Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1917-10-10
THIRTEENTH EPISODE
Wings of Death.
ALARMS AND EXCURSIONS.


1t was midafternoon of Sunday I'M
commonly warm, even for that season,
when Bud Morgan, on his saddle and
bridleless horse, found his way-less
consciously than guided by the instinct
of the homing pigeon-to the hacienda
of Patria Channing's rancho.
None witnessed his arrival Because
it was q day Of rest. no house servants
were in evidence busted with their ac-
customed weekday tasks. Mrs. Pills
bury was IN her room, mapping away
the hour of the siesta. Her son, Rod
man. general superintendent of the
Claiming ranch properties, had ridden
Off soon after breakfast on some idle
errand. Patria and Donald Parr were
alone In the library, coming a great
Typographical map of the neighbOrins
country.
Not a sound disturbed the peaceful
hush of the hacienda other than their
low-pitched accents, before they heard
the rumble of approaching hoofs; and
this was a noise so ordinary and COM
monplace that they were not even
aware of ii.
II required the shuttle of uncertain
footsteps on the graveled walks of the
gardened patio to distract them from
their engrOssing occupation.
Patria looked up first from the map,
glancing inquisitively out of the win
dow. 1t was her cry OF pity that drew
4 Tf.1l ~
rection Of her gaze, he saw the wound
ed and semidemented man at pause in
the middle Of the patio, glazing wit
lessIy round him, a bloodied and
CHASTITY figure, a vision as incOngru-
Gus to that time and place as an APP
partition from the grave IN a kinder
garten.
Jumping up. Donald ran out. wound
his arms round Morgan, and helped
him into the library.
Thus it was that for upwards of an
ioIr, the tale Bud had to tell. OF
terror and tragedy. Of a homestead
burned, mother and child muir
dered,, a sister kidnapped by raiders
from across the border. was known
only to Patria and Donald.
When he had finished speaking aud
bowed his wounded head on arms fold
ed upon the library table, there was
nothing more said by anyone fer many
minutes. The two stared at each 9th
er across the shoulders of the man in
speeches. CONSERVATION and bewilder-
ment
"What are You going to do?" Patria
demanded presently.
Donald said: First of all, get Bud
20 bed"
"But-BessY the girl protested
I'VE Will, Of course. start an expedI-
ton to rescue her as soon as we dare"
Dare"
ut would be worse than uselC $ to
let eur boys cross the border by day
light. You know Well enough how in
stantaneously-alm Mexicans
can spread news by their under
ground telegraph Unless we wait till
nlghtfall and smuggle our men across
unseen, we might as Well telegraph
Zelaya or Huroki, or whoever is re-
sponsible for this atroclty, to prepare
to receive us"
And in the meantime-what hap
pens to Bess? Oh. ! cannot under
stand how you dare suggest waiting
here till dark, '
Because I am determined to res
cue hor-and because l feel sure no
harm VIII come to her"
Wow can you say that?"
q am sure that this is move die
tated by Huroki. You know how per
sisteutly his spies have haunted this
neighborhood and how consistently
they have failed to find out anything
concerning our preparationS-al ex-
cept those three who died suddenly Of
finding out too much'" Parr smiled
grimly, then once more was grave.
Not one had seen anything or lived
TO tell the tale Of what he saw. There
fore Huroki has done this thinc-I
would stake my life on tin order
10 get hold Of somebody presumed TO
De in your confidepce-Somcbody from
whom l. can persuade the information