The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1910-06-02
TRUXTON
{ KING
Copyright. 1909. by GeorIs
Barr McCutcheon
N Copyright. 1909. by Dodd.
Mead q Company
CHAPTER XIX-Continued

experiences.
She had been seized on the night
Of the ball as she started across her
fathers garden, and escape had be
come possible only through the a.d cf
Josepha and the girls father. larm-
erS' wives told them Of the newly
formed army and of its leaders. She
determined to make her way 10 the
camp of those who would destroy her
husband, eager to give them any as
siStanCe that her own knowledge Of
MarlanX's plans might provide.
One bit of information she gave
created no end of CONSERVATION among
the would be deliverers of The city. II
had the effect of making them all the
more reSOlute; the absolute ncceS>i
for Immediately rcgaining control in
the city was forced upon them. she
told them that Count MarlauX hal
lately received word that the Grand
Duke Paulus was likely to intervene
before many days, acting OF his own
initiative, in the belief that he could
force the government of GrauStark to
grant the railway privileges so much
desired by his country. MarlanX re-
allied that he would have to forcstail
the willy grand duke. If he were in
absolute control Of the GrauStark COY
eminent when the Russian appeared
he, and he alone, would be in a posi-
ton to deal with the situation.
"The grand duke may send n large
force of men across the border at any
time" said the countess in conclusion.
count MarlanX is sure to make a de
ciSive assault as soon rs he hears that
the movement has begun. He had
hopes Of starving them out, thus say
ing the castle from destruction, but Is
that seems unlikely his shells will
soon begin To rain in earnest upon the
dear old pile
TruXton King was listening with
wide open ears. As she finished this
drcary prediction he silently arose to
his feet and, without a word to amy
one. stalked off in the darkness. Tul-
lis looked after him and shook his head
sadly.
"Ill be happy on that fellows ac-
count when daybreak comes and We
are really at it, he said TO Prince
Dantan, who knew something of Kings
affection.
But TruXton King was not there at
daybrcdk. When he strobe ont of the
camp that night he left it behind for
ever.
rDt,n ,hF,r.r,,t, lncl- Of p1npnE ia
communicate with the occupants 81
the castle had been the source of great
distress to C.p,ain Haas. If the &c
tenders could be Informed as To II"
exact hour Of the assault from the ont
side they could do much toward its
speedy success by making a fierce scr
tie from behind their oWn walls. A
uuick dash from the castle grounds
would serve to draw MarlanX'S atten-
ton in that direction. diminishing the
force that he would send to check the
onslaught at the gates.
Truxton King had all this In mind
as he swung off down the mountain
road, having stolen past the sentries
with comparative ease. The danger
from MarlanX's scouts outside the city
was not great; they had been scattered
and beaten by Haas recruiting par
ties. He stood in more danger from
the men he would help, they who were
the watchful defenders of the castle.
1t must have been . o'clock when he
crossed the kings highway, a mile OF
more above the northern gates, and
struck down into the same thick un,
dergrowth that had protected him and
Hobbs on a memorable night not long
before.
AT 3 o'clock a dripping figure threw
up his hands obligingly and laughed
with eXullation when confronted by
startled guardsman inside the castle
walls and not more than fifty yards
from the water gate. He shouted 4
friendly cry as he advanced toward
the man. calling out his own name.
Ten minutes later he was standing
In the presence of the haggard. nerv,
racked QuinnoX. pouring into his as
tonishcd ears the news Of the coming
attack. The colonel lost no time il
routing out the sleeping guardsmer
and reserves and in sending com
mands to those already on duty at the
gates.
When the SUI peeped over the loft!
hills he saw inside the gates q rest
less. waiting company of dragons
ready for the command to ride forth.
Meantime King had crossed TIT
grounds with Colonel QuinnoX on TIL
way to the castle. He was amazed. al
most stupeied. by the devastation tina
already had been wrought. A dozen o
more balls had crashed into the facade
Yawning assures, gigantic holes. mark
ed the path of the ugly messenger
from MarlanX. Nearly all of the win
dows had been wrecked by rlhemel
who shot from the roofs of palaces il
and about the Two of til
smaller minarets were in ruins. :
huge pillar In the lower balcony wa
rome Tha terrace had been Moved IL