The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-03-18

her husband till such time the prince can
come to her is suggested by Creighton to Mac
Kenzie her physician, and to Won Altdorf the
princes agent. Mallory, dissipated journalist.
appears on the scene and Is under consideration
as the man to play the part of substitute hus-
band +. 49,. --. 20.
CHAPTER ll.-(Contnued.) .
The three of us watched him in silence.
Then. when he had made an end. he drew
himself up with a little sigh Of comfort.
bad manners. gentlemen, said he
smiling again. He seemed more himself
the food had taken off the edge Of his in
toNication. BAD manners, I grant you-
but faith, I needed the sandwiches. B.,
some extraordinary mischanoe l neglected
to lunch or dine I forget the reason
All yes, t was poor little devil of model
out Of work. who needed the dinner worse
than 7. An then-why then. what with
q pair of absinthes on an empty stomach
or maybe three-I--I went Off the hook
just wee bit It may be that I'm a tri7e
screwed, just a trife, but you'll not mind
its an accident. not habit -
He caught up the tumbler of opalescent,
greenish-yeIow liquor that stood at his
elbow and smiled upon it fondly.
My only friend said he i'll that won
derful deep tender voice of his-upon1 my
word he, might have been making love
speeches to a sweetheart. - ~-1 .-, ;
THE only friend out O. them all who's
stood by me. good times and bad. You've
never faleQ me yet. OenIlemcn, I've
wandered and I've fought from Caracas to
Ladysmith. and from Gartum to Tien
tsin, and I've chumned up with more
people than I dare say but on my faith
In heaven-if I've any left--theres never
q man o them has stuck by me. never a
woman butts played me false" He smiled
down upon the glinting liquor in the glass.
ITO the green devil gentlemen he
cried. the green devil who stands by me.
fair weather or foul, who slaps me on
the shoulder when I'm down on me luck,
who takes me by the hand and leads me
into paradise when the worlds bitterest.
To the little green devil who S great
green god-may he ever reign"
He tilted the glass till there remained
but half its charge. and dropped back in
his chair with his chin upon his breast.
I leaned over the table and laid a hand
upon his arm. - ~
Mallory" said I. 'Mallory!" and shook
the arm gently Pull together a Bit man.
there's work forward. There's a great
game afoot. a risky game, Mallory, des-
perate game such as you love. 1t wants
clear head and a ready tongue, aye, and
g. ready arm. too. r1aybe-in the event Of
certain contingencies A bold mans
wanted, come, are YOU with u.s."
my only friend said young Mallory
devil who's a great green RI god
Aye. great, green god His voice died
away IN murmur1nSS,- anu HIS eyes SOW
beyond u.s. far beyond the Cafe d Alencon
into paradise perhaps. - ',~, go
/ loked at Mackenzie in despair.~ but
Mackenzie was writing upon the back OF q
visiting card. He beckoned waiter.
The pharmacy at the foot OF the Ave-
nue. du Maine," said he, land quickly
The distance was Short and the man
was back in few moments with a small
vial, redlabeled. Mackenzie poured a
few drops of the liquid into a wine glass
of water. tt sent up a. keen and pungent
odOr as OF ammonia. - : -
Drink this, said he. setting the glass
before young Mallory. And Mallory drank,
his eyes still beyond US, far beyond the
Cafe dAlencon.
But in a moment the eyes returned mar:
rowed, frowned a bit. He turned to the
Scotsman Curiously. .
why. it's a queer drink. your liquor
man. uncommon nasty-and owe you
small thanks; you've walked me from q
most delightful revery.' =
He smiled across at me. -
you spoke Of a game, Creighton he
said, "a desperate game, heard al
your words but-well the fact is, I was II
heaven at the. moment, and returning
was not to be thought Of. A game, my
boy? Let's hear it. I'm none so sure
but I'm tired of games Out with it, =
I glanced at Mackenzie and Won Alt
dorf and they nodded. And then, yer.
briefly anu IOlulllS HIS eyes Will
told young Mallory all the story of Prince
Karl of sNovodina, and Of the unhapp.
lady who had BEEN made his wife Once
during the tale he showed the wine glas
toward Mackenzie. never taking his eye
from mine. and Mackenzie dropped into i
a bit of the pungent fluid from his lttl
vial, filled 1t up with water and nodded
approvingly when the Irishman drank.
And so, you see, Mallory" concluded
there's but the one thing to be DONE 3.
desperate thing maybe and God know
how it may fall out. but the only thing.
For long time after I finished he sa
silent. staring at the wall and chatting hi
two hands together gently as they reste
upon the table edge, but he wandered l.
no reveries this time. he peeped into n
heavens led by his great green god. Hi
face seemed to have changed to that 9
another man, keen. frowning a bit. close
mouthed and thoughtful.
saw Won Altdorfs eyes glsten excit
edly, and even old MacKenzie's face ha
gained a. bit of eager color -.ss@.- >-.-,<--.~-
yes" said young Mallory at last, nod
ding his head. yes, you have the tricl
It's the only thing to do, though as yousv
said, God. knowsrl1ow it may fall out. 1t
the only thing-an' now who's to do it?
'sWhy-why you, man. I cried. VIII.
you of course didn't you understand
WAS REFUSED LfFE INSURANCE. !.