Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1917-10-03
TWELFTH EPISODE
peace" Which PaSseth All Un-
Outstanding!
BEFORE The STORM.

The punishment administered by the
Claiming ranch hands to the raidlng
party which, under the leadership of
that redOubtable scOundrel, Pancho
Zelaya, had escended-literally like
wolves upon sheepfold-upon Pa
tria's hacienda in the quiet of early
morning. seemed to work with salu-
tary effect upon the understanding of
Senior Zelaya and his Japanese con-
frere. Baron Huroki.
Days of complete peace followed
that abortive raid, frightening into
weeks.
Scouts sent out by Captain Donald
Parr, acting for Patria. reported that
Zelaya and Huroki had apparently
never again yentured forth from the
mountain Businesses to which they
had been driven by the Claiming
people. after their rescue of Patria
and Donald.
Nor was there perceptible any indi-
cation of concentration of Mexican
soldiery in the country south of the
bOrder-whether troops Of the de faeto
government or followers of Zelaya's
outlaw fortunes.
In natural consequence that vigil
lance which had been excited among
border landowners by the raid in
sensbly relaxed. The stronger guards
which they had established against
further attempts against their lives
and properties were weakened by
degrees. With a single exception. they
relapSed into that fatally false sense
of security which had Heretofore been
theirs, thanks to long immunity from
such 0utrages as had been visited upon
other sections or the border country.
That solitary exception was a note
worthy one-Patria Claiming, who
had suffered too much at the hands
of Baron Hurokl and his associates TO
believe that anything short OF COM
plete preparation TO cope with further
attentions would discourage the en-
envy.
Such measures. then, as Patria and
her counselors recSoned she must take
30 provide against possible disaster,
must necessarily be put into effect
with the greatest secrecy. A minimum
of show must mask a maximum of In
telligently directed protective efforts.
Patria spent days riding over her
lands in company with Donald. Rod
man Pillsbury and a small staff of
chosen lieutenants. The topography
of the countryside was examined with
minute attention.
The tremendous acreage Of the
Claiming ranch favored such secrecy.
1t would have been almost possible to
mobilize and maintain a great army
within its boundaries undetected-lt
would have been altogether possible
had the resources of the land been suf-
fieient TO clothe and equip and provi-
sion such a force.
As It was. a very considerable num-
Der of men was added to the normal
population of the ranch without at
tracing any attention whatsoever.
Picked employees rode forth from
the hacienda weIl-nigh daily, for a
time, on long tours into the interior
and east and west along the border
And the results of their adventurings
appeared daily, by twos and threes
and singly-seasoned horsemen all,
alert, clear-eyed. determined patriots
As a rule they timed their arrivals to
occur during the hours Of darkness !;
and as soon as they had reported to
Donald Parr, they were assigned to
specific duties at a distance from the
main ranch houses, and disappeared
into the night as silently as they had
come. The hinterland OF the ranch
swallowed them up; in its remo,er
stretches they lived and wrought sedu-
lously at their tasks, all ready for that
summons which might come at
eny hour Meantime they drilled quiet
BY. as cavalry, as artillerymen, and as
Hlachine-gun crews. Within a period
of time surprisingly brief. Patria had
at her command a secret legion of
trained fighting men, ready for any
emergency, Injured to hardship. famil-
lar with the border country, resolute
and willing.
Only the drills Of her flying corps
could not be kept under cover; but