Charlevoix county herald., 1915-05-29
CHAPTER XIV.
kandwahr Escapes.

flashed the news of his kidnapping
across the world, while the murder
was eagerly being discussed in every
civilized country. Thousands of men
and women were eagerly awaiting
further statements from MacBee, who
had promised definite information
speedily, but after two weeks none of
the cutters on the coast had caught so
much as a glimpse of Cornish's yacht,
and the inspector. seemed no nearer
to a solution of the great mystery.
A score of men secured the country
for some trace of the missing noble
man or of his captors, for MacBee
still held firmly to the belief that
Harcourt had not willingly run away.
The newspapers speculated upon the
finding of the suitcase with the sup
posed clothing of the missing man,
forming various conclusions, all of
which caused MacBee quiet amuse-
ment. And through it all the inspec-
tor smoked necessarily and thought
a great deal. Occasionally he talked
when it suited his purpose, and again
he would refuse to comment upon the
case at all.
Ten days after Harcourt's disap-
pearance the examination of Kand-
wahr was ordered. MacBee knew that
he could not hold the man longer with
out further evidence, yet he knew
that, with Kandwahr and Harcourt
both gone, he might never get to the
bottom of the matter. Owing to the
widespread interest in the case, and
the fear of disorderly crush of per-
sons, the hearing had been fixed for
the evening. 1t was after nightfall,
therefore, when Kandwahr was taken
from his cell and placed in a closed
carriage, manacled to the hand of
detective beside him. A second officer
mounted the box beside the driver,
and only at the last moment had the
newspapers been advised that the
Was W ldhc place..
In the corridor adjoining the court
room MacBee paced nervously up and
down, smoking his pipe and waiting
for the arrival of the prisoner. He
was struggling to arrive at some con-
clusion-whether to demand the re-
manding of Kandwahr or to permit
his release because of lack of evidence
against him. There was only one tiny
thing that would have given the in
spector the hold he required, but that
thing had been so unobtrusive that it
had never attracted his attention.
He had not seen the monogrammed
cigarette Harcourt had found beside
the body of Towneshend, and as Kand
wahr had thoughtfully rid himself of
his last one before arriving at Scot
land Yard, MacBee had no release to
give more than passing consideration
to the peculiar symbol he had noticed
on the dagger of which Kandwahr
admitted ownership.
AS he walked slowly to and fro,
bordering over the problem, man
hatless and excited rushed in from
the street.
We've been attacked he shouted,
"Kandwahr has escaped"
With an oath, MacBee started from
his reverie. Attacked! Escaped ?" he
exclaimed "In the streets of London
at s o'clock in the evening! Impossi
blew
Its true" the man insisted, pant
ing for breath. mot three minutes
ago and within a block of herew
In an instant all was confusion. An
excited throng of court attendants and
newspaper men surrounded the bearer
of the seemingly impossible news, but
he was too confused to give them
much satisfaction. Without waiting
to hear more, however, MacBee dash
ed from the building and ran rapidly
down the street. A crowd was already
gathering about a carriage that stood
close to the sidewalk, it's horse lying
in the street before it, apparently
dead. Upon the box the driver still
sat, but he breathed no more, for a
great cobblestone had crushed his
skull. The carriage door had been al
most wrenched from its hinges, and
within, upon the cushions, lay the de-
tective to whom Kandwahr had been
manacled. His clothing was soaked
with BLOOD and from his wrist dangled
the steel chain of the bracelet that
remained fastened tightly about his
wrist. MacBee examined it and found
that the chain had not been broken,
but the other bracelet which had been
fastened about Kandwahr's wrist, had
been opened as neatly and easily as
though with a key.
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