The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1910-02-03

upou the tnlng tnat was uppermO6C 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
ed by eager listeners. she related her
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 aid Of
Josepha and the girls father. Farm
ers' 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 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. 1t
had the effect Of making them all the
more resolute; the absolute necessity
for Immediately regaining control in
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-
OliZa1 that ho u,nr1d bova 60 foroctou
the 81 ly grand duke. If he We're in
absolute control of the Graustark gov
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 large
force of men across the border at any
time" said the countess in conclusion.
Count Marlanx is sure to make de-
cisive 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 to 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 word to any
one. stalked off in the darkness. Tul-
lis looked after him and shook his head
sadly.
I'LL be happy on that fellows &C.
count when daybreak comes and we
are really at it," he said to Prince
Dantan, who knew something of Kings
afiliction.
But Truxton King was not there at
dAybreak. When he strobe out Of the
| camp that night he left it behind for
over.
| The unfortunate lack Of means to
communicate 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 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 cit!
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 wer'
the watchful defenders of the castle.
1t must have been o'clock when III
crossed the kings highway. a mile o
more above the northern gates, ant
struck down into the same thick un
dergrowth that had protected him ant
Hobbs on q memorable night not lOni
before.
Ats o'clock a dripping figure threw
up his hands obligingly and laughe'
with exultation when confronted by
startled guardsman inside the castl
walls and not more than fifty yard
from the water gate. He shouted
friendly cry as he advanced towar
the man. calling out his own name.
Ten minutes later he was standin
in the presence of the haggard, nerv
racked Quinnox, pouring into his az
tonished ears the news of the comm
attack. The colonel lost no time /
routing out the sleeping guardsme
and reserves and in sending con
; mands to those already on duty at tn
gates.
When the sun peeped over the loft
. hills he saw inside the gates a res
less, waiting company of dragon
ready for the command to ride forth.
Meantime King had crossed tn
. grounds with Colonel Quinnox on th
way to the castle. He was amazed, a
, most stupefied, by the devastation thu
. already had been wrought. A dozen
= more balls had crashed into the facad
Yawning assures, gigantic holes. mari
ed the path of the ugly messenger
u from MarlanX. Nearly all of the vii