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OUTLAWS ot EDEN By Peter B. Kyne WSV SanrlM. - « Ooprrtfht by P*t«r B. Kya*. CHAPTER XIII—Continued —17— Babson got out hla life Insurance policies and read their prortoions carefully. He knew there was a clause In thetn which nullified them if the insured committed suicide, while sane or Insane, within a certain period following the Issuance of the policy. Yes, that period had now passed. He had two hundred thousand dollars’ worth of life Insurance In force and his wife was the beneficiary. His creditors could not levy on that. So he wrote his wife a letter, instructing her how to invest the Insurance money safely to yield six per cent, enclosed this note In an envelope and returned it to the tin box marked “S. B.—Per- sonal.” This box he placed In the bank rault where It would be found readily; then he left a note for Mr. Rookby, got In his car and drove away up country ... -tr- Two weeks later Rube Tenney found hls body floating beside the beadgate at Lake Bahson. A gentle wind was blowing across the lake ard Mr. Bah- son’s body was bumping the beadgate gently and persistently, as If he still insisted it be opened. CHAPTER XIV When Silas Babson failed to come home for dinner the night the Bank of Valley Center closed forever, hls wife waited until eight o'clock and then telephoned Henry Rookby. Upon Mr. Rookby Immediately fell a sus picion that something tragic Impended. He found Bahson's tin box unlocked, V> he opened It and found Babson’s letter to hls wife In the envelope with the life Insurance policies. Shaking slightly with apprehension, Mr. Rookby went Into hls cage and found there an envelope addressed to to him. It was from Babson and read: "Dear Henry: I can't stand IL If I live my wife and children will be paupers and I’ll be the most hated man In this county. I could never beat back—and I’m too old to try. And I'm too tired. Look for me In Lake 'Bab son. Oood-by and good luck. S. B. N So Mr. Rookby telephoned the super- 'htendent of state banks st the capitol to send somebody up to take charge of the Rank of Valley Center. Then he pasted a notice on the window, an- BSBjaetBg the closing of the bank. The payment of the semi-annual In terest bad been due on July 1. Alas! The funds of the district had been deposited In the Rank of Valley Cen ter. and all but 90 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 notifled the district that unless payment of the defaulted Interest was made by August 1 legal action would be taken to foreclose the deed of trust given to secure the bonds. The directors of the district held a meeting. They recalled Nate Ttche- nor’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 falfa and planting trees, thus enrich ing hls land to a point where hls 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 Tichenor’s Intentions. Back came a prompt reply ta the effect that Tiche nor’s intention^ ere unknown to hls attorney; that Tlchenor was In Eu rope. 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 Halfway through ^Forlorn Valley they met one farmer who had decided not to wait to be evicted. He wgs driving a four-horse team attached ib a farm wagon upon which were piled his household goods, and on an old mattress atop the load four children sat Hls wife' was on the front seat with him and following up the wagon came a fourteen-year-old boy on horse back, herding before him some loose work horses, two milch cows and their calvea There was about the sorry cav alcade an atmosphere Incredibly for lorn . . . the woman was weeping; as the Tlchenor car slid by, the farmer gazed at Its occupants apathetically and raised his hand in a gesture that was half a greeting, half a farewell. “There’s one of them amoving out, sir,” Darby said over hls shoulder. ‘It’s terrible of the bondholders to dispossess them In the middle of win ter,” Lorry declared. “That’s the man that kicked my ribs loose from my spine,” her hus band reminded her. “Still, now that hls kicks are only a memory, I can’t say I’m enjoying hls pitiable condi tion as much as I thought I was go ing to." ’He waved to you, Nate. He didn’t appear to be hostile.” ‘Oh^he knows me pretty