Charlevoix county herald., 1915-07-03
BY Howard p. Rocky
Copyrisbf 1914 Howard p. Rocky

ems me the moment / set my sigma
ture to this confession"
He took up pen and placed sheet
of paper before him on the desk. His
move was most dramatic. The men
gathered about him, and watched him
silently as he dipped his pen into the
inkwell. Still no one spoke. He poised
his pen, ready to write.
II have no money" Kandwahr went
on, by far the most composed man
in the group. 81 am powerless to es-
cape alone, without your assistance.
You can help me if you will. / must
get away from here, and quietly too.
You can aid me without risk to your
selves. Is the liberty of Lord Harcourt
the offer / make to you-a sufficient
price for your assistance ?" He poised
his pen above the paper. Gentlemen
shall l write ?"
MOP said Sir Harry, abruptly.
put down that pen and tell us what
sort of trick you are trying to play on
us"
at is no trick" Kandwahr an
swered simply. "If / can get safely
away from England, the confession
cannot harm me, can then easily
keep out Of the way of Scotland
Yard With my confession in the
hands of the authorities, Lord Har-
court will be free of all suspicion, and
your difficulties will be over. That is
all there is to my Offer"
"Is MacBee about here now" Cor
nish asked suspiciously.
Perhaps" said Kandwahr.
Don't you know" the American
flashed at him.
Kandwahr shook his head. LET us
not discuss that subject" he said. ut
does not matter where MacBee may
be. Let me sail for America-any-
where you may choose. You will
never hear of me again, and the mys-
terry of the Towneshend murder will
be satisfactorily solved-as far as you
are all concerned"
"Kandwahr," said Sir Harry, "If l
thought that you were really guilty
that the confession you are now Of
fering to us was really genuine
would not help you to escape the just
penalty of your crime. Captain
Towneshend, as you know, was a close
friend to all of us. If, on the other
hand, it is a false confession you in
tend making, / would not attempt to
save Lord Harcourt with it. The thing
would be absurd in any event-even
dangerous to ourselves and to the man
whose interest we are endeavoring to
safeguard. We would be ridiculous in
offering to the police at such time as
this, the document you now propose
to write. In the first place, we could
not conscientiously do such thing,
and what is more, we do not know
how much of the truth of this affair
you have positive knowledge about"
"Then you refuse?" Kandwahr
asked, with keen disappointment in
his tone.
Certainly" said Sir Harry.
"You will not reconsider your deci-
sion 2"
1--WE cannot" said Farndale. "Tell
me why you desire to go so suddenly.
What did you discover here this aft
ernoon that makes you afraid to re-
main longer?"
81 cannot tell you," kandwahr re-
piled. 81 wish / could persuade you
to"
There is no use of attempting to
do so further" Sir Harry interrupted.
"For the present you may remain
here, al d l will continue to afford
you such protection as | may, because
it seems best to us all that | should do
so; but you must, under no circum
stances, attempt to leave here. Under
stand, also, that if we learn the truth
IN any way and find that you are gull
ty, shall harbor you no longer. Will
you give me your word of honor not
to make any attempt to escape from
my grounds? Otherwise | shall be
obliged to have you closely watchedw
81 will remain" said Kandwahr, re-
signedly. IF anything befalls me,
however, remember that pleaded ear
nestly, and you would not help me.
am innocent! Good night"
He turned and walked slowly from
the room. Standing by the easement,
Sir Harry saw him leave the lodge
and cross to the garage, his head
bowed and his steps slow.
When Kandwahr disappeared, Sir
Harry turned to the others and said:
"Well, what do you men make of all
this ?"
at beats mew Cornish said in per-
plexity. "I've an idea that well know