The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1915-10-22

len Were Met by Sieet OF Missiles.
their own kingdom, leaving behind
them the befuddled monarch who had
no idea that he had entertained such
| vipers.
They never reached the confines OF
Grahoffen kingdom; instead they met
the army of Cortislaw already afield
and well across the neutral lands
Look" cried Sachio "Cortislaw
is afoot! BY the Lord! Yonder comes
real king"
1t was even so. Soon they were
among the advance guards, the Skin
| mishers of the main force, which were
advancing. In time they were 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 he
grimly regarded that nobleman. You
have failed again?''
mo, your majesty, I have not failed.
1 bring you success, at 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 coini-by our lady! 1t is oursi
Bring it to me closer. Give it to mel
Let me seei"
"The secret is ours" said he 1.-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
strong, and now weaker than his wont
at a time when all the forces of a 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 king?
Where is Count Frederick"
To these demands came no present
answer. The forces of the enemy ad,
vanced along the avenues.
"Yonder it lies, your majesty" said
Count Sachio, pointing to the castle
which they approached. Deep be
meath the walls yonder. in the north
east corner, my eyes saw the torture
chamber of Gretzhoffen."
Did you find the treasurer" de-
manded Cortislaw.
mo, your majesty, that was explora~
ton fit for your majesty's hands alone
did not search for it. Rather, has
tened to bring your majesty here in
your own person"
I'VE soon shall know" said Cortfs-
aw, and signaled the advance.
The sound of hoofs and trampling
'eet filled the streets of Gretzhoffen.
The army of Gretzhoffen, in close for
nation, marched forward under the
summons of the buglers. Quickly pass
ng down the main avenue which led
o the palace, they spread out by col
INNS right and left, covering the full
ront of that edifice, which lay before
hem hidden in its screen of shrub
ery.
Look, your majesty" said Sachio,
nd pointed.
Through little break in the screen
1g wall of green he saw the plume of
horseman who sat motionless az
hough waiting.
One of their guards" exclaimed
ortislaw. go take him. Stop for
othing. Press on into the palace
SELF
The front ranks broke forward, each
ager to be the first to take captive
lie foeman thus discovered.
Not one man, but many hundreds,
let their coming-the forces of Gretz-
offen in ambush. In the first front
lie picked men Of the guard had been
ationed under the screening shrub
cry by the actual commander I'm chief
the Gretzhoffen forces that day
,ne less than Count Frederick HIM
IT,
In such brief time as had been al
wed him, he had made. his arrange
ents and posted his forces In what
J conceived to be the only feasible
rategy. Now the jaws we're sprung.
neither trap or victim should prove
e stronger was later to be known
The bugles of Gretzhoffen, high and
ear, sounded the counter-charge The
vancing forces of Grahoffen were
st full in the face by a level sleet Of
ssiles, and from their covering the
rces of Gretzhoffen sprang out, sec
N after section. Face to face; line
ainst line, the two detachments met
the shock OF arms.
Go BE CONTINUEQk