The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1917-08-18

into the mouth of the gulley to the rear.
Only moment after she had caught I
sight of the car. Patria saw the pur-
suit issue from the gulley-between
twenty or thirty hOrsemen whom she
had no difficulty in identifying with
the Claiming "Dw-punchers who had
ridden out the night before. They
were firing from the saddle, using
revOlvers-weapOns which they pre-
ferred 70 the automatic pistols.
As they came into sight, two of the
Cow-puncherS broke from the woods.
and the road as well, striking off
across country toward the bridge at
the border, squirting their mounts to
utmost speed.
Patria knew what that maneuver
Indicated. The road cut wide curve
through the country; by this short cut
the two riders would reach the bridge
considerably in advance of the motor
car-providing nothing happened to
hinder them. On the other side of the
bridge there was hidden switch
board. its wires communicating with
mines secretly planted in the road
one of the first preparations made by
| Patria'S order against an attack IN
| force advancing along the road.
/ The two vanished from view, while
the pursuit pounded on after the car
/ load Of fugitiveS. Three cOw-puncherS,
better mounted than their fellows or
. ~ trit IN
>tee,S alongside the car, and threw
themselves from the saddle bodily into
the tonnpau. Needless of the rain of
bullets that greeted them.
Their fate remained sealed to Pa
tria'S knowledge; for at that moment
her biplane lurched and dipped peril
ouSly.
She caught another glimpse of the
chase n few minutes later, but dared
not give it any heed. She knew only
that it was drawing near the bridge
At the time all her wits were wanted
TO cope with the task of landing or
strange ground: the failing, motor was
enforcing pause for repairs.
Patria'S skill proved equal 10 the Oc
casion, however; the biplane settled
down gently near the edge of wide
area of clear ground-nOne too smsOtf
for comfort. but still naked of trees
As soon as it had come to a full
pause the girl hoped down from tn
seat and began an examination of th'
engine: but il took some time TO 10
cate the seat of the trouble, and long
er still to repair it,
At length, however, she was read
to resume her flight.
I, As she closed the tool box and start
: ed round the plane toward the from
!, of the machine, a pistol shot sounde
: behind her, and a bullet perforate
the lower plane within foot of he
side
Before she could turn she wa
hailed in a voice strongly colored wit
the accent of Japanese-and badl
:, broken by painting.
"Halt-as you stand. please! Pr
up your hands! Right"
She heard hasty footsteps benin
| HtT. d
rather more than middle age came in'
: view covering her with his pistc
, Pausing he deftly whipped her aut
matte from its holster attached to h
a belt, and grinned unpleasantly.
:. THANK you very much" he gaspt
20 politely in spite of his winded conc
tiOn-for it was evident that he h;
run a considerable distance at We
fast pace. "Now be good enough
~ take your seat. / will sit beside yO
- You will fly as l direct and lal
where l say-please understand-or
shall be reluctantly obliged to shO
re you"
a FROM THE BLUE.
no Without demur Patria turned a
ne climbed to the pilots seat. With 81
"a prising agility, considering his app;
No. ent age, the japanese followed to
place allotted to the observer.
bo "YOu will start immediately
no pursued with significant gesture
a the pistol in his hand, land aim