The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-04-03
The Garden Of Lies
By Justus Miles Forman
Copyright 1902 by Frederick A. stokes Company.
CHAPTER XVI,

i =
CHAPTER xvi.
We sat, as was still our custom in the
studio, the five of us, Mackenzie and the
prlnce-your pardon, princes surely have
precedence over birthday knights-the
prince and Mackenzie, then, Won Altdorf,
Denis and l.
The prince wore an eager and happy
ar, albeit tritte nervous, for he was at
last to have his interview with the Prin-
cess Eleanor that evening. Colonel Won
Altdorf's habitual anxiety seemed to have
left him in view of his masters prospec-
tive departure for Novodnia. Denis, with
somewhat pallid cheek and a patch of
plaster over one temple, witness of last
nights work, seemed much as ever,
though silent and smiling little
l. was telling them of my meeting with
Herr Won Steinbrucke, and Of Won Stein
bruckes boasts that his mission in Paris
was in two or three days to be fulfilled.
but in less than two or three days."
said Won Altdorf, 1.-The prince will be far
from Paris and we'll on his way. to No
Vodnia, thank God! Steinbrucke is too
late for once in his life" and he lay back
in his chair with a sigh of relief.
Then. before any one could answer him.
there came from outside swift footsteps,
as OF one running, and a noise at the
! door as if some one had fallen against it.
l. who sat nearest, sprang to the door and
threw it open and then fell back with a
cry Of alarm.
The woman who chung to the doorway
white and shaking, gasping for breath,
/ was Miss Jessica Mannering. She wore
no hat, and the hair was blown loose about
her face. Her eyes were very wide ana
terror-stricken and her breath came in
great dry sobs as if she had been run
ming a long distance.
She pushed by me into the room.
q ''They've got the--princess!' she cried
K weakly. They've got the-princess! o.
= Thnxy' Two
princess!' She dropped down suddenly
I upon the floor by the great divan and her
head fell forward among the cushions.
The prince, Won Altdorf and Macken-
zie sat in their chairs like dead men. star
3 ing. And l stood by the open door, say
ing over and over with a tongue that took
no heed of itself. They've got the prin-
cess! They've got the princess!'
But Denis sprang quickly to the girls
side and raised her head in his arms. His
face was keen and eager and alert. Ills
eyes seemed almost glad, flashed with
& their old quick fire he bent over Miss
. Mannering.
The girls head moved weakly back and
forth upon his shoulders, and her eyellds
I futtered. She had not tainted, but she
was periously near it,
Mallorys face rose with jerk.
1.-The flask, lad" said he. "Look
z sharp"
j 1 forced my stubborn legs from their
4 trance at last and brought him a flask
from the mantel-shef. He forced some
Z of the liquor between the girls teeth, and
a her eyes opened slowly, and a bit of
4 color came to her cheeks.
That's better!' said Denis, smiling
down cheerfully, that's better! Just a
bit more, now
/. 'Oh, they've gothic Princess!' she
whispered, and turned her face with a lit
# tie moan SO that it was hidden against
s his breast.
"Aye!' said Denis, soft as a woman
81 AYE, we know, we know. Never you
Il fear! Wen get her back-just a DROP
d more before you begin. Now then!'
The girl raised herself, holding to his
arm, till she was half upon her knees
half resting against him. His arm held
her waist, and her head lay against his
shoulder. She was still very weak an6
trembling and GREATNESS.
"They-they took her-away in-in {
cab" she whispered. "They told her
a lying tale about-about the prince.
was away-shopping. I reached home
only a few moments ago, and-and thu
servants told me-
She paused, breathless, and took a sill
from the flask that Denis held to her lips
"A man came-came to the house-th
4 servants say, a tall fair man with al
n eye-glass-'
III "Von steinbrucke, damn him. erie,
5fE the prince.
a Denis held up warning hand.
Al "-and-and said that the-Princ
II was very-ill had been hurt in carriag
d accident and might-die, that he wa
lying in his apartments and that Colone
Won Altdorf was-was with him. TIL
= man said that the prince begged sh
81 would-come to him at once-before h
Il died.
4 "Oh, what trick!'' groaned the prince
81 his hands over his face. "What a damn
e. able blackguardly~ trick!' . -"
n "-She--she waited only to take
i wrap and a hat and-went with him. H
had carriage waiting. The servants sa
there was one other man in. the carriage
4 a smaller man. They-they drove ava
h quickly--and thats-that's all! Oh, M
/ Mallory! Think Of her in those men
| clutches! Can't you save her?" and tt
= poor young woman broke down in a mo:
\ piteous fit of weeping with her face upo
I'll Mallorys shoulder.
&s Save her?" he cried gently, strokin
Eg the loosened black hair, why, yes, We
n of course. we'll save her! Never fea
"A We'll save her right enough II =. -