Evening star., 1921-06-13
THE AVENCER
BY E PHILLIPS OPPENHEIM
A Tale of Political Intrigue and Private
Revenge.
Copyright b. Brown 4 oa)
Continued from Yesterdays star.)
Copyright b. Little. Brown 4 Oh

Continued from Yesterdays Star)
TT sounds reasonable enough. this"
Wrayson said: but what about the
murder of Morris Barnes, on the very
night. you know, when Louise was
there?"
''It is all a very simple matter" the
baroness answered. quietly, but yet
a few such men would count for
nothing. A few ages ago it would
not have been a matter OF a dozen
Morris BarneS-no, nor thousand!
Diplomacy is just as cruel. and just
as ruthless. as the battlefield, only
it works, down nthere-underground
'It Is a political matter, then!
Wrayson asked swiftly.
The baroness smiled. She took a
cigarette from her little gold case and
"Ah" she exclaimed. you must not
try to. what you say, pump me! You
can call it what you will. Only to
Louise, as to me. it is very much a
personal affair. Shall we talk now,
for a little, of other things!
WraySOn sighed
"T may not know. then." he begged,
where Louise has gone. or why?''
ut would not be her WISH" the
baroness answered, that I should tell
you
Very we'll" Wrayson said, Il will
ask you no more questions. Only this.
l have told you of this man Bentham.
The baroness inclined her head. He
had told her nothing that was news
TO her.
was he on your side. or opposed
to your
You are puzzling me-" the baroness
confessed.
Already" wrayson explained, II
know as much of the affair as this:
Morris Barnes was In possession of
something, 1 do not know whether 1t
was documents, or what possible ma
teria1 shape it had. but it brought him
in a considerable income, and both
you and some others were endeavoring
to obtain possession of it. So far, 1 be-
lieve that neither of you have succeeded.
Morris Barnes has been murdered in
vain; Bentham the lawyer, who tele-
phoned to me on the night Of his death,
do these two murders go, yours or the
others?"
Il cannot answer that question. Mr.
wrayson." the baroness said.
DO you know" Wrayson demand
ed, dropping his voice a little. that
but for my moral. II not actual per-
jury, Louise herself would have beer
charged with the murder Of Morris
BarneST
"she had a narrow escape" the bar
:.She had a narrow escape wray.
son declared. but the unfortunate
part Of the affair is that she is not
even now safe!"
The baroness looked at him curl
ously. She was in the act of drawing
on her gloves. but her fingers sudden.
ly became rigid.
what do you mean?" she asked.
rI mean" Wrayson said. that an.
other person saw her come out of the
flats that night. 1t was friend Of
mine, who kept silence at first be
cause he believed that it was pri'
vate assfgnation of my own. Since
then events have occurred to make
him think differently. He has gone
over to the other side. He is spend
ing his time with young Sidney
Barnes; and he has set himself to dis
cover the mystery of Morris Barnes
murder. He has even gone so far a:
to give me warning that l should bt
better out of England"
.'Who is this person. the baroness
asked calmly.
His name is Stephen Heneage, ant
. he is a member of my club, the clut
10 which Louise's father also belongs
Wrayson replied.
The baroness suddenly dropped hel
-.ei1> hut t-uotrbe6ore :WraySon hadtSeez