BARNES, THE Australian Detective.

Golden Bay Argus, Volume 1, Issue 53, 27 May 1892, Page 3

BARNES, THE Australian Detective.

— CHAPTER XXVl. —■(Continued.) With these words Bartesko burst into the room, pistolm band. The chief was not physically a coward. He feared the displeasure of the duke more than the chance of a violent death, Once in the room he commenced blazing away with his pistol. There came no answering shot. Bartesko was puzzled. He had anticipated a return of his fire, by which he might learn the position of the fugitive.

He stepped across the room, stumbled against something, and fell headlong. In a moment he crawled back toward the object over which he bad fallen.

Putting his hand upon it, he recognised that it was a human body. His hand wandered to the arm of the corpse ; he raised it, and it fell back help* less.

A thrill of mad joy surged through his heart.

He thought he now knew why his ahota had not been returned. At the first fire he must have shot the Australian dead.

The chief of poliee rose to his feet and went to the door of the room. “ Send Barvich to me 1” he commanded. Barvich came. “ You are a coward ! This man was in the room, and might have escaped ; but I have killed him 1”

“Are you sure it is the Australian?” “Am I sure? Did I not have a terrible struggle with him ? Did not the wretch beg for his life?” “ How did you overcome him !” “ I shot him dead, as you should have done 1 Bring a light at once I” Barvich ordered a light. A flash of light was thrown into the room and disclosed the body of a dead man lying on the floor.

Barvich advanced, and with an exclama tion of surprise, said :

“ There is some fatal mistake here !” u Mistake ?”

-Ay.” "Heavens!” yelled Bartesko, as he advanced and examined the dead man. One glance wus sufficient.

On the floor, still in death, lay his most reliable assistant. , The wonderful detective had baffled them all once again, and leaving a bloody trail behind, had passed out from their verv midst.

The oaths that fell from Bartesko’s Hds were terrible to hear.

He blamed Barvich for the whole affair, until the man was forced to retort :

“ Were you not mistaken yourself? Did you not say you shot the wonderful Australian? This man was not shot !”

Bartesko’s men were sworn to silence ; the body of taeir dead ■ comrade was carried away, and ere the morning buried in a secret manner. A week passed. Winter was approaching, and the season when theriver would be closed witn ice.

Henry Barnes knew that he must getaway before that event occurred, or his chance for final escape would be lessened.

One night he was abroad again in an entirely new disguise. He had sharp eyes, and was on the watch, He was standing in front of a palace where a grand entertainment was in progress.

While watching the guests pour in, he saw a carriaga arrive, from which the man alighted that he most wished to see. No opportunity offered for him to speak to the man, and he determined to wait until he was leaving. Well into the morning the man descended from the palace and was about enteriug the carriage. The detective approached, and said: ,r A word, monsieur.” “ Who are you ?” The detective showed the medal. “Enter the carriage with me.” Henry obeyed.

At the same moment a fellow in citizen’s clothes started on a run for the office to the chief of police.

Breathless, he arrived, and whispered a few words in the ears of Bartesko. The latter was on the street in an instant.

In the meantime the Australian had ridden to a certain house in company with the man who bad given him the medal as a token of an obligation to be repaid. Once in the house, the man said, iu a cola tone : “You wish a favor?” “ I do.” “Nameit.” I wish a passport.” “ For yourself ?” “ For myself and one other person.” “ Who is the other person ?” “ I must not reveal the name.” “ How will you have it ?” Henry stated just what he desired. “ Meet me to-morrow night at the corner adjoinihg the house of the merchant Bulinski.” ’ “’I will be there.”

“ One word more ; the procuring of the passport' will cance,l all obligations between ÜB."

“ It will.” “ Enough,” Half an hour after the departure of the Australian, Bartesko was shown into the presence of the man who was to procure the passports for our hero,” “ Monsieur,you had a visitor to-night?” “ I beg your pardon, a gentleman accompanied me here.” “Do you know who the man was ?’’ I do.” “ Name him.” “I cannot.” “The man is an outlaw; a price is on his head; dare you, monsieur, withhold his name?” “ I must until to-morrow, though it cost me my life.” “ Your reason.” “ I am under an obligation to the man.” “Have you not discharged vour obligation?” ‘ “No.” “You are about to do so ?" “ I am.” “ Then you will be at liberty to reveal his name?” “ I will.” “ And give all necessary information ?” “All.” “ Enough ; when shall I see you ?” “ Here, at twelve to-morrow night.” “ I will be in time then ?” “ You will be in time.” “Your word is sufficient, monsieur; I feel that the game is already bagged.” A grim smile passed over the face of the man who had made the promise, and Bartesko left the house. At the hour named, Henry Barnes was at the place where he was to meet the man who was to give him the passports. The man was on time, and the precious documents were handed over. “ I am now clear of my obligation?” “ You are clear.” “ I will yet be a friend and place you under an obligation to me.” “ You will earn my gratitude.” The man took out his watch, looked at it, and said ; “ It is now ten o’clock.” “ Well ?” “ When do you intend using your passports ?” “ In the morniDg.” “ Can you not do so sooner?” “ I cannot.” “ I am sorry.” “ Why ?” “ I have made a promise inimical to your safety.” “ To whom ?” “ Bartesko.” “ Your promise?” “ At twelve I am to meet Bartesko.” “ Well ?”

