The Minneapolis journal., 1903-04-04
The Garden Of Lies
BY Justus Miles Forman
copyr.sns1aoa BY Frederick 4. stokes Company.

Denis seated himself at the little table
against the wall and ordered vermouth
sec, and Colonel Won Altdorf strolled
around the corner swinging his stick and
1nonchalantly searching for a place. His
eye lit up with genuine pleasure as he
caught sight of the gentleman with the
.eye-glass; and he advanced with out
outstretched hand. sz6,t j
. what, you in Paris, my dear Baron?''
he cried in a tone of delighted surprise.
And you never looked me up!' he pro-
tested sorrowfullys as he dropped into O
chair. ''Ah, that wasn't kind!"
The light-haired gentleman with the eye
glass took one quick breath and his droop-
ing left eyelid hung a. bit lower. He
licked his lips as if he found them sud-
denly dry, but the tlorid color in his cheeks
never deepened or paled, and presently he
smiled : =. @'& %{
."wel, you see,' he began slowly and as
If with some reluctance, you see, my
dear colonel, I'm not here in propria per-
soma as it were. I'm here on important
Observation-Disclosures connected with the
prince" he added maliciously.
"Ah?" said the colonel in pleasant
tone. = --f.. 81. a.
"He left Novodnia rather11er suddenly"
commented the light-haired gentleman
with the eye-glass. r :. - - .- - e~
'Why, yes.'' said Won Altdorf, ''rather
suddenly as you say-Stil a prince may
do as he will. Besides, he wanted to see
me. upon matters Of Importance And
Paris In the springtilne isn't bad place
to spend a fortnight
and the--er lady?" suggested Won
Steinbrucke In deprecatory tone
Won Altdorf laughed
TO be Sure!'' he cried sTho 1odv'
We mustn't forget the love affair! All,
Well shan't young man have his little
| f1irtat1ons, even if he's prince? Jeu-
| nesse, jeunesse! We also were young,
once, Baron"
Baron Won Steinbrucke took a long
draught OF beer from the mug before him,
and that sinister left eyelid dropped. -
still when we were young he OBJ
jected, 1--WE didn't call love making with
our wives filtration, did we?"
Won Altdorf allowed himself another
laugh. =
Wives? wives:" he cried. "Come
my dear baron, you're too old fox tc
have believed that silly tale of the princes
marriage! That was Pavelovitch talk
political lies. Why, surely if the prince
were married to this-er-lady, he'd not
have gone back to Novodnia last nigh,
alone! He'd have taken her with him
even If he had to wait bit till she was
ready
The beer mug clattered slightly upor
the marble top of the little table, but
Baron Won Steinbrucke's smile was undis-
turbed.
1.-The prince gone back?" he inquired
'Why, then, my man who watches the
princes lodgings must be a shocking liar
mustn't he? for he says the prince is still
very much here
But you see,' protested Colonel vor
Altdorf, you see that man is in my pay
He's hardly reliable spy. I'd discharge
him If I were you, baron.''
Baron Won Steinbrucke smiled appre.
ciatively and shook his head
No said he. still smiling, "it won't do
my friend. Were I a younger man, OF
hadn't we met before, / might be dis.
turbed. but-no, it won't do Come
colonel, we beat about the bush. VIII,
not be frank? I've got your princess-o)
at least the lady that Karl wants to make
a princess. I've got her in safe-keeping
and I shall hold her there as long as
like"
And that" suggested the colonel, Evil
be as long,
LAS long as it is necessary to keer
Prince Karl out of Novodnia, for he'l
never go back there with his wife in du.
rance. He'll search till he's found her
MeanWhile-why, meanwhile there's al
empty seat In the palace at Novodni
OlSCOn
tented at the notion of a foreign, com
moner princess. and none too pleased a.
the princes absence, perhaps. none to-
pleased with the prince in any event Sha1
the seat remain empty. my friend? There
a man in the mountains would fill it we'll
ALI. we've the upper hand of YOU tbi
time, colonel
Colonel Won Altdorf leaned over the lit
tie table and smiled pleasantly into tn,
Austrian's eyes, -
you've stated the conditions, baron,
said he; that is, you've stated them from
your point Of view-I hold sanother-bu
they were to lead up to something rrh,
proposition, my friend?''
Baron Won Steinbrucke removed hi
eyeglass and polished it with some care
He showed the slightest trace of nervous
ness. the very slightest possible
} why, as for that" said he with
shrug, 1--we no great love for George an
his crew." s.,r. ..-., 80
/ "Ah!" breathed Colonel Won Altdor1
YOU'D sell out? I thought so. And tn
|-er-price?'
Won .steinbrucke gave a little nervou
laugh, it would seem of relief
: IT'S not prohibitive," said he light,
"A warm berth at court, enough to pa
ones little gaming debts. to keep agains
ones old age. Herr Gott! sha
a man serve q, mob of bandits, of prowl
Ing pretenders when he might take th
l place his merits deserve in a. reignin
: princes train? Come, give M
countenance at court and an income, an
s we'll send Georgias to the devil Ir
tired of sneaking and intrigue Let Ka1
9 have his nestmate-by heaven like hi
taste, she's a beauty! And We'll all e
5 back to Novodni for the coronation
Colonel yon Altdorf appeared to b
: meditating. ->1' =
t 'And our warrant that you'll be faith
full to us?' he inquired, presently "Ho,
l are we to know sure that you won't Sc
r us out in turn to Georgias or some on
e else?'' :~. -.. ~ ~
r MY word of honor said the Baron vo
0 Steinbrucke, pompously.
. Won Altdorf laughed. .-..'
c Come, come, Baron!' he cried
u The baron flushed purple and curse
). softly to him self.
e Colonel Won Altdorf leaned once nor
Q over the little table, his elbows among th
n glasses and saucers.
t IT have known you, Baron,' said h
:. slowly, for many years. I knew Of va
9 for many years, before ever saw yo,
r and in all that time have never hear
any good Of you, nothing but bad faitl