The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-11-19
ASTORY OF GRAUS TARK
GEORGE BARR MCCUTCHEON
Copyright, 1900. by Dodd. Mead & Co

Thanks for the lift you've given me. &"
I he called up to the astOnished officer,
Don't thank me, sang out his
would-be savior as ne put spur to his
horse.
1t Is a lameutabIe thing to say, but
IruXtOn Kings extraordinary Sdcrince
was not altogether the OutgrOWJn OF
heI0ism. We have not been called upon
al any time 20 question his courage
we have, on the other hand, seen times
when ne displayed the most arTant fool
hardness. L defy any one to prove,
however, that he ever neglected an op-
pUTIuuIty 10 better himself by strategy
at the expense of fOrtitUde. Therefore,
it is not surprising. that even at such
a time as tEIs we may be called upon
TO record an example of his spectacular
cunning.
Be sure of It. he did not decide TO
slide from NOs EngO's horse until he
saw a way clear to better his position
and at the same time to lessen the
glory OF his unpleasant rescuer.
Less than a hundred yards behind
lOped rldeTleSs horse. the Dragon who
sat the saddle was lying far back in the
avenue a bullet in his head. HObDllng
to the middle OF the road, the American
threw up his hands and shouted briskly
TO the bewildered animal Throwing his
ears forward in considerable doubt, the
horse came TO standSJll close at hand
Five seconds later King was in the sad
die and tearing along IN the wake OF the
.Tetreating guard, his hair blowing from
his forehead. his blood leaping with the
JOY of achievement
Mr.. Hobbs afterward Informed him
that Count NOs EngO Oaths We're
worth going miles around to avoid,
I'VE need such men as King cried
Colonel QuinnOX as he waited inside the
gates Tor the wild rider A moment
massive bolts We're shot
As ne pulled up in front OF the stew
ards lodge TO await the orders or me
colonel the eyultant American complet-
ed the solnoquy that began With the
mad impulse TO ride into port under his
own sails.
lne thing in coming back for me, much
as ne hated to do it, What's more, /
shan't say a word about his beastly
temper Wen let II pass. He deserves
a whole lot for the part he played. III
not forget Il. Too bad he had TO spoil lt
all By talking as he did. But, hang me,
If be shall exact anything from her be-
cause he did thing he didn't want 10
do. ] took a darued sight bigger chance
than he did, after all Good Lord,
what a mess ] would have been in II
the nag hadn't stopped View! Wen,
old boy. YOU did stop. God bless YOU.
Colonel" he spoke as QuinnOX came up,
do you think 1 can buy this horse.
He's got more sense than I have. ~
Small goodies of foot soldiers and Pc
lcemen lighting valiantly against great
odds were admitted 20 the grounds dur
ing the next half hour scores bad
been killed by the fierce, irregular at
become separated from their comrades
and were even now being hunted down
and destroyed by the Infatuated follow
ers Of Marlaux. A hundred or more of
the reserves reached the upper gates
before it occurred to the enemy to
blockade the streets in that neighbOr-
hood. General BTaze. with a few Of
his men, bloody and heartsiCk, was the
last of the little army 10 reach safe
" in the castle grounds, coming up by
way of the lower gates. from the fort
ress which they had tried to reach
after the first outbreak, but had found
themselves f0restalled.