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Show JbbbbbbSiBbSB Mr. Barnes, American Br Archibald Clavering Gnater A Sequel to Mr. Barnes of New York if Author of "Mr. Bm.. of New York," "Mr. Poller of Tout," "That Frenchman," Dc. I J Copyright, hot. Dodd iini It Co., N. X. 8YNOPSI3. 8YNOPSIS. Burton H. Ilarncn, a wcnllhy American touring CorBlca, rencues Hip young Knc-llnh Knc-llnh lieutenant, Kdwnrd Oernnl Anatrutli-rr, Anatrutli-rr, and Ida Corslcan hrlde, Mnrjnu, daughter of the I'nnlla, from tho murderous mur-derous vendetta, understanding that Ids reward Is to be the hand of the girl ha loves. Knld Anstruthcr, sister of tho ling-llsh ling-llsh llcutennnt. The four My from Ajao-clo Ajao-clo to Marseilles on hoard the French steamer Constantino. The vendetta pursues pur-sues and ns tho quartet are about to board tho train for London nt Marseilles, Mnrlnti Is handed n mysterious note which causes her to collapso nnd necessitates necessi-tates n postponement of the Journey. Darncfc gets part of tho mysterious note nnd receives letters which Inform him thnt lie Is marked by tho vendetta. Ho employs nn American dctectlvo nnd plans to bent tho vendetta at their own gnme. For tho purpose of securing the safety of the women Ilnrnes nrrnnges to have iMdy Churtrls lense n secluded villa nt Nice to which the party Is to bo taken In a yncht. Ilnrnes and Knld mako arrangements for their marriage. Tho net lightens- about Ilnnrcs. Ho receives re-ceives a note from Ln Bcllo Illnckwood, the American adventuress. Ilnrnes hears thnt Klljali Kmory, his detective, 1ms been murdered by tho Corslcnns. Ho lenrns that the man supposed to be Cor-regto, Cor-regto, who followed tho party on their way to tho bont, wns Salfcetl, a nephew of tho count, nnd thnt Count Corrcglo had been in Nice for some time prior to the party's arrival. Tho count wnrns Ilarnes not to marry Knld unless ho would hnvo her also Involved In tho murderous mur-derous feud. Ilnrnes nnd Knld nrn married. mar-ried. Soon after their wedding names' bride disappears. Dames discovers sho tins been kidnaped and taken to Corsica. The groom secures a fishing vessel nnd is about to start in pursuit ot his bride's captors when ho hears n Bcream from the villa nnd rushes back to hear thnt Anstrtithers wife. Mnrinn, Is nlso missing, miss-ing, names Is compelled to depart for Corsica without delny, nnd so ho leaves the search for Mnrlna to her husband while ho goes to hunt for Knld. Just before be-fore Ilnrnes' boat lands on Corsica's shore Mnrina Is discovered hiding In a corner of the vessel. Bho explains her action by saying she has come to help Ilarnes rescue his wife from tho Corslcnns. Corsl-cnns. When Ilnrnes and Marina arrlva In Corsica he Is given n note written by Knld Informing him that tho kidnaping Is for the purpose of entrapping Ilnrnes. so tho vendetta may kill him. Ilarnes nnd Mnrinn hnvo unusual adventures In their search for Knld. CHAPTER XII. Continued. Thoy dash up tho gorge for half n mile nnd she says sharply, "It is hero," pointing to a steep nscent that, cumbered by fernB and wild flowers, makes a most unpromising roadwny. Then sho cntches her breath and whlBpers: "You oxpect nn ambush?" for tho American has now his rlflo on the saddle In front of him, western fashion, nnd his pistols ready In his belt. "I do," answered Barnes and relates the words of tho shopherd. "Quick!" cries tho girl. "This trail will take you right up Dol Oro, whero you can look down on Rocognano. Uy it, you will get between your enemies and your destination." "My destination Is my wife. Sho Is in this valley with thoso men." "Oh, I think not. Sallcetl is too crafty. Ho is still convoying Enid to Docognano and has left only somo or his followers to slay you. Como on." Darnos follows his guide up tho steep llttlo path, that covered with vines and wild flowers is difficult to discern, but after thoy had gone n tow hundred yards, tho rocks growing larger, larg-er, the trail moro precipitous, Marina says: "Here wo must leave our ponies and climb on foot." So thoy pasture, tho two hardy llttlo brutes In a valo full or sort grasses and leavo thorn munching contentodly, Barnes, slinging sling-ing his haversack over his shoulder, Marina having nothing to carry with her. Berore hor now strides the American, Ameri-can, his alert oyos always glancing down the steep declivities to tholr loft, for tho almost unused trntl they nro following