Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1934-03-08
CHAPTER l

of the post Office at Valley Center, his
daughter Lorraine, seated at the wheel
Of the Kershnw car at the curb, saw
instantly that he had received some
mail Of a disturbing nature. His head
was bowed 4 little, as from a blow,
and In his tread there was a lag that
bespoke an inhibition slightly greater
than that induced BY the bullet that
had shattered his hip many years pre-
viouA
When he reached the car he leaned
against the front door; then slowly
his head came down until his face was
hidden Hs shivered family and a sigh.
half pain. half despair. escaped him.
His daughter watched him with
scnethins Of the alert, professional
concern Of I trained nurse. Only, In
Lorry Ksrshaw's eyes. profound anec-
ten and pity showed.
She knew her father suffered from
angfna psctsris, and two doctors had
told her 4 long time E that she must
b prepared to lose him suddenly.
They had warned her against exhibit
Ing the slightest concern during one
u his attacks, since that would merely
add to the grief and worry OF her IA
tAer and perhaps hasten the end.
10 the girl waited until he raised
his face and smiled at her a trine
sheepishly. THAT was a real twister."
he gasped. i nggered ! was a goner
for III l don't think l could stand
another like that one, Lorry."
Nonsense" Lorry twisted his great
nose.
.You amt sympathetic" he pro-
tested, with ! show of irritation. But
the girl knew he was secretly pleased;
that her ~comradely badinage helped
materially to allay his excitement and
the resultant furious pounding OF his
heart
TOO bad about you. Isn't itT' she
1ecrsd. You know very well the doc
tors orders arc to avoid excitement
and to cultivate a placid outlook upon
life ut its worst. Nevertheless, the
instant you receive bad news you
selnshly hoard It. Don't you know
that bad news split between us doesn't
occupy nearly 70 much valuable space
In that stifed breast OF yonrsl You
climb into this car, Rance Kershaw,
and sas your nonsense"
Rance Kershau grinned at his
daughter lovingly. He relished being
bullied by her, for he was fully aware
Of her reaso for bullying him: aware
that under her calm. debonair exterior
there werc tears and terror.
They drove In silence for about two
miles. Then her father said: you
wers right darling. / found 4 real
Jolt waiting for me In the post office.
The Valley Center bank has bought
our mortgage from the Savings Bank
of San Francisco, an Babson's called
it. Got to pay up In I'VE days or the
bank'n enter suit to foreclose.r
'Yss, that was quite 4 shock Lorry
agreed. "but 1t might be worse. We
have I year In which to redeem the
ranch, and in that time We may be
able to refund our mortgage"
wen be counted out thirty days
after the suit Is died. Nate Tichenor
will close In on us and take the cattle
~ soon M he hears Babson has filed
suit. And after that 1t wouldn't be
worth while tryin' to refund the ranch
mortgage A cattle ranch without cat
tie Of It Ii 4 liability"
-Still we're not downhearted," the
girl protested. I'VE have two thou
sand head Of feeders that aren't mort
Eaged to Nate Ttchenor and we can
get twenty dollars q head for them.
II We sell them now we can
with forty thousand dollars, but II we
hold them to put more fat ON them
Babson or Nate Tichen0r will attach
them to help cover a deficiency judy
ment- Forty thousand dollars can be
made to carr 8 per cent net. That's
two thousand a year. And | have a
high school teachers certificate Sc
cured In the University OF California.
/ can earn eighteen hundred dollars q
year teaching school-and on thirty
eight hundred 4 year you and can
live the life Of Reilly. Not a worry
In life, old-timer."
You can live the life OF Reilly on 1t,
honey, but | shall not. 1t will kill me
to give up Eden %Valley-an' you know
why"
1T would have been a blessing II
our family had never seen Eden VAL
ley" the girl cried passionately. tits
been paid for In blood and tears and
heartbreak and social ostracism, and
Ill We have to show for the years Is 4
private cemetery filed with Kershaw
women who died hearfbroken and
Kershaw men who passed away with
their boots On. And Mt last the Hens
leys have triumphed over u.s.
They got two more In their GENE
terry than we have, Lorry.'
"But they haven't any debts-and
after lighting nifty years to own all Of
Eden Valley they'll win at last Nate
Ifchenor must have money enough to
buy in our ranch at the sherinrs sale
Well. he's earned his victory. Ii any
body ID to get u part Of Eden VAL
ley, ! hope 1t will be Nate Tichenor.
i wonder what sort OF man Nate Tiche-
nor has turned out to be7"
Il dunno, Lorry. ! wouldn't attempt