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Show I Mr. Barnes,! p American I mi : Br' jjf ArckibaW Clavering Gunter tjffi Sequel to l ; 'Mr. Barnes of New York 'aW?' I Autl"r of "Mr. B.rn.i of New York," . I 'Mr. PoM.r of T.s..." JkV'V I "T', Frenefcmsn," Etc Copyright, MOT. Doda Mill ACo..N. T. 8YN0P8I8. rK ' JBHE.'S""" PH a wonltliy American m IP ii.hrli?5,.Cor"'J"'re',cuo the youn BnR- M f i'?h Ul'n,nt KJwr.l Gerard Anstruth- Wc'x SaWhEJl ,l,.,'CoITlc?n "fJ". Marina, W,fi 22" -10r .t.he I'aolU, from the rnur- Hfc?'' wSirrt uk"' J"er8tnndlng thnt Ills Jffjf be tho linntl of the girl ho H W' ,l'cu,,tn"n1,;1 TIl 'our fly from ajbc- i I H . ' J,,0.,??."1!. on boari1 French 'JM' I ,JLmf.,Con,,?n,lne' The vendetta pur- IE , - f5". " ,M , the quartet aro about to I IJ ??fr,J1.th traln.for London at Mnrscllles, I WW , ih,.!" ,lftnled a mysterious noto I JK- Vl-h cu hr to collapso and nectssl- i K .if1;" Postponement of the Journey. S Wm lir".. R,ni E.n.'.d "re married. Soon t KT after their wedding names' brldo (lis- I R fFpa Barnes discovers she ha Lfe. j Kidnaped and taken to Corsica ? K Th', If room socures a fishing vessel and P uut to "tart In pursuit of his bride's il If ' f,pt?rf, wh"n ho hears a scream from ;i ST Vle villa and rushes back to hear that fH', " Anstriither'a wife. Marina, Is also miss- 1 mi&Z - I?6, . "arri" ' compelled to depart for ' SsJ'.., Corsica without delay, and so ho leaves I If tho search for Marina to her husband m while he Roes to hunt for Knld. Just be- "re Dames' boat lands on Corsica's T shnro Marina Is discovered hiding In a 1. corner of the vessel. Hho explains her ')'. action by saying sho has come to heJp ( j.T" llarnes rescue his wife from the Corsl. ,' W" ' fftrl5' v,len nnrns and Marina arrlvo OTV' n Corsica he Is given a note written by tt'. J2"1 Informing him that the kidnaping BVm- . tne Purpose of entrapping Barnes BBf ul. vendetta may kill him. IJarnes MS .. and Marina have unusual adventures In the'r search for ISnld. They come In 5 EE sight of her and her captors In the Corsl. t ftp: esn mountain .wilds just as night np- ? fjp proaches. In seeklnK shelter from a ,. i storm the couple enter a hermitage and J there to their amusement they discover Er 1 Tomasso, the foster . father of Marina, M,f who was supposed to have been killed by r- " Belloc's soldiers, and for whose death t .' Barnes had , been vendottaed. Tomasso - ' learns that Marina's husband did not ' kill her brother. Many wrongs are right- kv ed. names Is surprised In tho hermitage l by Rochlnl and Romano, the two detest- ti ed bandits, who had been searching for K; him to murder htm for his money. The gw, bandits attempt to take away Marlnn. F, - ' Barnes darts out the door. The bandits & start to pursue, but as they reach the door both are laid low by names' revol-I revol-I ver. Members of the Ilellacoscla enter l and Barnes Is honored for his great serv- j Ico to the community In killing the hated Er Rochlnl and Uqmano. Tho release of k Knld Is promised. Dames Is conveyed In f triumph to Docognsno. Marina acquaints f the, JJellacosclo. with' Ballcetl's plot against .her husband and the people are Instructed to vote against him at the If. coming election. llarnes Is taken to the .-' mansion of the Paolls to meet Enid. Marina receives a telegram. She starts J. ' for Bastla to meet hor husband. Knter- r Ing the room to greet his wife Darnes Is f bewildered to find the adventuress La f i Delle Dlackwood; but not Knld. Sho had t ' been substituted for the American's bride p by a shrewd plot. CHAPTER XV. Continued. J . This Is spoken as ho springs off tho horao, toaaea tho brldlo to the boy, and , rung up the stairs. "Marina Ib Inside, , ' I Imagine," hq says, and calls through ; the doorway., I ' "Marina left for Bastla over an hour ago," says Darnos. "Why did she leave for DastlaT" i, f . "A telegram," answers Darnes, "pur- f ! r porting to come' from you stating that t - you would bo at that place to-morrow I morning. Notwithstanding her fatigue, ' (' she went on by carriage to meet you." t "A telegram 7 Impossible I Bastln !fs at the north end of the Island. I arrived at Ajacclo the south end. Besides, Be-sides, I sent no telegram." Kdwtn Is interrupted by a short cry from Barnes: "Clprlano Danellal" With an exocratlon Anstruther aska hoarsoly: "Do you think he has aught to do with this?" " "I am pretty certain of it. You do not realize that fellow's passion for" "For my wifeT By heaven, I'll kill him I" and the young English offlcor looks round to cnll tho boy who has come with htm, but tho urchin, being eager for bed, Is already out of hearing hear-ing with tho horse. Suddonly he cries; "Barnes, you're not going to leave Enid here unprotected," for the American Amer-ican Is. almost running down the