Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-10
Outlaws of Eden
By Peter B. Kyne


! You realize, Of course. that when the
Forlorn Valley Irrigation District was
formed and a deed of trust on all of
the lands embraced in the district was
given, with San Francisco trust COM
pany as trustee to secure the bond
issue the district floated, all Of the
first mortgages and deeds Of trust on
lands within the district given to your
bank to secure prior loans have now be-
come second liens against those lands.
You realize. do you, that If the Forlorn
Valley Irrigation District should go
bust the foreclosure of the deed Of trust
given by the district will automatically
wipe out the second liens held by your
bank?"
Il do. But the Forlorn Valley Irri-
cation District will not go bust and
with the increased fertility and, conse-
quently, the doubling in value of the
lands and their increasing earning
power, this banks security will be am
pie and the mortgages and deeds Of
trust will be paid. If not, they can be
forecloSed. and the bank can take over
bond issue against them. And they
can then be sold very readily. have
no apprahensions on that score. and if
you are trying to frighten me you are
not making very successful job of it.
| Nate Tichenor pointed through the
open door Of the bank to a lot across
the street where a gang Of workmen
building of cream brick. THAT lot and
that building are mine" T1chenor in
formed the banker lightly I'm going
to start bank there with a million
dollars capital"
You'll have to prove a genuine need
for another bank, and you'll have to
prove that your bank, has some sound
/ %r-Ys 49, L.
that while the Bank of Valley Center
continues to function as at present"
We'll. I'll be all set, ready to take
over the wreck of your bank, Babson.
I'm patient. can wait"
AS Tichenor walked out. Babson
turned to Henry Rocky. Henry, that
fellows so ratified he doesn't know
what to do. He'd like to start an in
junction suit against the district, but
he's not at all certain he can win.
Henry, he's actually erecting a bank
building across the street. hoping to
scare me into q compromise to save his
face. Can you beat him2"
Hes small change" Mr.. Rocky re-
piled disdainfully. Forget him"
to bring the measure Of comfort for
which Babson yearned. Even his own
assurances presently failed him Moth
ing in life Is more distressing than I'M
certainty. and the uncertainty as to
whether Nate Tichenor and Lorry Ker-
shaw would apply for an injunction
restraining the Forlorn Valley Irriga-
ton District from diverting water from
Eden Valley Creek was a profound I'M
certainty, indeed. Babson wondered
whether Tichenor was really depressed
over the situation, really disinclined to
a fight in the courts.
What. possibly, could have been the
proposition Nate Tichenor had tried to
put before that mass meeting in the
been bluffing then, playing for time.
trying to create doubts and marshal
suf1cient doubters and malcontents to
bring upon Babson at the election 10
decide whether the district should be
organized or not? Or had the fellow
meant kindly by Forlorn Valley. after
all? Babson wished now he had
man. to interrupt him, to manhandle
him and silence him.
That night Silas BabSon went home
with q violent headache. He did not
sleep WELL. either, and the following
night he was very weary, indeed The
third night he was still sleepless and
then his old enemy insomnia claimed
him and he had nervous breakdown.
In the interim Forlorn Valley had
seen very little Of Lorry. Sundry citi-
zens. catching sight Of her as she mo-
tored through the valley in her ex-
pensive limousine, thought she carried
the grand lady business of very well
and resented her accordingly, only to
stand amazed when along in April she
rode through Valley Center on horse
back with drove of 500 head Of
2-year-old steers. just as she had been
wont to do in the days before wealthy
Nate Tichenor had married her.
(To Be Continued.l