The Minneapolis journal., 1903-04-11
CHAPTER XXI.
would be as brief as possible in spe

would be as brief as possible In speak
ing of the days that followed the depar-
ture of the Prince Of Novodnia and Denis
Mallory, for it was a time Of inaction, and
must be of small interest. We had. In
due time, dispatch from Vienna telling
us that the travellers had safely reached
that point in their journey, then later,
one from Belgrade, and at last. to our
great relief, from Novodni, the capital OF
Novodnia, stating, in a few words, that
the end was reached, and In time they
hoped to check the advance Of the Pave
lovitch forces and to repair, to some eX
tent at least, the harm wrought upon the
country.
I find it difficult to write Of these days.
for, as have said, 1t was time Of In
action, and the trifling events that filed
our hours and absorbed our activities,
seem, now that I go over them in prepara
tion for setting them upon paper, of small
moment, immateria and irrelevant to the
tale have striven to tell.
Yet one thing I must set down. had
moved my belongings from my old quar-
ters in the Boulevard Montparnasse to
Denis,s studio, partly for the simple sat-
isfaction Of living where he and I had
been so much together, and to prevent the
| rooms falling into strange hands; partly
that 4 might be nearer the old convent
where I spent many hours with Mac
Kenzie and Won Altdorf and Miss Manner
ing, and, indeed, sometimes with the
princess, though she still kept much aloof
from us all. ,.f.' : ...
Well, as I say, I had taken the studio.
and sat there one morning with Colonel
Won Altdorf talking over, as was our wont,
| that famous nights work In the rescue
Of the princess, when Won Altdorf cried
out:
But, by our lady, man, I'd give some
| &HSx IN 11~,~ T.
| calls afterward! Whether the fellow we
revived was able to care for tine others,
and what they did with Steinbrucke' s
body. There must have been an aWk-
ward situation with that clay on their
hands," , $500 ...-'.- = - - .i>
'Td jolly well like to go and And QUIT"
said l. laughing little, If it weren't
too much like putting ones head in the
| lions mouth. Cad, I've never walked
every time a step came up behind me,
for fear it might be an agent on my
track for murder. I know exactly how a
| criminal at large feels. 1t would be a
| lark to go there and ask a few questions,
thought
"Well," said the colonel slowly, why
| not?- After all it would be safe enough.
The concierge doesn't know you from
Adam and even If one Of those ruffians
should be about, which isn't probable,
he wouldn't dare say Il a word.
| They've as good reasons as we,
or better, for not wanting the affair
to leak out. Why not go? You can be
harmless student looking for rooms,
like Denis." -" ,.%s4 &c.; ~. .r,e.:> = =.
"By Jove!" cried. 1T sounds easy
enough! I might reconnoitre a BIT any
how. I'll do it, right away now, this NOR
ming, before I weaken. Where's my hat?
Will you wait here? I shall be back in
an hour" ' '@r
I caught UP my hat and stick and went
quickly out, laughing still, at the sheer
audac1ty of the thing. took a cab as far
as the Avenue du Maine but dismissed
1t at the ,1mpasse, and walked In, with
I must confess-some inward quaims now
that I was on the very ground, for nv
quest might well turn out very danger
Gus bit Of folly.
The fat gray haired old concierge was
sitting on a stool outside her loge. in the
sunshine, cutting up vegetables for q,
soup, with great earthen bowl in her
lap. She gave me a smile Of welcome for
she was merry old soul, and T asked
her II there were any vacant studios.
suites for choice, in the building. The
| concierge raised pair Of expressive
| hands to heaven. 7-s7
| Studios? but yes, parbleu More studios
| than she wished. This year, God knew,
she had had pas de chance! There seemed
| to be no etudiants In Paris, and for re-
suit, VOLTA three grands ateliers empty
on her hands, to say nothing of the
sculptors sheds! Would monsieur desire
| to look at one beautiful suite, but beauti-