avo-nuc, avo-nuc, Edwin after him. "I haven't found my wife." "The lady upstairs, whom I heard?" V "Was not Enid. It was that Infernal La Belle Blackwood, and yet I forgive her, for she told me tho direction sho thought Knld had, taken," and as they thtl half trot, half stride down tho avenuo Mt nnder tho chestnut trees, Burton epit- Mrati omlxes his adventures of tho day. jJiUj "What are you going to do now?" yBL "Got horses and follow your wife. IK She is the one to which wo havo a IK . clow. We must prevent her falling JnB. . into Danolla's hands. Porhaph I S prny Qod In following her we may 'Jpffi' ' flnd a,B0 tuo war to lnv ,vlfe-" if . "Why?" VP. "nccauso Clprlano is the real brains &T. of this Infernal outrage." tf , An they roach tho gateway of tho i grounds thoy aro abruptly intercepted, MB One of tho young Ilellacoscla, hidden MX'-' In a tree, springs out to them, gun In K hand, but recognlztng Mr. Barnes, tho WmI' young man says; "I am one of those mWp ' watching that no Sallcetl troubles you, K;i I let this' man pass because I saw be wus a foreigner' mw 'That's'aH right." replies Burton, Aii' "but could you show mo the telograph mWi . atation and 'where to get horses?" IjF"f'' "Beside Hotel Mouvragei in tho main street Is tho telegraph station," answers tho young man, "and a Btable to hire horses Is, at tho Inn." "T.'ahk you. Also I want 'to' soo your chief, If lie hasn't already, gono' to tho mountains."' '! "Is:lt l'niiio"rt'ant?,'j' ' h "Very." , "'Then Slgnoro Antonio will bohosro In a few minutes," nnswors tho young fellow and speeds off through a neighboring neigh-boring lane. Tho two hUrry to the Inn, but Bocog-nano Bocog-nano has gone to bed. Its houses nrc all tinllghtcd, their doors aro locked. In this land of tho vendetta, oven nt tho aubcrge, peoplo hesitate to open for unknown travelers knocking on tho portal. Thoro will be no chnnco to telegraph to Bastla or any way station on that road boforo to-morrow morning. It Is nearly an hour beforo they succeed In arousing a somnolent hostler at the Inn stnblcs, who mutters nil the horses aro tired ani must have a night's rest. But stimulated by a gold plcco placed In his sleepy hand tho man finally awakiMB sufficiently to saddle two horses, which he Bays are tho liveliest of any In tho stable. On two sorry beasts thoy dash up to Marina's homo and And waiting on Its stops tho great bandit and ono or two of his men. "I havo a favor to ask you, Slgnore Iionelll, In addition to tho othors you hnvo dono me; thnt you. will escort to tho yacht at Sagono thp lady within this house and got hor safely out of Corsica." "Oh, you needn't ask that, Mr. Barnes of New York," cries La Belle Blackwood, stepping airily onto the veranda. "I havo already petitioned the groat Ilellacoscla, and I think he will protect mo against any man; won't you, Slgnoro Bonclll?" Tho softness soft-ness of hor sweet volco Is a enress. "Saprlstl, will not.I!" says the magnificent mag-nificent man, bis hawk's eyes flashing ns thoy look upon tho loveliness of the ontrnnclng American adventuress. "Count on Bonelll to his heart's blood." Then ho asks moodily: "But why are you compelled to leave your wlfo, Slgnoro Slg-noro Barnos?" "This lady Is not my wife." "Santa Maria, not your wife! Oran DIo, wboso spouse Is sho?" "Nobody's." "Dlavola suprema!" cries tho great bandit, a tremendous Joy flying Into his face. "And you you leave this loveliness?" ho ndds, as If. ho cannot understand. "Her loveliness Is not mine, Slgnoro Bonelll," remarks Burton, coldly. "Besides, "Be-sides, It Is a matter of llfo and death that calls me. This gentleman " Barnes introduces Edwin "Is the husband hus-band of Mademoiselle Paoll, who has been lured from here by a lying telo- "Thank the 8alnt Qo Alive In Time to Drink the Water of Orena." gram to Bastla. Wo journey to protect her against a design upon her safety upon evon her honor. Lieut. Anstruther, Anstru-ther, unused to tho language, would bo of little use." "Design against tho honor of tho daughter of the Paoll I" snarls Bonelll. "Impossible! I will go with you upon this errand myself." But1 tho enchanting tones of Sally Blackwood mako him pause; sho Is pleading: "What, and desert mo among your wild mountains?" "No, 'tis best I go not," remarks the bandit chief. "Qondarmes, with me In your company, would bo an embarrassment, embarrass-ment, and they in their bungling way may doubtless aid you. And your wife, where. Is she, Slgnoro Barnes?" "Still In tho hands of Sallcetl or his friends." "Thoy did not surrender her as thoy agreed?" "No. Thoy substituted this lady." "Corpo dl Dlavolo, Sallcetl ' has tricked met I proclaim a vendetta against Bernardo Eduardo Sallcetl." CHAPTER XVI. Along the Cyclamen Path. Both young men are riding light; Barnes for this speedy dash has loft his rifle