the case of the registered letter-第7部分

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me　the　pistol　was　found　some　little　distance　from　the　body。　　Is　it
at　all　likely　that　a　murderer　would　go　away　leaving　such　evidence
behind　him？　　If　Graumaun　had　killed　Siders　in　a　hasty　quarrel；　he
might　possibly；　in　his　excitement；　have　left　his　revolver。　　But　I
have　already　disposed　of　this　possibility。　　A　man　of　sufficient
brains　to　so　carefully　plan　his　suicide　as　to　conceal　every　trace
of　it　and　cast　suspicion　upon　the　man　who　had　made　him　unhappy；　such
a　one　would　be　quite　clever　enough　to　throw　the　pistol　far　away
from　his　body　and　to　leave　no　traces　of　powder　on　his　coat　or　any
such　other　evidence。

〃If　I　were　to　say　now　what　I　think；　I　would　say　that　John　Siders
deliberately　took　his　own　life　and　planned　it　in　such　a　way　as　to
cast　suspicion　upon　Albert　Graumann。　　But　that　would　indeed　be　a
terrible　revenge。　　And　I　must　have　some　tangible　proof　of　it　before
any　court　will　accept　my　belief。　　This　proof　must　be　hidden
somewhere。　　The　thing　for　me　to　do　is　to　find　it。〃

The　evidence　gathered　at　the　time　of　the　death　went　to　show　that
Siders　had　been　paid　a　considerable　sum　in　cash　for　the　sale　of
his　property　at　Grunau。　　And　there　was　no　trace　of　his　having
deposited　this　sum　in　any　bank　in　G…　or　in　Grunau；　in　both　of
which　places　he　had　deposited　other　securities。　　Therefore　the
money　had　presumably　been　in　his　room　at　the　time　of　his　death。
A　search　had　been　made　for　this　money　in　every　possible　place　of
concealment　among　the　dead　man's　belongings；　and　it　had　not　been
found。　　Muller　asked　the　Police　Commissioner　to　give　him　the　key
to　the　rooms；　which　were　still　officially　closed；　and　also　the
keys　to　the　dead　man's　pieces　of　baggage。　　Commissioner　Lange
seemed　to　think　all　this　extra　search　quite　unnecessary；　as　it
did　not　occur　to　him　that　anything　else　was　to　be　looked　for
except　the　money。

It　was　quite　late　when　Muller　began　his　examination　of　the　dead
man's　effects。　　He　was　struck　by　the　fact　that　there　was　scarcely
a　bit　of　paper　to　be　found　anywhere；　no　letters；　no　business　papers；
except　bank　books　showing　the　amount　of　his　securities　in　the　bank
in　G…　and　in　Grunau；　and　giving　facts　about　some　investments　in
Chicago。　　There　was　nothing　of　more　recent　date　and　no　personal
correspondence　whatever。　　The　same　was　true　of　the　pockets　of　the
suit　Siders　had　been　wearing　at　the　time　of　his　death。　　A　man　of
any　property　or　position　at　all　in　the　world　gathers　about　him　so
much　of　this　kind　of　material　that　its　absence　shows　premeditation。
The　suit　Siders　had　been　wearing　when　he　was　killed　was　lying　on
the　table　in　the　room。　　It　was　a　plain　grey　business　suit　of　good
cut　and　material。　　The　body　had　been　prepared　for　burial　in　a
beseeming　suit　of　black。　　Muller　made　a　careful　examination　of　the
clothes；　and　found　only　what　the　police　reports　showed　him　had
already　been　found　by　the　examination　made　by　the　local　authorities。
Upon　a　second　careful　examination；　however；　he　found　that　in　one　of
the　vest　pockets　there　was　a　little　extra　pocket；　like　a　change
pocket；　and　in　it　he　found　a　crumpled　piece　of　paper。　　He　took　it
out；　smoothed　and　read　it。　　It　was　a　post　office　receipt　for　a
registered　letter。　　The　date　was　still　clear；　but　the　name　of　the
person　to　whom　the　letter　had　been　addressed　was　illegible。　　The
creases　of　the　paper　and　a　certain　dampness；　as　if　it　had　been
inadvertently　touched　by　a　wet　finger；　had　smeared　the　writing。
But　the　letter　had　been　sent　the　day　before　the　death　of　John
Siders；　and　it　had　been　registered　from　the　main　post　office　in
G…。　　This　was　sufficient　for　Muller。　　Then　he　turned　to　the　desk。
Here　also　there　was　nothing　that　could　help　him。　　But　a　sudden
thought；　came　to　him；　and　he　took　up　the　blotting　pad。　　This；　to
his　delight；　was　in　the　form　of　a　book　with　a　handsome　embroidered
cover。　　It　looked　comparatively　new　and　was；　as　Muller　surmised；　a
gift　from　Miss　Roemer　to　her　betrothed。　　But　few　of　the　pages　had
been　used；　and　on　two　of　them　a　closely　written　letter　had　been
blotted　several　times；　showing　that　there　had　been　several　sheets
of　the　letter。　　Muller　held　it　up　to　the　looking…glass；　but　the
repeated　blotting　had　blurred　the　writing　to　such　an　extent　that　it
was　impossible　to　decipher　any　but　a　few　disconnected　words；　which
gave　no　clue。　　On　a　page　further　along　on　the　blotter；　however；　he
saw　what　appeared　to　be　the　impression　of　an　address。　　He　held　it
up　to　the　glass　and　gave　a　whistle　of　delight。　　The　words　could　be
plainly　deciphered　here：

