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Show teSTORV J Mr. Barnes, ! American Archibald Clavering Gunler ffiii A Sequel to U Mr. Barnes of New York I ' ' I 1 Author of "Mr. Bimct of New YotV I I "Mr. Pott.r of T.m," I "TImI Frenchman," Etc, M v 1 i -'t Oopirrlht, MOT. Dodd Mewt ft Co, M. Y. )! . s 8YN0PSI8. Burton n. names, d woalthsr American touring Corsica, rescues the young Enc-' Enc-' llsh lieutenant, Edward Gerard Arutruth- I V. ".I'1 hL .Corslcan brlilo, Murina, I daughter of the Paolls, from tlio mur- , derous yondctta. understandlnir that, his t" - reward Is to be tlio hand of tlio Blrl he loves, Knld Anstnithcr, sister of the English Eng-lish lieutenant. The four fly from AJac-Io AJac-Io to Marseilles on board tho French steamer Constantlne. The vendetta pur- tsues nnd as the quartet are about to (board tho train for London nt Marseilles, , Aiarlna Is handed a mystetlous noto . iwhlcli causes Her to collapso and necessl- i ; 4 tates a postponement of the Journey. t 7 aiarncs gots part of tho mysterious note Alt ' n,nd. receives letters which Inform him if-' that ho la marked by the vondetta. Ho ' t employs nn American detectlvo and plans ,tn teat t,he Vendetta at their own Kama. 4 J ' l'or tlio purpose of securing tho safety .il' v "f tho women Ilarncs arranges to havo r, Chartrls lease a secluded villa at Xtr JJIco to which the party Is to be taken i M -ii ' ' ,n ft yacht. Suspicion Is created that l.'lBr Marina Is in loaguo with tho Corslcans. Sfc'K.' A man. believed to be Correglo Danella, ' Is seen passing tlio house and Marina Is ' thought to havo given him a sign. Ma- 1 m rlna refuses to explain to Barnes which Q ," . fact adds to his latent suspicions. Dames' plans for tlio safety of the party are , learned by tho Corslcans. Tho carriage I- -carrying their party to tho local landing m- is followed by two men. One of tho W- a horsemen Is supposed to bo Correglo. Thoy try to murder tho American. Tho cook on tho yacht a. Frenchman is suspected sus-pected of complicity In tho plot. The party anchorx at St. Trope. The yacht W Is followed by a small boat. The cook is ' detected giving signals to tho boat. ,. ' llarnes attempts to throw htm overboard, liut is prevented by Marina and Enid. A Tho cook Is found to he Innocent of the W supposed plot and Is forgiven. The party T arrive nt Nice and find Iady Chartrls nnd her daughter Maud domiciled In the villa rented with Ilarncs' money. IJarnes A Is nmazed to And that Count Correglo Is nt Nice anil-Is nctlng the role of admirer to Lady Chartrls. Iiarnes and Enid mako arrangements for their marriage. The not tightens about names. lie re-M re-M eclvca a note from La llelle Ulackwood, T the American adventuress, names hears , that Elijah Emory, his detective, has been murdered by tho Corslcans. Ho learns that the man supposed to be Cor-a Cor-a reglo, who followed the party on their way to the boat, was Sallcetl, a'nephew , of the count, and that Count Correglo W had been in Nice for some time prior to lA. the party's arrival. 'Tlio count warns HiMt Barnes not to marry Enid unless he would have' her also Involved in tho mur-W mur-W derous feud. Barnes and Enid are mat-F mat-F - cled. 1L f CHAPTER IX. Continued, "w "So much bo you tried to stop it," rejoins Harnos, drily, striving to keep Jm tho anger from hla toneB., W "Ah, Madamo Blackwood told you ! , our conversation." Tho Corslcan II IburIib slightly. "I confess I should liavo dono oven moro to prevent or postpone your nuptials had I soen i (your brldo Jjeforo and known her ex treme-youth, beauty and Innocence." Tho American Is about to Interrupt him, but Clpriano continues, a strain ' of sadness In his volco: "Thereforo I am vory sorry that I dldi't arrlvo before be-fore your nuptials. You wereiho companion com-panion tof my doad brother, you wont - mufloon shooting with him soveral times In Corsica. As such I wlshod In ' friendship to warn you not to make any woman your bride; at all events, not. till an unhappy suspicion had beon settled forevor. Sonio of tho natives of Docognano, who loved my brothor, bellovo that his death was in some way attrlbutablo to you, not personal-' personal-' ly, perhaps, but it would please me it you would glvo mo tho particulars as you understand them of the murder i of my brothor." "Certainly, all tho particulars," re-pi re-pi I os UurtAn, anxious to mako this man understand tho truo facta of his brother's doath, and thinking, perhaps, ho can convlnco Correglo that Musso Danolla's assassination camo from his ! own vindictive lovo of rovengo. There- Wt fore, concisely, yot rapidly nnd logical- Jot ly, Mr, Dame's relates tho dotalls