the case of the registered letter-第2部分

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〃They　say〃　…　Miss　Graumann's　voice　quavered　…　〃they　say　that　Albert
was　the　last　person　known　to　have　been　in　Sider's　room；　they　say　that
it　was　his　revolver；　found　in　the　room。　　That　is　the　dreadful　part
of　it　…　it　was　his　revolver。　　He　acknowledges　it；　but　he　did　not
know；　until　the　police　showed　it　to　him；　that　the　weapon　was　not　in
its　usual　place　in　his　study。　　They　tell　me　that　everything　speaks
for　his　guilt；　but　I　cannot　believe　it　…　I　cannot。　　He　says　he　is
innocent　in　spite　of　everything。　　I　believe　him。　　I　brought　him　up；
sir；　I　was　like　his　own　mother　to　him。　　He　never　knew　any　other
mother。　　He　never　lied　to　me；　not　once；　when　he　was　a　little　boy；
and　I　don't　believe　he'd　lie　to　me　now；　now　that　he's　a　man　of
forty…five。　　He　says　he　did　not　kill　John　Siders。　　Oh；　I　know；　even
without　his　saying　it；　that　he　would　not　do　such　a　thing。〃

〃Can　you　tell　us　anything　more　about　the　murder　itself？〃　questioned
Muller　gently。　　〃Is　there　any　possibility　of　suicide？　　Or　was　there
a　robbery？〃

〃They　say　it　was　no　suicide；　sir；　and　that　there　was　a　large　sum　of
money　missing。　　But　why　should　Albert　take　any　one　else's　money？
He　has　money　of　his　own；　and　he　earns　a　good　income　besides　…　we
have　all　that　we　need。　　Oh；　it　is　some　dreadful　mistake！　　There　is
the　newspaper　account　of　the　discovery　of　the　body。　　Perhaps　Mr。
Muller　might　like　to　read　that。〃　　She　pointed　to　a　sheet　of　newspaper
on　the　desk。　　The　commissioner　handed　it　to　Muller。　　It　was　an
evening　paper；　dated　G…；　September　24th；　and　it　gave　an　elaborate
account；　in　provincial　journalese；　of　the　discovery　that　morning　of
the　body　of　John　Siders；　evidently　murdered；　in　his　lodgings。　　The
main　facts　to　be　gathered　from　the　long…winded　story　were　as　follows：

John　Siders　had　rented　the　rooms　in　which　he　met　his　death　about
ten　days　before；　paying　a　month's　rent　in　advance。　　The　lodgings
consisted　of　two　rooms　in　a　little　house　in　a　quiet　street。　　It　was
a　street　of　simple　two…story；　one　and　two　family　dwellings；　occupied
by　artisans　and　small　tradespeople。　　There　were　many　open　spaces；
gardens　and　vacant　lots　in　the　street。　　The　house　in　which　Siders
lodged　belonged　to　a　travelling　salesman　by　the　name　of　Winter。　　The
man　was　away　from　home　a　great　deal；　and　his　wife；　with　her　child
and　an　old　servant；　lived　in　the　lower　part　of　the　house；　while　the
rooms　occupied　by　Siders　were　in　the　upper　story。　　Siders　lived
very　quietly；　going　out　frequently　in　the　afternoon；　but　returning
early　in　the　evening。　　He　had　said　to　his　landlady　that　he　had　many
friends　in　G…。　　But　during　the　time　of　his　stay　in　the　house　he　had
had　but　one　caller；　a　gentleman　who　came　on　the　evening　of　the　23rd
of　September。　　The　old　maid　had　opened　the　door　for　him　and　showed
him　to　Mr。　Siders'　rooms。　　She　described　this　visitor　as　having　a
full　black　beard；　and　wearing　a　broad…brimmed　grey　felt　hat。　　Nobody
saw　the　man　go　out；　for　the　old　maid；　the　only　person　in　the　house
at　the　time；　had　retired　early。　　Mrs。　　Winter　and　her　little　girl
were　spending　the　night　with　the　former's　mother　in　a　distant　part
of　the　city。　　The　next　morning　the　old　servant；　taking　the　lodger's
coffee　up　to　him　at　the　usual　hour；　found　him　dead　on　the　floor　of
his　sitting…room；　shot　through　the　heart。　　The　woman　ran　screaming
from　the　house　and　alarmed　the　neighbours。　　A　policeman　at　the
corner　heard　the　noise；　and　led　the　crowd　up　to　the　room　where　the
dead　man　lay。　　It　was　plain　to　be　seen　that　this　was　not　a　case　of
suicide。　　Everywhere　were　signs　of　a　terrible　struggle。　　The
furniture　was　overturned；　the　dressing…table　and　the　cupboard　were
open　and　their　contents　scattered　on　the　floor；　one　of　the　window
curtains　was　torn　into　strips；　as　if　the　victim　had　been　trying　to
escape　by　way　of　the　window；　but　had　been　dragged　back　into　the
room　by　his　murderer。　　An　overturned　ink　bottle　on　the　table　had
spattered　wide；　and　added　to　the　general　confusion。　　In　the　midst
of　the　disorder　lay　the　body　of　the　murdered　man；　now　cold　in　the
rigour　of　death。

