The Ordway new era., 1917-11-16

a llnto ~ aeutA q ~ gullsytD sAsfsafs
i Only I moment aftsf shs had cauens
sight Of The car, Patria saw the pet.
suit Issue from the gullsy-
twenty or thirty horsemen whom sne
lhad no diniculty in Identifying with
the Charming cow-punchers VINO mao
ridden out the night before. Tney
were firing from the saddle. using
reyolvers-weapons which they pre-
ferred to the automatic pistols.
As they came into sight. two OF the
cow-punchers broke from the woods.
and the road as well. striking on
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 ortler 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
better riders, contrived to race their
steeds alongside the car, and threw
themselves from the saddle bodily into
the tonneau, 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 few minutes later, but dared
not give It any heed. She knew only
that 1t was drawing near the bridge.
At the time all her wits were wanted
to cope with the task Of landing on
strange ground; the falling motor was
enforcing pause for repairs.
Patria's skill proved equal to the oc-
cnsion, however; the biplane settled
down gently near the edge Of wide
nrea of clear ground-none too smooth
for comfort, but still naked Of trees.
AS soon as 1t had come to full
pause the girl hoped down from the
seat and began an examination Of the
engine; but 1t took some time to To-
cate the seat of the trouble. and long
er still to repair it.
At length, however, she was ready
to resume her flight.
AS she closed the tool box and start
ed round the plane toward the front
of the machine, a pistol shot sounded
behind her, and a bullet perforated
the lower plane within a foot Of her
side.
Before she could turn she was
hailed In a voice strongly colored with
the accent Of a Japanese-and badly
broken by painting.
''Halt-as you stand, please! Put
up your hands! RightT
She heard hasty footsteps behind
her. Then n Japanese gentleman OF
rather more than middle age came into
view covering her with his pistol
Pausing he deftly whipped her auto
matte from its holster attached to her
belt, and grlnned unpleasantly.
"Thank you very much" he gasped
politely In spite Of his winded condi.
tion-for 1t was evident that he had
run a considerable distance at a very
fast pace. "Now be good enough tc
take your seat. will sit beside you
You will fly as direct and lant
where I say-please understand-or
shall be reluctantly obliged to shoe
you."
FROM THE BLUE.
Without demur Patria turned an,
climbed to the pilots seat. With sur
prising agility, considering his appar
ent age, the Japanese followed to tn
place allotted to the observer.
"You will start Immediately" h
pursued with a significant gesture o
the pistol in his hand, "and aim TO
those mountains in the south. Whe
we are high enough will further dl
rect the course"
Patria switched on the self-startel
The propeller began to revolve noisil,
The drone Of the motor sounded clea
and sweet and true. The biplan
bumped forward over the uneve
, ground, lifted, and began to climb.
, Behind 1t half dozen exasperate
cow-punchers broke from the wood
, reined in to fire, then recognizing tn
Z pilot of the airplane, refrained-br
cursed fervently.
OF this Patria knew nothing. He
attention was concentrated on tt
business Of being good pilot for