CHAPTER XXIX.
CORNERED AT LAST.
"My son, my son!"
The next instant the old lady was clasped to the breast of AugustBordine.
It was a dramatic scene.
But the drama was not yet complete.
Several men were striding through the garden, the two in advance wearingthe uniform of the city police.
"August Bordine, I arrest you for the murder of Victoria Vane."
"I ARREST YOU FOR THE MURDER OF VICTORIA VANE."]
A hand fell on the impostor's shoulder and a bearded face looked intohis.
There came a wild gleam to the eyes of Barkswell as he realized hissituation.
He seemed equal to the occasion, however.
"A mistake, officer. Yonder stands August Bordine," and the criminalpointed toward the widow's son.
And then, with a wailing cry, poor Rose reeled and sank fainting to thearms of Mrs. Bordine.
At this moment the officer snapped a pair of handcuffs over the wrists ofBarkswell, thus securing him. However, the officers seemed puzzled, andstared at August as if undecided what course to pursue.
At this moment two others appeared on the ground--Hiram Shanks, the queerpeddler, and Ransom Vane.
"You have the right man, gentlemen," said Shanks. "These two resembleeach other strangely, and it is this resemblance that has baffleddetectives, and made trouble for an honest man."
All eyes were fixed on the speaker, who adjusted the black patch on hisblind eye, and spoke with the vigor of a man who knew that he was right.
"Yes," put in Ransom Vane, "there has been a great mistake. This man,"pointing to Barkswell, "is the outlaw, and by confounding him with Mr.Bordine an innocent man has been deeply wronged."
"It is false--"
"Never mind putting in your lip," sneered the irrepressible peddler."There's crimes enough against you, young man, to sink you to perdition.You are now arrested for the murder of a beautiful, innocent girl--"
"But I never harmed her, I swear it," cried the prisoner, trembling withdeep excitement.
"Who did, then?"
"I don't know; but--"
"Is this yours?"
Shanks held up a gleaming dagger.
"No," with a start.
"You have seen the weapon before?"
"Yes."
"You placed it into Bordine's house one night, where it was found by theofficers, for the purpose of fixing that awful murder upon an innocentman. Do you deny that?"
The outlaw was pallid and silent.
"It is true, and you dare not deny it. So far so good; but, gentlemen, itis a mistake to suppose that this man, guilty as he is of crimes withoutnumber, was the one who murdered Victoria Vane."
At this announcement the interest deepened on all faces, and thecountenance of the prisoner brightened.
"The person who murdered Miss Vane, with this dagger, was in turnmurdered by Andrew Barkswell, the prisoner here."
"Who was it?"
"Iris, your wife. _She was the assassin of Victoria Vane!_"
This announcement created a great sensation. Rose had revived, andclinging to the strong arm of August, was listening in amazement to therevelations of Hiram Shanks.
"I suspected it all the time," muttered the prisoner.
"You did? She found Victoria reading a letter from you, and in a fit ofinsane jealousy she stole upon and drove this dagger into her throat.Last night the poor woman died penitent, and made a full confessionbefore two witnesses."
"If this is true, then we cannot detain the prisoner," said one of theofficers.
"Release me at once," demanded Barkswell.
"Not so," cried Shanks. He must be held, for he is guilty of othercrimes. The woman who died last night was murdered by poison administeredby the hand of her husband, the man you now hold a prisoner. Dr. Wise hasthe proof that he will produce in good time. Furthermore, this man hasanother crime to answer for.
"He attempted to murder August Bordine, but failed. He _did_, however,assassinate his wife's brother, and buried the body in the cellar of anold shanty in the woods upon Bear Creek."
"That is false," uttered Barkswell, yet trembling and paling with fear.
"I have the proof," declared Shanks.
"What proof?"
"My eyesight. I saw you bury your victim!"
The prisoner weakened then. His handcuffs rattled and his whole frameswayed as though he were about to fall to the ground.
"You do not deny your crime, nor the fact that besides poisoning yourwife and murdering Perry Jounce, her brother, you assisted the latter,who had long been your tool, to decoy Silas Keene into a room in the rearof Billy Bowleg's saloon, where, some weeks ago, you committed anothercrime by hurling the detective into a well."
"My soul! This is too much!" gasped the quaking villain.
"Do you deny it?"
No answer from Barkswell, but his head was bowed upon his breast, and ahelpless look filled his eyes.
"It would do you no good to deny that you and Perry Jounce murderedDetective Keene--"
"How did you learn so much?" cried out the doomed man.
"There were witnesses present--"
"Witnesses?"
"There was one."
"One?"
Barkswell raised his head and glared at the speaker in evident amazement.
"Yes, one--myself."
"I deny it."
"I think I can convince you."
With the words, the peddler's hand went to his head, a few passes weremade, and the man stood transformed. It was a complete metamorphosis.
On the ground lay red wig and black patch.
An exclamation fell from many lips. Andrew Barkswell uttered a great cry.
"Great heavens! _it is Silas Keene, the detective!_"
It was true.
August Bordine had suspected this for some time, and was consequently theleast astonished of any present.
"Although you cast me into that well, I did not perish," proceeded thedetective, after a moment. "The well was not deep, and there was no waterin it, so that the fall only stunned me a little. I soon recovered, andmanaged to climb to the surface on the jagged stones. It is not necessaryto detail how I made my way from the building. No one saw me, and oncefree, I resolved to disguise myself completely, and thus work to betteradvantage.
"You of course supposed me dead, and so proceeded with more boldness thanyou would otherwise have done. This suited me. Your resemblance to AugustBordine puzzled me for a time. I did not discover the truth until I sawyou both together the time that my faithful Tige prevented you frommurdering Bordine in the fisherman's shanty. I dogged your steps andfound where your wife lived. I mistrusted you meant to destroy her, andat one time tried to frighten you from your wicked purpose. I failed, butsucceeded in capturing you at last."
The detective paused.
The criminal said nothing.
He could not; he was completely broken up, and would have sunk to theground had not one of the stout policemen supported him with his arms.
A low sob fell on the ears of all.
The eyes of the group turned to Rose. She rested on the breast of Augustand was weeping bitterly.
She, too, was broken up.
When the wicked cause of all the trouble was led away to prison, and noneremained in the little garden but the old mother, August, and Rose, thelatter disengaged himself from his hands and said, with a quiver in hervoice and a moisture in her eye:
"I feel like going away by myself and never looking you in the faceagain, August."
"Why so, darling?"
"Because I have been such a fool."
He drew her to him, however, and kissed her tears away, while hewhispered:
"The clouds have drifted away, darling, and we are destined to be happyyet."
She clung to him closely, and the widow understood and helped them. Itwas indeed sunshine after the storm.
br /> * * * * *
Andrew Barkswell confessed his guilt in open court, and was sentenced toprison for life. Two years later he died. Thus ended an eventful andwicked career. Of course the reward was paid over in due time, and SilasKeene was the lion of the hour, since he had cornered a double murderer,and cleared up the mystery of Victoria Vane's sad death, who had fallenby the hand of a jealous woman.
And now adieu.
THE END.
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