The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-03-17

lhI ~
to 1T, despite the firm square paw be-
meath. His smile was the smile Of a child
II have never known any one who could
resist it-but sabout his eyes were circles
and lines of, i'll living that never would
be wholly erased.
'Mais tenez, tenez!'' cried the patronne
at last. laughing and holding her ears.
"Allez vous en-, M. Mallory! Yous MEM
.barrasez.
The tall young man turned away with
a gloomy wave of the hand and gazed
abstractedly down the room. He caught
my eye for a moment and bowed with an
impressive dignity.
Drunken swine!" growled Mackenzie.
who is hep"
Why" said I. looking after the tall
young man who had seated himself at one
of the little tables by the opposite wall.
why, he's queer lot. a most uncom-
mon queer lot. His name is Mallory,
Denis Mallory, and he comes. I'm told of
very good family indeed somewhere in
Ulster He's Irish of course He
was a Sub. in a cavalry regiment at one
time but he got himself into some sort
OF scrape, ran up debts that his gov
ernor couldn't or wouldn't pay off. and he
had to sell out. Il fancy it broke him up
good bit, made him lose his grip for he's
been pretty fairly hard lot ever since.
u. .
been the approved type Of soldier Of for
tune for the most part-the sort you read
about In the story books He's fought
from Venezuela to South Africa and from
the Sudan to China. There's no doubt
that he's good soldier, and I greatly
fear there's little doubt that he's good
nothing else. Yes. he's the approved type
of Chevalier d'Industrie, such as you read
of. with the difference that he's no better
off for his adventures The story book
heroes have always q breast covered with
medals. and fortune amassed. Poor
Mallory has neither. suppose there's no
man in Paris to-day who has fought in
more little wars, braved more diverse dan
gers-or made love to more women. and
yet he's what you see over there a dis
solute young reprobate with the soul of
a poet. the tongue Of an angel the record
| or a Cesar de Bazan, and seldom a franc
to bless himself with, He ekes out hand
to mouth existence, I'm told, by writing
sketches for some London journal. Aye
aye. he's queer lot. most uncommon
queer lot! Every one knows him here,
and every one despises him, and yet-why
| curlously enough, every one has sneak
ing fondness for him too. He's a rogue
if you like, but a debonair rogue, it. can't
be denied Moreover, he's not scoun-,
drel, you'll understand, dissipated though
he be. He's STILL in a way, a gentleman.
No one ever knew. him to lie or take an
unfair advantage"
Mackenzie shook heavy head. .
"A wasted life" said he. "A man O.
parts to wreck himself for the love o.
excitement an drink. IT'S a sad case
| - Colonel Won Altdorf was leaning for
ward, elbows upon the little table among
the glasses, and fingers absently stroling
his gr1zzled moustache There was a
curious expression upon his face-a most
curious expression. His eyes, narrowed
a bit, were upon young Denis Mallory
across the room.
All at once his thought burst upon my
mind 1t was as if he had spoken it by
word | met his eyes excitedy, and for
an instant the thing seemed possible.
Our man." said Won Altdorf, quietly.
"Ah, no, no.! I cried. 'He-he
Wouldn't do. Why, man, it's almost a
blackguard's trick, imposing upon a help
less woman so. I've told you that he's
still In a, way gentleman. He'd never
play trick upon woman. No, no, it's
out OF the question. I was mad to sug-
gest such a scheme. it couldn't be done
, Mallory wouldn't do it anyhow
It's got to be done,'' said Colonel Won
Atldorf from between closed teeth. 81
tell you we're in a desperate way. It's
: playing trick upon a woman to save her
reason. You don't appreciate the state
, she's In. It's a desperate game, but it's
the only one to be played, and your young
adventurer yonder is the man to play it.
and what responsibility there is will be
shared amongst us all. If he plays the
part it's we who lead him to it, And the
lady shall be told the truth SO soon as
she's able to bear it," ,
I took a long breath.
: Its not to my liking" said I, but ]
caught young Mallory's eye across the
room, and raised a reckoning hand.
= lie came over to cur table a bit unstead-
lily, tackin< as before, like a yacht in a
heavy sea, and stood with hand upon
the back of chair, smiling down upon us
! all. the CHEEKY, confidential smile of intox.
: ication-save that with him it had a GER
tain personal quality, magnetism, sor
Of sweetness.
MALLORY" said I, IT want to presen
! Colonel Won Altdorf of the Novodnian ser
- vice" Young Mallory bowed easily tt
Sir Gavin and saluted Won A1tdorf with al
s instructive drawing up, a stiffenng int
, military carriage Then he lurched int,
J., a chair and smiled again. ~
"A congress O n-nations. gentlemen,
e said he. "A conference O. the Powers
II Pom my-1ny faith you'll not find fou
n table every day. Scotland-'' Fl
a beamed groggily upon Sir Gavin. "Hoots
! mon. will We no dance us a f1ing?"
T. Mackenzie stiffened in his chair. but
- hacked at his shins under the table an,
IS he sank back again.
80 A1iiSie'llu, oolu yOullS NdllOIy, AM
p wagged a sorrowful head at me- ooh
W man, had you the sins o. your countr
lie upon your head this night, it's heav,
If you'd be! Novodnia-may she never fat
l. ten the white bears BELLY" There was
fervent amen from Won Altdorf. IAN
old Ireland. God bless her green shores
What! drink, did you say. Creighton
No man can boast he's heard me cry ma
to that call. A little wine for me stom
ach's sake. Egad. it's naught else Nv
had for me stonachs sake since the NOR
ming. He. garcon, make that wine alb
'e sinthe. Pernod. man, an look sharp! Tr
d in need of it," 49, =
Great heaven, Mallory" said 1, I'd
q YOU mean to say you've eaten. nothin
since morning? You're drinking on a
- empty stomach? Why. it's suicide! AT
le slnthe, too, and in the evening. Her.
ry garcon, garcon. deux sandwiches DOT
We monsieur, tout finstant!" & IL n F..
40 He fell upon the sandwiches when the
us came. most ravenously, huge, thick an
y unpaatabe though they were. and neve