The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1910-05-14

word passed UetHeest IL eln loucu4us
upon the thing that Wis uppermost In
their minds.
Food was provided for the wayfar-
ers. and Tullis' tent WAS made ready
for the countess and her maid.
The countess story was soon told.
Sitting before the great fire, surround
ell by eager listeners. she related her
experiences
She had been seized on the night
Ct the ball as she started across her
fathers garden, and escape had be-
come possible only through the aid OF
y0sepha and the girls father Farm
crs' wives told them of the newly
formed army and of its leaders. She
determined to make her way to the
camp of those who would destroy her
husband, eager 10 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 deliyerers Of the city 1t
had the effect of making them all the
more rasolute: the absolute necessity
for Immediately regaining control in
the city was forced upon them. She
told them that Count MarlanX had
lately received word that the Grand
Duke Paulus was likely TO intervene
before many days, acting on 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 forestall
the willy grand duke. If he We're in
absolute control of the Graustark gov
ernmcnt when the Russian appeared
he, and he alone, would be in posi-
ton TO deal with the situation.
THE grand duke may send large
force of men across the border at any
time said the countess in conclusion.
Count MarIanx Is sure to make de-
cisiye assault as soon as he hears that
the movement has begun. He had
hopes of starving them out, thus saw
ing the castle from destruction but as
that seems unlikely his shells will
soon begin 10 rain In earnest upon the
dear Old pile"
Truxton King was listening with
wide open ears. As she finished this
dreary prediction he silently arose to
his feet and, without a word to any
one, staIked off in the darkness. Tul-
lis looked after him and shook his head
sadly
I'll be hap on that fellows ac-
count when daybreak comes and we
are really at it," he said to Prince
Dantan, who knew something of Kings
affIiction.
But Truxton King was not there at
daybreak When he strobe out of the
camp that night he left it behind for
ever
The unfortunate lack of means to
with the occupants of
the castle had been the source Of great
distress to Captain Haas. If the de-
tenders could be Informed as to the
exact hour of the assault from the out
side they could do much toward its
speedy success by making a fierce sor-
tie from behind their own walls A
quick dash from the castle grounds
would serve to draw MarIanx's atten-
ton III that direction, diminishing the
force that he would send to check the
onslaught at the gates.
TruXton King had all this In mind
IS he swung off down the mountain
'oad, having stolen past the sentries
with comparative ease. The danger
from Marlanx's scouts outside the city
was not great; they had been scattered
md beaten by Haas recruiting par
les He stood in more danger from
he men he would help, they who were
he watchful defenders of the castle
It must have been 2 O'clock when he /
crossed the kings highway, Il mile or
more above the northern gates. and |
struck down into the same thick I'M !
that had protected him and /
Hobbs on a memorable night not long
before
At 3 O'clock dripping figure threw /
~ his hands obligingly and laughed |
With eXultation when confronted by
startled guardsmAn inside the castle |
wallis and not more than fifty yards |
rom the water gate. He shouted a
friendly cry as he advanced toward |
he man, calling out his own name.
Ten minutes later he was standing
n the presence of the haggard. nerve
acked QuinnoX. pouring into his as
onished ears the news of the coming
tack. The colonel lost no time in /
outing out the sleeping guardsmen
nd reserves and in sending com
hands to those already on duty at the
ates
When the sun peeped over the lofty
ills he saw inside the gates a rest
ass, waiting company Of Dragons
eady for the command to ride forth.
Meantime King had crossed the
rounds with Colonel Quinnox on the
say 60 the castle He was amazed. al
loSt stupefied, by the devastation that
READY had been wrought \ dozen or
lore balls had crashed into the facade.
awning assures, gigantic holes. mark
Il the path OF the ugly messengers
rom M9rlanV Nearly all of tho win