well I went to school with him. An ignorant chap but not a bad fellow. I wish him luck." Her hand stole across and over hla ’I always knew you couldn’t bold a grudge, darling.” Tm afraid It has to be fed regu larly In order to thrive. Lorry, and my grudge against the people of Forlorn Valley has been starved for nearly a year. . . . Well, I went through with it. Just as I promised them I would— Just as I promised you I would. I can forgive my own enemlea I think, but forgiving yours Is quite a different matter." *Tve felt the same about you and your persecutors. Nate. Still, I wish we hadn’t met that man and hls little family.” He atared stolidly ahead. "Would there be any aense In paying our debt of hate If we couldn't see our ene mies suffer?” he demanded. "Oh, Nate!” He looked at her and saw her eyes were moist with emotion. "We’re still hlllbllllea dear. We should have stayed outside several years more. We re not quite dylllaed yet" “Are you chiding me. Lorry? I can't recall having heard you put In a kind word for these people heretofore." *T know It, Nate. I had my share of conceit, too." The words came trem blingly. "I thought I could hold a grudge better than you could and I told myself I had to be strong—for your sake. I was afraid you’d weaken —and I wanted you to triumph In a big way.” “Well, I had figured on a very dif ferent sort of triumph, sweetheart I wanted to let the people know that something fine could come out of Eden Valley. But my back Is still a little weak ; sometimes it hurts—Just enough to keep my hate alive—Just enough to make me think that mercy would be weakness—’’ “Poor dear! So you’ve been having a rough time, also? I'm glad. I think we ought to fight our fights together and In the open. I think, too, Nate, we ought to be strong for our son’s sake. He Is so dear to us, why shouldn’t we forget our triumph over our enemies and teach him to love humanity, even If human beings often prove unlovable?” “You’re a quitter,” he charged. “There are two little cemeteries up in Eden Valley that are sound argu ments In favor of quitting, Nate. We had our code—an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, and we lived up to It; but It seems to me we never de rived any happiness from it. I can’t be happy In Eden Valley any more, because every time I’ll leave It I’ll have to drive through this—this deso- latfon—this place where men have lived and loved and fought and strug gled and dreamed their futile little dreams—and went away In despair. I’ll never forget that wherever these dispossessed people may wander they'll always hate you and me.” v "We can get along without their ap proval, Lorry. 4 * “But can we get along without the approval of Nate Tlchenor and Lorry Kershaw, young Robin Tlchenor and those that, please God, wRl come after him?” : “Darby I” “Yes, sir.” “Turn the car around and overtake that farmer we Just passed t“ They passed the man and at Tiche nor’s command Darby stopped the car and Tlchenor got out and walked back Here v t Slip That Has "Ei to the approaching wagon. The man pulled up, set hls brake and waited for Tlchenor to. speak. __ “Hello, Dan,” said Tlchenor. “You’re Dan Clanton, aren’t you? We went to school together In Valley Cen ter." 1 Clanton nodded. “Where are you headed, Dan?" “God knows. I don’t The bond holders foreclosed on my farm and told me to go.” “Tell you wUst you do. Dam—turn around and go back to your farm and stay there until you’re evicted. If that happens while there’s snow on the ground you Just pull out to the old Bar H headquarters In Eden Val ley and put up there. The old house Is furnished, and you can remain there until spring. You’ll be very comfort able. January Is « bad month to be out on the road with your wife and children. Besides, I think I can give you a fair Job looking after our golf coarse. Turn around, Dao. You’ll have time to get back to the old farm house, get your beds and the cook stove set up and be settled after a fashion before sunset.” “You mean that. Tlchenor?” “Of course I do." “After what I done to you—" "Tut-tut, Dtp. That was a bully fight while It lasted. I would have forgotten It If you hadn't reminded me of It” He smiled at the man