the case of the golden bullet-第1部分

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The　Case　of　the　Golden　Bullet

by　Grace　Isabel　Colbron　and　Augusta　Groner




INTRODUCTION　TO　JOE　MULLER

Joseph　Muller；　Secret　Service　detective　of　the　Imperial　Austrian
police；　is　one　of　the　great　experts　in　his　profession。　　In
personality　he　differs　greatly　from　other　famous　detectives。　　He
has　neither　the　impressive　authority　of　Sherlock　Holmes；　nor　the
keen　brilliancy　of　Monsieur　Lecoq。　　Muller　is　a　small；　slight；
plain…looking　man；　of　indefinite　age；　and　of　much　humbleness　of
mien。　　A　naturally　retiring；　modest　disposition；　and　two　external
causes　are　the　reasons　for　Muller's　humbleness　of　manner；　which
is　his　chief　characteristic。　　One　cause　is　the　fact　that　in　early
youth　a　miscarriage　of　justice　gave　him　several　years　in　prison；
an　experience　which　cast　a　stigma　on　his　name　and　which　made　it
impossible　for　him；　for　many　years　after；　to　obtain　honest
employment。　　But　the　world　is　richer；　and　safer；　by　Muller's
early　misfortune。　　For　it　was　this　experience　which　threw　him
back　on　his　own　peculiar　talents　for　a　livelihood；　and　drove　him
into　the　police　force。　　Had　he　been　able　to　enter　any　other
profession；　his　genius　might　have　been　stunted　to　a　mere　pastime；
instead　of　being；　as　now；　utilised　for　the　public　good。　　

Then；　the　red　tape　and　bureaucratic　etiquette　which　attaches　to
every　governmental　department；　puts　the　secret　service　men　of　the
Imperial　police　on　a　par　with　the　lower　ranks　of　the　subordinates。
Muller's　official　rank　is　scarcely　much　higher　than　that　of　a
policeman；　although　kings　and　councillors　consult　him　and　the
Police　Department　realises　to　the　full　what　a　treasure　it　has　in
him。　　But　official　red　tape；　and　his　early　misfortune　。。。　prevent
the　giving　of　any　higher　official　standing　to　even　such　a　genius。
Born　and　bred　to　such　conditions；　Muller　understands　them；　and
his　natural　modesty　of　disposition　asks　for　no　outward　honours；
asks　for　nothing　but　an　income　sufficient　for　his　simple　needs；
and　for　aid　and　opportunity　to　occupy　himself　in　the　way　he　most
enjoys。

Joseph　Muller's　character　is　a　strange　mixture。　　The
kindest…hearted　man　in　the　world；　he　is　a　human　bloodhound　when
once　the　lure　of　the　trail　has　caught　him。　　He　scarcely　eats　or
sleeps　when　the　chase　is　on；　he　does　not　seem　to　know　human
weakness　nor　fatigue；　in　spite　of　his　frail　body。　　Once　put　on
a　case　his　mind　delves　and　delves　until　it　finds　a　clue；　then
something　awakes　within　him；　a　spirit　akin　to　that　which　holds
the　bloodhound　nose　to　trail；　and　he　will　accomplish　the　apparently
impossible；　he　will　track　down　his　victim　when　the　entire　machinery
of　a　great　police　department　seems　helpless　to　discover　anything。
The　high　chiefs　and　commissioners　grant　a　condescending　permission
when　Muller　asks；　〃May　I　do　this？　　。。。　or　may　I　handle　this　case
this　way？〃　both　parties　knowing　all　the　while　that　it　is　a　farce；
and　that　the　department　waits　helpless　until　this　humble　little
man　saves　its　honour　by　solving　some　problem　before　which　its
intricate　machinery　has　stood　dazed　and　puzzled。

