The Ordway new era., 1917-11-09

these had been going on Tor weeks pe'
fore her arrival at the ranch.
Occasionally their reconnaissance
carried these swift sentries of the air
lanes south of the border; but the re-
ports % their observers were invarih-
bly, destitute of alarming information
Apparently the Mexican population
was apathetic, resigned to the pursuits
of peace. There was no more gun-run-
I ming that could be discovered. There
was no movement of troops percept-
| lble. There were no raids. There was
no; even a lonely case of sniping 90
| keep the patrols on the Qui vive.
For all that. Patria's preparations
were pushed forward with Undated
energy.
There came osy, several weeks
after Zalaya's futile raid, when this
young woman rode nut TO review her
modest but wonderfully efficient forces.
She returned to the hacienda in the
quiet of evening, weary but exhilar-
ated.
I'm not afraid" she told Donald
with n nod of her head indicating the
Mexican mountains in the south-their
ragged ramparts looming in purple
shades against the Silvered skies or a
perfect moonlight night. Let them
comei'
He laughed sympathetically, but
shook reprovlng head.
Let us not fall into the pit of over
confidence" he said. II know how you
feel. It's wonderful to know that we
have all these fine fellows to rally to
our defense in case of need. But after
all, they're only a handful: and what
/ fear is that the next act of nggres-
sion. when 1t comes, will be invasion
in overwhelming forces. We have
gone as far as we can in the matter of
making these men the toughest kind
of hard-hitting fighters; but there
aren't enough of them to Withstand
an army's advance. From now On we
must devote all our energies to the
planning of means to eQualize supe-
rior numbers with superior intelli-
gence. We must be prepared TO de-
liver a staggering blow before the en-
emy can find out how Insignificant our
forces are"
They sat in silence for little. both
gazing out over the shadowed dis
tances beyond the border.
SIT Is too quiet-too quiet alto
gether." Parr mused aloud. II can't
forget that Huroki is somewhere out
there-hidlng. planning, restlessly
scheming to serve his country's pur-
poses and at the same time TO gain his
~, T..
ceived at our hands,
'Nor can l forget it." the girl re-
piled. "Of one thing we may feel as
sured: if Huroki has any voice in the
councils that are taking place down
there. the blow, when it comes, will
fall here first of all"
The shadow of premonition dark
ened her mood transiently. She shiv-
cred a little.
II wonder" she said. what infqui-
ties he is Matching down yonderl"
There is a certain psychic sympathy
between the minds of those that hate
well, even as it is with those who love;
there was less coincidence than might
be thought in the fact that. at approx
A4A4aAFls llt S.AlAt llAilrr IDulbll
was uttering substantially similar OBJ
servatiOns concerning Parria, at dis
tance of something like q days ride
from the hacienda.
The scene was the main room of an
adobe dwelling of somewhat more pre-
tentiOus proportions and appointments
than is commonly TO be found in the
wilder sections of inland Mexico.
There were a number Of other adobe
houses near it; but this was the larg-
est Of the lot; and it was further dis
tinguished by a restless going and
coming Of orderlies and officers of su-
perior rank In the field uniforms of
the japanese army-though there was
not lacking q sprinkling of others at
tired In the livery of the troops loyal
to the de facto government of Mexico
The dwelling was, in short, the
headquarters of General Nogi. COM
Inander in chief of the allied Japanese
and Mexican forces which had been
secretly gathered together in this re-
mote retreat and weSe now marking
time. under arms, against receipt Of
word from Tokyo to proceed with the
long planned invasion of the south
western United States.
Prom the slight erninence on which
the headquarters building stood the
valley sIoped away in dimly moonlit
/ perspective; and as far as one could
see IL Was a city Of dust-colored tents
/ populated By regiment upon regiment
Of highly trained and efficient troops.
Within the headquarters building. in
large room, brightly lighted and fur
nished with soldieriy severity, an in.
formal council Of war was In prog.
ress, General Nogi himself presiding.
| He was q man Of nearly sixty, yet
carried his compact and athletic body