and hls wife and entered bis limousine, which had turned and was now wait ing alongside Clanton's farm wagon. If alienee they drove on toward Valle# Center. "Drive around to Joe Bralnerd'a plant,” Nate ordered Darby as they came Into Valley Center. Obeying the Imperious summons of the born, Joe Bralnerd came out and welcomed them. Tlchenor explained, “Joe. I have a big story for you—so big I think It's worth getting out an extra and having It In the post office tonight This Is the thirtieth of De cember and the day after tomorrow will be New Year's day. I have a curious desire to give Forlorn Valley a Happy New Year, and I have also a curious desire to write the head for your story, which must be seven col umns wide and In the biggest and blackest type In your shop.' 'Til run your head If I like It. Nate.' "You’ll like It The line Is: ’For lorn Valley Saved.’” “That’s a great head, Nate. “I thought you’tf like It." Dryly. “Joe, I made up my mind to smash Silas Babson—and I did, but In order to smash him 1 had to smash his bank and in order to smash hls bank I had to smash Forlorn Valley. “Then something of tremendons Im portance happened.^ My wife present ed me with a son, and 1 was so grate ful to her I 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. I paid that bank Just half what the lands had cost them and I have since deeded the lands to my coococccccooococ<>cocc<>=oc<>ccoc<>cccococ^ocoocccooococc of trust, and Forlorn Valley, realizing that all was over, sat dumbly and pa tiently awaiting the end. The farmers could do nothing else. Ther had no place to go, so they waited to be dispossessed formally'by the sheriff. On December 30 Nate Tlchenor and hls wife came home. Darby met them with the limousine when they got off the train at Gold Run and noticed that they were accompanied by a nurse who held a two-months’-old baby In her arms. “Hello,” said Darby, “I see I got another boss.” "A boy, Darby. We had, to have an heir to Eden Valley,.you know.” “I suppose you’ve heard the news about Forlorn Valley.” “Yes, sir. Seems pretty bitter medi cine, but they asked for it, as Rube says, and they got It” “You bet they got Jt Have any of the farmers in the district moved eutr — s ; ■ — “No, I don’t think so. Joe Bralnerd •ays they haven’t any place to go. so they're hanging on, hoping the new owners will lease the farms back to them, sir.” “Well, that might be possible. Stow the bags. Darby, and let's go. We must be out la Eden Valley for hmebeoa."- New Domestic Animals by Modern Science \ % Have Been Added to Be of Aid to Man How Important have become the new domestic animals added by mod ern medical and biological science to the short list of creatures domesticat ed by mankind In previous ages, says Dr. E. E. Free, Is Indicated by a re cent yarning of the Wlstar Institute of Philadelphia, concerning bogus strains of Wlstar white rats believed to be on sale by unscrupulous dealers. The number of guinea pigs used as test animals in medical laboratories undoubtedly exceeds by many times the number of wild guinea pigs ever alive at once in their native Sooth America. The tiny vinegar eels some times seen under a microscope In old vinegar have been “domesticated” In at least one biological laboratory. At Yale there is a domesticated strain of the animalcules called para- mecla, often found wild In ditch wa ter. Prof. S. O. Mast of Johns Hopkins university has domesticated amebas, another lowly mlscroscoplc creature of ditches and ponds. The small crab- llke creatures called Daphnlas have been domesticated both as food for aquarium fish and as material for bio logical experiments. The fruit fly A wife—Just a little gift for presenting me with a son. Of course I haven't the slightest idea what Lorry Intends doing with Foflorn • Valley, but I wouldn’t be surprised if she decides to deed back to those people the farms they have lost, taking a first mortgage to secure her for the amount each in dividual farm was bonded. That will give her better than a half-mllllon- dollar profit” “And then you’ll let the farmers have free water, Nate?” * % ■ 4 Joe, you are much too optimistic. I haven’t a word to say about that water, tast year I killed