def parse_header_variable(line):
    """
    Parses a line that follows:
    
    Variable Code         Value     Description
    
    Returns:
        key, value, description, in_automesh
    
    """
    x = line.split()
    
    key = x[0]
    
    if x[1] == 'A':
        in_automesh = True
        
        s = x[2]
        d = x[3:]
    else:
        in_automesh = False
        s = x[1]
        d = x[2:]
        
    descrip = ' '.join(d)
        
    try: 
        val = int(s)
    except ValueError:
        val = float(s)
    
    return key, val, descrip, in_automesh