the case of the pocket diary found in the snow-第7部分

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and　wanted　me　to　keep　her　here　until　he　knew　where　he　could　take　her。
Once　he　left　a　revolver　here　by　mistake。　　But　I　hid　it　so　the　lady
wouldn't　see　it；　and　gave　it　to　the　gentleman　the　next　time　he
came。　　He　was　angry　at　that；　though　I　couldn't　see　why；　and　said　I
shouldn't　have　touched　it。〃

The　woman　had　told　her　story　with　much　hesitation；　and　stopped
altogether　at　this　point。　　She　had　evidently　suddenly　realised　that
the　lady　was　not　insane；　but　only　in　great　despair；　and　that　people
in　such　a　state　will　often　seek　death；　particularly　if　any　weapon
is　left　conveniently　within　their　reach。

〃What　did　this　gentleman　look　like？〃　asked　Muller；　to　start　her
talking　again。　　She　described　her　tenant　as　very　tall　and　stout
with　a　long　beard　slightly　mixed　with　grey。　　She　had　never　seen
his　eyes；　for　he　wore　smoked　glasses。

〃Did　you　notice　anything　peculiar　about　his　face？〃

〃No；　nothing　except　that　his　beard　was　ver　heavy　and　almost　covered
his　face。〃

〃Could　you　see　his　cheeks　at　all？〃

〃No；　or　else　I　didn't　notice。〃

〃Did　he　leave　nothing　that　might　enable　us　to　find
him？〃

〃No；　sir；　nothing。　　Or　yes；　perhaps；　but　I　don't　suppose　that　will
be　any　good。〃

〃What　was　it？　　What　do　you　mean？〃

〃It　gave　him　a　good　deal　of　trouble　to　get　the　lady　into　the　wagon；
because　she　had　fainted　again。　　He　lost　his　glove　in　doing　it。　　I
have　it　down　stairs　in　my　room；　for　I　sleep　down　stairs　again　since
the　lady　has　gone。〃

Muller　had　risen　from　his　chair　and　walked　over　to　the　old　writing
desk　which　stood　beside　one　window。　　There　were　several　sheets　of
ordinary　brown　paper　on　it　and　sharp　pointed　pencil　and　also
something　not　usually　found　on　writing　desks；　a　piece　of　bread　from
which　some　of　the　inside　had　been　taken。　　〃Everything　as　I　expected
it〃　he　said　to　himself。　　〃The　young　lady　made　up　the　package　in　the
last　few　moments　that　she　was　left　alone　here。〃

He　turned　again　to　the　old　woman　and　commanded　her　to　lead　him　down
stairs。　　〃What　sort　of　a　carriage　was　it　in　which　they　took　the　lady
away？〃　he　asked　as　they　went　down。

〃A　closed　coupe。〃

〃Did　you　see　the　number？〃

〃No；　sir。　　But　the　carriage　was　very　shabby　and　so　was　the　driver。〃

〃Was　he　an　old　man？〃

〃He　was　about　forty　years　old；　but　he　looked　like　a　man　who　drank。
He　had　a　light…coloured　overcoat　on。〃

〃Good。　　Is　this　your　room？〃

〃Yes；　sir。〃

They　were　now　in　the　lower　corridor；　where　they　found　Amster　walking
up　and　down。　　The　woman　opened　the　door　of　the　little　room；　and　took
a　glove　from　a　cupboard。　　Muller　put　it　in　his　pocket　and　told　the
woman　not　to　leave　the　house　for　anything；　as　she　might　be　sent　for
to　come　to　the　police　station　at　any　moment。　　Then　he　went　out　into
the　street　with　Amster。　　When　they　were　outside　in　the　sunlight；　he
looked　at　the　glove。　　It　was　a　remarkably　small　size；　made　for　a
man　with　a　slender；　delicate　hand；　not　at　all　in　accordance　with　the
large　stout　body　of　the　man　described　by　the　landlady。　　Muller　put
his　hand　into　the　glove　and　found　something　pushed　up　into　the
middle　finger。　　He　took　it　out　and　found　that　it　was　a　crumpled
tramway　ticket。