of. fffl p Musso Danolla's being stabbed by tho jjj ' old Corslcan Tomasso Monaldl In mis- i! , tnko for Edwin Anstruthor in Marina's 5 bridal cliarabor nearly two weoks bo-' bo-' KW , foro. ; ' "Yes, but our pcoplo bellovo that you. In Bomo way aldod It." ' "I bog your pardon. Your brother I was doud almost as I dismounted from a my horse at tho house," sharply ro il turns tho" Amoijlcun. S "Yes, but tho natives of Docngnano liTi doclaro it wns by your arts by your Ki-jJ tologram that I and thoy havo boon boroft. h.. "Thoy say," cries tho Corslcan, try- M. ing to stlllo an almost uncontrollablo f grief, "that poor Musso was dono to M doath by tho arts of foreigners, who t' camo to tho Island for a nuptial foto 'Mr but bringing blood wlt,h thorn. Thoy V say this naval ofllcer In that houau JHa there protonds ho didn't slay Antpnlo, T. tho brothor of Marina, bocauso he M,' fours Marina's vow of vendotta, and ' DtL that sho, my brothor's ward, gavo poor Mr Musso to his assassin to savo hor litis- W band from a vongannco all Corslcans jML think righteous. I nm only repeating IS to yu that this Is what tho peoplo of ' llocognano think," ho says, controlling W hlmsolf. "Thoy havo sworn tho von- M V delta against you, MoiiBlour Harnos Ifi alto against Marina I'aoll, who has K forgotten, In this naval lieutenant's is 1 arms, to avengo her brother. As tho woman ,my poor dead brotlwr brought up from childhood, I reol "Marina should at lcnst havo protection, Therefore There-fore I toll you what my frlonds in Corsica say, that you and sho may havo warning." "And, you -can tell your frlonds In Corsica," answers tho American, "that It they bother mo, or my brldo or any of us, I shall plant thum with no moro compunction than a westom gun man would." "Diablo, I havo hoard of, your wond erful precision with tho pistol from my dead brother many times," remarks re-marks Clpriano, with almost a shud-dor. shud-dor. Then his eyes catching a gleam of light from tlio distant landing stage, pauses with a llttlo start of triumph and adds: "But I havo said all possl-bio possl-bio to warn you, 8lgnoro Amorlcano. Tho rest Is not my affair, though I would llko to volco a fow words to Madamo I'aoll, who was my brother's ward." ,'I do not think hor husband will let you,"- answors llurton. "At all ovonts, ho won't lot you wrack hor nerves by mentioning tho awful 'tragedy." So the two together return to tho house. Thoy reenter Iho supper room whoro Lady Chartrls takes possession of Clpriano, notwithstanding his eyes follow every movement of tho beautiful beauti-ful Marina. A moment later Darncs asks' Lady Chartrls ardently where his bride is. "Oh, she's gono up to hor chambor to primp for going away," cries Maud, "and you haven't given mo any bridesmaid's brides-maid's present, either." This last is emphasized by a vory sullen pout." "Oh, that will arrive after I return from my honoymoon cruise," returns tho American, lightly, and runs up tho stairs to tho chamber latoly occu- "Dlable, I Have Heard of Your Wonderful. Won-derful. Precision with the Pistol." pled by Miss Anstruther, but finding only Tompson In it, he. asks: "Where's your mistress?" "Oh, Miss Enid I beg your pardon' Mrs. Barnes has gone on board tho yacht, sir. You sent for 'her." "I sent for hor. What do you mean?" "Yes, sir; a' man coming up from tho landing told mo to toll my mistress mis-tress you were waiting on board for hor." "That's vory curious. Graham and his crew are not even on board the yacht." Barnes dashes downstair, calls the mato to htm and asks: "Has any boat como off from the yacht?" "No, sir." "Very well; run down to tho landing land-ing stago with mo." "What's the mattor?" "Why, thore's somothlng wrong, I think," whispers Barnes, not breaking his rapid pace. "Tompson has said that I sont for Enid to como to me on board the yacht." They are already at the landing stage, but In tho darkness they cannot soe even tho hundred yards to the vessel. "Her lights are not there!" cries the mato; they spring into a boat and row to where tho yacht was moored, bit find sho has dlBappoarod In tho dark-' ncaa, - "By heaven, somebody's gono awny with tho yacht!" gasps Graham. "And with It on board my brldo!" boans Barnes. "They havo gono away by water; wo must follow by wator. Graham, get across the harbor and charter some smart craft that can chaBo the yacht." Tho mato' sayB qulotlyr "I understand," under-stand," and lights a boat's lantern, as tho night Is very dark. As tho match gives out Its glow, Barnes uttors a short, sharp exclama tion and seizes a small pleco of paper tneked .on the wooden balustrade of the landing placo. "Your light!" ho commands; thon