THE AVENGER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13486, 13 May 1907, Page 3

THE AVENGER.

BY. E. PHILLIPS OPPENHEIMV Author of " The Mysterious Mr. Sabin." " A Man and His kingdom," " A Prince of Sinners," "Mr. Wingrave. Millionaire," and . " A Maker of History," etc., etc.. etc. [ALL EIGHTS RESERVED.] [COPYRIGHT.] "< • ' CHAPTER LX. Sydney Bakxes staggered into his apartment with a Li tie' exclamation of relief, which .was almost a groan. He slammed the door and sank into an easy chair. With both hands he was grasping a small packet, grasping it so that his fingers were hot and wet with perspiration.; At last lie had obtained his soul's desire! He sat there for several minutes without moving. The blinds were close drawn, and the room was in darkness. Gradually he began to be afraid. He rose, and with trembling fingers struck a match. On the corner of the tablefortunately he knew where to find it—was a candle. He lit it, and holding it ; over his head, peered fearfully around. Convinced at last that he was alone, lie set it down again, wiped the perspiration from his forehead, and opening a cupboard: in the chetionier, produced' a bottle and a glass. ... He poured out some spirit and drank it. Then, after rummaging for several moments in his coat pocket, he produced several crumpled cigarettes of a cheap variety. One of these he proceeded to smoke, whilst, with trembling fingers, he undid the packet which he had been carrying, and began a painstaking study of its contents. A delicate perfume stole out into the room from these closely-pressed sheets, so eagerly clutched in his yellow-stained fingers. A little bunch of crushed violets slipped to the floor unheeded. Ghoul-like he bent over the pages of delicate writing the intimate, passionate cry of a soul seeking for its jjiate. They were no ordinary love-letters. ; -Mostly they were beyond the comprehension of - the creature who spelt them out word for word, seeking all the time to appraise their exact monetary value to himself. But for what he had heard lie would have, found them disappointing. As it was, he gloated .over them. Two thousand pounds a year his clever brother had earned by merely possessing them! He looked at them almost reverently. Then he suddenly remembered what else his brother had earned by their possession, and he shivered. A moment later the electric bell outside, pealed, and there came a soft knocking at the door. A little cry—half-stifled— from his lips. With 'numbed and trembling . fingers he began tying up the letters. The perspiration had 'broken out upon his forehead. Someone to see him! Who could it be? He was quite determined not to go to the door. He would let no one in. Again the bell! Soon they would get tired of ringing and go away. He was quite safe so long as he remained quiet. Quite safe, he told himself feverishly. Then, his pulses seemed to stop beating. There was a rush of blood to his head. He clutched at the sides of his chair, but to rise was a sheer impossibility. _ : The -thing which was terrifying him was a small tiling in itself—the turning of a latchkey in the door. Before him on the table was his own —he knew of no other. Yet someone was opening, had opened his front door! He sprang to his feet at last with something which was almost a shriek. The door of the room in which he was, was slowly being pushed open. By the dim candle-light he could distinguish the figure of his visitor • standing upon the threshold and peering into the room. ,His impulse'was;; without doubt, one of relief. The figure was the figure of a complete •' stranger. ■ • Nor was there ; anything the/least threatening about his appearance.. Ho . saw a tall, white-haired' gentleman, carefully -dressed,' with .military exactitude, regaling him with and apologetitj"; smile.. !- " I really must apologise," he said, " for such an' ; unceremonious entrance. I , felt sure that, you were in, but I am a trifle deaf, :and I could not be sure whether or no the bell was ringing. _ So I ventured to use my own latchkey--with,, as you are doubtless observing, complete success." "Who are you, arid what do you want?" Barnes asked, finding -his voice at last. "My name is Colonel Fitzmaurice," was the courteous reply. • _ " You will allow me to sit down? I have the pleasure of conversing, I believe, with Mr. Sydney Barnes?" "That's my name," Barnes answered.' " What do you want with me?" Despite 'his visitor's urbanity, lie. was still a little nervous. The colonel had a somewhat purposeful air, and he had seated himself directly in front of the door. " I want." the colonel said calmly, " that packet which you have just stolen from Mrs. Morris Barnes, and which you have in your pocket there.": . ..