The Ordway new era., 1917-10-26
TENTH EPISODE
War in the Dooryard.
IN TIME OF PEACE.

IN TIME OF PEACE.
The banishment of Baron Huroki
proved to be as complete an affair as
heart could wish, mystery as pro-
found, as finished, as thoroughgolng
as could reasonably have been eX-
pected even of Oriental subtlety, cum
ming and forehandness, leaving no room
for doubt but that the head Of the jap
anese secret service in the United
States had long anticipated and plan
ned against precisely such contingency
as had at last driven him out of public
life.
without the slightest considerable
lead into that blind labyrinth of under
ground life wherein the japanese had
taken refuge. Patria's private bureau
of Investigation, under the direction of
Donald Parr. worked tirelessly for
weeks upon the problem, leaving no
stone unturned in its efforts to track
down the fugitives.
AT last Parr, innately incredulous.
suspicious and solicitous for Patria's
welfare, was drawn to admit that
Baron Huroki must have fled the coun-
try.
He was at once glad and reluctant
to believe this-reluctant because he
feared lest some disaster impossible to
foresee develop through overconfi-
dence; glad because with Huroki ellmi-
mated from the land, Patria was free
once more from that persecution and
peril Of assassination which had been
her daily portion ever since, in coming
of age, she had been so unfortunate as
to attract the attention of the Japa
nese-Mexican junta.
But If both Donald and Patria
breathed more freely as day followed
day without overt attack upon the lat
ter or any of her properties, they did
not permit themselves to be deceived.
Beneath this truce both OWNED an IN
ceasing ebb and flow of intrigue.
Impossible as it was to surmise in
what quarter or manner that malign
outbreak should be apprehended, Pa
tria and her aides neglected no imagi-
nable precautiou. The small arms and
munitions factories, the ordnance foun-
dries, arsenals and shipyards owned by
Claiming, Inc, were reorganlzed to a
degree of the highest efficiency, each
working three shifts of employees
every twenty-four hours. Existing con-
tracts with the allies for war material
were filled, renewals and further or
ders were refused. Great stores of
arms and ammunition began to accu-
mulate, and were held against that day
when, plunged unexpectedly into war
this nation should find itself in urgent
need of equipment for the hordes OF
unframed volunteers who would
spring up to its defense.
And whereas nothing could persuade
p purblind people to prepare physically
for the trials and strains of warfare
nothing could prevent Patria, or any
other patriot, from putting the mer
on the pay roll in shape to fight fol
their homes.
Very quietly the Plattsburg scheme
Was put into effect at Powder Town
IL accordance with the promise Patrii
had made her employees at the time OF
the strike. Under the supervision Of
gNnized into companies, put through 0
course of setting-up drills. and in
structed in the use of arms-all on full
pay for the time demanded for these
exercises. Almost Immediately the sue
cess of the experiment was assured BY
the response of the men, their eager
interest and willingness.
With this encouragement, Patria
citused the experiment to be put into
effect at all the Cummings plants. Its
ssIccess wns uniform. In a space OF
tme incredibly brief the half-millior
mem employed by Channings in vari
cus capacities were organized and rap
tdly approaching state Of militar,
ef1ciency.
In short, all that could be accom-
ptished toward the preparation Of thii
Z e0untry for war by private citizeni
MhcSe efforts were unsanctioned BY thu
~ yetnment was done BY Patria will
y ~ siatance or Donald Parr and theil
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