Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-02

| why he can't be produced. She's rapidly
| working herself to the point o. dementia
| again, an unless something can be done
| within the next few days I'll not answer for
consequences"
"And he?" said I. 1.-THE prince? He's la
bas. / suppose, in Novodnia?'
| AYE" said Won Altdorf- He's at home
where he can't be spared, struggling to keep
| the throne of his fathers under his body.
and to prevent those pestilent Pavelovitches
from sitting in his seat. as they'd give their
| souls to do, curse them!"
| ABR said l. There's another dynasty
| weary for a throne to sit upon? Payelo-
witch? I seem to recollect the name
| They're the Russian party growled
| Won Altdorf. And may the devil take his
| own! There'd be no independence in Novod
| mia with Pavelovitch on the throne. God
| knows there's little enough anyhow. No.
| Prince Karl mustn't leave the country now,
/. 1t would be next to fatal. Yet, alas, IL he
doesn't leave 1t must be next to fatal to the
loveliest lady alive-God pity her! It's ma
ton against woman. Mr.. Creighton. they
say you're good at riddles, read me this
one. It's too deep for such as l."
/ shook my head.
"Dites done, garconr said I. Another
Grand Mariner. And for M. lie Docteur an
other whisky a feau, and for M. lie Colonel
grog American. Alas. colonel. I'm no
reader of riddles. The prince, you say, can't
come to Parish"
HE mustn't" declared Won Altdorr
frowning. "God knows he would If he
could. I'm in daily terror of his turning up.
malgre tout, such terror that I've taken
pains to make him virtual prisoner. la
baS. No, the prince can't come.
"And the prin-and madame, said l, has
no memory of the prince. would not know
him from-from me. for example?"
why, no." agreed Won Altdorf, watching
me curiously mo- she wouldn't know him
from you, man, or me. What then, my nd
die reader?"
Then 1 cried, 'ft would seem to me.
gentlemen, that the only thing to do
minding always that madames reason is at
stake, perhaps her very life, and that des-
perate situations demand desperate reme-
dies-it would seem to me that the only
thing to do is-to create temporary prince
here in Paris-wait, wait! only, of course,
till madame Is so restored in health and
mental equilibrium that she can bear to be
told the truth gently, very gently, and
prepared for what is before her..
Great Cod" said Won Altdorf softly. and
stared at me, wide-eyed. The glass of
steaming grog that he held beat sort Of
tattoo upon the marble top of the little
table. Great Cod" said he again.
Sir Gavin Mackenzie had been striking
match to light the great black meerschaum
that hung from his mouth. The match flared
and twisted and burned down till it scorch-
ed his unheeding fingers. but Sir Gavin's
eyes were upon my face, narrowed
Bit very steady, and Sir Gavin's brows were
gathered into a knot over his nose l
think that none of spoke for several
minutes. but each stared at the others,
Weighing the thing in mind, counting the
I'm no sure but We have it, man." said
the alienist at last. He spoke in a half
whisper, and his eyes questioned Col. Won
Altdorf He had quite forgotten the I'M
lighted pipe.
Won Altdorf drank half his long glass Of
steaming grog. The glass clicked against
his teeth.
AYE" said he gruffly. Every clever and
very bold, but who's to do It? It's no easy
task. mind you"
Mackenzie leaned forward
Now, there's you." he suggested per-
suasively. me she knows of course but
there's YOU You'd know all the tricks.
too"
Not for a crown in heaven" cried the
other. I've been a diplomatist all my Iife
and it's likely I've no character left me-
but L want to die comparatively honest
man. Not for a crown in heaven, my
friend"
''Or you," said Mackenzie. turning to me-
:" 'Tis your plan; do you play ii out?"
mot l." declared with some vigor. "Tn
no blackguard for you or any one else
Mackenzie"
And there we are mourned the Scots
man. "'Tis the only possible way, rash
and desperate though 1t be, an there's no
one to play the part. A gentleman-in a
manner o speakin-we must have, but no
gentleman would do the thing A rascal
will never serve our use. Man why need
We spoil our peace o. mind with your mad
schemes? I shall be thinlin' o. nothing
else" s.I I7-sz1E
And we sat all three shaking our heads
most ruefully. for in truth there seemed no
way out Of the impasse. W. "a q 81
Go be continued Mondxy.o