Charlevoix county herald., 1915-06-26
Continued Chapter XVIII.

through the glass they could make
out crouching figure in the shadow
outside. A face peered in at them,
wild, hunted look in the great eyes.
1t seemed almost like an animal at
bay, yet they realized that human
being was staring in at them. Mac
Bee" muttered Sir Harry with an
oath. Hes come back craftily and
discovered you, Cornish!'
The American was silent, looking
fixedly at the face close to the win
dow pane.
mo, it's not MacBee," Cornish said
positively. With bound he was at
the easement and threw it open quick
ly, before the man outside could step
away. Like flash Cornish caught
him by the collar and dragged him
roughly into the lighted room.
He was small and dark, and his
clothes were tattered and dirty. A
heavy beard covered his face, and in
the light of the table lamp, in spite of
the altered appearance of the man,
they at once recognized Kirshin
Kandwahr.
"How the devil did you get here ?"
Cornish demanded, letting go his hold
upon the Indians collar.
THAT is a long story and quite un-
important" Kandwahr answered in
his smooth voice, with shrug of his
shoulders. "The fact remains that
am here gentlemen"
"Then what do you want!' asked
Sir Harry sharply, suspicion con-
spicuous in his tone. "Why are you
spying about here in this manner?"
Kandwahr smiled grimly, "My rea-
sons for. coming are probably not UNI
like those of the man who is pretend
ing to be i'll upstairs" he said.
"He is not pretending" said the
doctor. "He is a very sick man."
Then he almost bit his tongue because
of the i'll advised admission he had
made.
Sir Harry frowned and turned
quickly to Kandwahr. "How do you
know who is upstairs ?" he demanded.
81 know that Lord Harcourt is here
know it quite as well as you do"
said the Indian. II did not see him,
but in spite of that / know where he
was hidden yesterday, but now, re-
garding myself. You must devise
some means of concealing me-"
"You don't suppose l am going to
conceal a murderer, do you ?" Sir
Harry said Indignantly.
"Are you sure you are not already
doing so?" Kandwahr asked with cur
ious infection.
81 am not-and you know it quite
as well as l dov Sir Harry cried an
grily, advancing toward Kandwahr
with threatening expression.
Pardon me, but l do not know it,"
said Kandwahr quietly. l know you
suspect me, but as l have repeatedly
told both Harcourt and Inspector
MacBee, l am innocent of the crime"
Then why did you run away"
Didn't Harcourt run away, too? ?"
mot willingly" said Sir Harry.
Neither did l." Kandwahr returned
promptly.
"Do you expect US to believe that ?"
Farndale asked.
Probably not. | do not expect you
to believe anything | may 5ay-but
what is more, / do not care whether
you believe me or net" said Kand-
wahr.
The little group stared at him curl
ously, and Cornish shrugged his Shout
ders. To the American it seemed as
though they were wasting time, yet
Sir Harry was considering the matter
from another angle entirely. He won
dered how much Kandwahr might
know that would eventually be use
full to him.
Kandwahr was speaking again =
quietly, but with a commanding tone.
Whether or not you think l am
telling the truth, the fact remains
that you will conceal me here until
such time as suits my convenience
to go away" He uttered the words
with calm conviction. He seemed
sure of his ground, and of the effect
of his statement upon the assembled
audience. "For days have been hunt
ed like a wild ANIMAL" he went on.
81 am at the end of my rope. No man
can stand any longer the mental an
guish and physical strain have en-
dured. My life is in danger every min
ute am forced to face what threat
ems me. 1t was only by the merest
chance that / succeeded in evading
MacBee when he visited you here to-
night"
"Then you admit your guilt and the