Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1917-06-25
TWELFTH EPISODE
"Peace" Which Passeth All Un-
l. Outstanding!
BEFORE n STORM.

Inc punishment administered hy the
Charming ranch hands 10 the raiding
party which. under the leadership Of
That redoubtable scoundrel, Pancho
Zeiaya. had descended-literafly like
wolves upon a sheepfold-upon Pa
tria's hacienda in the quiet NJ early
morning. seemed Ia work with salu-
tary effect upon the understanding of
Senior Zelaya and his japanese con
frere. Baron Huroki.
Days Of complete peace followed
that abortive raid, lengthening into
weeks.
Scouts sent out by Captain Donald
Parr. acting for Patrla. reported that
Zelaya and Hlroki had apparently
never again ventured forth from the
mountain Businesses 10 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
soidiery In the country south of the
horder-whether troops Of the de facto
government or followers of Zelaya's
outlaw fortunes.
In natural consequence that vigil
lance which had been excited among
border landowners by the raid In
seEsibly relaxed. The stronger guards
which they had established against
further attempts against their lives
and properties were weakened by
degrees. With a 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 a 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-
envy.
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. A minimum
Of show must mask a maximum Of In
t%elligently directed protective efforts.
Patria spent days riding over her
lands in company with Donald. Rod
man Pillsbury and a small staff of
chosen l~ieutenants. The topography
OF the countryside was examined with
minute attention.
The tremendous acreage OF the
Claiming ranch favored such secrecy.
II would have been almost possible To
mobilize and maintain n great army
within Its boundaries undetected-it
would have been altogether possible
had the of the land been suf-
iicient to clothe and equip and provi-
si0c such q force.
As Ii was. a very considerable num-
Der or men was added Z the normal
population OF the ranch without at
tracing any attention whatsoever.
Picked employees rode forth from
the hacienda well-nigh daily. for n
time. on long tours into the interior
and east and west along the border.
Aud the results of their adyenturings
appeared daily. by twos and threes
and singly-seasoned horsemen all.
alert. clcar-eyed. determined patriots.
AS n rule they timed their arrivals to
occur during the hours Of darkness /:
and as soon as they had reported TO
Donald Parr. they were assigned to
specific duties at a distance from the
main ranch houses. and disappeared
into the night as silently as they had
rome. The hinterland Of the ranch
swallowed them up; in its remo'er
stretches they lived and wrought Scdu-
lousy at their tasks. all ready for that
summons which might come at
any hour. Meantime they drilled quiet
ly. as cavalry. as artillerymen. and as
machine-gun crews. Within a period
Of time surprisingly brief, Patria had
ut her command a secret legion of
trained fighting men. ready for any
emergency. Injured 10 hardship. famil-
lar with the border country, ~resolute
and willing.
Only the drills Of her flying corps
could o be kept under cover; tut