The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1916-02-11
cHAPTE Err L.
The Battle.


der their feet as they FASTENED toward
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
a real king"
II was even 81, 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."
NO. your majesty, have not failed.
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 coin!-by our lady II is ours!
Bring It to me closer Give it to me!
Let me see!"
THE secret is ours" said he. THE
torture chamber-the treasurer
1T lies in the northeast corner Of
the palace, deep under the walls said
Sachio. Come, Jet us march steadily.
toward the unsuspecting city of Gretz-
hotfen. 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 real
king were needed"
They met no resistance at the walls
OF Gret2hoffen itself. The armies OF
King Michael we're not in evidence.
The people of Gretzhoffen ran this
way and that. leaderluss. Where are
our forces?" they demanded. Where
is the army? Where is the king?
Where is Count Frederick
To these demands came no preseht
answer. The forces of the enemy ad
vanced along the avenues
"Yonder it lies. your majesty" said
Count Sachio, pointing tn the castle
which they approached Deep he
meath the walls yonder in the north
east corner, my eyes saw The torture
chamber OF Gretzhoffen."
Did you find the treasurer" lie
manded Cortislaw.
mo. your majesty, that was explora-
ton fit for your maiesty's hands alone.
! did not search for it. Rather, | has
tened to bring your majesty here in
your own person"
We soon shall know" said CortIs.
law. and signaled the advance.
The sound of hoofs and trampling
feet filed the streets of Gretznoffen.
Tie army OF Gretzhoffen. in close for.
nation. marched forward under the
|
ing down the main avenue which led
to the palace, they spread out by eel
umns right and left, covering the full
front of that edifce, which lay before
them hidden in its screen OF shrub
berry.
Look, your majesty" said SaChlo,
and pointed.
Through little break in the screen
ing wall OF green he saw the plume Of
a horseman. who sat motionless as
though waiting.
One OF their guards" exclaimed
Cortisaw. go take him, Stop for
nothing Press on into the palace
itself"
The front ranks broke forward, each
eager to be the first to take captive
the foeman thus discovered
Not one man. but many hundreds.
met their coming-the forces Of Gret2.
hoffen in ambush. In 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 GretZhoten forces that day
none less than Count Frederick him
self.
In such brief time as had been al.
lowed him, he had made his arrange.
ments and posted his forces in what
he conceived to be the only feasible
strategy. Now the Jaws were sprung.
Whether trap or victim should prove
the stronger was later to be known.
The bugles of Gretzhoffen. high and
clear sounded the counter-charge. The
advancing forces of Grahoffen we're
met full in the face by level sleet OF
missiles. and from their covering the
forces of Gretzhoffen sprang out, Sec
ton after section, Face to face, line
against line. the two detachments met
in the shock Of arms.
tTO BE CoNT1NUEDL r.
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