The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1910-06-02
Copyright. 1909. by George
Barr McCutcheon
Copyright. 1909, by Dodd.
Mead q Company
CHAPTER XIX-Continued

fathers garden, and ESCAPE had lr-
come possible only through the al #
Josepha and the girls father. Iarm-
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
MarlanX's plans might provide.
one bit of information she gave
created no end of CONSERVATION among
the would be deliverers of the city. Ii
had the effect of making them all the
more rcSolute; the absolute ncccS,
for Immediately rcgaining control in
the city was forced upon them. she
told them that Count MarlanX hll
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 t.
grant the railway privileges So much
desired by his country. MarlanN re
allied that he would have to forcstail
the willy grand duke. If he were in
absolute control of the Graustark GOV
eminent when the Russian appeared
he, and he alone, would be in IA posi-
ton to deal with the situation.
The grand duke may send a large
force of mel across the border at amy
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 say
ing the castle from destruction. but rs
that seems unlikely his shells Will
soon begin to rain i'm earnest upon the
dear old pile
TruXton King was listening with
wide open ears. AS she finished this
dreary prediction he silently iroSc to
his feet and, without a word to amy
one. stalkcd off in the darkness. Tul-
lis looked after him and shook his head
sadly.
I'll be happy on that fellows ac-
count when daybreak comes and we
are really at it, he said TO Prince
Dantan. who knew something of Kings
affection.
Bun TruNton King was not there AT
daybrclk. When he strobe out of the
camp that night he left it behind for
ever.
The unfortunate lack Of means lo
communicate with the occupants e.;
the castle had been the source Of @rc1i
distress to Captain Haas. If the &c
tenders could be informed as To the
exact hour If the assault from the out
side they could do much toward lis
speedy success by making Il ticrc" Sor-
tie from behind their WI walls. y
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.
Truyton King had all this In mind
as he swung off down the mountain
road, having stolen past the sentrles
with comparative ease. The danger
! from M%arlanX's scouts outside the city
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 were
| the watchful defenders of the castle.
II must have been > o'clock when he
crossed the kings highway, Il mile or
more above the northern gates, ana
! struck down into the same thick un-
dergrowth that had protected him and
Hobbs on q memorable night not long
before.
At 3 o'clock a dripping figure threw
ND his hands ~obligingly and laughed
with eXultarion when confronted by a
startled guardSman inside the castle
walls and not more than fifty yards
from the water gate. He shouted Il
friendly cry as he advanced toward
the man. calling out his oWn name.
Ten minutes later he was standing
in the presence of the ha@gard. nerve
racked Ouinnox. pouring into his as
tonished ears the news of the coming
attack. The colonel lost no time in
routing out the sleeping Suardsmen
and reserves and in sending com
mands to those already on duty at the
gates.
When the sun peeped over the lofty
hills he saw inside the gates a rest
less. waiting company OF dragons
ready for the command TO ride forth.
Meantime King had crossed the
rounds with Colonel QuinnoX on the
way to the castle. He was amazed, al
most stupefied. by the devastation that
already had been wrought. \. dozen or
more balls had crashed into the facade
Yawning assures, gigantic holes, mark
ed the path of the ugly messengers
from Marlanx. Nearly all of the win
dows had been wrecked by ifiemen
who shot from the roofs of palaces III
and about the Two OF the
smaller minarets were in ruins. n
huge pillar In the lower balcony was
gone. The terrace had heen plowed up
by a single r%icochetting shell.
Great God.' gasped King. 1T Il
frightful."