The Ordway new era., 1917-10-26

nOSed reporters, ueuieu auhiitL"h>S "
the grounds of the various Channings
works, lurked in the otling with ears
a-prick for every hint and every syl-
liable of incautious gossip. Inevitably
there dawned Il day when the news
was bruited to the world.
1t was the day preceding that on
which Patria purposed starting. in her
private car for the border ranches, to
see for herself what was the truth
about the situation in the Southwest,
as well as TO inspect her flying corps,
take personal instruction in aviation,
and supervise such preparations
against armed invasion as might, in
her Judgment and Donald's, be deemed
wise.
What was really going on along the
border and south OF it was masked in
rumor, misinformation and official CEN
sorship. The country's half-trained and
lll-equipped militia had been mobilized
and transported to the Southwest; fol-
lowing which it had accomplished-by
all reports-preciSely nothing.
To look into these conditions, then.
to find out for herself how grave the
danger was of invasion following the
prospective withdrawal of the Ameri-
can troops from Mexican territory,
and to make due provision to protect
her own properties-since she would
in all probability be prevented by ad-
ministrative ukase from extending
such protection to others-was the
main purpose of Patria's contemplated
journey.
And because she had become one of
the widely advertised personalities in
the United States, since her accession
to sole control of Channings, Inc, she
had caused her plans to be made with
all possible secrecy.
None the less they had become pub
lie property. While she dressed for
her last trip to Powder Town, to re-
view her employees there, newspaper
story advised her that she could hope
to make few moves without the know
ledge of the people.
Beneath portrait of herself, in dis
play headlines, she read:
Miss Patria Charming
americas 6erlha Nrupp,
who is rapidly converting her extern
sive arms and ammunition factories
into armed camps, forsakes society to
safeguard her vast properties in the
Southwest-is reported to have said
she will spend s1oo, 100000 to protect
this country against peril Of Japanese
influences in Mexico.
Over this the girl shook an exasper-
ated head.
She made no doubt but that Baron
Huroki-presuming that he were still
in hiding somewhere within the radius
of metropolitan newspaper circulation
was reading with keen interest that
salf-same story.
And she was right.
Many miles away, in a dead little
house in a dead little side street in Jer-
sey City, seated on the floor of an
apartment cunnlngly transformed by
means of screens into the semblance
of room in japanese house--a room
from which every ray of daylight was
jealousy excluded-IIuroki was curl
ing his lip over the headlines which
made Patria's secrets his, and all the
worlds to boot.
But when he had finished reading,
the sneer had faded from his face,
cast of thoughtfulness replacing it.
For many minutes he sat pondering.
as still and immobile as one of the
craven gods which, secretly, he wor-
shipped. When at length he moved, it
was merely to clap his palms together
thrice; this done, he relapsed into
movelessness. Nor did he sir so much
as to turn his head when his summons
was answered.
A cringing, servile creature in Jap
anese robes slipped nofselessly into the
room and stood at attention. announ-
cling himself by one word in his native
tongue:
Master ~
Huroki thought for another moment
| before he spoke.
"What are today's reports, Kato?"
"They say that we are apparently
safe. All efforts at pursuit have beer
abandoned. The Charming girl is a,
her hotel in New York Captain Psrr
| spends most of his time in the Che n
ming factories near Powder Town. II
| is certain that no sort of watch Is be
ing kept upon this house; not once
since we took cover here has one oi
the Claiming investigators approached
this neighborhood,"
The baron nodded approvingly.
"Order my roadster to the door
Fetch busters, caps and google mask
for yourself and me-"
"Tt Is an order"
.Kato said no more, and his tone wa
coIorless; yet In the barely perceptibl'
hesitation he evidenced about puttini
these orders into effect, Huroki senset
IN unuttered criticism: Was this wis