This　call　of　the　trail　is　something　that　is　stronger　than　anything
else　in　Muller's　mentality；　and　now　and　then　it　brings　him　into
conflict　with　the　department；　。。。　or　with　his　own　better　nature。
Sometimes　his　unerring　instinct　discovers　secrets　in　high　places；
secrets　which　the　Police　Department　is　bidden　to　hush　up　and　leave
untouched。　　Muller　is　then　taken　off　the　case；　and　left　idle　for
a　while　if　he　persists　in　his　opinion　as　to　the　true　facts。　　And
at　other　times；　Muller's　own　warm　heart　gets　him　into　trouble。　　He
will　track　down　his　victim；　driven　by　the　power　in　his　soul　which
is　stronger　than　all　volition；　but　when　he　has　this　victim　in　the
net；　he　will　sometimes　discover　him　to　be　a　much　finer；　better　man
than　the　other　individual；　whose　wrong　at　this　particular　criminal's
hand　set　in　motion　the　machinery　of　justice。　　Several　times　that
has　happened　to　Muller；　and　each　time　his　heart　got　the　better　of
his　professional　instincts；　of　his　practical　common…sense；　too；
perhaps；　。。。　at　least　as　far　as　his　own　advancement　was　concerned；
and　he　warned　the　victim；　defeating　his　own　work。　　This　peculiarity
of　Muller's　character　caused　his　undoing　at　last；　his　official
undoing　that　is；　and　compelled　his　retirement　from　the　force。　　But
his　advice　is　often　sought　unofficially　by　the　Department；　and　to
those　who　know；　Muller's　hand　can　be　seen　in　the　unravelling　of
many　a　famous　case。

The　following　stories　are　but　a　few　of　the　many　interesting　cases
that　have　come　within　the　experience　of　this　great　detective。
But　they　give　a　fair　portrayal　of　Muller's　peculiar　method　of
working；　his　looking　on　himself　as　merely　an　humble　member　of　the
Department；　and　the　comedy　of　his　acting　under　〃official　orders〃
when　the　Department　is　in　reality　following　out　his　directions。




THE　CASE　OF　HE　GOLDEN　BULLET

by　Grace　Isabel　Colbron　and　Augusta　Groner



〃Please；　sir；　there　is　a　man　outside　who　asks　to　see　you。〃

〃What　does　he　want？〃　asked　Commissioner　Horn；　looking　up。

〃He　says　he　has　something　to　report；　sir。〃

〃Send　him　in；　then。〃

The　attendant　disappeared；　and　the　commissioner　looked　up　at　the
clock。　　It　was　just　striking　eleven；　but　the　fellow　official　who
was　to　relieve　him　at　that　hour　had　not　yet　appeared。　　And　if　this
should　chance　to　be　a　new　case；　he　would　probably　be　obliged　to
take　it　himself。　　The　commissioner　was　not　in　a　very　good　humour
as　he　sat　back　to　receive　the　young　man　who　entered　the　room　in
the　wake　of　the　attendant。　　The　stranger　was　a　sturdy　youth；　with
an　unintelligent；　good…natured　face。　　He　twisted　his　soft　hat　in
his　hands　in　evident　embarrassment；　and　his　eyes　wandered　helplessly
about　the　great　bare　room。

〃Who　are　you？〃　demanded　the　commissioner。

〃My　name　is　Dummel；　sir；　Johann　Dummel。〃

〃And　your　occupation？〃

〃My　occupation？　　Oh；　yes；　I　…　I　am　a　valet；　valet　to　Professor
Fellner。〃

The　commissioner　sat　up　and　looked　interested。　　He　knew　Fellner
personally　and　liked　him。　　〃What　have　you　to　report　to　me？〃　he
asked　eagerly。

〃I　…　I　don't　know　whether　I　ought　to　have　come　here；　but　at　home　…　〃

〃Well；　is　anything　the　matter？〃　insisted　Horn。

〃Why；　sir；　I　don't　know；　but　the　Professor　…　he　is　so　still　…　he
doesn't　answer。〃

Horn　sprang　from　his　chair。　　〃Is　he　ill？〃　he　asked。

〃I　don't　know；　sir。　　His　room　is　locked　…　he　never　locked　it　before。〃

〃And　you　are　certain　he　is　at　home？〃

〃Yes；　sir。　　I　saw　him　during　the　night　…　and　the　key　is　in　the　lock
on　the　inside。〃

The　commissioner　had　his　hat　in　his　hand　when　the　colleague　who　was
to　relieve　him　appeared。　　〃Good　and　cold　out　to…day！〃　was　the
latter's　greeting。　　Horn　answered　with　an　ironical：　〃Then　I　suppose
you'll　be　glad　if　I　relieve　you　of　this　case。　　But　I　assure　you　I
wouldn't　do　it　if　it　wasn't　Fellner。　　Good…bye。　　Oh；　and　one　thing
more。　　Please　send　a　physician　at　once　to　Fellner's　house；　No。　7
Field　Street。〃

