Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-28

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heart Is here, where my people lie
buried I'VE wanted to do something
big and constructive, accumulate q lot
OF money ana employ IL wisely--in this
country IL want neighboTs. I want
to be thought well Of" He waved his
hand toward the east. "I don't belong
in that country and I don't like 1t.
want to live here and you might as
wen know 1t now"
Go on. I'm listening. Nate"
You're going to marry me, sooner
or later, and I want 10 know II you'd
have any objection to living here six
months Of the year,"
"A little bit shorter than care to
consider, but can stand 1t.
"Lorry, you're a darling. Well, I've
found a way TO popularize both clans
When the Mountain Valley Power Co.'S
dam is in I'm going to sell water cheap
from deep wells over there, and the
water Is feceding fast"
Those people are a miserable lot.
Nate. I was blackballed out Of the
women's Club in Valley Center"
so was my mother"
'I've never been invited to party
or q picnic or q dance or barbecue,
even by the people who come UP here
to picnic and flsh and hunt ON our
ranch. want no credit from those
people, Nate"
A break in her voice caused him to
glance sharply at her. Tears were
rolling silently down her cheeks.
He gazed moodily down Eden Valley
and watched the last rays Of the sun
gliding the crowns OF the scattered
pines. Yes. the people Of Fcrlorn VAL
ley had always been free to use Eden
Valley for playground.
They can't come TO Eden. Valley
any more" he decided aloud "I'll
put q sign up on the gate that leads
from the open country to the Bar H"
The inountaineer was speaking now.
II wouldn't have truck with your
enemies, Lorry"
She leaned over, put her arm around
his neck, drew his face down and kissed
him. II do love you. Nate. And we're
sufncient unto ourselves, aren't we?"
He held her so close to him she could
hear his heart humping with the fierce
Joy that possessed him. He was happy
at last; the thought came to him that
never again would he be lonely Never
| theieSs, he had dreamed big dream
and he reeoiled from the prospect OF
abandoning 1t.
I'VE needn't be friendly with them,
darling" he resumed, but we can sell
them water. make lot OF money out
of them and save them lot OF money.
And It's not altogether their fault that
we've been ostracized. You've got TO
admit we weren't wholesome crew"
wen ruin them" she cried, pas
siunately, land when they've been
ruined wen run cattle over their
She was still recalcitrant, for she
had been wounded deeply. and women
| do not forget their wounds as readily
as men do. "I am not my brothers
| keeper"
Il rather thought you might urge
me to be nice TO them" he complained
a little sadly. And he went on to
sketch the situation as he had con-
ceived It, the girl listening alertly and
forbearing to interrupt him. At that
conclusion Of his statement she said:
VERY well, Nate. III get religion
and love mine enemies; they've struck
me on one cheek, but for your sake I'll
| turn the other. But III not forgive
Silas Babson Nate, he killed my
father just as surely as any Hensley
ever killed q Kershaw or any Kershaw
ever killed Hensley You said q
| with my enemies. Well that Babson
Is my enemy Are you going TO have
II do not see how can very well
avoid that, Lofry FoFlorn Valley will
! have to form an irrigation district TO
get the water and you know Babson's
| their bellwethef He'll run the show"
"Ie mustn't run It with you. You'll
run that show III not have you play
ing second fiddle TO q man that isn't
at to shine your boots. That's fifial."
well, how are you going TO prevent
ii. spitfire?''
Threatening me, eh- Don't you
realize none Of my clan has ever been
driven?"
She lodged that terse thrust. "I'n
compromise with you. Be nice TO the
Forlorn Valleyites, If you wish. but
| smash Babson. / want him snf>hed, >
she added with quiet vehemence.
But If hunlor you, little Wild
cat, I'll have to smash the Bank of
valley Center, and when the banks
smashed all the depositors will be
smashed with it."
you don't truly love me-" she child
him, petulently.
"I can give up my love. I'VE lived
40 years without 1t and can live some
more"
| and drew his face down to hers. why,
/ we're feuding again, sweetheart" she
rffurmured softly. Have it your own
way. I'd rather have you than the
scalp of Silas BabSon' and she sealed
that pronouncement with . half q
| dozen kisses.
| "You win, Lorry. You can lead q
mule to water but you can't make him
| drink. I'll smash Babsor for you. And
I have an ancient grudge against that
rat Henry Rocky, too, so I'll knock
him out of the best salaried position in
Valley Center"
whats wrong with Henry Rookby?"
"Once, when I was about sixteen
years old, I walked around the block in
Valley Center to avoid coming face to
face with your brother Owen. Rookby
| saw me do it. so he followed me and
| twitted me about it. Implied I was
| afraid of Owen. Then he went back
and talked with Owen and saw the
| pair of them smiling in my direction.
! So I didn't avoid the meeting after
that. Rocky would have liked TO see
killing, imagine, just to vary the
| routine of his dull life. So bent my
gun over his right shoulder-up between
| the shoulder and the neck-and
| knocked him fiat on his back. And I
killing, say so and I'll kill you. I'm
not looking for Kershaw-yet.' "
And what did Owen say?"
He was ready for me, but he didn't
pull And when Rookby picked him.
self up Owen said: That's right, Henry.
| This is the closed season In Eden VAL
ley'-and he gave Henry Rookby the
| great-grandfatfler Of all the kicks un-
der the coat-tail, and walked slowly
away from me-"
| Poor. Owen"
so I'll make wholesale job Of
cleaning out that rats nest in the Bank
| OF Valley Center, If can. And after
I've smashed the bank I'll buy the
wreck, saving the depositors, and have
| myself elected president
you've got to promise something