Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1915-07-17
Continued Chapter XXI.


in case any of the three he had seen
should look back. He could dimly
make out the figure ahead of him.
Kandwahr seemed to be moving eau
tiously, too, but there was no sign of
Grace or her companion.
Now Harcourt saw Kandwahr pause
and conceal himself behind a tree.
Harcourt stood still in his tracks and
waited-but it was only a moment
before he saw two shadowy figures
appear behind Kandwahr. Harcourt's
heart leaped. He could only make
them out dimly, but apparently it was
Grace and the man she had slipped
out to meet. Suddenly he heard a
piercing shrek and shot rang loudly
in his ears. After that all was still
and he could see nothing.
Realizing that he was unarmed, and
helpless against attack, Harcourt
nevertheless sprang forward eagerly.
Grace might be in danger-or per-
haps-this was the thing Kandwahr
had feared There was no further
sounds to guide him, and it was sew
eral moments before he came out
upon a little clearing. The moonlight
breaking through the trees lit up the
narrow space, but before him, upon
the ground, Harcourt saw quite plain
ly, dark figure lying still in a little
heap.
He glanced about quickly, but there
was no one in sight. Perhaps some
one lurked nearby ready to spring out
upon him, and he shuddered as he
bent down over the PROSTATE form.
He gave an exclamation of dismay.
1t was Kandwahr, lying fiat upon his
back, staring with glazed and sight
less eyes at the blinking stars over
head. Harcourt looked at the man,
and vague sense of terror came over
him. Upon Kandwahr's face was al
most look of triumph. At last the
fate he had spoken of had overtaken
him.
Death had apparently been instan-
taneous, for, buried hilt deep in his
breast, was a knife. Harcourt made
no attempt to remove it, but he knew
the blade was long and it had pierced
the heart. Carved upon its handle
was the mysterious monogram.
Harcourt shuddered. There were
sounds of someone approaching, and
for the second time Harcourt found
himself the innocent victim Of circum-
stances that pointed to his guilt as
murderer And this time, too, the in
strument of death had been a long
dagger marked with the symbol that
had pursued him so relentlessly.
What was the thing-what did it
stand for-and why was it constantly
put before his eyes to torment his
tortured mind.
In unreasoning fear he crouched be-
side the body, hoping those who were
approaching might pass on without
noticing him. Then a weird idea came
to him. Grace wore the terrible charm
he had learned to fear. She had gone
into the wood with her companion
ahead of Kandwahr. Could it be that
sheer the man with her-could have
struck the blow with the marked dag
ger? 1t was impossible-horrible-
yet, if it could be true, he meant to
remain and save her from suspicion
by taking the blame upon himself.
Now his eyes wandered from the
body and on the ground close by it he
saw a soiled envelope. Mechanically
he picked it up, and, as the sounds
drew nearer, slipped it into his pocket
without examination.
Almost holding his breath, and fear
ing to make the slightest sound, he
waited anxiously. Then he heard the
swish of garments behind him, the
parting of branches and the swapping
of twig. Before he could straighten
up or even look about, someone seized
him and he was thrown heavily upon
his face.
Strong hands were trusting him up
with strong cord that cut his wrists
and now something was thrown over
his head. He felt himself lifted as a
baby might be, and knew that he was
being carried away huriedly.
His captors moved along silently,
giving their prisoner but scant con-
The road they were trav-
cling was apparently rough one, for
now and then they stumbled, shaking
Harcourt roughly. Once they paused
and whispered among themselves, but
Harcourt could not make out what
they were saying. Apparently they
were satisfied after a time, however,
and they moved off again at the same