Charlevoix county herald., 1915-07-03
Continued Chapter XIX.

he found so interesting down by the
gate a while ago." the Doctor sug-
gested, breaking the silence.
AS he spoke, the door opened silent
ly, and Kandwahr entered with all
the mystery and theatric effect usual
to his race. Upon the threshold, Kand-
wahr surveyed the assembled COM
pany, and smiled as he said Good
evening" He made no move to sit
down, but his keen eyes took in the
whole scene and summed it up for
his own purposes. With perfect calm
he looked from one to the other OF
the group he saw before him in the
dim light of the room.
"You asked to see me-" Sir Harry
said "You have something to say to
u.s."
Kandwahr nodded. 81 have bust
ness proposition to make to you," he
said.
"Well?"
81 have already told you that / am
innocent of the crime you, perhaps,
still believe / must have committed"
he began slowly, in his low, even
voice. 81 do not come to you to repeat
that assertion, but / make it again be-
cause | am going to offer to do a
thing that may seem strange to all
of YOU"
"Go onw Sir Harry snapped impa-
tiently.
Suppose there should be proof that
/ did kill Captain Towneshend-proof
so strong against me that it would
liberate Lord Harcourt? 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 evil
dence such as / 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-
courtw
"Certainlyw Sir Harry explained
impatiently. Don't talk nonsense.
Come to the point, and be quick about
it. / am in no humor to have you
daily"
Kandwahr bowed considerably. 81
will be brief" he promised. Suppose
/ should give you conclusive proof of
my guilt ?"
WHAT Cornish exclaimed. "Do
you mean to say that YOU"
81 mean that l will furnish such
neutrality-suspicious. 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 safetyW
Kandwahr uttered his ultimatum
and faced them squarely.
"Are you mad?" Farndale demand
ed.
"On the contrary-I 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 |
get out of England without delay.
would much prefer, sir, to go to your
country-Amcrica cannot remain
here any longer. Ny life is in great
danger. AS matter of fact shall
be in danger wherever i may be--al-
ways-but | shall be safer once | am
out Of England or the British posses
sions. l still say and insist that ] am
innocent-whether you choose to be-
lievc 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
innocence. Therefore, l make you this
offer. If you will make it possible for
me to escape from this country, will
give you a written confession, stating
that / 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
his earnestness-of his sincere desire
that they accept the terms that he had
\ Al