The Washington herald., 1915-12-26

ture and Kin % You S tSia time. n Run 10 away saH
she "ie .snt the ieSs letter IN to o'ms sse noun
sains by the hand Of a man who she
s:.. :s Gi &. s.ss..a s.S:
~ ana Drought back an answer.
The Russian military men-no
lovers Of the okhrana that always
, them Of the fruit OF ali their toll
made up their minds to strike fast
and hard before the gathering storm
dared defy this woman; and the
thought of rehabilitation in their own
the army's-and Persia's eyes was
She was present when they made
their plan to send two regiments and
battery: and though she did NOT
agree to II she contented herself by
smiiins automatically and saying moth
Ing more against IT. Later she wrote
another note to Dick hnd sent it by
second messenger. Dick received
the Russian force marched out Of
tAstrabad. he made his move.
He had seven hundred mounted men
than ns's tbonsoDs opsTs sn There hS were more
| with the steady thunder that be-
tokens spirit as well as drill And
there wese fourteen hundred new john
ed infantry who might be counted on
to help winning side, but who would
only handicap him In the case Of a
Two letters from the princess and
one from her maid sought Dick among
the hills and kept ahead of the ad-
vaneing Russians; while Dick marched
pushed the men the 3e ssss sSssss l.s sptnd s@
| weary limit.
When he reached at last the lowest
spur that overlooked the plain and
through heat haze in the distance.
Usbeg Ali rode ahead to tell him the
exact condition Of the force.
] dred are not nine.'
Men who can march can generally
been. bahadur. to have rushed the city
now. at once; while it is unprepared
and, and before those soldiers can come
/ weary. and the horses limp
said picE rest sse to today and tonsht
How far back was II that a hundred
ni.y and twenty men fell out in body all
That was last night. twenty miles
"Ay: They are good men. They swore
stragglers and then follow. will you
charge Of those men: Make all the
noise you can and seem to be as big
a force as possible-extend your men.
you can. But. when your meff want to
run. let them: make 1t retreat. il
you can, and not a rout. but let them
run and draw the Persians in pursuit.
, Then we will descend from this side
stand me-"
Perfectly. bahadur.."
Then. goodby, Usbeg Air
A little after dawn Dick. watching
through his glasses. made out Usbeg
All riding at the head of somewhere
led as he noted the formation.
Astrabad gave early warning of the
tricks success. Dust rose above the
house walls and betrayed the march
ing companies that concentrated in a
hurry to oppose Csbeg Ali
Dick-descending an hour later at
the head of long. extended line. and
making no noise-was not observed
trabad was less than that between
the Russians and the city. The Rus
slams and Usbeg Ali were engaged and
and hnt Of f9ssb 81 gsiopps
Russian line warned Dick that he had
He sent all his infantry. and Andrv
aid. taking the Russians on their
flank and forcing them to stand or
else be routed Then. like an avalanche
be left. and only thoughtful Of the
end In view-he launched himself at
the head of his horsemen and swept
straight on Astrabad.
ized that Dick was really headed for
the city. Andry's machine gun had
added its hell .tutter to the rest. and
comers and placed himself at the head
of the whole advancing force After
that there was nothing for the Rus
SLAMS but grim. determined stand IL
they hoped for less than rout or else sur
render.
And while they lay to fire. and Sc,
themselves doggedly to show mere
cover a setback. Dick galloped past
them out of range-rode on, and on
to the city gate. He had expected to
ans f9 R tsks @se tes fos gSts but Psfs!ans R
"Zindabad Dick Anthony shah"
There was never a king returning
from conquest who received a greater
ovation or gladder one than Dick
There was no need for Dick TO waste
time visiting the Russian barracks,
nor any need for threats; the Persians
ioeked to him. begging to be given
"Horses!" he demanded: and they
ran to bring all the Russian horses
they could find.
Ammunition"
broke down the doors of Russian
magazines and piled the contents on
Russian wagons.
Then he led his column through the
streets past the palace where the prin-
cess and her maid still stood before
the door.
Help" they screamed. Help" And
again. since they were women and he
gentleman. he took notice of them
coming to a halt.
will you leave US to the mercy of
the mob" asked the princess.
He recognized the Certainty of what
would happen should he leave the Rus
but he rode close to the steps and
took the princess underneath the
arms. She sprang. and he swung her
up in front of him.
My king!' she murmured. as he
wheeled HIS horse, but he did not
seem to hear: he was watching a Per-
sian horseman gather up her maid
the next ten minutes the Princess Olga
Karageorgoyich was much too busy
keeping still and clinging to find
breath for words or brain for choos-
ing them.
Dick stopped outside the city long
enough to let them bring a mount each
for the princess and her maid. He
helped the princess spring into the
DO you see that hili." he asked,
pointing to the north to where the
Atrak river marked the distant bound
airy of Russia.
YES" she said quietly-evidentIy
not expecting what was coming next
Ride to it and wait there! Make
Your countrymen-or as many as are
left alive of them-wfll ioip yofr fhara