The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-08-18

At signal from Eleanor the young
mans chains were knocked OF him
he was taken up into the castle, where
he was washed and fed and armed for
a soldier The next day he met Eleanor
hurrying through the courtyard and
said 10 her:
Good lady, have | your permission
TO point out to you certain weak points
In the CASTER
You have"
Taking her TO part of the wall he
showed her that it was ready to tum-
BILE. Then, in the armory, he convinced
der that most Of the weapons were
blunt and certain armor had rusted till
1t could be punctured with a wooden
, sword. Leading her here and there, he
showed her various imperfectons, and
she gave orders that they should be
made good.
Going to her father, she asked him
who was to lead In the defense. He
replied that he would command. Then
she told him about the released prison
er who had noticed the deficiencies and
suggested that he be made second In
command since he seemed 70 have been
trained for soldier and there were no
leaders among the defenders Of the
castle. The king said that he cared
not who was second In command, for
all must obey his own orders. But 1t
made no difference, he added, who
commanded since defeat was inevi-
table.
When Eleanor told Harold that he
would command under her father he
said to her:
Thanks. lady, for an opportunity to
crack crowns with this handy legged,
red headed usurper. If we do not
knock the circlet of his head and the
scepter out of his hand. then die here
in Gloucester castle"
This encouraged Eleanor, though she
did not understand what he meant by
cracking crowns, nor could she account
for his desire to defeat a man in whose
ranks he had fought. But she was so
intent on saving the kingdom from the
enemy that she gave no thought to any
thing else.
Harold at once took charge of all
preparations. In this he was not sub
Ject to interference. for the old king
was lamenting his fate In his apart
ments. At last the army Of Conrad
was seen marching in the valley. and
when it REACHED the bottom of the hill
on which Gloucester castle was situat-
ED the men encircled 1t, and 1t was evil
dent that II they did not take 1t by
storm they would starve the garrison
into subsection.
The king Of Gloucester came out clad
in suit Of armor, but it was too heavy
for his reduced strength. He stumbled
and fell under its weight and was car
ried back to his room. This gave Har-
old full control. He gave Eleanor his
plan. 1t was to act so that the invad-
ers would believe that they had only
to take their ease for q short time
and their enemies would have to sur
render for want Of provisions. When
they seemed most confident Harold
would strike.
So he sent deputation to say that
since they had but five days provisions
the men of Gloucester must surrender
and to ask what terms would be grant
ed. Conrad said that he would grant
no conditions. The deputation return
ed In the evening" and Conrad expected
to receive a surrender the next day.
Till midnight he and his army made
the night ring with song and shouting.
They had not finished carousing when
the castle clock struck 2. Slowly the
portcullis was raised. the drawbridge
(the chains had been oiled to prevent
a rattle) let down, and the little army
Of Gloucester, led by Harold, silently
emerged and, dividing into four bands,
bore down from the four points Of the
compass upon the men of Conrad and
with a yell began to stab and hack
those who were sober enough to resist
them and cut down those who attempt
ed to rise.
Harold had noted the tent of Conrad.
and while the usurper, half drunk, was
endeavorlng to get on his arms the late
prisoner raised his sword and brought
it down, cleaving his enemy's shoulder.
Conrad was felled by the blow, and
Harold, standing over him with raised
sword, said:
Il am Harold, king OF Warwick,
come to avenge the death of my father.
came from exile and without being
known Joined your retainers as they
were setting out to fight my fathers
old enemy Of Gloucester. came to
watch my opportunity for vengeance
on you. 1t has come"
When Conrad was killed bis army
was fleeing down the hill. As soon as
they heard that their leader was dead
they gave up all hope of getting safely
back to Warwick and expected to pass
the rest OF their lives In the dungeons
Of Gloucester. In the morning Harold
rode down to them and. calling them
together, announced himself as their
legitimate king. Conrad had been hat
| "a nv them and they received Harold