the Moun tain Valley Power company-and deed ed the dam-site and the lake-site back to fhe Bar H Land and Cattle com pany. Just abandoned that dream. Then I married Lorry, and we merged the Circle K and the Bar H into a new corporation known as the Eden Valley Land and Cattle company, with powers, under our charter, to sen wa ter. However, the Circle K was a larger and more valuable ranch than the Bar H—and after Lorry had thrown her cattle Into the deal 111 be hanged If she didn’t emerge from It with a controlling Interest in the cap- .r called Drosophila Is domesticated In scores of laboratories, where It is used in studies of heredity. A new medical procedure Is the treatment of certain bone diseases by llvlnq maggots of an other fly; so that these, too, have Joined the bees as domesticated In- cects. * \ The Wlstar Institute has domesti cated for experimental purposes the opossum and the Mexican salamander or axolotl. The chief laboratory ani mal, however, is the white rat; so use ful that pedigrees are kept and pure bred strains established Just as is done by breeders of pedigreed* horses or dogs.—Pathfinder Magazine. “To Rub the Caatlet” Gantlet, in this case, was originally gantlope, meaning the passage be tween two files of soldiers. The ref erence Is to a punishment formerly common among soldiers and sailors. The men were drawn up In two lines facing each other. All were provided %lth rope ends. The offender had to run flown the lane thus formed, all men Inflicting punishment as he V “Dan, Turn Around and Go Back to Your Farm and Stay Thors Until You Are Evicted.” Ital stock. Consequently she controls the water of Eden Valley creek, aed she owns most of Forlorn Talley and Lake Babson and a whole smear of canals and laterals, so If she asks my advice In the matter I’ll luggest that she hire a good engineer to run her Irrigation system, and a bookkeeper to bill the water to the farmer* 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 Baboon's bank went butt” "Nate, that's fine as far at It goes and provided your wife follows your advice, but this valley can’t function without a bank.” “I'm supplying that, Joe. The bank bnlldlng has been ready for months and I have a charter from the super intendent of state banka and will open for business In a week or two. Pro hired a good man to be cashier and manager and have told him to be a banker, not a pawnbroker. T think I'll take on Babaon’s old board of di 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 It out of their dividends and tbe in creased valuation of the stock as the years go by.” • “Do you know, Lorry, I think we should put in another nine holes of golf and build a nice little club house up In Eden Valley and throw H open to the boys and itfrla 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, la there any reason why farmer boys and girls shouldn’t play goitr Lorry made a dive for him; her arms went tight around his neck. “Oh, Nate, you fakir! You fraud I You great-hearted schemer—" And then she was weeping tears of joy Id hls arm*. “This Is certainly a whale of a story,” Joe Bralnerd mumbled, and wiped hls eyes on the heih of hls vlk lalnous old compositor’s aph>n. “Don’t you think Pd better put a box in tha center of the page, in black type, te the effect that Mr. and Mrs. Nathan lehenor wish Forlorn Valley « happy and prosperous New Year?” Nate nodded. “Come up for dinner New Year’s day, Joe. There are a number of things I 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 If you'll excuse me Pll fly at that extra. I want to write the story well and I want to get out what Bab- son need to call a ‘rousing* editorial'* He proffered an Inky paw to Nate and Lorry In turn. “It'a n pretty good old world, after all ton’t Itr “It la.” said Lorry, “If you stake It so. •Isn’t that so, darling7”, “It Is,” Nats Tlchenor replied, with n wink at Joe Bralnerd, “oven if eoe has to wlng-tlp It to make It bahavt* (THB END] IDEALS “la your son working?” asked the neighbor. •, “Not yet,” answered Farmer Corn- tossel. )“Can’t he get a Job?” “ale ain't satisfied with a Job. He wants a position.” PATTEXM ISSV There are only a few things we can count on in this fanny eld F