Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1914-07-09

innocent OF me crime you, perhaps.
still believe I must have committed"
he began slowly. In his low, even
voice. II do not come to you to repeat
that assertion, but make 1t again be-
cause l am going to offer to do q
thing that may seem strange to all
of you"
"Go on!" Sir Harry snapped impa-
hently.
Suppose there should be proof that
i did kill Captain Towneshend--proof
so strong against me that it would
hberate Lord Harcourt7 You would
relish such evidence-eh?"
Naturally" Cornish broke in EN-.
phatically. "Rut, unfortunately, we
have no such proof"
Precisely" Kandwahr resumed in
his same even tone. "If you had evi.
dence such as l suggest to you, you
would not permit me to remain here
for moment. You would then hand
me over to the police without further
delay, and there would be no further
necessity for concealing Lord Har.
court"
Certainly" Sir Harry explained
impatiently. Don't talk nonsense.
Come to the point, and be quick about
1t, l am in no humor to have you
dally!"
Kandwahr bowed considerably. 81
will be BRIEF" he promised. Suppose
] should give you conclusive proof of
my guilt7"
What" Cornish exclaimed. do
you mean to say that you-"
II mean that / will furnish such
proof-unquestioned evidence that will
free Lord Harcourt of all suspicion
upon the condition that you gentle.
men give to me your words of honor
that you will aid me to leave England
In safety!"
Kandwahr uttered his ultimatum
and faced them squarely.
Are you mad?" Farndale demanded.
"On the contrary am quite sane,
and am taking the only course that
remains open to me-" Kandwahr an.
swered.
But heretofore, you have insisted
that you are innocent of this crime"
Cornish objected "And now you offer
us proof of your guilt and expect us
to believe you. Either you are guilty
or you are craZy!"
Although l will admit that circum-
stances make either seem quite pos
sible to you, am neither guilty nor
crazy" Kandwahr went on in his soft,
purring tone. 1T is imperative that 1
get out of England without delay. /
would much prefer, sir, to go to your
country-America. / cannot remain
here any longer. My life is in great
danger. AS a matter of fact I shall
be in danger wherever l may be-al-
ways-but l shall be safer once l am
out of England or the British posses
sions. l still say and insist that l am
nnocent-whether you choose to be-
lieve me or not-but / know there is
only one consideration that will induce
you to aid me to get away safely.
That condition is for me to produce
positive evidence of Lord Harcourt's IS
innocence. Therefore, make you this
offer. If you will make it possible for
give you written confession, stating
that l am the murderer of Captain
Towneshend."
For a moment the men stared al
him, unable to believe their ears
Kandwahr looked calmly at them
weighing carefully the effect of his
words. There could be no doubt Of
lF H.
that they accept the terms that he hat
proffered them.
"See," he continued persuasively
sitting down at the writing desk in the
corner of the room. 81 am ready Il
write the words that will save LORD
Harcourt all lurther trouble. You gen
tlemen can devise a way of putting
them in the hands of the police-o
placing them so there will be no diff
Guilty in releasing your friend. All
ask of you is that you place me be
yond reach of the danger that threat
ems me the moment l set my sigma
ture to this confession"
He took up pen and placed shee
of paper before him on the desk. Hi
move was most dramatic. The mel
} gathered about him, and watched hin
silently as he dipped his pen into tn
inkwell. Still no one spoke. He poise,
his pen, ready to write.
II have no money" Kandwahr Wen
on, by far the most composed ma!
in the group. II am powerless to es
cape alone, without your assistance
You can help me If you will l mus
get away from here. and quietly toe
You can aid me without risk to YOU
| selves Is the liberty Of Lord HaroouI
the offer make to you-a suficien
, price for your assistance% He poise
his pen above the paper. "Gentleme
shall writer"
mol" said Sir Harry, abruptly
, "Put down that pen and tell us whs
sort of trick you are trying to play o
, u.s."
at is no trick!" Kandwahr ar