Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1934-07-26

CHAPTER XIV

8Ff& = Ee'sat
home for dinner the night the Bank
OF Valley Center closed forever, his
wife waited until eight o'clock and
then telephoned Henry Rocky. Upon
MIR. Rocky Immediately fell a sus-
picion that something tragic %impended.
He found Bahson's tin box unlocked,
SO he opened it and found Babson's
letter to his wife in the envelope with
the life insurance policies.
Shaking Slightly with apprehension,
Mr.. Rocky went into his cage and
found there an envelope addressed to
to him. 1t was from Babson and read.
Dear Henry: | can't stand It. II
live my wife and children will be
paupers and I'll be the most hated
man In this county. | could never beat
back--and I'm too old to try. And I'm
too tired. Look for me In Lake Bah
son. Good-by and good luck. S. B."
SO Mr.. Rocky telephoned the super
1~ntendent OF state banks at the capitol
TO send somebody up to take charge OF
the Bank OF Valley Center. Then he
pasted a notice on the window, an
%nouncing the closing of the bank.
The payment of the ~semI-annual In
terest had been due on July /. Alas
The funds Of the district had been
deposited In the Bank OF Valley Cen
ter, and all but 30 per cent of them
had been lost In the collapse OF the
bank; SO the district, not knowing
what the holders of its bonds pur-
posed doing, defaulted on the interest
payment.
On July 2 the trustee for the bond
holders notified the district that unless
payment OF the defaulted interest was
made by August | legal action would
be taken to foreclose the deed of trust
given TO ecure the bonds.
The directors of the district held a
meeting. They recalled Nate TIche-
n0r's threat to buy the bonds from the
original purchasers. Was he scheming
to delude the farmers of Forlorn Val
ley into growing more and more al
faifa and planting trees, thus enrich
ing his land to a point where his
threatened foreclosure would make the
disaster all the greater?
The secretary was instructed to
write to Tichenor's attorney and ask
him for a frank exposition of Nate
Iichenor's Intentions. Back came a
prompt reply to the effect that Tiche-
Intentions were unknown to his
attorney; that Tichenor was In En-
A mass meeting was held, but while
there was much talk there was no
concerted action: since nobody knew
what to do. nothing was done, and on
the first day OF August the interest
payment was still in default. On the
second day Of August suit was filed
by the trustee to foreclose the deed
Of trust. and Forlorn Valley, realizing
that all was over, sat dumbly and pa
awaiting the. end.
The farmers could do nothing else.
They had NO place to 20, 10 they
to be dlspossessed formally by
he sheriff.
On December 30 Nate Tichenor and
ais wife came home. Darby met them
the Limousine when they got or
he train at Gold Run and noticed that
hey were accompanied by a nurse
Who held q two-months' old bahy In
Ter arms.
Hello" said Darby, II see / got
boss
"A boy, Darby. We had to have an
leir to Eden Valley, you know.
I suppose you've heard the new.
bout Forlorn Valley"
Yes, sir. Seems pretty bitter medi-
Inc, but they asked for 1t, as Rube
avs, and they got It."
You bet they got It, Have any OF
he farmers In the district moved
ut7"
mo, don't think SO. Joe BraInerd
avs they haven't any place to 70. so
hey're hanging on, hoping the new
wners will lease the farms back TO
hem. sir
We'll, that might be possible. STOW
bags, Darby. and let's 20. We must /,
: out in Eden Valley for luncheon |