Horn　opened　the　door　and　passed　on　into　the　adjoining　room；
accompanied　by　Johann。　　The　commissioner　halted　a　moment　as　his
eyes　fell　upon　a　little　man　who　sat　in　the　corner　reading　a
newspaper。　　〃Hello；　Muller；　you　there？　　Suppose　I　take　you　with　me？
You　aren't　doing　anything　now；　are　you？〃

〃No；　sir。

〃Well；　come　with　me；　then。　　If　this　should　turn　out　to　be　anything
serious；　we　may　need　you。〃

The　three　men　entered　one　of　the　cabs　waiting　outside　the　police
station。　　As　they　rattled　through　the　streets；　Commissioner　Horn
continued　his　examination　of　the；　valet。　　〃When　did　you　see　your
master　last？〃

〃About　eleven　o'clock　last　evening。〃

〃Did　you　speak　with　him　then？

〃No；　I　looked　through　the　keyhole。〃

〃Oh；　indeed；　is　that　a　habit　of　yours？〃

Dummel　blushed　deeply；　but　his　eyes　flashed；　and　he　looked　angry。

〃No；　it　is　not；　sir；〃　he　growled。　　〃I　only　did　it　this　time　because
I　was　anxious　about　the　master。　　He's　been　so　worked　up　and　nervous
the　last　few　days。　　Last　night　I　went　to　the　theatre；　as　I　always
do　Saturday　evenings。　　When　I　returned；　about　half…past　ten　it　was；
I　knocked　at　the　door　of　his　bedroom。　　He　didn't　answer；　and　I
walked　away　softly；　so　as　not　to　disturb　him　in　case　he'd　gone　to
sleep　already。　　The　hall　was　dark；　and　as　I　went　through　it　I　saw
a　ray　of　light　coming　from　the　keyhole　of　the　Professor's　study。
That　surprised　me；　because　he　never　worked　as　late　as　that　before。
I　thought　it　over　a　moment；　then　I　crept　up　and　looked　through
the　keyhole。〃

〃And　what　did　you　see？〃

〃He　sat　at　his　desk；　quite　quiet。　　So　I　felt　easy　again；　and　went
off　to　bed。〃

〃Why　didn't　you　go　into　the　room？〃

〃I　didn't　dare；　sir。　　The　Professor　never　wanted　to　be　disturbed
when　he　was　writing。〃

〃Well；　and　this　morning？〃

〃I　got　up　at　the　usual　time　this　morning；　set　the　breakfast　table；
and　then　knocked　at　the　Professor's　bedroom　door　to　waken　him。　　He
didn't　answer；　and　I　thought　he　might　want　to　sleep；　seeing　as　it
was　Sunday；　and　he　was　up　late　last　night。　　So　I　waited　until　ten
o'clock。　　Then　I　knocked　again　and　tried　the　door；　but　it　was　locked。
That　made　me　uneasy；　because　he　never　locked　his　bedroom　door　before。
I　banged　at　the　door　and　called　out；　but　there　wasn't　a　sound。　　Then
I　ran　to　the　police　station。〃

Horn　was　evidently　as　alarmed　as　was　the　young　valet。　　But　Muller's
cheeks　were　flushed　and　a　flash　of　secret　joy；　of　pleasurable
expectation；　brightened　his　deep…set；　grey　eyes。　　He　sat　quite
motionless；　but　every　nerve　in　his　body　was　alive　and　tingling。　　The
humble…looking　little　man　had　become　quite　another　and　a　decidedly
interesting　person。　　He　laid　his　thin；　nervous　hand　on　the　carriage
door。

〃We　are　not　there　yet；〃　said　the　commissioner。

〃No；　but　it's　the　third　house　from　here；〃　replied　Muller。

〃You　know　where　everybody　lives；　don't　you？〃　smiled　Horn。

〃Nearly　everybody；〃　answered　Muller　gently；　as　the　cab　stopped
before　an　attractive　little　villa　surrounded　by　its　own　garden；
as　were　most　of　the　houses　in　this　quiet；　aristocratic　part　of
the　town。

The　house　was　two　stories　high；　but　the　upper　windows　were　closed
and　tightly　curtained。　　This　upper　story　was　the　apartment　occupied
by　the　owner　of　the　house；　who　was　now　in　I