*» Barnes rose at once, trembling, to his feet. His bead-like eyes were bright and venomous. He was terrified, but he had the courage of despair. " I have stolen nothing," he declared. "I don't know what you're talking about. I won't listen to you. You have no right to force your way into my flat. Colonel or no, I won't have it. I'll send for -the police." . The colonel smiled. " No!" lie said ; " don't do that. Besides, I know what I'm talking about. ' I mean the packet which I can see sticking out of your coat pocket. You have just stolen that from Mrs. Barnes' tin trunk, you know." "I have stolen nothing," the young man declared—" nothing at all. I am not a thief. I am not afraid of the police." The colonel smiled tolerantly. " That is good," he said; " I hate cowards. But 1 am going to make you very much afraid of unless you are wise and give me that packet." Barnes breathed thickly for a moment. Coward lie knew that lie was to the marrow of his bones, but other of the evil passions were stirring in him then. His narrow eyes were alight with greed. He had the animal courage of vermin hard pressed. " The packet is mine," he said fiercely. " It's nothing to do with you. Get out of my room." v He rose to his feet. The colonel awaited linn with equable countenance. He made, however, no advance. * • " Young man," the colonel said quietly,' " do you know what happened to your brother?" Sydney Barnes stood still and shivered. He "could say nothing. His tongue seemed to cling to the roof of his mouth. . " Your brother was another of your breed," the colonel continued. "A blackmailer! A low-living, evil-minded brute. Do you know how he came by those letters?" * • - • "I don't know and I don't care," Barnes answered,, with a weak attempt at bluster. "They're mine now, and I'm going to stick to them." The colonel shook his head. " He broke his trust to a dying man," he said softly • " to a man who lay on the veldt at Colenso with three great wounds in his bodv, and his life-blood staining the ground. He had carried those letters into action with him, because they were precious i to Mm. His last thought was that they should be destroyed. Your brother swore to do this. He broke his word. He turned blackmailer." "You're verv fond of that word," Barnes muttered. " How do you know so much?" " The soldier was my son," the colonel answered, "and lie did not die. You see I have a right to these letters. Will you give them to me?" Give them up! Give up all his hopes of affluence, his dreams of an easv life, of the cheap luxuries and riches which formed the heaven 'of his' desire! No! He was not coward enough for that. He did not believe that this mild-looking gentleman would use force. Besides, ho could not be very strong. He ought to be able to push him over and escape! , " No he answered bluntly; " I won't!" The colonel looked thoughtful. "It is a pity," he said quietly. "I am sorry to hear you say that. Your brother —when I asked him —made the same reply-" I Barnes felt, himself suddenly grow hot and then cold. The perspiration stood out upon his forehead. ■ "I called upon your brother a few days

beforehis death," the colonel continued calmly. " I "explained my claim to the letters and I asked him for them. He, too, refused! Do you remember, .by-the-by, what happened to your brother?" • - Sydney Barnes did not answer, but his checks were like chalk. His mouth was a little open, disclosing his yellow teeth. He stared at the colonel with frightened, fascinated eyes. "I can see," the colonel continued, "that von remember. " Young man," he added, with a curious alteration in his tone, "be wiser than your brother! Give me the packet." . " You killed him," the young man gasped. "It was you who killed Morris." The colonel nodded gravely. "He had his chance," lie said, "even as you have it." , There was a dead silence. The colonel was waiting. Sydney Barnes was breathing hard. He was alone, then, with a murderer. He tried to speak, but found a difficulty in using his voice. It was a situation which might have abashed a bolder ruffian. The colonel rose to his feet. " I am sorry to hurry you," he said, "but we are already late for our appointment with Wravson'and his friends." Sydney Barnes' _ snatched up the packet and retreated behind the table, Hie colonel leaned forward and blew out the candle. "I can see better in the dark," he remarked calmly. "You are a very foolish I young man . | ■ (To bo continued daily.)