Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1935-10-19

setting fire to the old barn. Still En-
mis- would not believe the malicious lies.
He chung to the friendship that had
formed the very foundation Of all his
life. Yet, in spite OF the faith Of each
old friend for the other, the ball Of
trouble rolled on and on, and grew.
The meddlers assured Martin that VIII
liam was convinced that he bad burned
the barn They said William was
threatening to have him strung mp
When next. the old men passed on
the street 10 was with averted eyes
They walked along, not speaking each
deeply hurt, angrfer for the very depth
and strength OF their years OF friend
ship, each hoping that the other would
make some effort to bridge the mis-
understanding But they were stubborn
and proud old men, bewildered by the
trouble that had so suddenly come up
on them, and each went his lonely way,
sore, puzzled, grieving. And all over an.
antiquated, tllmbIe-down barn that
long had been an eyesore 10 the COM
munity. william Ennis didn't mind
his small loaa IL was the belief that
his friend should stoop % such a trick
and then lie about it that tormented
him. That he was guilty william could
no longer doubt, else why should he
act so strangely, passing on the street
without speakingg
And Peal, brooding alone, turning
the matter over and over In his be-
muddled, tortured brain. was sure Of
only on. thing-William's faith had not
been strong enough TO survive against
the lies that were told, his friendship
had failed against the onslaught Of
cunning suspicion. And so. all that
winter, wagging tongues carried I'M
truths from one old man 10 the other,
until hatred was famed into llama
In two hurt hearts.
Martin Peal could stand it no longer.
Old man Ennis threatened TO have him
strung up, did he, for something he
hadn't dOnel There came q day when
Peal started off alone and drove the ~
miles to Virginia City to have h1s
friend put under bonds to keep the
ueace. Why Martin CHANGED to have
gun in his pocket that day no one
ever knew, nor what trick Of fate ruled
that William Ennis should be In VIZ
ginia City at the same time. Peal told
his story TO the county officials, ana
they, knowing both men, tried 70 laugh
away his anger. They advised him TO
go home and forget his troubles, or,
better stin, to have a talk with ENNIS.
What was an old barn anyway CONF
pared TO friendship But the time for
smoothing over the grievance was long
since past. Grimly Peal walked out or
the court house and down the steps,
his anger. He glanced up. Over
across the street Of Virginia City ne
saw William Ennis standing In front
OF q building. Slowly Peal walked
across and, without a word, took out |
his gun and shot his friend dead
When he was arrested ne offered no |
resistance. Throughout the trial he
sat numb, In q daze. What thoughts
went through the mind OF the old man.
what self -reproach, what tender menu
orfes of the past, when he and william /
hunted and fisned together shared l
bard times and good, and planned the /
joy OF growing old together no one
can know. Martin Peal was found
guilty az having killed William Ennis
and was sentenced to life Imprisonment.
he died at Deer Lodge q few years al
ter his sentence.
There q a tree-Bhaded little town TO
mark the memory Of William Ennis
who came out to the wtlds OF Montana
1 Young, ambitious boy some % years
AFRO. IA nrosperous stock farm ON ene
seige OF town still la pointed out aa the
Peal ranch" Only q crxrmblln9 found
ation shows where the Ennis house
once stood. Only q few holes dug deep
INTO hillsides speak m1Itely OF Martin
pea1's unwearytng search for the EoAn
1e never found. Two graves Tar apart,
are All that remains Of tw0 boys VINO
,rnveSed the long trail from cog11idens
youth down through q heaxt-nrokens
iissIluzSoned old nge.