The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1934-06-29
CHAPTER VI-Continued


critical concern. "That's much too
bad, Henry" he replied. "Pm sorry
about Rance. He was as hard as steel,
but honest You never had to guess
where Rance Kershaw stood on any
proposition" Secretly he could have
given three long, raucOus cheers.
81 suppose the girl will have to iqui-
date now" he continued after a mo-
ment's thought. "She can't carry on
with that business alone, and the es-
tate is badly embarrassed financially.
I'll be hanged if see, Henry. how this
bank is going to carry the Kershaw
estate along to take chance on get
ting its money back"
$50 thought" Rookby answered.
''By the way, Nate Tichenor's come
back to Eden Valley"
Babson started as If bee-stung.
"Rance Kershaw owed the Bar 81 a lot
of money on chattel mortgage for cat
tie he bought in 1920. Henry. he must
owe the Bar Fl three or four years
rent" ..........-..
Undoubtedly" Mr.. Rookby opined.
"Nate TichenOr's let that steer have
all the rope he wanted: now that the
estate is in so deep it can't climb out.
he's come back to give the Kershaw
clan the final clout that will finish it."
Il wouldn't be so sure about that,
Mr.. Babson." And Rookby went on to
describe Rance Kershaw's death In
front of the gate leading to the Bar
III headquarters; the summoning by
Lorry Kershaw of Nate Tichenor in
that hour of stress; the kindly and
neighborly action of Tichenor there
after; the arrival of RUDE Tenney to
take over the job of riding boss on the
Circle K; the apparent friendliness
between Tichenor and Lorry Kershaw,
as faithfully reported by Miss Lizzie
Bachman to all in Valley Center who
would listen to her eager recital
Lizzie was only up there with Lorry
Kershaw three days and Nate Tiche-
nor gave her fifty dollars for it."
Rookby went on. whats more. he
paid her in advance. And he gave
Bud Seamon and Jake Bachelor ten
dollars each for digging RANGES
grave"
Liberal, amt he?" Babson COM
mented. Henry. this is the most HI
cracking piece of news that's come out
of Eden Valley since Taylor Hensley
and Rance Kershaw had their ruckus.
Just the same, I'm banking Nate Tiche-
nor's no softly in business matters !;
he's half Hensley and crouch don't
die easy in that breed. The Hensleys
always did want all of Eden Valley.
and now that Nate Tichenor sees a
bully chance to get it cheap, together
with the Kershaw cattle, he'll grab it.
Has Lorry Kershaw been in here to
see me since her father died?"
in yesterday. Told her you'd be
back last night so maybe she'll call
today"
How is she? Pretty well busted
up?"
Pert as they make EN-"
I'm not surprised. Nothing weak
about the Kershaws. Well, Henry, we
shall see that which we shall see."
Two days later Lorry Kershaw came
into the bank. Babson led her at once
into his private office USUALLY he oc-
cupied a desk in a fenced-off corner
of the banking ROOM and, with many
protestations of sympathy for the loss
of her father and regret that his alb
sence from Valley Center had mill
tated against his attendance at the
funeral. begged her to be seated and
inform him in what manner he could
be of service to her. To his amaze
ment the girl looked him over coldly.
you should be sorry for fathers
DEATH" she shot at him. "You killed
him."
II? My dear Lorry, how can you
say such a thing?
You wrote him a letter and he
knew you were going to close in on
him. You knew he had a weak heart
-that-shocks were bad for him-yet
you shocked him. You wanted to. You
bought up our mortgage and called IT
and our notes. You're a two-gun man.
aren't your
"My dear girl, permit me to explain
Your fathers notes had been renewed
four times; they were overdue and the
interest was in default. and the super-
intendent of state banks had jumped