“ I have promised him all information in my possession concerning your movements.”

CHAPTER XXVII. THE ESCAPE. "Monsieur, you are frank, and I thank you.” “ Can you avail yourself of my information ?” “ I can but try.” *■ One word more : “ I have done the best I can for you. Bartesko tracked you to my house, last night ; did 1 attempt to conceal any facts in my possession, it would ruin me and not aid youl” “ I understand.” "You are iu Russia, my friend, that is why circumstances are as I state them.” “ I know it, and I shall oe out of Russia as soon as pussible.” '■ I wish you God-speed ! And now 1 have been frank with you, give me your confidence.” “ What would you know?” “ Who accompanies you ?” “ You have already guessed ; your gue3s is correct.” “ Tell mademoiselle that I shall ever bear her image in my heart.” “ Your message shall be delivered.” “ Do you need money ?’’ “ Thank you, no.” “Adieu!” Henry turned to walk away, when four men suddenly sprang upon him. They were armed with swords, and commenced hacking at him in the most violent manner. For once the Australian was forced to beat a retreat without striking a return blow. He was badly wounded, having received two severe sword thrusts, but managed to get away. After doubling on his tracks, he reached the poor lodgings, where, ever since her adventure at Bartesko’s country-house, Margaret had remained concealed. The beautiful woman was awaiting our hero’s return. “ Margaret,” said Henry, without waiting a moment even to take breath, “ the critical moment has arrived, to-night we must make a break for freedom !” *• Most noble friend, 1 am under your guidance.” An hour later two persons, plainly dressed as the most humble moujiks, left the house, and proceeded toward the river, which was not far distant from their starting point. It was a dark night, and they were on the wharf, when a gendarme came along. No one was near them. The three persona stood alone, while the gendarme examined their passports. “ Correct !” he said ; and they entered the oifiee of the custom-house official. Again the passports were examined and pronounced correct, and a few minutes later,

without farther adventure, they were upon the little steamer, which, before dawn, was to start with them for Cronstadt, and so beyond the. power of the mighty czar, in whose capital both had encountered so many perils.

Henry Barnes saw Margaret to her stateroom, where he whispered a few words in her ear, and handed her a bundle, which had been brought-to-him by the captain of the boat.

A whispered conversation also passed between our hero and the captain. Half an hour after Margaret Ward had entered the state-room, a youth, dressed in the garb of one of the crew, emerged therefrom, and sauntered toward the forecastle. While the incidents we have recorded were in progress, a far different scene was in the course of transpirance at the house of the man who had furnished our hero with his passports.

Bartesko had entered the house, and was awaiting the appearance of the man who was to give him the information that was to guide him to a final triumph over the Australian detective.

The Russian official was in a bad Btrait.

It was life or death to him to secure the fugitives, and he had resolved to do so or die.

“ Ah 1 your time is up !” said the chief, as the man he was waiting for entered the room.

The owner of the house, strangely enough, appeared disposed to allow our hero all the time possible.

“ Whom is it you seek, Bartesko ?” “ You were to tell me the name of your guest last night.” “ It may be that my guest was a person in whom you have no interest.” “You are trifling.” " Tell me whom you seek, and you shall have all the information in my possession;”

“ I am seeking a man—an Australian known as Colonel Barnes.”

“ Colonel Barnes was my guest last night 1” “ What was his business with you ?” “ He wished me to secure him a passport !”

“ And you complied with his request?” "I did.”

“ Did anyone accompany him ?” “ Yes.” “ Who?”

“That I cannot tell you,” “ Your promise ?”

“ I only promised you such information as I possessed.” “ How was the second person described in the passport ?”

“ Here is a written copy of the description of both of them.”

“ They did not procure the regular permit for leaving the city ?” “ No."

11 Tnen they could not have gone bv rail!” “ You must judere of that ; it is your business.”— To be Continued. 1{ 14