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　MR。　　LEO　PERNBURG；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃FRANKFURT　AM　MAIN；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃MAINZER　LANDSTRASSE。〃

and　above　the　name　was　a　smear　which；　after　a　little　study；　could
be　deciphered　as　the　written　word　〃Registered。〃

With　this　page　of　the　blotter　carefully　tucked　away　in　his
pocketbook；　Muller　hurried　to　the　post　office；　arriving　just　at
closing　hour。　　He　made　himself　known　at　once　to　the　postmaster；　and
asked　to　be　shown　the　records　of　registered　letters　sent　on　a
certain　date。　　Here　he　found　scheduled　a　letter　addressed　to　Mr。
Leo　Pernburg；　Frankfurt　am　Main；　sent　by　John　Siders；　G…；　Josef
Street　7。

Muller　then　hastened　to　the　telegraph　office　and　despatched　a
lengthy　telegram　to　the　postal　authorities　in　Frankfurt　am　Main。
When　the　answer　came　to　him　next　morning；　he　packed　his　grip　and
took　the　first　express　train　leaving　G…。　　He　first　made　a　short
visit；　however；　to　Albert　Graumann's　cell　in　the　prison。　　Muller
was　much　too　kind…hearted　not　to　relieve　the　anxiety　of　this　man；
to　whom　such　mental　strain　might　easily　prove　fatal。　　He　told
Graumann　that　he　was　going　in　search　of　evidence　which　might　throw
light　on　the　death　of　Siders；　and　comforted　the　prisoner　with　the
assurance　that　he；　Muller；　believed　Graumann　innocent；　and　believed
also　that　within　a　day　or　two　he　would　return　to　G…　with　proofs
that　his　belief　was　the　right　one。

Three　days　later　Muller　returned　to　Grunau　and　went　at　once　to　the
Graumann　home。　　It　was　quite　late　when　he　arrived；　but　he　had
already　notified　Miss　Roemer　by　telegram　as　to　his　coming；　with　a
request　that　she　should　be　ready　to　see　him。　　He　found　her　waiting
for　him；　pale　and　anxious…eyed；　when　he　arrived。　　〃I　have　been　to
Frankfurt　am　Main；〃　he　said；　〃and　I　have　seen　Mr。　Pernburg　…　〃

〃Yes；　yes；　that　is　the　name；　now　I　remember；〃　interrupted　the　girl
eagerly。　　〃That　is　the　name　of　John's　friend　there。〃

〃I　have　seen　Mr。　Pernburg　and　he　gave　me　this　letter。〃　　Muller　laid
a　thick　envelope　on　the　girl's　lap。

She　looked　down　at　it；　her　eyes　widening　as　if　she　had　seen　a　ghost。
〃That　…　that　is　John's　writing；〃　she　exclaimed　in　a　hoarse　whisper。
〃Where　did　it
come　from？〃

