Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1934-10-18

curious desire to give Forlorn Valley
a Happy New Year, and have also a
curious desire to write the head for
your story. which must be seven col
umns wide and in the biggest and
blacklist type in your shop"
"Ill run your head If l like II,
Nate"
you'll like it. The line is: For
lorn Valley Saved"
That's a great head, Nate"
II thought you'd like it." Dryly.
"Joe, made up my mind to smash
Silas Babson-and did, but in order
to smash him had to smash his bank
and In order to smash his bank I had
to smash Forlorn Valley.
"Then something of tremendous i'm
portance happened. My wife present
ed me with son. and l was so CRATE
full to her | bought from that New
York bank all of the lands of the For
lorn Valley Irrigation district which
had come into its possession by fore
closure. paid that bank just half
what the lands had cost them and I
have since decided the lands to nv
wife-just little gift for presenting
me with son. OF course I haven't
the slightest idea what Lorry intends
doing with F0rlorn Valley, but
wouldn't be surprised if she decides
to deed back to those people the farms
they have lost. taking first mortgage
to secure her for the amount each in
dividual farm was bonded. That will
give her better than a half-million-
dollar profit"
"And then you'll let the farmers
have free water, Nate?"
"Joe, you are much too optimistic.
] haven't a word to say about that
water. Last year killed the Noun
tain Valley Power company and deed
ed the dam-site and the lakes site back
to the Bar Fl Land and Cattle COM
pany. Just abandoned that dream.
Then I married Lorry, and we merged
the Circle X and the Bar H into
new corporation known as the Eden
Valley Land and Cattle company, with
powers, under our charter, to sell wa
ter. However, the Circle K was a
larger and more valuable ranch than
the Bar Hand after Lorry had
thrown her cattle into the deal I'll be
hanged If she didn't emerge from it
with controlling interest in the cap
ital stock. Consequently she controls
the water of Eden Valley creek. and
she owns most Of Forlorn Valley and
Lake Babson and a whole smear of
canals and laterals, so If she asks my
advice In the matter I'll suggest that
she hire good engineer to run her
irrigation system. and bookkeeper to
bill the water to the farmers and col
lect the money and give the poor
devils the water at a nominal price
for enough years to enable them to
catch up even on the losses they suf-
fered when Babson's bank went bust"
Mate, that's fine as far as it goes
and provided your wife follows your
advice. but this valley can't function
without bank"
I'm supplying that, Joe. The bank
building has been ready for months
and I have charter from the super
intendent Of state banks and will open
for business in a week or two. I've
hired good man to be cashier and
manager and have told him to be
banker. not pawnbroker. I think
I'll take on Babson's old board of d.
rectors. They know more about this
valley and its needs than I do, and
those that lost their stock in Babson's
bank will be permitted to pay for 1t
out of their dividends and the in
creased valuation Of the stock as the
years go BY"
do you know. Lorry, l think We
should put in another nine holes Of
golf and build a nice little club house
up in Eden Valley and throw it open
to the boys and girls of Forlorn VAL
ley. Get their minds on golf and off
rural gossip, you know. Buck 'em
up and make 'em feel less provincial.
After all, is there any reason why
farmer boys and girls shouldn't play
golf?"
Lorry made a dive for him; her
arms went tight around his neck.
"Oh, Nate, you fakirl You fraud |
You great-hearted schemer-" And
then she was weeping tears Of Joy in
his arms.
This is certainly a whale Of a
story" Joe Brainerd mumbled, and
wiped his eyes on the hem of his VII
famous old compositor's apron. "Don't
you think Ed better put box in the
center of the page, in black type, to
the effect that Mr.. and Mrs. Nathan
Tichenor wish Forlorn Valley happy
and prosperous New Year?'
Nate nodded. "Come up for dinner
New Years day. Joe. There are a
number of things want to talk over
with you-sort of stand at my right
hand and hold the bridge with me-"
Thanks. Happy New Year, folks.
Now II you'll excuse me I'll fly at
that extra. want to write the story
well and want to get out what Bah.
son used to call 'rousing' editorial"
He proffered an inky paw to Nate and
Lorry in turn. "It's a pretty good old
world. after all. isn't itT'
1T is" said Lorry. ''if you make 1t
so. Isn't that so, darlingT