The Elbert County tribune., 1917-09-21
FOURTEENTH EPISODE
Border Peril.
DAYBREAK.


In the library of the Claiming
hacienda lights burned late into the
night Round a great oaken table in
the middle of the room some ten per-
sons sat IN conference. The surface
of the table was strewn with maps and
papers-the former large-scale and
minutely detailed typographical maps
of the Claiming properties and the adj
jncent country, both north and south
of the border.
A council of war was in progress.
Something after midnight it drew to-
ward its conclusion. A hush of
thoughtful silence settled down upon
the gathering. Patria and Donald Parr
and their aides-those commanding
the several divisions of Patria's little
force of atchmen''-mentally re-
viewing what had been said, recon-
ming point by point such instructions
as had been issued and the course of
action which had been agreed upon.
1t wns vitality important that MOTH
ing should be neglected, forgotten, or
overlooked.
This business to which they We're
committed was so desperate, their
hopes for its success so meager and
forlorn, that the little company of pa
triotlc Adventures dared neglect no
least item of precaution.
According to reliable information a
great army was marching to invade
the soil of the United States-an army
made up of the allied forces of Mexi-
Io ,fnt, InI fA l.rrr
been encamped in the businesses of
the hills Immediately south of the
border, awaiting Tokios word to ad-
vance.
Today, apparently, that word had
been spoken; it was known that the
allied troops had broken camp and
were in motion toward the border
And 1t needed only most super
fetal examination of the maps on the
table to demonstrate that the one
feasible path of invasion lay through
the Claiming properties.
And the forces which Patria had
gathered together to oppose this long
threatened invasion were SO pitifully
outnumbered that their sole hope of
surviving lay In the thoroughness of
their preparations; only courage that
held life thing of little moment
guided by cool-headed intelligence of
the highest order could render effec-
tive the plans these few had made to
surprise, outwit, and repel the invad-
ers.
The shrilling of the telephone bell
interrupted the silence. Parr took up
the instrument, spoke briefly into 1t,
and handed 1t to Patria.
"a telegram for you," he said.
The girl listened attentively to what
was communicated to her by the tele-
graph operator at the nearest railroad
station, some twenty miles away, then
thanked him and coolly hung up.
washington" she said, "acknowl-
edging my wire warning them of this
invasion. There will be an investiga-
tlon ordered Immediately, and If my
information proves well-founded
troops will be sent"
Nothing could be fairer than that"
Parr commented grimly.
II think" said Patria TO the COM
pany 1--WE have said all that could be
snid tonight. We all know our duties.
The Instructions you have received are
not subject to change except in emer-
gcncy-and then you must rely upon
your wits to save yourselves-and the
rest of u.s. Now let us adjourn, and
IL We can, get little sleep"
There was a general movement of
chairs being pushed back from the
table. The men rose, and waited in
l;tle groups while one after another
went TO say goodnight to Patria. She
sliook the hand of each. and Donald
did likewise. There were few words
spolicn-but the handclasps We're firm
and significant.
These were possibly their last fare
wells. This unuttered thought in
formed every mind. Dawn would find
each at his post. Where sunset should
flnd them, none dared guess.
One by one they went their ways
into the night. At length Patria was
alone with Donald Parr. He turned