Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-13

NV night the Bank of Valley
Center closed forever, his
wife waited until 8 o'clock
and then telephoned Henry RooKoy.
Upon Mr.. Rookby Immediately zen
suspicion that something tragic I'M
nended He found Babsons tin box I'M
locked, so he opened it and found Bah
sons letter to his wife In the envelope
with the life insurance policies.
Shaking slightly with apprehension
Mr.. Rocky went into his cage ana
found there an envelope addressed TO
him. 1t was from Babson and salo;
Dear Henry-I can't stand 1t. II
live nv wife and children will be
paupers and I'll be the most hated man
in this county. I could never beat
back-and I'm too old to try. And I'm
too tired. Look for me in Lake BabSon.
Good-by and good luck. S. B"
So Mr.. Rookby telephoned the super
intendent of State banks at the capito!
TO send somebody up to take charge OF
the Bank of Valley Center. Then ne
pasted a notice on the window, an
nouncing the closing of the bank.
Two days later a representative OF
the superintendent of banks took
charge OF the institution and COM
menced an investigation OF the bank
affairs It was task quickly done. A
preponderance Of the assets consisted
ately available a 80 per cent dividend
to the depositors: the superintendent
of banks issued a statement that IN
time further dividend OF 10 or 10
per cent might be available. Then his
representative padlocked the Bank OF
Valley Center, leaving Forlorn valley
stepped in despair, until an event oc-
cured to revive It's tagging interest in
local affairs.
Somebody had opened the food gates
and the main canal down through For
lorn Valley was running bankful. IN
stantly Babson was forgotten. The wa
ter had arrived and, since nobody knew
how long it would remain, it behooyed
Forlorn Valley to act quickly. The
gates into the lateralS were opened;
the ditchtenders Of the irrigation dis
trict got on the job, and perfect
frenzy of irrigation commenced.
When the first cutting OF alfalfa was
half harvested Forlorn Valley had an
other surprise. Again the farmers
awoke to find the main irrigation canal
running bankfull: again commenced
season of irrigation, and when Forlorn
Valley had slaked its thirst second
time, again the district engineer went
I'D and closed the headgate at Lake
Babson. A second crop Of alfalfa was
harvested and, seemingly God was again
or the side of Forlorn Valley, for
third time the main cana! ran oanK-
full-a third crop of alfalfa was mar
vested. And that would be the last
crop of the season.
The payment of the semi-annual in
terest had been due on July !. Alas!
the funds OF the district had been de-
posted in the Bank OF Valley Center,
and all but 80 per cent Of them had
been lost in the collapse OF the oank;
so the district, not knowing what the
holders of its bonds purposed doing,
defaulted on the interest payment.
On July the trustee for the bond
holders notified the district that unless
payment of the defaulted interest was
made by August ! legal action would
be taken to foreclose the deed OF trust
given to secure the bonds.
The directors Of the district held
meeting. They recalled Nate 11cne-
nor's threat to buy the bonds from the
original purchasers. Was he Scheming
to delude the farmers Of Forlorn Valley
into planting more and more alfalfa
and fruit trees, thus enriching the val
lev to a point where his winnings, at
foreclosure, would be all the greater?
The secretary was instructed to write
to Tichenor's attorney and ask him lor
a frank exposition # Nate T1chenorS
Intentions. Back came a prompt reply
TO the effect that Tichenors 1ntenuons
were unknown to his attorney; that
-ichenor was in Europe.
A Mass meeting was held, but while
there was much talk there was no con-
certed action; since nobody knew what
to do, nothing was done, and on the
first day Of August the interest payment
was still In default. On the second day
of August suit was filed by the trustee
to foreclose the deed OF trust, and For
lorn Valley, realizing that all was over.
sat dumbly and patiently awaiting the
end
The farmers could do nothing else.
They had no place to go, so they waited
to be dispossesSed formally by the
sheriff.
on the gath of observation-disclosures
Eve-every farmer in the Forlorn Valley
Irrigation district received formal no.
tice by registered mail that he no
longer held title to his farm and de-
mand was made upon him that he
vacate the same within 80 days from
date, else legal measures would be taken
to dispossess him!
on December 10 Nate Tichenor
and his wife came home. Darby met
them with the limousine when they got
off the train at Gold Run and noticed
that they were accompanied by nurse
who held a 2-month-old baby in her
arms
Hello" said Darby, II see got an
"a boy. Darby. We had to have an
other boss
heir to Eden Valley, you know"
II suppose you've heard the news
about Forlorn Valley"
Yes, sir. Seems pretty bitter medi-
cine, but they asked for 1t, as Rube
says, and they got it."
You bet they got it. Have any Of
he farmers in the district moved out?"
NO don't think so. Joe Brainerd
says they haven't any place to go, SO
they're hanging on, hoping the new
owners will lease the farms back to
them, sir"
We'll that might be possible. Stow
the bags. Darby, and let's go. We must
be out in Eden Valley for luncheon"
Halfway through Forlorn Valley they
met one farmer who had decided to
wait to be evicted. He was driving
four-horse team attached to a wagon
upon which were piled his household
goods, and on an old mattress atop the
load four children sat. His wife was
on the front seat with him and follow
ing UP the wagon came 14-year-old
boy on horseback. heaTding before him
some loose work horses, two mich cows
and their calves. There was about the
sorry cavalcade an atmosphere incredi-
bly, forlorn the woman was
weeping; as the Tichenor car slid by
the farmer gazed at its occupants
alphabetically and raised his hand in a
gesture that was half greeting, half
farewell.
There's one of them moving out
sir" Darby said over his shoulder.
Its terrible of the bondholders 70
dispossess them in the middle OF VIM
ter" Lorry declared.
Matte tIn kiNKah