The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1917-08-18
Thirteenth EPISODE
Wings of Death.
ALARMS AND EXCURSIONS.

II was midafternoOn of Sunday IN
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
II was a day of rest, no house servants
we're in evidence, busted with their &C
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
of soon after breakfast on some idle
GRAND. 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 noise so ordinary and com
monplace that they were not ever
aware of 1t.
II required the shuttle OF uncertain
footsteps on the graveled walks of the
hardened patio to distract them from
their engrossing occupation.
Patria looked up first from the map
giancing inquisiti~nly out Of the win
dow. II was her cry Of pity that drew
Donalds attention. Following the di
rection of her gaze. he saw the wound
ed and semidemented man at pause II
the middle of the patio, glaring wit
lessly round him, a blOodied an
CHASTITY figure, vision as incongru
Gus to that time and place as an az
partition from the grave in a kinder
garten.
Jumping up, Donald ran out, woun
his arms round Morgan, and helpe
him into the library.
Thus it was that. for upwards Of a
hour, the tale Bud had to tell. G
terror and tragedy, Of a homestea
burned, a mother and a child mul
dered,. a sister kidnapped by raider
from across the border, was know
only to Patria and Donald.
r. When he had finished speaking an
bowed his wounded head on arms folC
ed upon the library table, there wa
nothing more said by anyone for man
minutes. The two stared at each OIL
er across the shoulders of the man l
speeches. CONSERVATION and bewildel
ment.
! what are you going to dor Patri
demanded presently.
Donald said: First Of all, get Blu
% bed"
"But-Bess?" the girl protested.
"we will. Of course, start an exped
lion to rescue her as soon as We dare.
"Darer"
ut would be worse than useless
let our boys cross the border by da.
light. You know well enough how il
tantaneously-almost- Mexican
can spread news by their unde
ground telegraph. Unless we wait Il
nightfall and smuggle our men acros
unseen. we might as well Telegram
zelays or Huroki, or whoever is r.
pensible for this atrocity, to prepal
% receive us"
And in the meantime-what hal
pens TO Bess? Oh, cannot unde
stand how you dare suggest waitir
here till darkw
Because / am determined to re
cue her-and because l feel sure I
harm viii come to her"
How can you say thatT'
Il am sure that this is a move di
tated by Huroki. You know how pc
sistently his spies have haunted tn
neighoorhood and how consistent
they have failed to find out anythir
concerning our preparations-al e
cept those three who died suddenly
nnuing out too much." Parr smil,
grimiy' then once more was grave.
Not one had seen anything or liv,
10 tell the tale Of what he saw. Their
iore huroh has done this thing
would stake my life on it-in ord
70 get hold Of somebody presumed
os IN your onfdence-somebody fro
"hon ne can persuade the informant,