The Ordway new era., 1917-11-02

ognize as old friends not only thos'
well-remembered landmarks but ever!
tree and boulder on the way-eVel
that slow-plodding ox-cart with II:
heavy wooden wheels, primiuvell
spokelesS, and its Mexican driver witt
his goad trudging beside the yokec
beasts, was like a brightly colored IL
/ lustration from the Book of Iester
day.
They, at least, don't change" she
said to Rodman. nodding toward the
cart with its load of straw.
NO" he agreed with q thoughtful
frown "the only thing that resigns the
GreaSer TO the march of civilization is
an opportunity TO do murder with
modern magazine rifle or run guns and
ammunition across the border In six
cylinder machine!"
Where Is the border-I mean, the
boundary liner Parr inquired.
"Tu show you in q minute" Patrla
answered.
And presently, as the car topped a
long. slow upgrade, gaining an emf
nence that overlooked much of that
rolling countryside, she pointed out
bridge that spanned gulley OF to the
right.
That's the boundary line" she said;
that arroyo; beyond the bridge is
Mexico"
is there much of that sort of thing
going on hereabouts?"- ?"-Parr turned
10 Pillsbury-"gun running, l meant"
II hardly think so. Things have
been very quiet in this neck of the
woods. It's to the southeast, along the
Rio Grande, that the most of the trou-
BILE has occurred, to date.
Three miles beyond the point where
the road forked, one arm running down
to the bridge at the border, the car
drew up in front of the Claiming ha-
cienda, a century-old structure built
upon rambling lines of Spanish archi-
lecture.
With a cry of delight Patria felt her.
self folded in the aged arms of Rod
mans mother-a slight and delicate
little woman who had for many years
been a second mother to Patria, the or
phaned, only when the little girl went
East to complete her education yield
ing place to Mrs. Wrenn in Patria's af-
fections.
And Mrs. Pillsbury proved not to
have changed in the least!
Then there was Bess Morgan wait
ing to greet her-a tOw-headed little
imp ten years ago, today a slender and
dignitied young woman whose serene
poise did not in the least detract from
her ability to ride harder and faster
and shoot straighter than any man or
woman within two days journey of
the Claiming ranch.
Sister of Bud Morgan, now foreman
of the Claiming cowpunchers-an up
standing youngster of Internationally
-Bess lived with her mother and
brother some twenty miles from the
hacienda. She had ridden over to well
come an old rival for the affections of
Rodman Pillsbury.
Their ancient enmity thawed to the
warmth of q spontaneous kiss; and the
relief, imperceptible to any but an
other woman, with which Bess re-
ceived the news Of Patria's betrothal
to Donald, provided even more COM
fortIng reinsurance to Patria In re-
spect To the affections of Rodman.
ACROSS THE BORDER.
While the hacienda slept in peace,
that primitive oIcart pursued labori-
ously It's patient, creaking way across
the bridged arroyo and the desert
country beyond toward a far-fiung line
ot mountains which doomed against
the horizon in serrated array like the
frozen profile Of stormy sea.
Distauciug the oIcarr as fast as
wiling hoOts could run, horsernan
EbO. leaving the station aimlessly
shortly after the departure of Patria's
party for the hacienda, had spurred
Lis stsed 20 It's swiftest pace as soon
as he fsIr secure from observation, ar
rsrF1 in the early evening at strag-
elic2 row Of adobe huts which figured
as the nearest Mexican village.
Twilight wag stiH bright when he
6ropoesd from Ills tagged animal and
sought one Of the dwellings which
wore slightly Iess unkenpt appear,
anes than its fellows.
In TIE doorway 81 t1iE h1t. some.
WIZ, conteIuptuOusiy 1tcLing the
eyOiuti0ns Of squad Of Hstless Me1i.
eau Infantry In the village plaza, stood
z gentleman In the field uniform Of
Al ofdeer of the japanese army.
Hearing the thud Of hurried foot
stevs 10 The deep dust Of the street
The Jspaasse turned toward the ap
preaching horse an expectant eye.
Well Gornezf" he said In Spanish.
"EIceIleney, ! have to report tha
tie Channirz xtfi, with Captain Par
and small company OF friends ar
nved from the East this afternoon"
The japanese nodded gently. Man!
| thanks" be said In an indifferen