The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1917-05-19

go Immediately, Kato," his superior
ordered-'fnd Senior Zelaya, present
my compliments and say that Baron
Huroki will be obliged if General Ze-
laya will consent to honor this humble
abode with his verminous presence, at
his exalted convenience this evening"
Sooner than Baron Huroki antici-
pated, Zelaya shouldered through the
doorway of his adobe quarters, a huge
and forceful personality.
"Well, my friend" he said, leering
companionably and slapping a boot
leg with the quirt which swung by it's
leathern thong from his right wrist,
"There is news, 1 hear?"
"Sit down." Huroki suggested, nod
ding. at is true; the Claiming girl
has come to the border to look after
her possessions-even as l foretold she
would"
1.-THE dear little creature who has
a hundred million of gold dollars to
spend making fools of Japan and Mex
leo, eh?" Zelaya laughed. "How
sweet of her to walk within our reach /!
Just when l could use a little money,
too ~
"Undeceive yourself" Huroki re-
piled b%rusquely "these hundred mil
lions remain well beyond Jul grasp !;
the girl is no such fool as to carry gold
about with her in such quantities. She
is not" he pursued in tone of thought
full reminiScence not lacking a hint
of vindictiveness, Gin any way a fool.
l tell you frankly-as l have said be-
fore-she will upset all our schemes If
we discount her shrewdness and abil-
ity."
"And so-what?" -
"We must find a way to trim her
claws."'a =
You did not send for me to ask my
advice Z the outlaw laughed. 70
"Nd,rttHuroki admitted, 'only your
cooperation"
Your scheme, then, is matured?"
FL The Japanese nodded. sour course
Is plain, my friend. Leaving all other
forgetting, that is, your patriotic I'M
selfshness and my loyalty. to Nippon
we both need money-much money"
"Granted," Zelaya said, with glisten-
ing eyes.
"And Miss Charming has it-and
means to keep it. How, then, to per-
suade her to give us enough for our
modest needs?"
"Do go onl"
"The girl is madly infatuated with
a young man very dangerous to our
common cause" Huroki pursued
smoothly-"Captain Donald Parr. He
has accompanied her ON this journey
to the border. 1t is he, indeed, who
joys her elbow whenever she is in
doubt as to how and when and where
she ought to strike at US next"
81 should much enjoy meeting this
gentleman" the bandit announced.
81 should much enjoy ~effecting the
introduction" Huroki assented. $50 l
mean to do it. But you must first
promise me not to fay him alive. Liv-
ing, he is of incalculable value to us;
dead, a deathless peril-for the Chan
ming girl would never rest till she had
avenged his death, though she were to
plunge her beloved country into war
with our two nations"
81 am all impatience for your
point"
st is simple enough. For months
we have seen to it that this section of
the border was undisturbed. That
served our interests in more ways than
one. By keeping the peace, we provid-
ed safe transit for arms and ammuni-
ton shipments from the North; we
also inspired in the bosom of these
fools hereabouts confidence in a con-
tinuance of immunity from our raids.
. So tonight the Claiming haci-
enda will sleep in tranquility, never
dreaming that you, my friend, with a
large force of your picked horsemen,
will raid it at dawn and bring back
to me the living--if somewhat dam
aged-body of Captain Donald Parr, to
be held for ransom-for a round, cor
pulent ransom which the Charming
girl will gladly pay rather than imperil
the life of her betrothed by any at
tempt to rescue him. Do you see,
o brother?"
Il see," Zelaya agreed, licking his
thick lips as he rose. II see and l go
to pick my men !"
RIDERS OF THE DAWN.
In the first dim flush of that cool,
sweet dawn, Patria wakened with a
smile, and turning on her pillow,
looked out through the open window
at her bedside before smuggling be-
meath the covers for another hour or
two of sleep.
And because the dew-wet world she
viewed was so very beautiful, she
could no more sleep, but must needs
get up and move gently about her