world, bat one of them Is that no woman aver really has enough sttpn. She Just gets all set when along comes n new frock and tbe who)* business hat to be done over again. With this pattern she is prepared for any emergency. It la no trouble te make, fits beautifully, and H In shadow-proof—Just about aB any dress can ask of tbe slip which goes m The Injustice of It All through dinner Percy sat so silent that hls parents at last began to wonder what was troubling him. “Pa,” be said at last, “do school teachers get paid?” - “Of course they do, sonny,” re plied father. “Then It’a not fair,” burst out the small boy, indignantly. “Why Should the teachers get paid when ua kids do all the work?” good Wrong Party Stranger—I want to buy a .flBtML— ■ ■ - - Real Estate Broker—You’ve come to the right place, sir. What’s your business? Stranger—I’m a farmer. Broker—Oh, we have no good farms for farmers! I thought you were a city chap.—Montreal Star. Hard to Bollovo Aunt Hetty—Sakes alive! I don't believe no woman could ever been so fat Uncle Hiram—What y* readln’ now, Hetty? Aunt Hetty—Why, this paper tells about an English woman that lost two thousand pounds. ttti MU lake ~ "Where Is that beautiful canaf* bird of yours that aaed to sing SB clearly and sweetly?” asked Mrs, Weatherbee. , “I had to sell him.” Mrs. Butlass ■aid tearfully. “My son left-the cage on the radio set and he learned atatlc.”—Montreal Star. Bo Fair I “I am going to publish a volume of my poems aod do it under the name of John Smith.” “Well, that wouldn’t be quite fair.’ “Why not?" “Just tfiink of tbe thousands of In nocent men who will be suspected. 1 SOME DON’T DESERVE IT □ under K. It la alee la whit* aad simply grand ta a color la go under transparent drs——l Pattern 1807 la available la slsea 94. 96, 98, 40, 42, 44 and 4& Size AS taken Sft yards 80-lnch labile Illus trated step-by-step sewing instruo Hona Included. Send FIFTEEN CENTS (IBe) M coins or stamps (colas preferred) for this pattern. Writ* plainly nama, address and style number. BE SURE TO STATE SISK. Address orders to flowing drefti Pattern Deportment. 24S West Son- enteenth street. Now York City. BAD BUSINESS Charitable Lady—Here, my poor fellow, la a quarter for you. It mMt be terrible to bo lame, but 1 think It must be worse to be blind. PaDlmndler—You’re right, masmL When I was blind, people was al ways handin’ me counterfeit mousy. —Pathfinder Magazine. “Pa, whnt Is poetic license?” “It’s the tacit permission given to poets to live, my son." Thanka for Compliment The h!!l v.as steep and the load heavy. The donkey did Its best, but at last it 8top|>ed and would not budge another inch. The driver saw a man passing "Excuse me,” he said, “but could you help me to get th’s load to the top of tbe hill? It’s too much for one donkey.’’—Montreal Star. Cauae for Murder Traveler—What do you do. Mg good man? Announcer—1 call tralna. Traveler—Well, call me one; Fil in a burry. # r» ii Comparative Peaco Husband (testifying in court)— Garrulous? Why, I have to go tu football matches every Saturday tu get a quiet afternoon.—Boston Tra» script TRUE TO HER WORD The Young Mind “Mother, is grandma grandpa’s wife?” arked little Edith. “Yes, of course," answered the mother. A few minutes elapsed and the child said: “Why did he marry such an old woman?" All Right Tomorrow Mistress—Mary, Mary! Yesterday you broke.two vases and today you’ve broken three plates and four cups. What will be broken tomorrow, at this rate? Maid—Not so much, ma’am. It Is my afternoon out Belle—The girls are all crazy ftu. know If yon are engaged. Bes»—You didn’t tell? Belle—No. I said I had promised faithfully to let you announce tt yourself. Memory Lingers Jackson—I noticed you got up and gave that lady your seat In the tram the other day. Hackson—Since childhood I have respected a woman with a strap la her hand.—Melbourne Today. “What I want” said Senator Soft ghum, “la to get my own flnondsl affair* straightened out along with those of the aatlon.” “I don’t believe my scientific cal culations are sufficiently advanced te help you,” said tbe friend with the pale, thoughtful face. “But I caa recommend yon a good lobbyist"— Washington Star. ‘-V 1 '* . ’V ; -