The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-09
CHAPTER XLI1I. Tha Gla ver Slain


 It had been fired from behind.
 CHAPTER XL11I.
 The Slayer Slain.
 James Kahn had been murdered-killed, at least For 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 share. and had made off while Casmir was taking the letter to Jacob Romer, which was de- signed to keep all quiet for twenty-four hours With the speed at their disposal 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 accompliee with a nature so distrust- ful, leave his flight so late? He could easily have gone off during the night, leaving Casimir to deliver the letter and bear the brunt. An excuse for departure could easily have been found Nor was it sufficiently evident why, if he knew that he would be immediately pursued, he should have left the swifter and mora powerful machine to his adversary. A man planning, in quiet and coolness, his flight. would hardly have made that mis- take
 
 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 little higher, on rougher but dryer part of the moor ind o1r al r.,tf1a T Here and there had stood still and taken aim! At each of these places Phil, with his eyes plunging among the heather, found empty shell of 7-6S nm. Mauser Cordite cartridge, self-ejected from the long -barrelled pistol on the spot where the murderer had stood. Once he had evidently entirely shot away his supply of bullets. For under a bush, glistenfng like an innocent slat of German silver was little holder by which such car- tridges are held till they are pressed down into the repeating reservoir.
 It 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 sports man may run little after game, but stopping to reload with perfect calmness He may not even have tried to kill-at first.
 Phil's imagination could see the more powerful car. hanging back a little be- hind waiting for the proper spot at which to bounce upon and overturn its leader. Then, when all was done, find ing Kahn still on his feet, the man had stopped the Mercedes, had taken out his Mauser pistol, adjusted the arm rest (so making it into a carbine), and proceeded to stalk his man. The idea-the cruelty, were not of these lands or these peoples. It was in kind neither Normans nor Gel tic, Danish nor Saxon. Only the coun- trymen of the royal murderers of the Belgrade kpnyak could have imagined anything so strange and. evil-something rubbed off from the Turk, Seljuckian, not remotely allied to the ways of the fight ing Asiatic.
 But what had actually happened to James Kahn is a question sthe solution of which cannot longer be put off. The fullest informant ton 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 a man mentally translating from another tongue. It was addressed to Jacob Ro- mer of Gorm Castle, Esquire," and lay for many days among a pile of letters accommodating there. the dust thickening upon it, and the daily mountain ascend ing over It's head, as the faithful Gregson 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-called), now in safety. made concern ing the pursuit of and certain death of James Kahn:
 "It happened thus: James Kahn sent me with letter to the bank in Kirk town. I was his confidant. He and I were to escape together. He told me where the little steamer would be wait ing for us-I knew that no question would be asked on board. l knew where we should be set ashore-which is not the place of the posting of this letter nor anywhere near it. So let none seek If they do, it will be in vain.
 'But, deep within me, my heart said. 'Ha! Hal For-I knew the treachery of Kahn--of the last of all the Negotin race. He meant to go off alone. and leave me to face the brunt of the storm he had raised
 q was aware. I may be an ignorant Valaque, as James Kahn had often told me when angry, and he clever Serb, city-bred. and his mother Jewess. But at all events I had learned much from watching this Nicholaivitch Negotn, alias Kahn. I had copied him as at school a boy, eager to write, follows, tongue on the page. the masters copy heading. had copied the Negotin-ah. but was not one of them. I will not tell you my name. I am but the son of my father and of my mother. and the brother of my brothers and of my sis Gers. and especially of little Katerina, whom I loved
 Therefore. I copied the Negotn.
 At KirStown. which but for James Kahn would have been a weary place, I went upon Sunday into one of their churches. It was chill and uuIet and cold. There were no pictures nor images nor incense. The priest whom they