The Ordway new era., 1917-11-16


lwA3eA ~ = lonesd 70 -, the eica
Of dust which should mark tlse PROD
ress Of large body OF horsemen.
Tho little expeditionary force ha'
moved rapidly and with craft. enacil.l
itself completely from the face Of tn
country side. long before sunrise.
For upwards of an hour Patria pur
sued her fruitless reconnaissance.
| At length. discouraged and dis
heartened. she turned back to her start
ing point and dropped down to tn
private aviation field.
As she descended. In spite Of tn
preoccupation Of every faculty I'm
posed by that most difficult tasl
known to aviators, that of negotiat
ing a successful landing. she was con
scious that strangers watched her IRON
the body of huge gray motorcar OF
the edge of the field.
Allghting beside her stationary oi
plane. she saw group Of some half
dozen moving toward her from car
Donald was one of these; the Others
were all men in the field uniforms OF
the regular army of the United States
She identified one or two faces made
familiar to her by production In the
pages of newspapers and magazines
the faces of men who had risen to high
places in the service Of their country.
One wore on the collar Of his tunic
the insignia of n brigadier general.
Her heart warmed to their soldier
ly bearing-then sank as she was re-
minded that all they stood for. of gal
lantry, loyalty, bravery. intelligence
and efficiency, must count for nothing
in event of war because the country
they served refused them men enough
to lead successfully against any but
the most pitifully impotent enemy.
Introduced by Captain Parr, the brig
adler general greeted her with grave
courtesy, presented formally each
member of his staff, and complimented
Patria on her own skill in aviation. as
well as the skill of her corps Of mir
men.
Il have seen a great deal of wonder
full flying" he said, but what l see
going on here surpasses anything that
has come under my observation, Tor
snap and precision-comes near to
what I have heard Of the work of the
French and English flying corps. I
could WISH" he added, trace visit
fully, yet with n perceptible twinkle
in his eyes as they held Patria's, my
own command were as well on"
"My men and my machines" Patria
told him. "are always at the service Of
my country"
an event of need, then. I shall not
hesitate to call upon you"
"You need not. I am doing"-Pa-
tria hesitated briefly; yet this official
visit proved that the secret Of her
preparations had leaked out-"what
I am doing solely as patriot and a
soldiers daughter"
"It is because you have proved your
self to be that-a worthy daughter Of
my own comrade," the general said,
that I have yentured to make this
unlimited call. / would be glad II
you could give me few moments Of
your time to discuss question of pub
lie policy"
There was no way to escape. Pa
tria bowed gracefully to the inevitable.
'1f you will be good enough to ac-
company me to my home" she said.
1--WE can find there quiet place in
which to talk. And l shall be honored
If you and your staff will be my
guests for luncheon"
The invitation was eagerly accepted,
and the party motored back to the
hacienda.
There. while luncheon was being
prepared, Patria abandoned all effort
at concealment and, conducting the
general to the library, laid before him
a complete exposition of all her plans
and preparations to repel an invasion
omitting no material detail.
mot my biplanes alone" she con.
cluded. 'but the rest of the gear ]
have gathered together here-and the
men trained to manipulate it-are a,
my country's call"
The general Strengthened up from
the Typographical map over which ht
had been bending. There was admira
ton and something more in his regard
you are very remarkable yOuni
woman, If you will permit me to sa!
so, Miss Charming. I am only sorr.
that there are not more women-ant
men-llke you in this land. II Their
were"
The wistful look possessed his eye
again, but he shook that humor of.