the case of the registered letter-第1部分

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The　Case　of　the　Registered　Letter

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　THE　REGISTERED　LETTER

by　Grace　Isabel　Colbron　and　Augusta　Groner



〃Oh；　sir；　save　him　if　you　can　…　save　my　poor　nephew！　　I　know　he　is
innocent！〃

The　little　old　lady　sank　back　in　her　chair；　gazing　up　at　Commissioner
von　Riedau　with　tear…dimmed　eyes　full　of　helpless　appeal。　　The
commissioner　looked　thoughtful。　　　〃But　the　case　is　in　the　hands　of
the　local　authorities；　Madam；〃　he　answered　gently；　a　strain　of　pity
in　his　voice。　　〃I　don't　exactly　see　how　we　could　interfere。〃

〃But　they　believe　Albert　guilty！　　They　haven't　given　him　a　chance！〃

〃He　cannot　be　sentenced　without　sufficient　proof　of　his　guilt。〃

〃But　the　trial；　the　horrible　trial　…　it　will　kill　him　…　his　heart
is　weak。　　I　thought　…　I　thought　you　might　send　some　one　…　some　one
of　your　detectives　…　to　find　out　the　truth　of　the　case。　　You　must
have　the　best　people　here　in　Vienna。　　Oh；　my　poor　Albert　…　〃

Her　voice　died　away　in　a　suppressed　sob；　and　she　covered　her　face
to　keep　back　the　tears。

The　commissioner　pressed　a　bell　on　his　desk。　　〃Is　Detective　Joseph
Muller　anywhere　about　the　building？〃　he　asked　of　the　attendant　who
appeared　at　the　door。

〃I　think　he　is；　sir。　　I　saw　him　come　in　not　long　ago。〃

〃Ask　him　to　come　up　to　this　room。　　Say　I　would　like　to　speak　to　him。〃
The　attendant　went　out。

〃I　have　sent　for　one　of　the　best　men　on　our　force；　Madam；〃　continued
the　commissioner；　turning　back　to　the　pathetic　little　figure　in　the
chair。　　〃We　will　go　into　this　matter　a　little　more　in　detail　and　see
if　it　is　possible　for　us　to　interfere　with　the　work　of　the　local；
authorities　in　G…〃

The　little　old　lady　gave　her　eyes　a　last　hasty　dab　with　a　dainty
handkerchief　and　raised　her　head　again；　fighting　for　self…control。
She　was　a　quaint　little　figure；　with　soft　grey　hair　drawn　back
smoothly　from　a　gentle…featured　face　in　which　each　wrinkle　seemed
the　seal　of　some　loving　thought　for　others。　　Her　bonnet　and　gown
were　of　excellent　material　in　delicate　soft　colours；　but　cut　in　the
style　of　an　earlier　decade。　　The　capable　lines　of　her　thin　little
hands　showed　through　the　fabric　of　her　grey　gloves。　　Her　whole
attitude　bore　the　impress　of　one　who　had　adventured　far　beyond　the
customary　routine　of　her　home　circle；　adventured　out　into　the　world
in　fear　and　trembling；　impelled　by　the　stress　of　a　great　love。

A　knock　was　heard　at　the　door；　and　a　small；　slight　man；　with　a　kind；
smooth…shaven　face；　entered　at　the　commissioner's　call。　　〃You　sent
for　me；　sir？〃　he　asked。

〃Yes；　Muller；　there　is　a　matter　here　in　which　I　need　your　advice；
your　assistance；　perhaps。　　This　is　Detective　Muller；　Miss　…〃　（the
commissioner　picked　up　the　card　on　his　desk）　〃Miss　Graumann。　　If
you　will　tell　us　now；　more　in　detail；　all　that　you　can　tell　us　about
this　case；　we　may　be　able　to　help　you。〃

〃Oh；　if　you　would；〃　murmured　Miss　Graumann；　with　something　more　of
hope　in　her　voice。　　The　expression　of　sympathetic　interest　on　the
face　of　the　newcomer　had　already　won　her　confidence　for　him。　　Her
slight　figure　straightened　up　in　the　chair；　and　the　two　men　sat　down
opposite　her；　prepared　to　listen　to　her　story。

〃I　will　tell　you　all　I　know　and　understand　about　this　matter；
gentlemen；〃　she　began。　　〃My　name　is　Babette　Graumann；　and　I　live
with　my　nephew；　Albert　Graumann；　engineering　expert；　in　the　village
of　Grunau；　which　is　not　far　from　the　city　of　G…。　　My　nephew　Albert；
the　dearest；　truest　…〃　sobs　threatened　to　overcome　her　again；　but
she　mastered　them　bravely。　　〃Albert　is　now　in　prison；　accused　of
the　murder　of　his　friend；　John　Siders；　in　the　latter's　lodgings
in　G…。〃

〃Yes；　that　is　the　gist　of　what　you　have　already　told　me；〃　said　the
commissioner。　　〃Muller；　Miss　Graumann　believes　her　nephew　innocent；
contrary　to　the　opinion　of　the　local　authorities　in　G…。　　She　has
come　to　ask　for　some　one　from　here　who　could　ferret　out　the　truth
of　this　matter。　　You　are　free　now；　and　if　we　find　that　it　can　be
done　without　offending　the　local　authorities　…〃

〃Who　is　the　commissioner　in　charge　of　the　case　in　G…？〃　asked　Muller。

〃Commissioner　Lange　is　his　name；　I　believe；〃　replied　Miss　Graumann。

〃H'm！〃　Muller　and　the　commissioner　exchanged　glances。

〃I　think　we　can　venture　to　hear　more　of　this；〃　said　the　commissioner；
as　if　in　answer　to　their　unspoken　thought。　　〃Can　you　give　us　the
details　now；　Madam？　　Who　is；　or　rather　who　was；　this　John　Siders？〃

〃John　Siders　came　to　our　village　a　little　over　a　year　ago；〃　continued
Miss　Graumann。　　〃He　came　from　Chicago；　he　told　us；　although　he　was
evidently　a　German　by　birth。　　He　bought　a　nice　little　piece　of
property；　not　far　from　our　home；　and　settled　down　there。　　He　was　a
quiet　man　and　made　few　friends；　but　he　seemed　to　take　to　Albert　and
came　to　see　us　frequently。　　Albert　had　spent　some　years　in　America；
in　Chicago；　and　Siders　liked　to　talk　to　him　about　things　and　people
there。　　But　one　day　Siders　suddenly　sold　his　property　and　moved　to　G…。
Two　weeks　later　he　was　found　dead　in　his　lodgings　in　the　city；
murdered；　and　now　…　now　they　have　accused　Albert　of　the　crime。〃

〃On　what　grounds？　…　oh；　I　beg　your　pardon；　sir；　I　did　not　mean　…〃

〃That's　all　right；　Muller；〃　said　the　commissioner。　　〃As　you　may
have　to　undertake　the　case；　you　might　as　well　begin　to　do　the
questioning　now。

〃They　say〃　…　Miss　Graumann's　voice　quavered　…　〃they　say　that　Albert
was　the　last　person　k