Daily Arizona silver belt., 1910-03-09
A Story of
 Crausfork
 By GEORGE BARR M'CUTCHEON
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 close of the second day nearly 5000 men were encamped above the city. Late that night John Tullis rode into camp at the head of a great company from the GanloOk province. He had retaken the town of Ganlook, seized the fortress and recruited the entire fighting strength of the neighborhood. More than that. he had unlimbered and conveyed to the provisional camp two of the big guns that stood above the gates at the fortress.
 Marlanx trained two of his big guns on the camp in the hills. From the fortress he threw many futile shells toward their place of shelter. They did no damage; instead of death they brought only laughter to the scornful camp Under cover of night the two Ganlook cannons were planted in po- sition commanding the southeastern city gate. It was the plan of the new besiegers to Lombard this gate, tear ing 1t to pieces with shot.
 The knowledge that MarlanX had no big guns except those stationed in the fortress was most consoling to Tullis and his friends. He could not destroy the castle gates with shells, except by purest chance. He could drop shells into the castle, but to hit gate twenty feet wide? Never.
 TruXton King was growing haggard from worry and loss of sleep. He could not understand the abominable, criminal procrastination. He was of a race that did things with dash and on the spur of the moment His soul sickened day by day. John Tullis, equally unhappy, but more philosoph- ical, often found him seated upon a rock at the top of the ravine, an un- lighted pipe in his fingers, his eyes in tent upon the hazy castle.
 "Cheer up. King. Our time will come," he was wont to say.
 Then came the night before the pro- posed assault on the gates. The guns were in position, and the cannonading was to begin at daybreak. TruXton was full of the bitterness of doubt and misgiving. Was she in love with yos Engo? Was the counts suit progressing favorably under the fire of the enemy? Was his undoubted bravery having it's effect upon the wavering susceptibilities of the dis. tressed Lorraine?
 The sound of voice in sharp com mand attracted his attention. There was bright moon, and Truxton could see other pickets hurrying to join the first. A few moments later several trespassers were escorted through the lines and taken directly to headquarters-a man and two wo- men. King observed.
 John Tullis was staring hard at the group approaching from the roadway. One woman walked ahead of her com panions. Suddenly he sprang forward with cry of amazement
 It was the Countess lngomede.
 Her arrival created sensation. In a moment she was in the center of an his first low. eager greeting at the edge of the fire circle, drew her near to the warmth giving flames. Prince Dantan and Captain Haas threw rugs and blankets in great heap for her to sit upon. Every one was talking at once. The countess was smiling through her tears. Make room for my maid and her father. They are colder and more fatigued than l." she said, lifting her tired. glorious eyes to John Tullis. who stood beside her. "We have come from Balak. They suffered much that I might enjoy the slender comforts 1 was so ready to share with them."
 "Thank God, you are here? he said in low, intense tones. She could not mistake the fervor in his voice nor the glow in his eyes.
 ''I knew you were here, John. I am not going back to Count Marlanx. It is ended"
 ''I knew 1t would come, lngomede. You will let me tell you how glad l am some day"
 Some day. when am truly, wholly free from him. John. l know what gou will say. and | think you know what shall say in reply" Both un- derstoCd and were exalted. No other word passed between them touching upon the thing that was uppermOst in their minds.
 Food was provided for the wayfar- CTS, 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 bali as she started across her fathers garden, and escape had be- come possible only through the aid of Josepha and the girls father Farm CTS 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