The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-03-17
The Garden Of Lies
By Justus Miles Forman
Copyright 1902 by Frederick A. Stokes Company.

vodnia with Vavelovitch on the throne.
God knows there's little enough any
how. No, Prince Karl mustn't leave the
country now. it would be next to fatal.
Yet. alas. If he doesn't leave 1t must be
next to fatal to the loveliest lady alive
God pity her! It's a nation against a
woman. Mr.. Creighton. they say you're
good at riddles, read me this one. It's too
deep for such as I. -
1 shook my head.
.'Dits done. garcon." said l. Another
Grand Mariner. And for M. lie Docteur
another whisky a feau, and for NJ. lie
Colonel a grog American. Alas. colonel.
I'm no reader Of riddles. The prince. you
say. can't come to Parish"
HE mustn't" declared Won Altdorf
fruwning. God knows he would II he
could. I'm in daily terror of his turning
up, malgre tout, such terror that I've
taken pains to make him virtual pris-
oner, 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 fronl--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
riddle reader?" - s>E
Then" cried, sit would seem to me,
gentlemen. that the only thing to do
minding always that madame's reason is
at stake, perhaps her very life, and that
desperate situations demand desperate
remedies-it would seem to me that the
only thing to do is-to create a temporary
prince here in Faris-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 God" said Won Altdorf softly,
and stared at me, wild eyed. The glass
of steaming grog that he held beat sort
I~rf tote %1,n rE1 toy of little
| table. Great God! said he again.
Sir Gavin Mackenzie had been striking
match to light the great black meerschaum
that hung from his mouth. The match
Jared and twisted and burned down till 1T
scorched his unheeding fingers, nut Sir Ca
wins eyes were upon my face, narrowed a
bit, very steady, and Sir Gavin's brows were
gathered into knot over hiss nose.
| think that none Of us spoke for several
minutes, but each stared at the other,
weighing the thing in mind, counting the
gain and loss.
I'm no sure but ye have it, man." said
the alienist at last. He spoke in half
whisper and his eyes questioned Colonel
Won Altdorf. He had quite forgotten the
unlighted pipe.
Won Altdorf drank his long glass OF
steaming grog. The glass clicked against
his teeth.
aye" said he gruffy. very clever and
very bold, but who's to 90 II! IL III
easy task, mind you"
Mackenzie leaned forward.
Nov there's you," he suggested, per.
suasively. me she knows. of course. but
there's you. You'd know all the rticks
too"
Not for crown in heaven" cried the
other. i've been a diplomatist all my life
and It's likely I've no character left me
but want to die comparatively honest
|man.-Not for a crown in heaven, my
friend.
''Or YOU" said Mackenzie, turning t
me. "'Iis your plan, do you play 1t out.
mot L. I declared with some Vigor
'Ill make you schemes If you like, but
I'll play no blackguard for you or any
one else, Mackenzie
"And there we are mourned the Scots
man. IT'S the only possible way, rasf
and desperate Though the. an<there's nc
one to play the part. A gentleman-in
manner O. speakin'-we must have, bu
no gentleman would do the thing. A ras
cal will never serve our use. Man, why
need We spoil our peace O. mind with you
mad schemes? I shall be thinkin' O moth
in else - ..~-..-....,, ...-..s
And we sat all three shaking our heads
lmost ruefully, for in truth there seemed
no way out of the impasse.