muttnrs: "By tho Lord, their raes-sago!" raes-sago!" for ho reads by tho flickering flame in foreign script"; "'Americano, "It you would rescue your brldo, como to Corsica!" CHAPTER X. The Missing Fragment of the Letter. As Graham doparts on his orrand tho bereft bridegroom, whoso fnco has grown dovlllBh, mutters; "By heaven, there's a gontleman In that houso up thoro I must seo first!" and darts up tho path to Lady Chartrls'a villa, reflecting: re-flecting: "Hor fato I must not think of! That would unman mo. My mind must bo cloar to savo my darling." As he reaches tho door of tlio suppor ropm, Lady Chartrls's volco Ib saying, say-ing, "Dear Count Clpriano, nbato your Interest in your Into brothor's ward and havo anothor glass of wlno to again toast tho bride," Btit tho bridegroom's awful faco us ho enters Btops revelry. Marina with a llttlo shrlok rises from a sofa on which sho has boon seated beside Clpriano Clp-riano Danella, and Edwin, springing up, says: "What's happened ?" In nil his foars and all his agony, Into tho vengeful husband's mind as looks upon the party, ono mighty consideration con-sideration 'springs, that saves Danolla's Danol-la's lifo: "By hoaven, this man's remaining re-maining horo Indicates his lnnoccnco. It Clpriano had aught to do with tho abduction of my wlfo, ho'd scarcely daro to stand unconcorncd hero before be-fore mo." For tho count's gazo Is carelessly not turnod to him, but lingers ling-ers admiringly upon Marina. Tho easy bearing vot Danella continues con-tinues as Ilarncs briefly tells his talo, though onco or twlco ho raises his thin Italian eyebrows and rolls his dark orbs In sympathy. "Dlo mlo, It is as I feared!" exclaims ex-claims tho count sorrowfully. "Thoy havo seized your lovely brldo.'! "Oh, if thoy'ro drowning poor Enid now!" cries Maud, with a childish morbidness. "Ob,' I do not lmaglno any Injury will como Immediately to tho young lady. Latoly, In tho vendotta, women who do not bring about tho tragedy are spared," remarks Clpriano quite sympathetically, though his glanco ' rests' malevolently upon Marina till her passlonato beauty seems to. soften hla austerity. "But In Docognano I imagine thoy wish a visit frcra you, Mr. Barnes, to rcscuo your bride," ho continues dryly- "You Bee, la Corsica, a native Jury would look much more leniently than ,a continental ono upon tho death of tho vendotta. That's only my surmlso, but I am qulto confident It's tho correct ono." "Thank you, count," says Barnos, i "you havo told mo Just what I wanted to know tho location of my loved ono!" Then his volco becomes strident; stri-dent; ho remarks grimly: "Your friends want a visit from mo in Corsica Cor-sica they shall havo ono!" To this bo adds eagerly: "Danella, como over with mo to the Island." "Mon chor Monsieur Barnes," sayB Danella, "though I would willingly aid you, it would hot bo wlso to go with you to Corsica, Should ill bofall you ' In that Island, you might blamo mo, of whom you, havo nlready bad, I am sorry to. say, suspicion. As'I said before, be-fore, my poor brothor Is dead, I mett-dlo mett-dlo In this affair no more. I remain to sootho the Lady Chartrls In Nice." "Thank God!" ejaculates Prunella, scntlmontally seizing Danolla's hand. "Yes, I will stay," remarks .tho count, heroically. Suddenly Marina startles them all. She says domlnantly: "No one should go to Corsica but me. In tho home of my fathers and my kindred they will believe mo when I tell them there is no cause for a vendotta against my friends. I can savo your bride, dear Burton, and bring her back to you. My words will have weight with all in Docognano." "It would bo most unwlsol" dlssonta Danella Bhudderlngly. "Have they not declared the vendetta oven against you, Marina? Does not Bernardo Sallcetl Sa-llcetl swear that you, by your arts.Tiro-duced arts.Tiro-duced tho death ot tho father of tho girl, Ethoria, ho is about to marry, old' Tomasso Monaldl's daughter?" "Monstrous!" cries the girl mournfully. mourn-fully. "Who dares to accuso mo ot the death ot poor faithful Tomasso, my foster father who worshiped me and whom I adored?" Tears make her dark eyes tender;, but she continues con-tinues enthusiastically: "Pah, they love me they will not believe! My people even worship the namo ot the Paolls. I'll meet Sallcetl and prove to tho whole commune that ho lies." Her eyes are now those of a Corslcan. "And by hoaven, I'll go with you to savo my ststorl" cries Edwin, "Ah, that Is right go to save your sister," answers Danella excitedly. "But Madamo Anstruther should remain re-main hero with Lady Chartrls. Only men should go. 'Tls a man's duty, lieutenant." (TO BE CONTINUED.) |