The Columbus courier. [volume] (Columbus, Luna County, N.M.) 1911-1920, 1916-02-04
FOURTEENTH lNSTALLMENT
CHAPTER II.


The call to arms a as music TO
Count Frederick's ears. Leaving his
idle, added king stepped in his follies,
he hurried to tine tront.
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
set all events in train. II had been
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 G~retzhofen 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 wellmatched 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, a 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.
rs 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 a 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!" eK.
claimed the young omau
Presently the retiring troops heard
the sound OF bugles. the clatter OF
hoofs from the opposite direction:
saw the advance OF the Gretzhoffen
NfFNA Nfn Nu uhAlN utNAlFua lutN HhtUN
or now to the front. rallying their
retreating men. The leader OF the
reserves looked around for the com-
mander Of the battle: instead he saw
the figure OF a young girl fash down
the palace steps and hurry toward
them.
"Yonder!" she cried. HE is at the
front, supporting their full attack"
II was time now for the reserves.
that was sure. Close to his own thin.
ming front line, Frederick sat, from
his saddle scanning the work OF a bat.
terry hidden somewhere back of the
advance OF the Grahoffen troops.
which was raining ruin on his own
men. II vas hidden somewhere. he
could not tell where, although he
swept the line beyond with the
glasses time after time.
Al last he found II, marked II by
the smoke belched from a screen OF
green-green branches dashed to the
frames OF guns.
Count Frederick called an officer to
him, I'VE must take that battery he
said. III WI don't, in five minutes
we will be gone"
Meantime Sachio himself, bold lead.
or OF armed men, albeit s~elf.seeking
courtier, openly exulted at what
seemed to him the quick success OF
his country's arms. He held on, d.
rectly under the y OF Cortislaw him
Helf, and no unskilled soldier he now
showed himself to be.
In FIVE minutes, your majesty"
said he. we will have broken their
front There will remain nothing but
Tor US to advance"
His eye, skilled IN observation IN
such scenes. caught sight OF the
mounted figure OF Count Frederick.
leader OF the GretzhofIen arms. He
recognized him In the distance-and
quickly SEM orders 10 the oficer OF
the battery. Whether or not IL was
due to this slight change OF aim. the
next salvO from the hidden guns ac-
eomplished that which Sachio most
desired. Sachio turned his glasses
once more upon the spot where his
enemy had sat. His horse was down.
blown to pieces by the explosion OF a
she'll. and the tall figure Of Frederick
himself lay prone!
Now, forward, men!" cried Sachio.
They have broken! They will run!
Az them with the bayonet! Charged
The Grahonen troops swept for,
ward. Man to man. now. the ultimate
Issue must be determined. Il was al
this moment that. coming on at a
gailop from the protection OF the pal.
ace grounds. the reserve regiment 10