The Post Office Detective OR, Mystery of the Mail.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 42, 20 February 1897, Page 6

The Post Office Detective OR, Mystery of the Mail.

BY OJSOBGJB W. GOODE*

AntlUff «f ' Donald Darke, fcho Baltamoro Detective,' etc

CHAPBER XV. THE IXIGHT TO THE COTTAGE.

The midnighb escapade had been discovered by tlia inmaftea of the mansion, and it behooved both of the fugitives to vacate the locality as rapidly as possible. 'Coma, Katie,' excitedly exclaimed pur hero, catching the young girl by the wrist, 'we are discovered, and muse geb iaway from here as speedily as possible.' Fully alive to a realisation of the dangers of their situation, a\nd well knowing what the fearful consequences would be if they were caught, our heroine did nob wait for further urging, but sprang away through the shrubbery like a frightened fawn. From the mansion eaune loud cries and blows, and the sound of harrying feet, and then from its windows flashed forth light, and the noise of opening doors reached the fugitives' oars, warning t>hem thab the enemy were upon their Brack. And simultaneous with the 1 lights there burst from ibs back entrance, flub into the moonlit grounds, a half-dozen dark forme, who immediately took the fngifctves' brail. Had it been a dark night our bearo would havo had no trouble whatever in et'uding the pursuers ; bub bhe moon's rays repealed the vicinity almosb as plain as daylight) itself, and bhe forms of the pursued were plainly distinguishable to the pursuers as they flitted swiftly through the fruit orchard. Arnold took a straight line for the .spot at which he had entered the grounds, .and, reaching it, succeeded in getting his fair charge safely over the hedge, before the enemy had got fairly upon their brack. It was a sbriaghb run of half a mile across some fields to his cottage, and ib was doubbfnl if they could reach ib before biung overtaken. Ib was not possible that Katie could run the distance aa faßb as bhose pursuing. Bub she proved herself most courageous and possessed of more abrength bhau Arnold had given her credit for in tshab race, and soon a good part of tha distance had been covered, though the pursuers wore close behind. Arnold Burnham aeb his teeth firmly, and, putting one arm around the waisb of bhe young girl, to give her support, redoubled his exertions. There was ft light of determination in his firm, blue eyes, and he waa fully resolved thab, were he overtaken ere reaching bhe cottage, the villains should nob take his charge from him without a struggle. They should nob have heir without a ngbfc, and this would be no small mabter ; tor Arnold Burnham waa an expert athlete, and, moreover, possessed of most indomitable

courage. On bhoy sped over the yielding turf, occasionally pausing to scale a wall or leap a fence, and steadily the pursuers gained.^ until ab length bhey were close behind. Bub now bhe cottage was not far away, and, straining everynerve, Arnold reached the door and burst ib open, breathless and ■well-nigh exhausted from exertion. In upon the floor he half stumbled, half fell, with Katio in a half-faint by hie side, bringing Mrs Burnham, in fright, from an inner room, where she had been sitting up and waiting for her son, as was her custom whenever he was belabed, as upon the pre-

sent night. 1 Good gracious !' she exclaimed, elevabing the oil-lamp over her head, and regarding the bwo fugibives in wondermenb. • VVhat have you been doing V • Much,' was Arnold's brief reply, as be pprang quickly 60 the door and bolted it, jugb in season to shut out the drsad pursuers, who, a moment latter, came up, and began pounding upon ib, with loud cureo« and yells. ' Mother, this young girl I have juat rescued from a pack of unscrupulous scoundrels. It is my wish that you join wit.h me in giving her protection.' Mrs Burnham held bhe light back a moment, and then peered questioningly into our heroine's face. Something there was in bhe half-sad, half-frightened expression of the beautiful girl's face thab assured her as to her purity and virtue, and her features relaxed into ft kindly expression. • Poor thing !' she said, wibh a motherly, rsassuring smile, come into bhe other room where ib is warm, and bell me all your troubles.' And, assured by the kindly bones, our Hhtle heroise went to the arms of benevolent Mra Burnham, and received an embrace which brought back to her, instinctively, recollections of a time in bhe misty gloom ot the past, when her own mother benb, with a mobher's love, over her baby goucli. Fiercely bhe villains beat the door to the {jotbage, and sought, by bhrowing bheir ; weight; against) it, to break ib open ; bub it resisted their strongeßb efforts. Then bhey resorted to bhe window, and doubtless, in their desperation, would have effecbed a violent entrance, had ib nob been for the cool courage ana decision of our hero.

Over thd old-fashioned chimney-piece hunjz a rifle, which had beenfamily property for many years, and which bradibion eaid the Burnbum ancestors had need in Indian wars.

Arnold eehed this, and, making sure thab ib wns loaded, fired it through the door. Instantly, ab tho deafening report, the clamour of the besieging party without ceased, and their retreating footsteps could be plainly heard. The ruse had worked well, and our hero smiled at ibs success. But bhe villains did nob by any means Kive up tho atibempb to enter the cottage and recover bheir prey. Ere many minutes our hero hoard a voice, which he recognised as Eckhardt'e, challenging those in the cottage. Applying his mouth to bhe keyhole in bhe door, Arnold made reply. ' Whab do you want ?' he queried. 'Come outside ; we wish to speak wibh you.' • I don'fc think ib advisable to do bhab just now,' said our hero, wondering if they took bim fnr a greenhorn. • Well, we wish bo speak with you.' ' Go ahead and Bpeak.' • You won't come out ?' 'No.' Silence ensued for a few moments, and then Eckkardb spoke again : • Arnoia Burnham, you have in your house a girl whom you have abducted from her home. We have come here to get her.'

1 Ob, have you V said our hero. * Thab is why you chased us so hard, then V • Will you give her up to us peaceably, or shall we be obliged to burst open your door and take her from you V

11 shall certainly nob surrender her to you, Ernesb Eckhardb. You may take that for my final answer. You had bhe girl confined as a prisoner in your house. She &ays she was abducted from her friends in New York. It looks like a bad case for you. Ernest Eckhardb, I would advise you to drop it.' 'Ihad a reason for confining her in my house. Ib was by the instructions of her father, who is here now, and demands her. She was rebellious, and would nob obey him.'

' She says he is nob her father.' * Enough,' said Eckhardb, furiously. * Will you surrender her to us V

' Never 1' cried Arnold, firmly. • And I wr,U put an ounce of lead through the man who attempts bo force the door again.'

• You shall pay for this, Arnold Burnham/ shouted the villain, choking with bafflod rage. ' Tomorrow night you shall sleep behind bare.'

And thia latter insinuation of the villain was destined to be verified, though be little dreamed of it at the time.

With this last threat the villains probably left the spot), for nothing moro waa heard ot them that night, and toward morning Arnold, who had kept silent vigil through bhe weary hours, fell asleep ab his poet.

But they had nob abandoned their efforts bo recover their fair prey, for bhe nexb morning just affcor the breakfast hour, Mrs Burnham uttered an exclamation which called all to the cottage door.

Across the fields below, and approaching the cottage swiftly, were a body of men, led by bbree or four blue-coated policemen.

Arnold's face paled visibly as he saw them coming.

(To be Continued.)