DENTON CROUCH 17

AS HE STEPPED OFF ON HIS MARCH TO THE BANK HE FELT A TWINGE OF FEAR. HE HAD NEVER DONE ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE AND WASNT SURE IF IT WAS SOMETHING THE BANK WOULD EVEN CONSIDER. but as he walked along he kept telling himself, the bak wouldnt get a better deal and if they said no he still had his lawmans job. his stride started to take firm step and he held his head up high. after all, he was denton crouch! he pushed the door to the bank open , stepped insde and stood a moment looking around. he had never been in this building before. a counter ran into the middle of the room with cashieer windows ever so often at the end of the counter a steel bar fence cut it off from the rest of the room. then the room was open with a couple of desks . at one desk a young woman was working on some papers . at the other dest a solid, square shoulder man of 50 years or so was shuffling a sheaf of papers. denton steped up to the desk where the young woman worked. "excuse me , who do i see concerning property the bank holds?"denton asked in a firm voice. the brown haired woman looked up and smiled" mr. browning , right there. have a seat and ill tell him you are here." denton saw then a chair against the wall and went to it and sat down. it was a internal battle for him to not run out the door. presently the man who had been at the other desk rose, and walked across the floor to him " mr. crouch its a honor and a pleasure to meet you. please come over to my desk." the banker stuck out his hand when denton was seated at brownings desk he asked" how is it you know me? ime flateredd." "why your escapades as a deputy are well knowen all over town, your a hero in many ways, now, how may i help you?"browning flashed his best smile. denton took the notice from his pocket and unfolded it. he handed it across the desk." i dont have a dime to my name, but i want that place. what are the particulars?"denton folded his hands hopeing browning didnt see them shakeing. browning got up and walked to a file cabinet and took out a file folder and came back. " thats the goodwin place. mrs goodwin died a couple of months ago from typhoid fever. her husband was so over come with grief he hung him self. they owed the bank three thousand dollers. we were going to hire some men to gather the cattle so we could sell them. its all open range except the 140 acres the house sits on, thewre should be 300 cows running there abouts now, you say you dont have a dime and you want it. thats fine but how do we go about it?' browning leaned back in his chair. " it will cost you a fair amount of cash to gather that country. but if you will sell it to me on my signature ill gather the cattle to make a payment on the note. ill do that every year until its paid. ill pay intrest on the note as well" instead of putting out more money youll make a little." denton told him. " well it appears you have thought this through. its intresting to say the least. but ill have to get approval from the banks board of directers to do it. can you come back tomorrow?"browning smiled and again reached out to shake dentons hand. " a fair shake isall ime looking for, see you tomorrow "denton stood up to leave.he tried not to show it but his knees were wobbly.