Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-05-10

(CHAPTER-XVIu-
"Good glory, man, tell me what 1t is!
What has happened? The prince
what Of him?" cried Tullis, grasping
Kings arm in the clutch Of wise.
HE sends his love and rescinds the
order Of exile" said King. smiling,
then seriously "Marlanx has taken
the city. It was all game, this get
ting rid Of you. The prince and the
others are besieged in the castle.
Thank God. we got to you In time!
Back here couple Of miles we came
upon small gang Of robbers. We had
a bit Of shooting. and, regret to say,
no one was bagged."
"Loraine-where is she, King?"
"Don't tremble like that. old man.
She's safe enough In the castle. Oh,
1t was a fine game Marlanx had In
hts mlndn'
While the troopers were making
ready for the march Truxton King
and Hobbs related their story to
eager. Mortified groups Of officers.
Finally the battalion. augmented by
the misguided company from the de-
serted railroad camps. moved swiftly
into the detile, led by young Rabot.
Truxton King rode beside the brother
Of the girl he loved. uttering words OF
cheer and encouragement.
''The Countess Ingomede-has any
thing been heard from her"' asked
Tullis. He had been thinking Of her
for days and nights.
well. nothing definite" said King
evasively.
CHAPTER XIX.
THE RETURN.
-ROM the highlands below the
Monastery Captain Haas and
his men were able to study tho
situation in the city. The I'M
practicability Of an assault on any one
of the stubborn. well guarded gates
was at once recognized. A force OF
700 men, no matter how we'll trained
or how determined, could not be ex-
pected to surmount walls that had
often withstood the attack Of as many
thousands. The wisdom of delaying
until a few thousand loyal though
poorly armed countrymen could be
brought into play against the city ap-
pealed at once to Prince Dantan and
John Tullis.
Squads Of men were sent without de
lay into the hills and valleys to call
the panic stricken, wavering farmers
into the fold. John Tullis headed the
company that struck off into the well
populated Ganlook district.
Marlanx, as IL realizing the nature
Of the movement in the hills, began
a furious assault on the gates leading
to the castle. The watchers in the hills
could see as we'll as hear the conflict
that ragged almost at their feet. SO to
speak.
The next morning Captain Haas an
nounced to his followers that Marlanx
had begun to she'll the castle. Big
guns in the fortress were hurting great
shells over the city, dropping them in
the park. On the other hand, Colonel
Qu1nnox during the night had swung
three Calling guns to the top Of the
wall; they were stationed at intervals
along the wall; commanding every
point from which an assault might be
expected.
That night recruits from the farms
and villages began to struggle into the
camp. They were armed with rifles,
ordinary shotguns and unique blum.
derbusses, swords, slaves and aga
lances. All were willing to die in
service of the little prince. By the
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 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. 1t was the plan Of the new
besiegers to lombard this gate, tear
ing it. 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.
Tru1ton 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 phil9soph-
ical, often found him seated upon
rock at the top Of the ravine, an un-
lighted pipe in his fingers. his eyes in