The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1934-06-22
CHAPTER VI-Continued

8
The two days that followed Rance
Kershaw's funeral were spent by Nate
Tichenor at the Bar Ii headquarters,
until his old superintendent, Rube
Tenney, should arrive and, with his
wife, assume the duty of looking after
Lorry Kershaw's affairs and keeping
her company. He spent those two
days looking over his decayed estate
and formulating plans for its restora-
ton, but in the midst of these thoughts
his mind constantly shuttled back TO
consideration of Lorry Kershaw and
her affairs. He did not know Silas
Babson except by sight; hence. lacking
knowledge of the mans character, he
was at a loss to know why Babson
had so suddenly turned on the Ker-
shaws. Was it possible he had pur-
chased the mortgage because he
feared the holder of it might grant an
extension? If so. then Babson desired
ii, not as an investment, but as
weapon. Nate decided finally to try
shot in the dark and halt BabsOn's
operations before they had fairly
started.
The inability to puzzle out a trail
had always annoyed him; he knew.
too, it must be annoying and harrassing
Lorry Kershaw to a far greater ex-
tent.
She was fine girl. and if he was
going to be her neighbor he desired
her friendship, not only for both their
sakes but for the sake of all the
Hensleys and Kershaws who had died
with their boots on. He'd promised
Owen Kershaw he'd wave the olive
branch, if and when he should get back
to Eden Valley. What a fine
looking lad that Owen had beenI
All man unexpectedly senti-
mental. Well, he'd been out of
Eden Valley to a private school for
few years. He'd been civilized.
Yes, Owen" Tichenor soliloquized.
at is hard to accept too many favors
from a traditional enemy. The sus-
piciOn, distrust, and dislike of half
century aren't to be eradicated in
day . and she did throw my
check in the fire! Well, she has
something | want and I'm willing to
pay for it and pay heavily :. That
cursed feud is dead and I'll not revive
1t with a lawsuit. Why rub into the
girl the knowledge that I'm rolling in
money while she's bankrupt"
Forthwith he motored into Gold Run
and telephoned to his attorney in San
Francisco. "Tichenor speaking, Pad
don. Listen carefully. Ranceford Ker-
shaw is dead and has left a bankrupt
estate to his sole heir, a daughter
named Lorraine. But two years ago
he gave a deed of gift to his daughter
of those four thousand acres | spoke
to you abOut-you have the legal de-
scriptien. Well, Lorraine Kershaw
filed that deed of gift for record very
recently, as | discovered when running
down the title at the court house in
Gold Run. The local bank holds thirty
thousand dollars worth of Rance Ker-
Shaw'S notes, unsecured. overdue and
with interest in default. and the presi-
dent and controlling owner of that
bank holds also an overdue first mort
gage in the sum of two hundred and
fifty thousand dollars, with a years
interest in default. In addition the
Kershaw estate owes the Bar Fl Land
and Cattle company more than three
hundred thousand dollars. The bank
and the banker are going to foreclose,
but the Bar II isn't"
Good news" the lawyer interjected,
as Nate Tichenor paused for breath.
at would seem that the girl is not in
a position to hold you up, so you ought
TO get that four thousand acres cheap"
Precisely. But I'm not going to
give her the opportunity to begin to
think she can hold me up; there'll be
no argument as to the price. I'm mail
ing my bank in San Francisco today
a check in it's favor for four hundred
thousand dollars, with instructions to
issue a certified check in favor of Lor-
raine Kershaw and send Ii over To
your Office. Meanwhile, prepare deed
from Lorraine Kershaw to the Noun
tain Valley Power company for that
four thousand acres"
"Why not do little trading? Offer
the girl twenty an acre and work up"
Listen Paddon. You transact my
legal business for me, but | do not
need you for my general manager.
That land is worth four hundred thou
sand dollars to me if | can get it with
out fight and without leaving bad
taste in Lorry Kershaw's mouth.
can afford to pay for my fancies. |
have a fancy for this four thousand
acres, and | fancy it nowl But | do
not wish to be known in the premises.
so do not come up yourself to close
this deal. The girl would suspect col
fusion. Understand"
AYE. aye. sir"
The following afternoon livery car
from Gold Run arrived at the ranch,
bearing Mr.. RUDE Tenney, Mrs. Rube
Tenney. and two little Tenneys. a boy
and girl. Mr.. Tenney. in his younger
days, had been Hensley bodyguard.
willing (albeit never called upon to do
sol to kill a Kershaw out of loyalty
to the bread he ate. He was riding
under Nate Tichenor's father, and