The　police　commissioner　arrived　soon；　took　possession　of　the　rooms；
and　made　a　thorough　examination　of　the　premises。　　A　letter　found
on　the　desk　gave　another　proof；　if　such　were　needed；　that　this　was
not　a　case　of　suicide。　　This　letter　was　in　the　handwriting　of　the
dead　man；　and　read　as　follows：

Dear　Friend：

I　appreciate　greatly　all　the　kindness　shown　me　by　yourself　and　your
good　wife。　　I　have　been　more　successful　than　I　thought　possible　in
overcoming　the　obstacles　you　know　of。　　Therefore；　I　shall　be　very
glad　to　join　you　day　after　to…morrow；　Sunday；　in　the　proposed
excursion。　　I　will　call　for　you　at　8　A。M。　…　the　cab　and　the
champagne　will　be　my　share　of　the　trip。　　We'll　have　a　jolly　day
and　drink　a　glass　or　two　to　our　plans　for　the　future。

With　best　greetings　for　both　of　you；
Your　old　friend；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　John
G…；　Friday；　Sept。　　23rd。

An　envelope；　not　yet　addressed；　lay　beside　this　letter。　　It　was
clear　that　the　man　who　penned　these　words　had　no　thought　of　suicide。
On　the　contrary；　he　was　looking　forward　to　a　day　of　pleasure　in　the
near　future；　and　laying　plans　for　the　time　to　come。　　The　murderer's
bullet　had　pierced　a　heart　pulsing　with　the　joy　of　life。

This　was　the　gist　of　the　account　in　。the　evening　paper。　　Muller
read　it　through　carefully；　lingering　over　several　points　which
seemed　to　interest　him　particularly。　　Then　he　turned　to　Miss　Babette
Graumann。　　〃And　then　what　happened？〃　he　asked。

〃Then　the　Police　Commissioner　came　to　Grunau　and　questioned　my
nephew。　　They　had　found　out　that　Albert　was　Mr。　Siders'　only　friend
here。　　And　late　that　evening　the　Mayor　and　the　Commissioner　came
to　our　house　with　the　revolver　they　had　found　in　the　room　in　G…；
and　they　…　they　…　〃　her　voice　trembled　again；　〃they　arrested　my　dear
boy　and　took　him　away。〃

〃Have　you　visited　him　in　prison？　　What　does　he　say　about　it　himself？〃

〃He　seems　quite　hopeless。　　He　says　that　he　is　innocent　…　oh；　I　know
he　is　…　but　everything　is　against　him。　　He　acknowledges　that　it　was
he　who　was　in　Mr。　Siders'　room　the　evening　before　the　murder。　　He
went　there　because　Siders　wrote　him　to　come。　　He　says　he　left　early；
and　that　John　acted　queerly。　　He　knows　they　will　not　believe　his
story。　　This　worry　and　anxiety　will　kill　him。　　He　has　a　serious　heart
trouble；　he　has　suffered　from　it　for　years；　and　it　has　been　growing
steadily　worse。　　I　dare　not　think　what　this　excitement　may　do　for
him。〃　　Miss　Graumann　broke　down　again　and　sobbed　aloud。　　Muller　laid
his　hands　soothingly　on　the　little　old　fingers　that　gripped　the　arm
of　the　chair。

