The Washington herald., 1907-12-19
CHAPTER XLIII.
The Slayer Slain.

The Slayer Slain.
James Kahn had been murdered-killed.
at least. From the view of the inspector
there was no doubt as to the motive.
Kahn had robbed his master, and had
himself been robbed in turn. He had
promised his confederate a share. and
had made off while Casimir was taking
the letter TO Jacob Romer, which was
designed to keep ali quiet for twenty
four hours. With the speed at their dis
pOsal-two automobiles to their hand.
and the tug waiting for them within the
Isles Of Fleet-they had nothing to fear.
Still this did not explain all the facts.
Why had Kahn, if he wished to deceive
an accomplice with a nature so dis
trustful, leave his fight so late? He
could easily have gone off during the
night. leaving Casimir TO deliver the let
ter and bear the bruut. An excuse for
departure could easily have been found.
Nor was it sufficiently evident why, II
he knew that he would be Immediately
pursued, he should have left the swifter
and more powerful machine TO his ad-
versary. A man planning. in quiet and
GOODNESS. his flight, would hardly have
made that mistake.
1t was clear from the first that there
was something behind all this. BY the
green soft spots on the moor along the
side OF the long moss-hag could be seen
the tracks OF the hunted man. He ran
waveringly even as his car had done
He dashed from side to side. doubtless
with his head down TO escape from some
instant danger
The pursuer had kept a little higher,
on a rOUgher but dryer part of the
mOOr-iEdeed, almost parallel with the
road. Here and there he had stood still
and taken aim. At each of these places
Phil. with his eyes plunging among the
heather, found the empty shell of 7-53
nm. Mauser Cordite cartridge, self
elected from the lons-barreled pistol on
the spot where the murderer had stood
Once he had evidently entirely shot away
his supply Of bullets. For, under a bush
glistening like an innocent slat Of Ger
man silver, was a little holder by which
such cartridges are held till they are
pressed down into the repeating reservoir.
1t was a terrible thought. that chase
Phil did not trouble himself about mo-
tives, but he could see things clearly
enough. This man had shot down his
foe calmly. running along as an eager
sportsman may run a little after game
but stopping TO reload with perfect calm
ness He may not even have tried to
kill-at first
Phils imagination could see the more
powerful car hanging back a little be-
hind, waiting for the proper spot at
which to pOunce and overturn its leader
Then, when all was done, finding Kahn
still on his feet. the man had stopped
the Mercedes, had taken out his Mauser
pistol. adjusted the arm rest $50 making
it into carbine), and proceeded to stalk
his man. The idea-the cruelty-Were not
OF these lands or these peoples. 1t was
in kind neither Norman nor Celtic. Dan
ish nor Saxon. only the countrymen Of
the royal murderers of the Belgrade
Konyak could have imagined anything so
strange and evil-sOmething rubbed on
from the Turk, Seljuckian, not remotely
allied 10 the ways Of the fighting Asiatic
But what had actually happened to
James Kahn is a question the solution
OF which cannot longer be put off. The
fullest information comes from a paper
written In the hand OF a certain John
Casimir, intimately connected with these
matters. and reveals a good deal of the
past history of the Confidential" quite
unknown to Kirktown and to the man
he had followed so long.
The manuscript Is Of considerable
length, and is written in the English Of
o man mentally translating from another
tongue. 1t was addressed to Jacob
Romer Of CORN Castle. ESQ., and lay
for many days among q, pile OF letters
accommodating there, the dust thickening
upon it. and the daily mountain ascend
ing over its head. as the faithful Greg
son went on piling them up.
These, when the castle was sold. came
ultimately into the hands of Phil Cal
mont and this is the latter part of what
he read, which relates to the chase of
James Kahn:
THE declaration of me, John Casimir
(so-calied), now in safety, made concern
ing the pursuit OF and certain sudden
death of James Kahn:
1T happened thus: James Kahn sent
me with a letter TO the bank in Kirk
town. / was his confidant. He and ]
were to escape together. He told me
where the little steamer would be wait
ing for us-I knew that no questions
would be asked on board. I knew where
We should be set ashore-which is not
the place Of the posting of this letter
nor anywhere near il. So let none seek
II they do, it will be in vain.
But, deep within me- my heart said.
'Ha, Har For I knew the treachery of
Kahn-of the last of an the Negotin race.
He meant 70 go off alone. and leave me
70 face the brunt of the storm he had
raised.
II was aware. I may be an ignorant
Valaque. as James Kahn had often told
me when angry, and he a clever Serb.
city-bred, and his mother a Jewess But
at all events 1 had learned much from
watching this Nicholaiyitch Negotin.
alias Kahn. had copied him as at
school a boy, eager 10 write follows.
tongue or the page the masters COPY
heading. I had copied the Negotin-ah.
but / was not one OF them. / will not
tell you my name. ] am but the son of
my father and of my mother. and the
brother of my brothers and Of my SIS
ters, and especially OF little Katerina
whom ! loved
Therefore. I copied the Negotin.
AT KirktOwn which but for James
Kahn would have been weary place. I
went upon a Sunday into some of their
churches. 1t was chill and quiet and
cold There were no pictures nor images