American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1917-09-18
Thirteenth EPISODE
Wings of Death.
ALARMS AND EXCURSIONS.

1t was midafternoon of a 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
1t was a day of rest, nc 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 n~eighboring
country.
Not a sound disturbed the peaceful
.Rlsh 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 it.
It 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. It washer cry of pity that drew
Donald's attention. Following the di-
rection of her gaze. he saw the wound
ed and semidemented man at pause in
49, r,4dIIa % fhn nnffn nlnrinU WIFI
lessly round him, a bloodied and
CHASTITY figure, a vision as incongru-
GUS to that time and place as an ap-
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
hour, the tale Bud had to tell, OF
terror and tragedy, of a homestead
l burned, a mother and a child muir
dered,, a sister kidnapped by raiders
from across the border, was known
only to Patria and Donald.
When he had finished speaking ant
bowed his wounded head on arms fold
ed upon the library table, there wal
nothing more said by anyone for many
minutes. The two stared at each 9th
er across the shoulders of the man II
speeches. CONSERVATION and bewilder
ment.
what are you going to do?' Patrii
demanded presently.
Donald said: "First of all, get But
% bed"
"But-Bess?" the girl protested.
1--WE will. Of course, start an expedi
ton to rescue her as soon as we dare.
"Darei"
att would be worse than useless I
let our boys cross the border by day
light. You know well enough how In
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Mexican
can spread news by their under
round telegraph. Unless we wait Il
nightfall and smuggle our men acros
unseen, we might as well telegrap
Zelaya or Huroki. or whoever is n
sponsible for this atrocity. to prepar
10 receive us"
"And in the meantime-what hal
pens TO Bess? Oh. 1 cannot unde
stand how you dare suggest waitin
here till dark"
L am ueternineu " Ae
cue her-and because I feel sure
harm will come to her"
How can you say that?"
II am sure that this is a move di
tated by Huroki. You know how pc
sistently his spies have haunted tn
n~eighborhood and how consistent
they have failed TO find u anythir
concerning our preparations-al e
cept those three who died suddenly
finding out too much! !" Parr smile
grimly, then once more was grave.
"Not one had seen anything or live
to tell the tale of what he saw. Their
fore Huroki has done this thing
would stake my life on tin ord
10 get hold Of somebody presumed
be in your confidence-Somebody fro
whom he an persuade the infOrmati