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

from the common to the gates. 1t was
q strange coincidence that Marlanx
should have chosen this day for his
eliminating assault ON the castle. The
skirmish at daybreak had hurried his
arrangements no doubt, but none the
less were bis plans complete. The ex-
plosives had been laid during the night.
The fuses reached to the mouth of the
tunnel across the common. AS he
swept up the avenue at the head of
his command, hawk faced and with
glittering eyes, he. snarled the COM
mand that put fire to the fuses.
A moment later his vanguard stream.
ed through the aperture and faced the
deadly fire from the driveway.
At last they began to advance across
the grassy meadow. When one man
fell under the fire Of the guardsmen
aEother rushed into his place. Three
times the indomitable Graustarkians
drove them back and as often did Mar
lana drag them up again, exalted by
the example he set.
Cad, he is a soldier" cried Trux-
ton. Hello! There's my friend Bru-
tus. He's no coward either. Here's
try for you, Brutus."
He dropped to his knee and took de-
uberate aim at the frenzied henchman
The discovery that there were three
bullets in Brutus' breast when he was
picked up long afterward did not af-
feet the young mans contention that
his was the one that had found the
heart
The fall of Brutus urged the Iron
Count to greater fury. His horse had
been shot from under him. He was
on his feet, calling to his men to fol
low him as he moved toward the stub
born row 90 green and red. Bullets
Kissed about his ears. but he gave no
heed to them.
The commander of the guard gave
the command to fall back slowly to-
ward the castle.
! Firing at every step, they crossed
the parade ground and then made a
quick dash for the shelter of the long
3 balconies. Marlanx. down in the pa
0 rade ground, was fairly pushing his
men into the jaws of death.
e Truxton Kings chance to pay his
r debt to Vos Engo came after one Of
" the fiercest, most determined charges
] The young count had been fighting
l. desperately for some time. His weak
ness seemed to have disappeared. As
z the foe fell back In the face Of des
p perate resistance Vos Engo sprane
G down the steps and rushed after them
p calling others to join him In the at
= tempt to complete the rout. Near thu
IS edge Of the terrace he stopped. HI.
e leg gave way under him, and he fel
J. to the ground. Truxton saw him fall
IS He leaped over the low balustrade
!, dropping his hot rifle. and DASHED
Q across the terrace to his rivals assist
ance A hundred men shot at him.
d ITS my turnv shouted the Amerl
d can. "I'll square it up if l can. The
A we're even.
He seized the wounded man in hi
t. strong arms. threw him over his shou
der and staggered toward the steps.
Release me, curse your shrieke
Vos Engo, striking his rescuer in til
face with his fist.
1e "I'm saving you for another day
er said King as he dropped behind tn
in balustrade with his burden safe.
n There were other witnesses to Tru,
ne tons rash act. In lofty window {
the north wing crouched a white face
De girl and grim old man. The latte
os held q rifle in his tense though feeb
e. old hands. Now and then the old ma
ee would sight his rifle and fire. The 81
to who crouched beside him was there {
ne designate certain figure in the eve
D. changing mass of humanity on tt
he bloody parade ground. Her clear eye
sy sought for and found MarlanX her III
re wavering finger pointed him out to IL
1T old marksman.
he She saw Vos Engo fall. Then a tai
,rt well known figure sprang into vieN
dashing toward her wounded love
es Her heart stopped beating. With hi
,st hands to her temples she leane
rs far over the window ledge ar
nd "a