〃Pernburg　gave　it　to　me。　　The　day　before　his　death　John　Siders　sent
him　this　letter；　requesting　that　Pernburg　forward　it　to　you　before
a　certain　date。　　When　I　explained　the　circumstances　to　Mr。　Pernburg；
he　gave　me　the　letter　at　once。　　I　feel　that　this　paper　holds　the
clue　to　the　mystery。　　Will　you　open　it？〃

With　trembling　hands　the　girl　tore　open　the　envelope。　　It　enclosed
still　another　sealed　envelope；　without　an　address。　　But　there　was
a　sheet　of　paper　around　this　letter；　on　which　was　written　the
following：


My　beloved　Eleonore：

Before　you　read　what　I　have　to　say　to　you　here　I　want　you　to　promise
me；　in　memory　of　our　love　and　by　your　hope　of　future　salvation；　that
you　will　do　what　I　ask　you　to　do。

I　ask　you　to　give　the　enclosed　letter；　although　it　is　addressed　to
you；　to　the　Judge　who　will　preside　in　the　trial　against　Graumann。
The　letter　is　written　to　you　and　will　be　given　back　to　you。　　For
you；　the　beloved　of　my　soul；　you　are　the　only　human　being　with　whom
I　can　still　communicate；　to　whom　I　can　still　express　my　wishes。
But　you　must　not　give　the　letter　to　the　Judge　until　you　have　assured
yourself　that　the　prosecuting　attorney　insists　upon　Graumann's　guilt。
In　case　he　is　acquitted；　which　I　do　not　think　probable；　then　open
this　letter　in　the　presence　of　Graumann　himself　and　one　or　two
witnesses。　　For　I　wish　Graumann；　who　is　innocent；　to　be　able　to
prove　his　innocence。

You　will　know　by　this　time　that　I　have　determined　to　end　my　life　by
my　own　hand。　　Forgive　me；　beloved。　　I　cannot　live　on　without　you
…　without　the　honour　of　which　I　was　robbed　so　unjustly。

God　bless　you。

One　who　will　love　you　even　beyond　the　grave；
Remember　your　promise。　　It　was　given　to　the　dead。
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　JOHN。

〃Oh；　what　does　it　all　mean？〃　asked　Eleonora；　dropping　the　letter
in　her　lap。

〃It　is　as　I　thought；〃　replied　Muller。　　〃John　Siders　took　his　own
life；　but　made　every　arrangement　to　have　suspicion　fall　upon
Graumann。〃

〃But　why？　　oh；　why？〃

〃It　was　a　terrible　revenge。　　But　perhaps　…　perhaps　it　was　just
retribution。　　Graumaun　would　not　understand　that　Siders　could　have
been　suspected　of；　and　imprisoned　for；　a　theft　he　had　not　committed。
He　must　know　now　that　it　is　quite　possible　for　a　man　to　be　in　danger
of　sentence　of　death　even；　for　a　crime　of　which　he　is　innocent。〃

〃Oh；　my　God！　　It　is　terrible。〃　　The　girl's　head　fell　across　her
folded　arms　on　the　table。　　Deep　shuddering　sobs　shook　her　frame。

Muller　waited　quietly　until　the　first　shock　had　passed。　　Finally
her　sobs　died　away　and　she　raised　her　head　again。　　〃What　am　I　to
do？〃　she　asked。

〃You　must　open　this　letter　to…morrow　in　the　presence　of　the　Police
Commissioner　and　Graumaun。〃

〃But　this　promise？　　This　promise　that　he　asks　of　me　…　that　I　should
wait　until　the　trial？〃

〃You　have　not　given　this　promise。　　Would　you　take　it　upon　yourself
to　endanger　your　guardian's　life　still　more？　　Every　further　day
spent　in　his　prison；　in　this　anxiety；　might　be　fatal。〃

〃But　this　promise？　　The　promise　demanded　of　me　by　the　man　to　whom
I　had　given　my　love？　　Is　it　not　my　duty　to　keep　it？〃

Muller　rose　from　his　chair。　　His　slight　figure　seemed　to　grow
taller；　and　the　gentleness　in　his　voice　gave　way　to　a　commanding
tone　of　firm　decision。

〃Our　duty　is　to　the　living；　not　to　the　dead。　　The　dead　have　no　right
to　drag　down　others　after　them。　　Believe　me；　Miss　Roemer；　the
purpose　that　was　in　your　betrothed's　mind　when　he　ended　his　own
life；　has　been　fulfilled。　　Albert　Gr