The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-11-30
STORY OF GRAUSTARK
GEORGE BARR MCCUTCHEON
Copyright. 1909 by George Barr
McCutchcun.
Copvrirht. 1909. by DOdd. Mead & Co

wildered defenders, dismounting near
the parade ground, the huge gates anu
pillars fell TO the ground.
The gates have been dynaUuieu-
Then 1T was that Tru-Nou King re-
membered MarldnX's sappers had been
quietly at work for days, drilling from
the common 90 the gates- IL was 4
strange coincidence that MaTi2nN should
have chosen this day for mis- culminat-
ing assault on the castle. The skFmlsh
at daybreak had hurried his arrange
his plans complete. The explosives mad
been laid durtT i, the night; the fuses
reached 10 the mouth OF the tunnel,
across the common. As ne swept up
the avenue at tue head Of ms command,
lawk-faced and with glittering eyes,
he snarlpd the command JhdL put nEe
to the fuses. He was SUI q quarter
of a mile away when the gates crum-
bled. With short shrih cries, scarcely
human i'm their .viCiOusnesS. he urged
his men forward. He and BrutuS were
the first to ride up TO The great mole
that vaWued where the 81 tCS haQ STOOD.
Bcvond they could see the distracted
soldiers and the prince forming in Inc
TO resist attack.
A moment later his vanguard streamed
through the aperture and taced the
deadly fire from the driveway.
Like "a stone wall the men uhQet
OufunoN stood tleir ground a soId'
defiant lire that fired with telllnB ac-
Curacy into the struggling horde. On
the walls two gatling guns began 20
! oackle their laugh OF death. ana sun
/ fhe r1erceuartes poured through the
Gan forming in haphazard lines under
the direction of the maddeneo iron
count,
| the grassy meadow. When one man
/ feU under the fire Of the cuardsmen
another rushed into mis- place infee
| times the indOmitable GraustarklanS
drove them back, and as often DID
! MarlanX drag them up again. tNdi'eu
by the example he set.
"Gad. he is a soldier" cried TruN-
( ton, who had wasted naLL 9o-th
shots IN the effort TO orlng MN !, 1oW,,'
/ "Hellol There's my friend Brutus'
/ He's no coward. either Here's Try
he dropped to his knee and took
deliberate aim at the iIeuliVtl -,
man. The discovery that there were
/ three bullets en- BTutus breast when
/ he was picked up long atterWard ulu
| not affect the young man contention
/ that his was the one lnat had Iouhu
! the heart -,
! The fali of Brutus urged, the iron
| count TO greater fury, his morse mao
] been shot from under him. lie was
on his feet. "a gaunt demon, his back
/ 10 the enemy. calling TO his men 10
follow him as he moved toward tie
! stubborn row Of green and req. bul-
lets Missed a bout his ears, but ne gave
no heed to them. More than one man
! in the opposing force watched him as
If fascinated. He seemed 20 be aoSo-
/
when he stumbled and almost fell
over the bodies Of his own men lying
Nv this time his entire force was
Inside the grounds. Colonel QuinnoX
was quick to see the spreading move
ment on the extreme right and ietI
Marlanxs captains were trained war
lriors They were bent on Ranking the
enemy The commander Of the guard
/ gave the command to fan back slowly
| toward the castle.
/ Firing at every step, they crossed the
parade ground and then made quick
dash for the shelter Of the long bal
comics They held this position Tor
nearly an hour, resisting each succeed
ing charge of the now devilish foe
Q Time and again the foremost Of the
attacking party reached the terrace
e only 90 Wither under the deadly fire
/ from behind the baIustrades. MarlanN
down in the parade ground, was fairly
pushing his men into the jaws OF death
There was no question as to the cour-
{ age Of the men he comma nded. These
j. were not the ruffians from all over tho
T world. They we're the reckless. devil
T may-care rnOuntainecr= and robbers
/, from the hills OF GrsUstark itself
/. Tuxton Kings chance TO pay his
Z debt TO NOs Engo came after one OF
f the Gercest most determined charges
p The young count. who had trans
q ferred mis- charges from the old tOWel
10 the strong norh wing Of the cas-
e tie, had been lighting desperately IN thu
8
< I ness seemed 10 have disappeared en-
l. tireIy. AS the Zoe fell back I'm the fac,
r. or the desperate resistance NOS Eng,
q | spraug down the steps and rushed afte
C them, calling others 90 join him IA TIT
u attempt TO complete the TOut. Near tn
o edge Of the terrace ne stopped. His lCi
n gave way under him, and he fell 20 III,
y ground. TruNtOn saw him fan.
d He leaped over the low balustradc
p dropping his hot rifle and dashed acros
the terrace TO his rivals assistance
q a hundred men shot az him. Nos Eng
S was trying 10 get 20 his feet, his hau'
e upon his thigh, ne was grooming will
r IT'S my turn" shouted the American
4 'IH square IL up II ] can. Then we'r
n lie siezed the wounded man IN hi
t strong arms, threw him over his snoul
e or and staggered toward the steps.
j. Release me. damn yOur' shrieke,
NOs Eugo, striking his rescuer I'm tn
Do face with his fist
q I'm saving you FOR another day,
s. said King. as he dropped behind tn
Y wild cheer went up from the lips o
- the defenders, scornful bowls from TIA
e enemy.
o. II pray God ~ may be deferred un
s til ] am capable OF defending myself
r groaned VOs Engo, glarinG az the 0the
o with implacable hatred iu his eyes.
You might pray for my preserva
d ton, too. while you're at f." said Trux
IS ton, as he crept away 10 regain hI
q rife
% There were other witnesses TO Trux
:. toms rash act In a lofty window O
r the north wing CrOuchcd a White-facC
o. girl and a grim Old man. The latte
" held a rife iu his tense though feebl
e hands They had been there for te
u minutes OF longer, watching the BATH
o from their seIie plaC, OF security. NOV
81 and then the Old man would sight hi
~ rifle and fire. a grOau or anger an
20 dismay escaped his lips after each AT
r. tempt TO send mis- bullet TO the spot iu
be- tended The girl who crOuChed besld
e. him was there 10 designate q certai
D. figure Do the evey-ChaugiuE mass 81
lt humanity on the bloody parade grouu,
Her clear ewes sought for and fOuu
.H MarlauX. her unWavCriug finger pointe
ii him out 70 Tho old mariSsmau.
Sine saw Nos Eugo fan. Then r tai
,- / vcIl-kuDwu figure spraUR into view
Z, Idashiug toward ner wounded lrvo
.v IITcr heart stopped boating. The bloc
II rushed 20 her eyes. Every thing brfDI
= her turned red-a hOwid LIurriug re-,
WitN Far hands TO her temples, ia
no. taaueI far over the window ledge au
b. -grea5aed-zcreamed words that wOul
M have dUed TruEtOu King with an en-,
Ia less iov could ne hevr heard them abOy
the rattle of the rifles.
M "A brave act' exclaimed the old ma
u et her side. WHO is hc2'
Il, Eat she did not hear him. She ha
r.r... l.aFI and wa gFgUIuw summit g.