〃Look　out　for　a　shabby　old　closed　coupe；　with　a　driver　about　forty
years　old　who　looks　like　a　drunkard　and　wears　a　light　overcoat。　　If
you　find　such　a　cab；　engage　it　and　drive　in　it　to　the　nearest　police
station。　　Tell　them　there　to　hold　the　man　until　further　notice。　　If
the　cab　is　not　free；　at　least　take　his　number。　　And　one　thing　more；
but　you　will　know　that　yourself；　…　the　cab　we　are　looking　for　will
have　new　glass　in　the　right…hand　window。〃　　Thus　Muller　spoke　to　his
companion　as　he　put　the　glove　into　his　pocket　and　unfolded　the
tramway　ticket。　　Amster　understood　that　they　had　found　the　starting
point　of　the　drive　of　the　night　before。

〃I　will　go　to　all　coupe　stands；〃　he　said　eagerly。

〃Yes；　but　we　may　be　able　to　find　it　quicker　than　that。〃　　Muller　took
the　little　notebook；　which　he　was　now　carrying　in　his　pocket；　and
took　from　it　the　tramway　ticket　which　was　in　the　cover。　　He　compared
it　with　the　one　he　had　just　found。　　They　were　both　marked　for　the
same　hour　of　the　day　and　for　the　same　ride。

〃Did　the　man　use　them？〃　asked　Amster。　　The　detective　nodded。　　〃How
can　they　help　us？〃

〃Somewhere　on　this　stretch　of　the　street　railroad　you　will　probably
find　the　stand　of　the　cab　we　are　looking　for。　　The　man　who　hired　it
evidently　arrived　on　the　6：30　train　at　the　West　Station　…　I　have
reason　to　believe　that　he　does　not　live　here；　…　and　then　took　the
street　car　to　this　corner。　　The　last　ticket　is　marked　for　yesterday。
In　the　car　he　probably　made　his　plans　to　hire　a　cab。　　So　you　had
better　stay　along　the　line　of　the　car　tracks。　　You　will　find　me　in
room　seven；　Police　Headquarters；　at　noon　to…day。　　The　authorities
have　already　taken　up　the　case。　　You　may　have　something　to　tell　us
then。　　Good　luck　to　you。〃

Muller　hurried　on；　after　he　had　taken　a　quick　breakfast　in　a　little
caf？　　He　went　at　once　to　headquarters；　made　his　report　there　and
then　drove　to　Fellner's　house。　　The　latter　was　awaiting　him　with
great　impatience。　　There　the　detective　gathered　much　valuable
information　about　the　first　marriage　of　Asta　Langen's　long…dead
father。　　It　was　old　Berner　who　could　tell　him　the　most　about　these
long…vanished　days。

When　he　reached　his　office　at　headquarters　again；　he　found　telegrams
in　great　number　awaiting　him。　　They　were　from　all　the　hospitals　and
insane　asylums　in　the　entire　district。　　But　in　none　of　them　had
there　been　a　patient　fitting　the　description　of　the　vanished　girl。
Neither　the　commissioner　nor　Muller　was　surprised　at　this　negative
result。　　They　were　also　not　surprised　at　all　that　the　other　branches
of　the　police　department　had　been　able　to　discover　so　little　about
the　disappearance　of　the　young　lady。　　They　were　aware　that　they
had　to　deal　with　a　criminal　of　great　ability　who　would　be　careful
not　to　fall　into　the　usual　slips　made　by　his　kind。

There　was　no　news　from　the　cab　either；　although　several　detectives
were　out　looking　for　it。　　It　was　almost　nightfall　when　Amster　ran
breathlessly　into　room　number　seven。　　〃I　have　him！　he's　waiting
outside　across　the　way！〃　　This　was　Amster's　report。

Muller　threw　on　his　coat　hastily。　　〃You　didn't　pay　him；　did　you？
On　a　cold　day　like　this　the　drivers　don't　like　to　wait　long　in　any
one　place。〃

〃No　danger。　　I　haven't　money　enough　for　that；〃　replied　Amster　with
a　sad　smile。　　Muller　did　not　hear　him　as　he　was　already　outside。
But　the　commissioner　with　whom　he　had　been　talking　and　to　whom
Muller　had　already　spoken　of　his　voluntary　assistant；　entered　into
a　conversation　with　Amster；　and　said　to　him　finally：　〃I　will　take
it　upon　myself　to　guarantee　your　future；　if　you　are　ready　to　enter
the　secret　service　under　Muller's　orders。　　If　you　wish　to　do　this
you　can　stay　right　on　now；　for　I　think　we　will　need　you　in　this　case。〃

