Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1934-02-22

army, came. HenSley mao some cap
ital and he, too. yearned for Eden
Valley. He outbid Robin Kershaw
for the lower half of the valley. and
Kershaw let him have it. for. after all.
Eden Valley was large enough for two.
and Kershaw knew he had the cream
of 1t.
Almost before he realized it was i'm
pending he had bitter quarrel with
Joel Hensley. Like Kershaw. Hensley
was Texan-a fierce. belligerent man
of the breed that was responsible for
the most heroic and dramatic epitaph
in history:
"The Thermoplyae Had It's Messen-
ger Of Defeat-The Alamo
Had None!"
Kershaw had fenced Off his portion
of the valley, and in common justice,
he asked Joel Hensley to pay for half
this fencing. Hensley. glancing sar-
donically over the fence at the luxuri-
ant meadows of his neighbor, access to
which this fence denied his cattle, re-
piled coldly that he couldn't spare the
money. Thereupon Kershaw patiently
Informed him that he would loan him
the money. with cattle as security.
Hensley replied that he preferred not
TO be in debt.
"Well. | see you intend to be I'M
neighborly," Kershaw answered, $50
well not argue the matter further.
However. there is another matter that
must be adjusted. whether you have
the money or not. | am turning loose
on the summer range this year five
hundred pure-bred beef-type bulls.
Your herd bulls are scrubs, and your
cattle and mine roam the public do
main together. Hence. you are bound
to reap an equal benefit with me from
the use of my expensive pure-bred
sires. That wouldn't be fair"
Cant help that" Hensley retOrted.
II have no money to buy pure-bred
range bulls and compete with you"
I'll loan you the money. Hensley.
and 1t will be money well invested.
And you will not be doing your neigh.
Uor gross Injustice.
Greed and envy lncite men TO
strange decisions. Joel Hensley re-
torted. You're too patronizing."
Very WELL" And Robin Kershaw
rode away.
In May the Hensley and Kershaw
riders drove the cattle of their re-
spective employers up into the summer
range in the mountains. But when
the Hensley riders returned to the
valley the Kershaw riders remained
secured the range and shot every
scrub bull they found wearing "Bar
H. the Hensley brand. Also they
maintained a patrol all summer and
rather effectually succeeded in keep
Ing the Hensley cattle on sequestered
portion of the range. The result was
that the Bar Fl had 10 per cent calf
crop that year while the Circle K (the
Kershaw outfit) had 80 per cent.
Joel Hensley was torn between a
desire to kill Kershaw or permit him
to live, in order that he might borrow
from him sufficient money to purchase
pure-bred beef-type bulls. Finally he
decided on the latter course.
Robin Kershaw saw him coming, so
he buckled on a six-shooter and went
to meet him. "WellT he demanded
coldly.
Guess I'll have to buy them pure
bred range bulls, neighbor." Joel
Hensley forced a sheepish grin. IF
you're still of a mind to let me have
the money"
"The situation has changed a mite
since made you that fair offer. Hens
ley" Kershaw's voice was very cold.
"Your scrub bulls don't worry me now,
SO I'm not interested In helping you
out. | wanted to be a good neighbor,
but you wouldn't have 1t, so now we're
enemies, and If you expect to drag
yourself Off the Circle X under your
own power reckon you'd better be
startin now"
Without word Hensley wheeled
his horse and departed. He had
earned his humiliation and he realized
1t; yet the realization did not allay
the fury that possessed him. Nor did
he consider so seriously thereafter the
ACCESSIBILITY of killing Kershaw; he
knew now that Kershaw was sus
picious of him, else why had the latter
appeared with pistol at his hip?
Evidently Kershaw would kill eagerly
enough II driven to IT. that he would
back up for no man Hensley felt as
sured.
And there was Robin Kershaw II
to be reckoned with. also. SO be real
lied the danger of clashIng with a
prideful clan that was still fond OF
tracing its kin folk" back a few cen.
turtles to coat-of-arms
So he nursed his hatred. borrowed
money from distant bank and bought
pure-bred beef-type bulls Indeed, he
had to. or get out Of the cattle bust.
ness.
ITO be continued