〃Did　your　nephew　send　you　here　to　ask　for　help？〃　he　inquired　very
gently。

〃Oh；　no〃　　The　old　lady　looked　up　at　him　through　her　tears。　　〃No；　he
would　not　have　done　that。　　I'm　afraid　that　he'll　be　angry　if　he
knows　that　I　have　come。　　He　seemed　so　hopeless；　so　dazed。　　I　just
couldn't　stand　it。　　It　seemed　to　me　that　the　police　in　G…　were
taking　things　for　granted；　and　just　sitting　there　waiting　for　an
innocent　man　to　confess；　instead　of　looking　for　the　real　murderer；
who　may　be　gone；　the　Lord　knows　where；　by　now！〃　　Miss　Graumann's
faded　cheeks　flushed　a　delicate　pink；　and　she　straightened　up　in
her　chair　again；　while　her　eyes　snapped　defiance　through　the　tears
that　hung　on　their　lashes。

A　faint　gleam　twinkled　up　in　Muller's　eyes；　and　he　did　not　look　at
his　chief。　　Doctor　von　Riedau's　own　face　glowed　in　a　slowly　mounting
flush；　and　his　eyes　drooped　in　a　moment　of　conscious　embarrassment
at　some　recollection；　the　sting　of　which　was　evidently　made　worse
by　Muller's　presence。　　But　Commissioner　von　Riedau　had　brains　enough
to　acknowledge　his　mistakes　and　to　learn　from　them。　　He　looked　across
the　desk　at　Miss　Graumann。　　〃You　are　right；　Madam；　the　police　have
made　that　mistake　more　than　once。　　And　a　man　with　a　clear　record
deserves　the　benefit　of　the　doubt。　　We　will　take　up　this　case。
Detective　Muller　will　be　put　in　charge　of　it。　　And　that　means；　Madam；
that　we　are　giving　you　the　very　best　assistance　the　Imperial　Police
Force　affords。〃

Miss　Babette　Graumann　did　not　attempt　to　speak。　　In　a　wave　of
emotion　she　stretched　out　both　little　hands　to　the　detective　and
clasped　his　warmly。　　〃Oh；　thank　you；〃　she　said　at　last。　　〃I　thank
you。　　He's　just　like　my　own　boy　to　me；　he's　all　the　child　I　ever
had；　you　know。〃

〃But　there　are　difficulties　in　the　way；〃　continued　the　commissioner
in　a　business…like　tone。　　〃The　local　authorities　in　G…　have　not
asked　for　our　assistance；　and　we　are　taking　up　the　case　over　their
heads；　as　it　were。　　I　shall　have　to　leave　that　to　Muller's　diplomacy。
He　will　come　to　G…　and　have　an　interview　with　your　nephew。　　Then　he
will　have　to　use　his　own　judgment　as　to　the　next　steps；　and　as　to
how　far　he　may　go　in　opposition　to　what　has　been　done　by　the　police
there。〃

〃And　then　I　may　go　back　home？〃　asked　Miss　Graumann。　　〃Go　home　with
the　assurance　that　you　will　help　my　poor　boy？〃

〃Yes；　you　may　depend　on　us；　Madam。　　Is　there　anything　we　can　do　for
you　here？　　Are　you　alone　in　the　city？〃

〃No；　thank　you。　　There　is　a　friend　here　who　will　take　care　of　me。
She　will　put　me　on　the　afternoon　express　back　to　G…。〃

〃It　is　very　likely　that　I　will　take　that　train　myself；〃　said　Muller。
〃If　there　is　anything　that　you　need　on　the　journey；　call　on　me。〃

〃Oh；　thank　you；　I　will　indeed！　　Thank　you　both；　gentlemen。　　And　now
good…bye；　and　God　bless　you！〃

The　commissioner　bowed　and　Muller　held　the　door　open　for　Miss
Graumann　to　pass　out。　　There　was　silence　in　the　room；　as　the　two　men
looked　after　the　quaint　little　figure　slowly　descending　the　stairs。

〃A　brave　little　woman；〃　murmured　the　commissioner。

〃It　is　not　only　the　mother　in　the　flesh　who　knows　what　a　mother's
love　is；〃　added　Muller。

Next　morning　Joseph　Muller　stood　in　the　cell　of　the　prison　in　G…
confronting　Albert　Graumann；　accused　of　the　murder　of　John　Siders。

The　detective　had　just　come　from　a　rather　difficult　interview　with
Commissioner　Lange。　　But　the　latter；　though　not　a　brilliant　man；　was
at　least　good…natured。　　He　acknowledged　the　right　of　the　accused　and
his　family　to　ask　for　outside　assistance；　and　agreed　with　Muller
that　it　was　b