The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1914-08-01
| COPYRIGHT. 1919 HOWARD 2 RocKEY

vas Al my IOOmS DefOre We went TO
the Grill club last evening, presen-
ted 1t to him. He slipped it into the
pocket OF his dresscoat at the time"
Harcourt watched the man, fascin-
ated His tone was earnest yet his
words seemed absurd.
You may not believe what | am
saying" Kandwahr said, observing
the others doubtful look, yet as
sure you that IL is true. How this
knife-my gift-came to be the instru-
ment of his death, or whose hand
struck the blow, is almost as great
a mystery to me as IL is TO you"
DO you really expect anyone 70
credit such story, Kandwahr?"
mo to be perfectly frank. am only
TOO well aware OF it's seeming improp-
ability-yet ! can say no more"
Perhaps you imagine that am the
guilty mann" Harcourt suggested.
Under the circumstances such a
belief would be quite as reasonable as
your unreasoning suspicion OF me-"
Granted" said Harcourt Il my
self admitted as much in your pres
ence this morning."
And you made a mistake in doing
so" Kandwahr returned Il do not
know just what your object was. Per
haps you think you may have been
guilty. If so, l may say quite posi-
lively that | am sure you arc not
Towneshend's murderer"
Thank you" said Harcourt mock
ingly.
You are still suspicious OF me, =
Kandwahr went on. you all are, !
can see that readily. Perhaps you are
right in feeling as you do. | am a
stranger, an Indian, and the ways
Of my people are strange You do
not understand us, and consequently,
you believe us capable of anything.
You are making a terrible mistake in
trying TO fasten this crime upon me.
What know | shall keep locked In
my brain. cannot help you-but l
warn you--do not attempt to place
suspicion on me-"
His eyes flashed and the savage IN
him arose to the surface as he spoke.
For moment the two men gazed at
each other in silence then Kandwahr
calmly slipped the knife into his peck
ct and moved slowly towards the
door.
"As / told you a few minutes ago,
am going now-by the front door.
i shall take the knife with me, and
before / sleep tonight Il viii be where
Il can do no more harm to you, to
me. or TO any other unfortunate man"
you believe that the disappearance
Of this knife protect us?" Harcourt
asked.
10 great extent yes. The 20
lice viii never be able TO fasten the
crime upon you. Without the knife
they cannot produce evidence against
me. The dagger, therefore, is a
! source Of danger TO both Of us, for
it's discovery will implicate you as
well as me. In that event ! might
be obliged, for self protection, to tell
where found It."
Would you also mention just how
il came into my possession Har
court asked with a smile.
mot heing a seer--eyen though
am an INDIAN should be unable e
throw any light upon the subject,
said Kandwahr. i can only add tina
/ do not intend to be accused of thi
crime myself, for, whether you be
Iieve me or not, | am innocent OF it.
'Kandwahr," said Harcourt, ''yo'
know far more about this than yo'
are willing to tell. You seem over
confident of my safety, as we'll as 0
vour own. Does your determinauo
10 remain silent go so far that yo
would let an innocent man pay tn
penalty for crime he did not con
mit2"
ii The indian did not answer at once
Then he spoke in a low tone, a
though he feared that someone othe
than Harcourt might catch his words
"When see an innocent nan 1
danger | shall tell what know" h
said solemnly. Until then my lip
are sealed"
He stood by tho door now, wal
ing. "Will you sec me out as ! sui
gest?'
For a moment Harcourt hesitate1
what part had this man played In IN
events of the past twentyfour hour
what did he know Of the mysteriou
monogram that had haunted HarcouI
ever since his first discovery Of th
knife tho Indian had come to stea
ue knew that Kandwahr could te
him what he wished TO know--if h
would. But he realized that any que'
tioning would be in vain and his ow
position in the matter forbade hi
irving to force the Information h
sought
! ut will probably be better that m
servants ahould not know OF you
having been here" Harcourt said.
will 20 down with you myself"
Kandwahr bowed and walked GU
silently Harcourt followed hin dow
the stairs and himself let him out Z
the main entrance OF the hous
without even word Of farewell IN