The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1915-10-29
FOURTEENTH iNSTALlMEMT
CHAPTER Il.
The Last Arbitramcnt.

Count Frederick's ears. Leaving his
idle, added king stepped in his follies
he hurried to the front.
The army was ready enough to put
itself under his control; recognized
him as the one ruler in all the realm
His quick orders, supplementing the
arrangements of the day before, soon
his plan to mask his men deep within
the town; and, as has been said, the
Jaws of the trap now were sprung.
The charge of the forces of King
Cortislaw was met by the counter
shock of the Gretzhoffen arms Fred.
erick's forces sprang forward with the
enthusiasm of troops long in leash
and swept back the invaders. For a
few moments the two lines writhed
here and there in deadly embrace, as
two well-matched wrestlers, neither
having the advantage.
Deep within the palace Kitty had
forgotten her errand in the greater
import of these sudden events. The
coin had done all this-it was indeed
a thing of omen, thing of destiny.
She peered from the palace win
dows here and there, seeking to gain
some knowledge of the fray. Now and
then a wounded man limped back.
Others came, carried by the litter
bearers of the palace. Defeat was at
hand for the defenders of the palace
'Is there no hope, them" she de-
manded of one of the high officials of
the household. "Where are our re-
serves? See, our men can hold them
no longer-they must have help. or all
IS lost
The official, thus adjured. pulled
himself together for moment of
thought.
YES" he exclaimed, there is a
regiment held In reserve back Of the
palace, toward the water front"
Then summon them at once!" ex-
claimed the young woman.
Presently the retiring troops heard
the sound of bugles, the clatter of
hoefs from the opposite direction;
saw the advance of the Gretzhoffen
reserves so badly needed. Theysswept
on now to the front rallying their
retreating lnen. The leader Of the
reserves looked around for the COM
mander of the battle; instead he saw
the figure of a young girl flash down
them.
"Yonder!" she cried. "He is at the
front, supporting their full attack"
1t was time now for the reserves,
that was sure. Close to his own thin
ding front tine, Frederick sat, from
his saddle scanning the work of bat
.ery hidden somewhere back of the
which was raining ruin ION his own
men. It Was hidden somewhere, he |
could not tell where, although he |
Iwept the line beyond with the /
glasses time after time.
At last he found it, marked 1T by
he smoke beiched from a screen of
yreen-green branches dashed to THE
raHes of guns.
Cant Frederick called an officer to
lin. I'VE must take that battery he
aid. "If We don't, in five minutes
70 will be gone"
Meantime Sachio himself, bold lead
r of armed men, albeit self-seeking
ourtier, openly exulted at what
eemed to him the quick success of
is country's arms. He held on, di- 6
sctly under the eye OF Cortislaw him
elf, and no unskilled soldier he now 4
bowed himself to be. liz
I'm five minutes, your majesty"
lid he, I'VE will have broken their !
ont There will remain nothing but G
II US to advance"
His eye, skilled In observation in
lch scenes, caught sight of the
ounted figure of Count Frederick,
ader OF the Gretzhoffen arms. He
cognized him IN the distance-and
lickly sent orders to the officer OF
. battery. Whether or not it was ]
le to this slight change of aim, the II
ut salvo from the hidden guns &C. Il
mplished that which Sachio most II
sired. Sachio turned his glasses o
ce more upon the spot where his s.
envy had sat. His horse was down, u
own to pieces by the explosion OF q 10
ell, and the tall figure of Frederick
mself lay prone! tt
Now, forward, men!" cried Sachio. tn
hey have broken! They will run! tn
them with the bayonet! Charged" on
rhe Grahof5en troops swept for XII
I'd. Man to man, now, the ultimate
ue must be determined. 1t was at til
. wosnen& that, coming on at a II
~ from Il > protection of the pal m
grexnds y reserve regiment de- st