and his Mold glasses behind him, and thoy gallop up the pass of the Forco. But tho ascent Is ao steep they are soon compelled to walk their horses. A preclpico Is on one sido of them and the great flanks of Del Oro aro on the other. Both, Edwin and Burton havo boen silent, thinking of their wives. Tho latter now remarks, pointing to a deep gorge running up the mpuntatn side: "Thai, I boliove, .leads to La Piqtica, tho homo, of the BoUacoscIa, which tho gendarmes nover daro to visit." But thoy having reached the summit of. tho Col, now speed their horses sharply down the declivities into the gritat forest of Vizzavona, tba road leading them through pines, beeches and" the Inevitable chestnut trees. Thoy have passed no ono In tho dnrkness. In fart,- thoy havo not yet gone far enough to havo any lopo of overtaking Marina unless accident has befallen her vehicle. Besides, her horses woro frnsh; theirs, according to tho hostler, had been ridden during tho preceding day Soon often tuoy dash through tho village of Vlvniio. nnnounced by tho barking of somo curs nnd tho grunting of somo pigs. "Every house (n tho village- Is closed &nd no ono would opon for us In tho dead of night In this land of tho vondcttn," rcmarkH Barnes. They go to climbing again, and soon after descend through tho gorge of tho rapid Vecchlo, tho river foaming far beneath the rond, whllo rocky hills and Rharp mountains rlso on clthor Bide. They hnvo ltnpcked at no doors; thoy havo niado no Inquiries; thoy havo onijvliurrlcd on. But some hour after tho red-tiled houses of Corto loom up beforo them nnd a few minutes min-utes later they Jog tholr tired steeds up ono of tho principal streets of tho central Inland town of Corsica, the great Monte Rotondo now looking down upon them. Above them aro tall elm trees that catch tho rays of tho rising sun. Flnnked on each sldo by white stone, red-roofed houses, thoy pass between tho hotols Plorraccl and Paoll. almost deserted" now, this being the beginning of tho hot summer season. Along tho street aro many placards Indicating tho approaching election. Every tlmo ho sees tho namo of Sallcotl, Barnes, compressing his lips, thinks or his lost darling. At tho Plorraccl they learn from ono of the waiters that a lady had paused to obtain a relay of horses, and had brought out to hor at hor roquost a cup of coffee. "Was sho driven by an old man?" questions Edwin, hurriedly. "Yes, with a beard like a bandit," answers tho man with a grin. "Tho carriage wob full of cyclamen flowers. You could smell them all over tho street." "It's your wife," whispers Barnes, giving tho mnn n 20-franc plcco thnt makes him look almost as happy as this nowB docs Anstruthor. "Only nn hour ago! Wo will overtake over-take Marina long beforo she reaches Bnstln," cries Edwin. They rido hurriedly, tho road skirting skirt-ing tho torrent of tho foaming Vecchlo until considerably over an hour after leaving Corte thoy reach Ponto-alla-Lecchlo, whore tho big bridge crosses the river Golo. During this the horsemen horse-men note more signs of tho coming casting of votes. Some of tho "Luccheso" workmen from Italy aro 'throwing stones at an election placard that displeases them. "Tho pests from Lucca," mutters a Corsl can ahopkeepor as thoy buy a glass of wlno from him, "are always riotous, and at election times batter every ono's heads with stones tholr own Included. They've been here slnco sunrlso fighting and brawling. I heard their shouts when I was in bed. But everyone pardons tho 'Lucchese; they do all our hard work," adds tho man with a grin, pockotlng tho coin Edwin hands him. But tho wlno shop koopcr can tell them nothing of a woman traveling, and to their astonishment, though they mako many Inquiries, they hear of no lady in a carriage passing through tho vlllago this morning. "It'i" quite possible," says Edwin to Barnos, "sho didn't stop here. Her horses were fresh. She's gone on. No one has noticed her." That's very true," answers Burton, though his faco grows more concerned and gloomy. Thereforo they ride 'rapidly along over the now well-kept road, which gonerally skirts tho Golo. Turning north, they spur on over the cause way that crosses the great lagoons and soon after passing through somo small villages, they como out upon the soa and ride almost straight along its shores, to enter that miniature Genoa, called Bastla, somo two hours boforo midday. llarnes pilots' his companion to tho Hotel do Franco. "You should llko this Inn," he observes; "It's on the Boulevard Boule-vard Paoll." Catching sight of a gentleman In a tall hat and a swallowtail coat, Barnes sayB: "These aro tho only ones In Corsica, I think, and that's Monsieur Staffo, the head of tho hotol, I know him. Now we'll got nows of your wlfo; she's probably put up bore." (TO BE CONTINUED.) |