Is hundreds ot feet abovo tho travelled bridlo path that keops to the torrent, dashing through tho bottom ot tho valley. After nearly an hour of this, the noise ot n watorfall strikes their cars, gradually growing louder. Five minutes luter, Barnes holds up his hand cautiously. Marlna'u glanco follows his; far bolow, them, concealed conceal-ed In the big rocks that skirt tho Btrcam at tho little brldgo near tho waterfall, nro sovoral crouching, armed men. A little farther down tho rapid, in tho top of n big beech tree, 13 perched another, his hand shading VI oyos from tho rays of tho declining un that shlnos In his face as he looks tfown tho pathway coming rrom tho JIBt. "Thoso gontfomon aro waiting ror mo," lomnrks tho American, In his face tho supremo Joy or a sportsman who will bag not only ono head, but n battuo. Ho puts his rlflo on tho ground, loosens both revolvers In his belt and asks: "Tho way to doscond tho prod-plco prod-plco from hero?" "Why?" raltors tho girl. ''Why? BocatiBO I nm now tho hunter," hunt-er," nnswors. Hames. "Do you think 1 m going to spnro tho wretches who lvo stolen tuv wlto? Nono ot tUoml Quick, tho path by which I can Intercept Inter-cept them nnd cut them off to the, last mnnl" Mnrlna, looks at his ratal pistols, nnd shuddbrsl "Thnnk God', thcVo Is no path!" "Ah, then I will hnvo to bo content con-tent with tho sentry, that fellow In tho boech trco there." "My God, If you kill nny of them," gasps Marina, "you will never got Knld out ot tho Island alive. You enme to savo her, not to murder hor." Sho puts a whlto Imploring hand on Dames, who Is already preparing his rifle. Then she suddenly half cries: "Your wlfo! You want hor!" and points far up to tho top of tho pass between be-tween tho two great mountains, Ho-tondo Ho-tondo and Del Oro, nnd Ilnrnes' oyes following her hand, ho sees figures silhouetted against tho clear bluo Al-ptno Al-ptno air. All aro mounted, nnd ono I3 surely n woman. "You think that Is my wlfo?" "I am suro ot It. Saltccti has only loft somo of his men behind to waylay you If you corao bn unguardedly." Barnes doesn't even nnswor hor. His nulck stons nro carrvlnc him so rapidly In pursuit nlong tho dizzy mountain path that Marina, though tho poor girl half runs, enn Bcarco kcop up with him. Their path leads nlong tho precipices, preci-pices, now nnd ngnln reaching somo little mountain valley through which a stream trickles between stunted pines, and about whoso rocks nro growing tho sweet fdrget-mo-nots nnd violets or Corsica. But as they near tho summit or tho mountain, darkness comes nlso and a blinding mist, cold with tho chill or melting snow, descends upon them, nnd enveloping them with a fleecy sheen, tho rocks nnd llchcnB nbout the path nro shrouded from their gaze. Thoy nro abovo tho timber lino and tho great bare granlto blocks bruise Mnrlna's tender feet as thoy stumblo among them. Tho girl lays hor hand upon hor companion's arm. "Wo- may reach tho summit beforo darkness," sho pants, out of breath, "but tho dizzy doscent on the othor sldo Is Imposslblo without daylight." "I remcmbor," answers Burton. "I hnvo passed down It hunting moufflon." Then ho tnkes oft his hunting hunt-ing coat nnd places It carefully ovor Concealed In the Big Rocks That Skirt the 8tream Are 8everal Cronchlng Men. the delicate shoulders of his fragile companion, already shivering In hor light summer garment undor tho icy mist nbout her. '"I nm thinking of somo shelter for you, ror wo must pnss the night upon tho mountain," ho says tenderly; then asks anxiously: "Do you know- ono?" "Y-e-s," sho replies, hor teeth chnt-torlng, chnt-torlng, "lr wo enn rench It In this storm. Tho llttlo chnlot whero poor old Tomasso sometimes took mo whon ho brought mo hero ns a child to pluck tho flowers of tho iuountnln." With this sho turns nbruptly to tho left, nnd Barnes following her, thoy strugglo up a couloir filled with mas-slvo mas-slvo boulders, but nearlng tho summit tho mist becomes colder, tho wind, sharper and tho gloom more deep. Surrounded, Sur-rounded, as thoy nro, by (rightful precipices, this Is appalling. "I've lost my way," mutters Marina, hor volco low with falntness, but n momont after sho cries: "Ah, boo tho granlto cliff. Follow its walll Tho cabin Is beneath It. But bewarol boyond tho cabin there Is a vory dcop crevice." Tho wind howls nbout thorn1. The night Is even blncker, but keoplng tho sheen or tho cliff closo at his