know that," Goober said.
Before reading, Barney cleared his throat. Barney cleared his throat and began to read the article.
"After twelve years of working on a twelve – year – old deputy murder case, it is now shut down. The former sheriff of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Sheriff Jeremy Cline, would like to thank an old friend of his that helped solved the murder case, an officer from Mayberry, North Carolina, Sheriff Andrew Taylor," the article began.
"During an interview with the newspaper the following morning, while asked how the case was solved, Sheriff Taylor said, "It was nothing. All you have to do is make the young 'uns talk if they're hiding a secret from their family to open if they are the star witness to the case. Then they will talk. It's that simple."
"While asked a question who solved the case, all Sheriff Cline said was it was his son that was the star witness to the case that helped wrapped up the case twelve years later when he was sheriff working the case twelve years ago when Deputy Jones was first murdered. Twelve years ago, Sheriff Cline was first diagnosed with severe depression and had his driver's license taken away for life. His friends and family are driving him around town if he wants to go places. Twelve years ago, after having his license taken away, Cline was sitting behind his desk full – time and could no longer drive the patrol car to protect his town or go on patrol with Deputy McCarey and Officer Williams. The murderers are going to trial for their sentence the following week. They were under arrest by former sheriff Cline for first degree murder and robbery," the article continued.
"If you know somebody like former Sheriff Cline who is diagnosed with severe depression, please give that person advice to help out and do things for them such as helping the family by doing their laundry and other things. If that person or Cline himself has had suicide thoughts in near future, please call the suicide hotline. Don't leave that person alone for one flat minute. Twelve years ago until this year, Cline and his wife were seeing a marriage counselor to get advice on how to keep them together because of Cline's severe depression. They didn't want to get divorced because of all the problems Cline was having with the murder case. They are still married today and never parted," the article read on.
"And today, former sheriff Cline is no longer sheriff and will be happy to give advice in near future if others want advice on cases they are working on. As for Deputy Jones' family, they are happy the case is shut down and the murderers behind bars. They will now accept Jones' death. Twelve years ago the family didn't accept the fact he was murdered and took the murder very hard for thirty – year – old Deputy Jones. Rest in peace, Deputy Jones," the article finished.
"That's it, Goob," Barney said and put the paper down.
"Now you know why I wanted to show you the front page, right?" Goober asked.
"Yes, Goob. Will you leave me alone?" Barney asked.
"Why? Are you telling me to get lost?" Goober asked.
"Yup," Barney said.
"That's not very nice," Goober said.
That's when the two of them saw the town drunk, Otis Campbell.
"Hi, Goober, Barney," Otis said.
"Otis, what are you doing here? Today's not your day to be here," Barney said.
"I know, Barney. Did you see the paper?" Otis asked.
"What subject?" Barney asked.
"The front page," Otis said.
"I just read it," Barney said.
"He read it to me," Goober said.
"Darn. Wish I came earlier," Otis said.
He wanted Barney to read to him but he was a bit late for that.
"Andy was mentioned in the paper," Otis said, "but I also saw him on the ten o'clock TV news last night."
"Andy was on the news too? You're kidding but that ain't true," Barney said.
"Well, it is," Goober and Otis said in unison.
Barney didn't believe the two.