Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1916-08-03

m Were Met by q sleet Of Missiles.
their own kingdom, leaving behind
them the hefuddled 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 afeld
and well across the neutral lands
Look" cried Sachio. "Cortislaw
is afoot! By the Lord! Yonder comes
a real king"
1t was ever so. 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."
mo, your majesty, l have not falled.
I bring you success, at last"
He opened the palm which he raised
before the eyes of his king. In 1t lay
the broken half Of the Gretzhoffen
coin.
1.-THE coin!-by our lady! It is ours!
Bring it to me closer. Give it to me!
Let me see!"
1.-THE secret is ours!" said he. 1.-THE
torture chamber-the treasured"
1T lies in the northeast corner Of
the palace, deep under the walls" said
sachio. Come, let us march steadily.
toward the unsuspecting city Of Grets-
hoffen, 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 a real
king were needed"
They met no resistance at the walls
of G%retzhoffen itself. The armies Of
King Michael were not in evidence.
The people of G%retzhoffen ran this
way and that. leaderless. Where are
our forces?" they demanded. where
is the army? Where is the king?
Where is Count Frederick"
To these demands came no present
answer. The forces Of the enemy ad-
vanced along the avenues.
"Yonder it lies, your majesty" said
Count Sachio, pointing to the castle
which they approached. Deep be-
meath the walls yonder. in the north.
east corner, my eyes saw the torture
chamber of Gretzhoffen."
did you find the treasurer" de-
manded Cortislaw.
mo, your majesty, that was explora-
ton fit for your majesty's hands alone.
I did not search for 1t. Rather, has
tened to bring your majesty here in
your own person."
1--WE soon shall know" said Cortis-
law. and signaled the advance.
The sound of hoofs and trampling
feet filled the streets Of GretZho1en.
The army Of Gretzhofen, in close for
nation, marched forward under the
summons Of the buglers. Quickly pass.
ing down the main avenue which led
to the palace, they spread out by col
umns right and left. covering tho full
front of that edifice. which lay before
them hidden in it's screen of shrub.
berry,.
Look, your majesty" said sachlo,
and pointed.
Through a little break in the screen
ing wall of green he saw the plume OF
a horseman. who sat motionless az
though waiting.
"One of their guards!" exclaimed
Cortislaw. go take him. Stop fol
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 Crete
hoffen in ambush. In the first from
the picked men of the guard had beer
stationed under the screening shrub
berry by the actual commander in chic
of the Gretzhoffen 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 wha
he conceived to be the only feasible
strategy. Nov the Jaws were sprung
Whether trap or victim should prov
the STRONGER was later to be known.
The busles of Gretzhofen, high ant
clear, sounded the counter.charge. TIL
advancing forces of Grahoffen wer,
met full inssthe face by a level sleet o
missiles, and from their covering tn
forces Of G~fetzhoffen sprang out, SEE
ton after Section. Face to face. lin
against line. the two attachments me
in the shock of arms.
cTo BE coNr1NUEDa
ri r