The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-02-15
THE FARMER: FEBRUARY 15, 1910

in low. intense tones. She could not mistake the fervor in his voice nor the glow ill his eyes.
 ''I knew you were here, John. I am not going back to Count Marlanx. It is ended.''
 'I knew it would come, Ingomede. You will let me tell you how glad I am some day. A
 "Some day. when I am truly, wholly free from him. John. l know what you will say. and I think you know
 what shall say in reply" Both un-
 derstood and were exalted. No other
 word passed between them touching upon the thing that was uppermost ill 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 ball as she started across her
 
 come possible only through the aid of
 Josepha and the girls father. Farm CTS wives told them of the newly formed army and of it's leaders. She determined to make her way to the camp of those who would destroy her husband, eager to give them any as- 1 s1stance that her own knowledge of
 Marlanx's plans might provide. One bit of information she gave created no end of consternation among the would be deliverers of the city. It had the effect of making them all the ! more resolute; 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- alized that he would have to forestall the willy grand duke. If he were in absolute control of the Graustark gov ernment when the Russian appeared i. he, and he alone, would be in a posi- tfon to deal with the situation. 1.-The grand duke may send a 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 as he hears that the movement has begun. He had hopes of starving them out, thus sav- ing the castle from destruction, but as that seems unlikely his shells will soon begin to rain in earnest upon the dear old pile."s
 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, stalked off in the darkness. Tul- lis looked after him and shook his head sadly.
 'I'll be happy op 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
 
 camp that night he left 1t behind for ever.
 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- lenders 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 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 l 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 1 was not great; they had been scattered and beaten by Haas recruiting par l ties. He stood in more danger from | the men he would help. they who were the watchful defenders of the castle. l It must have been 2 o'clock when he
 crossed the kings highway, mile or | more above the northern gates, and 1 struck down into the same thick un- 1 dergrowth that had protected him and 1 Hobbs on a memorable night not long 1 before.
 At o'clock dripping figure threw | up his hands obligingly and laughed
 with exultation when confronted by a startled guardsman inside the castle l walls and not more than fifty yards 1 from the water gate. He shouted a friendly cry as he advanced toward l the man, calling out bis own name. l Ten minutes later he was standing 1 in the presence of the haggard, nerve 1 racked Quinnox, pouring into his as- I tonished ears the news of the coming attack. The colonel lost no time in routing out the sleeping guardsmcn
 and reserves and in sending com
 mands to those already on duty at the l gates.
 l When the sun peeped over the lofty | hills he saw inside the gates rest
 less, waiting company of dragons
 ready for the command to ride forth. l Meantime King had crossed the
 grounds with Colonel Quinnox on the way to the castle. He was amazed, al
 most stupe6ed, by the devastation that