Amster　bowed　in　agreement。　　His　life　had　been　troubled；　his
reputation　darkened　by　no　fault　of　his　own；　and　the　work　he　was
doing　now　had　awakened；　an　interest　and　an　ability　that　he　did　not
know　he　possessed。　　He　was　more　than　glad　to　accept　the　offer　made
by　the　official。

Muller　was　already　across　the　street　and　had　laid　his　hand　upon　the
door　of　the　cab　when　the　driver　turned　to　him　and　said　crossly；
〃Some　one　else　has　ordered　me。　　But　I　am　not　going　to　wait　in　this
cold；　get　in　if　you　want　to。〃

〃All　right。　　Now　tell　me　first　where　you　drove　to　last　evening　with
the　sick　lady　and　her　companion？〃　　The　man　looked　astonished　but
found　his　tongue　again　in　a　moment。　　〃And　who　are　you？〃　he　asked
calmly。

〃We　will　tell　you　that　upstairs　in　the　police　station；〃　answered
Muller　equally　calmly；　and　ordered　the　man　to　drive　through　the
gateway　into　the　inner　courtyard。　　He　himself　got　into　the　wagon；
and　in　the　course　of　the　short　drive　he　had　made　a　discovery。　　He
had　found　a　tiny　glass　stopper；　such　as　is　used　in　perfume　bottles。
He　could　understand　from　this　why　the　odour　of　perfume　which　had
now　become　familiar　to　him　was　still　so　strong　inside　the　old　cab。
Also　why　it　was　so　strong　on　the　delicate　handkerchief。　　Asta　Langen
had　taken　the　stopper　from　the　bottle　in　her　pocket；　so　as　to　leave
a　trail　of　odour　behind　her。




CHAPTER　THREE

THE　LONELY　COTTAGE


Fifteen　minutes　after　the　driver　had　made　his　report　to　Commissioner
Von　Mayringen；　the　latter　with　Amster　entered　another　cab。　　A
well…armed　policeman　mounted　the　box　of　this　second　vehicle。　　〃Follow
that　cab　ahead；〃　the　commissioner　told　his　driver。　　The　second　cab
followed　the　one…horse　coupe　in　which　Muller　was　seated。　　They　drove
first　to　No。　14　Cathedral　Lane；　where　Muller　told　Berner　to　come
with　him。　　He　found　Mr。　Fellner　ready　to　go　also；　and　it　was　with
great　difficulty　that　he　could　dissuade　the　invalid；　who　was　greatly
fatigued　by　his　morning　visit　to　the　police　station；　from　joining
them。

The　carriages　then　drove　off　more　quickly　than　before。　　It　was　now
quite　dark；　a　gloomy　stormy　winter　evening。　　Muller　had　taken　his
place　on　the　box　of　his　cab　and　sat　peering　out　into　the　darkness。
In　spite　of　the　sharp　wind　and　the　ice　that　blew　against　his　face　the
detective　could　see　that　they　were　going　out　from　the　more　closely
built　up　portions　of　the　city；　and　were　now　in　new　streets　with
half…finished　houses。　　Soon　they　passed　even　these　and　were　outside
of　the　city。　　The　way　was　lonely　and　dreary；　bordered　by　wooden
fences　on　both　sides。　　Muller　looked　sharply　to　right　and　to　left。

〃You　should　have　become　alarmed　here；〃　he　said　to　the　driver；
pointing　to　one　part　of　the　fence。

〃Why？〃　asked　the　man。

〃Because　this　is　where　the　window　was　broken。〃

〃I　didn't　know　that　…　until　I　got　home。〃

〃H'm；　you　must　have　been　nicely　drunk。〃

The　driver　murmured　something　in　his　beard。

〃Stop　here；　this　is　your　turn；　down　that　street；〃　Muller　said　a
few　moments　later；　as　the　driver　turned　the　other　way。

〃How　do　you　know　that？〃　asked　the　man；　surprised。

〃None　of　your　business。〃

〃This　street　will　take　us　there　just　the　same。〃

〃Probably；　but　I　prefer　to　go　the　way　you　went　yesterday。〃

〃Very　well；　it's　all　the　same　to　me。〃　　They　were　silent　again；
only　the　wind　roared　around　them；　and　som