loft, Barnes stumblos over the granlto slabs almost carrying tho exhausted girl. Finally, compelled by the howling howl-ing ot the wind, ho calls Into hor car: "Courage! I see tho hut. Thank God, someono has a flro Insldo It." "Perhaps It is made by tho awful bandits, tho Rochlnl and Homano who murder so ninny poor travellers," shudders Marina. But undeterred by this, using tho light as n beacon, hor escort rapidly approaches tho opon door of tho llttlo cabin, rrom which Issues n cheerrul gleam. Suddenly thoy pause, ror a deep tono Issucb threntonlugly rrom Its Interior: In-terior: "Holu, U you aro gendarmes, bewaro of mol" "Madro mla," gasps Marina, with a low Bcream, "that volco." "Bandit or no bandit,-you shall gtvo us warmth nnd Bheltor!" calls Barnes In answer. Thou ho too, stands astounded, as from tho rough doqr strides a man, and outlined by tho flickering blazos nnd surrounded by tho mists ot tho mountains 1b a face that tuakns Marina tremble and BJ shrink: "Holy Mother of God, a ghost!" For It Is tho countenttneo of her; b1 foster father, old Tomasso" Monaldl, whom evcryono had thought dead Bj from the night or her wedding. But now tho goblin recognizes her; Ma It cries: "Marina! dnughtor of my heart! you have como to succor your poor old hunted down Tomasso," and BJ sinking on his knees, It catches tho half fainting girl's hand, and kisses It BJ reverently. "You, alive, dear old Tomasso? Im-posslblot" Im-posslblot" half shudders, hnlf sobs tho girl, sinking down beside the spirit BJ and looking into his deep, dnrk cyo BJ thnt glenm so lovingly upon her. "Two weeks ngo, on tho morning or tho tragedy, De Belloc's soldiers re- BJ ported to that officer In my presence thnt thoy'd killed you," says Barnes ' 'BJ Impressively. flj "Bah!" sneers tho ghost; "tho ser-gcant, ser-gcant, I suppose, told his officer they Bj shot me. Tho soldiers fired. It was easier for mo to fall down behind a granlto bouldor thnn stnnd up nnd let them shoot again, though it wns tho darkness or the early morning. Then Bj I camo up on tho mountain here, and HI fearing tho soldiers would ngnln pur- BJ sue mo, I havo been a hermit, dc- BJ sccndlng nt night to tho lower valleys to garner chickens and steal sheep.'! BJ "Holy smoko," grlna tho American, "hero's tho follow for whoso death BJ thoy hnvo vendottaed mo, allvd and Bl talking!" H CHAPTER XIII. "Glorious Bandits." BJ Tho storm (airly howls about thorn. but Marina forgets It ns Tomasso half Bj sobs: "Your coming hero, dear mis-)ress, mis-)ress, shows you forglvo mo for tho killing ot tho Englishman, your hus-band, hus-band, tho ono who murdered An- BJ tonlo In tho duel," and tho flickering Jt light rovcnllng Barnes' face, ho- ox- BJ clnims: "Tho Amorlcan who saw your Bj brother slain. Ah, now you ngreo with mo this accursed Anstruther's death Bj was Just" "Thank God, you didn't murdor ' BJ him!" cries the girl. "Your. stiletto en- H torcd tho heart of Musso Danclla, who deserved death for his lies." "I killed poor Musso Danclla?" stammors tho old Corslcan. Thon ho mutters as It ho can't bollevo: "No, no, I heard his groan as I struck through tho curtains." "'Twas tho groan of Musso Dan-ella," Dan-ella," nnswors Marina. "That you killed the right .man proves my hus- Bj band Innocoat 'Twas tho hand of God directed you." The glrl'B voice Is very reverent. BJ "Then If It was the. hnnd ot God, Danella's death Is suro proof your husband killed not Antonio," says To-masBo To-masBo solemnly, making the sign ot tho cross; but again breaks forth; "No, no the proofs Musso gave to .both you and mo made us believe this Anstruthcr, your spouso, shot your brother. Tho things he held up to our flfl very eyes ''Wero tho property ot another English officer ono killed In action on n British warship under the Egyptlnn guns at Alexnndrln Do you think I'd live In tho arms ot a man with my brother's blood upon him?" cries tho young wlfo fervidly. ' "No, that Is not possible, also," agrees old Monaldl. B "But," Interjects Barnes, "while you Jabber horo, your darling mistress dies of cold." B "Oh, my heart Is warm enough with Joy nt seeing Tomasso live to mnke mo forgot tho' Icy wind," and tho en-thuslastic en-thuslastic girl kloses tho rugged face ot her old sorvltor. BJ "Nevertheless, I have not forgotten Bb suppor," suggests the common-sense Bfl American, and halt drags Marina into tho cabin. "Eating first and affoctlon 9J afterward." B (TO BE CONTINUED.) |
