The Ordway new era., 1917-11-09
TWELFTH EPISODE
"Peace" Which Passeth All Un-
derstandingl
BEFORE THE STORM.


The punishment administered by the
Claiming ranch hands to the raiding
party which. under tho leadership of
that redoubtable scopndrel, Pancho
Zelaya, had descended-literally like
wolves upon q sheepfold-upon Pa
tria's hacienda in the quiet of early
morning, seemed to work with salu-
tary effect upon the understanding of
Senior Zelaya and his :.panese con-
frere, Baron Huroki.
Days of complete peace followed
that abortive raid, lengthening into
weeks.
Scouts sent out by Captain Donald
Parr. acting for Patria, reported that
Zelaya and Huroki had apparently
never age.n ventured forth from the
mountain businesses TO which they
had been driven by the Claiming
people. after their rescue of Patria
and Donald.
Nor was there perceptible any indi-
cation Of concentration of Mexican
soldiery in the country south of the
border-whether troops of the de facto
government or followers of Zelaya's s
outlaw fortunes.
In natural consequence that vigi-
lance which had been excited among
border landowners by the raid in
sensibly relaxed. The stronger guards
which they had established against
further attempts against their lives
ahd properties We're weakened by
degrees. With single exception. they
relapsed into that fatally false sense
OF security which had Heretofore been
theirs, thanks to long immunity from
such outrages as had been visited upon
other sections or the border country.
That solitary exception was note
worthy one-Patria Claiming. who
had suffered too much at the hands
of Baron Huroki and his associates 20
believe that anything short of com
plete preparation to cope with further
attentions would discourage the en-
emy.
Such measures, then. as Patria and
her counselors reckoned she must take
to provide against possible disaster.
must necessarily be put into effect
with the greatest secrecy. minimum
or show must mask a maximum of in
telligently directed protective efforts.
Patria spent days riding over her
lands in company with Donald. Rod
man Piilsbury and small staff of
chosen lieutenants. The topography
Of the countryside was examined with
minute attention.
The tremendous acreage Of the
Claiming ranch favored such secrecy.
1t would have been almost possible TO
mobilize and maintain q great army
within its boundaries undetectai-lr
would have besla altogether possible
had the resozrcex % tie land been sIf-
Ecfert 10 esosfe s--t sgzip and proTI-
sion such scrcs-
! As IL uzs- rsyF cc-zs5e-zbl= n-u-
populs.foe Ct IL rz1S. s5thlr.t al
tracing sny x-se-+sc- ~ssstso@Ter-
Picked e-zrassFees rn.1s forth froro
the haGer1a EsEB-z4zz 5ally. fo- q
time. On isrx -cr-1 iz-o rtse Interior
and east and rss- sLlx tae b0-der.
And the resrstx 0f t5sir sdTeu-r-tnzs
appeared dzfEy. By ryos and tb,scs
ind sing:y-seAsoned hOrse1oen all.
alert. clear-eyed. Determined parrsofa-
~ q rule they timed their arrivals to
occur during the hours Of darkoess ;
and ~ soon n they had reported 70
Donald Parr. they were assigned 70
specilc duties ut q distance from the
;mnan rnnch houses. and disappeared
nnfo ne Night ~ silently ~ they had
c06se, The hinteriand Of the ranch
ewa110wed them up: in It's remosei
61rsiehe1 thay lived and wrought sedu
tSas1y at thsif tasAA, al ready for tina,
aan6n1 WA1<h might come n
i hoat. 1Eeaa1ims thsy drilled quiet
IN r. 6aaalky. . art1alefyDen. and q
6n6la exuun WIthan . per1os
I - 1l|l16 1il1gla1n0zy ts1e1. PAfrfa hat
n 66ins1 q feesst 1esiea .
1 -. rss1v t. m
4 fil1 ~ n1sd1n1Ds fhAn1l
y ex 4. - y =
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