The Minneapolis journal., 1903-04-04

cOncea led e panderf9to "a rotten nODllty, L
in general! You've won
money by sharp play from your own
guests in your own house. You've
trapped young girls and turned them
loose afterWard upon the streets. You've
compromised women of rank and de-
manded money of them to hold your
tongue. There's been no deed SO vile, SO
foul that you wouldn't doSit for price
And now you ask Prince, Karl OF Novod-
mia for a place in his court and offer your
word of honor-honOr, forsooth!--that you
viii be his faithful subject! II a3
u II don't know. sir, why a. God, whom |
we are taught Is all WISE, allows such |
the earth; possibly for an example to men |
Of honor *of how low humaninature with |
out that honor may be brought. AS for |
Prince Karl and Us, his friends, we want |
none Of you save as an enemy. wish
Georgias joy of your loyalty.
The Austrian's hand shook. upon his |
beer mug and his face Writhed and twist
ed in snarl almost canine. He dared !
not. as Won Altdorf well knew. proVokefa
brawl in front of the Cafe de Ia Paix.
He dared not strike with the heavy beer
mug at which his fingers clutched long
ingly. He dared not even raise his voice.
with the two dapper looking sgendarmes
standing at ease half a dozen PAGES from
where he sat-. -,- NTs..~. I. .- ss.
"By heaven, you'll , pay for this!"'
he cried, softly, and his voice trembled
with rage. You'll pay for the pleasure
you like. I've got the woman, curse you!
She'll be the worse for your fine speech,
my colonel! She'll pay!'' II
Colonel Won Altdorf's face set all at once
hard and stern and his eyes glowed from
under drawn brows. - e %
mo. she WON'T said he, mo, she won't
my blackleg! What you're after is to
keep Prince Karl out of Novodnia. If you
kill.the princess there is nothing left to
prevent him from returning. If you harm
her in any littlest way you'll be bounded
over the continent Of Europe, aye, and
over as many continents as lie between
seas, till 8youre dead. You know Karl
as we'll as do Happy, with restored
and unhurt wife, he may prove a for
giving or a careless foe. but bring any
harm to this woman, and God have mercy
on your soul. Won Steinbrucke, Karl of
| nor Karps friends or servants either.~ Alb
! ductions as a political trick is all very
well, but see you to it that it goes
| further And now I'll be moving on.
| saw you here, Won Steinbrucke, and took
| it into my head to have bit of a chat
with you. The chat has been quite de-
| lightful. 1t has relieved congested
temper. Good afternoon, my adventurous
| friend-oh, and a word of warning! Stick
| to beer when you're out of an evening"
Hotter liquors muddle the judgment.
Jenkins Of Manchester tells queer tales
of you- Good afternoon, Herr Baron.''
| He caught one glance at the Austrians
| face when Jenkins of Manchester was
mentioned, and the glance seemed to
amuse him. Then he yawned slightly,
took up his stick and gloves and moved
out to the curb. :"
An omnibus bound for the Place ST..
| Michel came down the rue Auber and
! IA cd a fta fo fn,. oh
to cross the crowded boulevard. Won
Altdorf stepped upon the platform and
mounted to the Imperiale, where he sat
smiling and contented while the clumsy
vehicle rolled down the Avenue de POpera.
Herr Won Steinbrucke gazed after it with
open mouth.
CHAPTER XVIII
! Won Altdcrf changed at the foot of the
Avenue de fOpera, from the omnibus to
a cab, and came directly to the studio
in the rue Boissonade, where he told us
all that had occurred. :. ~ +
Il suppose J. was foolish to speak to the
man. he admitted, land more foolish still
to blackguard him; but it was a chance I
couldn't resist. After ALL angry though
he is. he won't dare harm the princess,
and besides, if Denis tracks him home,
we should be able to storm the place and
carry her off Tonight. -
! God send Denis doesn't lose track Of
! him. said I. q. e
"Never you fear for Denis" cried Won
Altdorf. ''Denis won't lose him. You
should have seen Denis face when we
caught sight Of the man! o, no, Denis will
track him right enough ss~ 7
/ He stopped a moment to laugh.
| "Eh,: but you should have seen Stein
brucke when was telling him my frank
opinion of his virtues! He'd have given
years of his life to brain me with his
beer mug. I'll confess that my object in
speaking to him wasn't to pick a quarrel.
I thought something might be gotten out
Of him, that he might be bought off for
a sum and the princess rescued at once.
That would have been worth while.T Still,
we shall get her away promptly. I feel
sure of that. 1t all rests with Denis and
by heaven, it couldn't rest with a better
man! OF course Steinbrucke bolted for
home the moment was out Of sight. He'd
be expecting me to come back and follow
him. That's why l took an omnibus in
stead Of cab. He could see me far down
the avenue. He'll never be thinking of
another man. Denis should be here in an
Ito his lodgings ,- .>r~. .Jf
We sat. excitedly talking the matter
over, speculating as to Denis probable
success and as to how we were to go about
a rescue, when there came knock at
the door, a. slow, timid knock.
''That will never be he,'' said I. "He
, wouldn't knock. He'd come in at once.
t I went to the door and opened it, and q
| young Fre1ichwoman asked for Monsieur
Denis. She pronounced the name after
the French fashion and for an instant
was puzzled, not recognizing it at all.
No. said l. there's no one of thai
| name here. This is Monsieur Mallory's
studlo.'' ,
L "Mais ST. si!' insisted the girl. m
Mallory, M. Denis Mallory-St. Denis.
And I remembered that Denis friends
of the Quarter called him "St. Denis.'
; told her that Denis was away at the
moment, but that we expected him
soon. and she came in to wait, saying
her business was important. She sat Il
a corner of the divan, eyeing us dlstrust
; fully and answering with yes or a NJ
to the civil questions we put.
} I : She must have once been an UNUSUAL.
beautiful girl, even for her class wher
there are many beauties, but illness 0
dissipation had followed her eyes an,
! cheeks, and drawn lines in her face. Sh
| coughed from time to time, and in eacl
Of her thin cheeks was a spot Of brigh
, color.
= "Consumption!'' observed old MacKen
zie behind his hand ''Gallopin consump
: ton! Thousands of them have it. Poo
body! she's near the end of her strength
: Then. presently. there was quick rat
, tie of wheels in the street outside, tina
iol-1 w tn ha viii