Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1915-09-17


tneir own kingdom. leaving behind
them the befuddlod monarch who had
no idea that he had entertained such
vipors.
They never reached the confines OF
Grahoifen kingdom: instead they met
the army OF Cortislaw already afield
and well across the neutral lands
Look cried sachio "Cortislaw
is afootl by the Lord Yondor comes
a real king
II was even so. soon they were
among the advance guards. the skir-
mishers of the main force, which were
advancing. In time they we're brought
to the bodyguard of the king himself.
for Cortislaw marched with his men.
after the fashion OF monarchs of old
He had put all his fortunes to the test
that day.
What sachio" he said. as no
grimly regarded that nobleman. You
have failed againT'
"No. your majesty. have not failed
I bring you success. az last"
He opened the palm which he raised
before the eyes OF his king. In It lay
the broken half OF the Gretzhoffen
coin.
THE coinl--by our lady! II is ours!
Bring II to me closer. Give II TO mel
Let me seel"
"The secret is ours =. said he. "The
torture chamber-the treasured"
1T lies in the northeast corner of
the palace. deep under the walls" said
sachio. Come. let US march steadily.
toward the unsuspecting city OF Gretz-
hoffen, governed by an added king
too far gone in his cups to suspect
danger of any sort--a king never
1 strong. and now weaker than his wont
at time when all the forces OF real
king were needed"
They met no resistance at the walls
OF Gretzhoffen itself. The armies OF
King Michael were not in evidence.
The people of Gretzhoffen ran this
way and that, leaderless. where are
our forces?" they demanded. where
is the army? Where is the king3
Where is Count Frederick"
To these demands came no present
answer. The forces OF the enemy ad-
vanced along the avenues.
"Yonder II lies, your majesty" said
Count Sachio. pointing to the castle
which they approached Deep be-
meath the waijs yonder. In the north
east corner. my eyes saw the torture
chamber of Gretzhoifen."
1 nd thsa arna An-
manded Cortislaw
mo, your majesty. that was explora-
ton at for your majesty's hands alone.
did not search for II. Rather. I has
tened to bring your majesty here in
your own person"
I'VE soon shall know" said Cortis.
law and signaled the advance.
The sound of hoofs and trampling
feet filed the streets of Gretzhoffen.
The army OF Gretzhoffen In close for
nation, marched forward under the
summons OF the buglers Quickly pass.
ing down the main avenue which led
to the palace, they spread out by col
umns right and left. covering the full
front of that edilice, which lay before
them hidden in its screen OF shrub
berry.
Look. your majesty" said Sachio.
and pointed.
Through little break IN tho screen
ing wall OF green he saw the plume OF
a horseman, who sat motionless as
though waiting
One OF their guardsw exclaimed
Cortislaw. Go take him Stop for
~noshing. Press on into the palace
ITSELF
The front ranks broke forward each
eager TO be the FIRST 70 take captive
the foeman thus discovered
Not ono man. but many hundreds.
met their coming--the forces OF Gretz-
honen in ambush. Ia the first front
the picked men Of the guard had been
stationed under the screening shrub.
berry BY the actual commander in chief
OF the Gretzhoifen forces that day~-
none less than Count Frederick him
self.
IN such brief time as had beer al.
lowed him he had made Hts arrange
7 ments aud posted his forces in what
he conceived TO be the only Feasible
Htratogy. Now the jaws woro sprung
Whether trap or victim should prove
the stronger was later to DO known
The hugles os Ggetzhoffen. high aDd
clear soundod tho counter-charge The
advancing forces OF Grahoffen were
met full in the face by level sleet OF
missiles, and from their covering the
forces OF Gretzhofen arrang out, sec
tion after section. Face TO face, line
against line, the two detachments met
IN the shock OF arms.