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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Case of the Golden Bullet, by
+Grace Isabel Colbron, and Augusta Groner
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Case of the Golden Bullet
+
+Author: Grace Isabel Colbron, and Augusta Groner
+
+Posting Date: September 26, 2008 [EBook #1836]
+Release Date: July, 1999
+Last Updated: February 20, 2015
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CASE OF THE GOLDEN BULLET ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by An Anonymous Project Gutenberg Volunteer
+
+
+
+
+
+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 THE GOLDEN BULLET
+
+
+"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 Italy with his invalid wife.
+Otherwise the dainty little villa, built in the fashionable Nuremberg
+style, with heavy wooden doors and lozenged-paned windows, had no
+occupants except Professor Fellner and his servant. With its graceful
+outlines and well-planned garden, the dwelling had a most attractive
+appearance. Opposite it was the broad avenue known as the Promenade, and
+beyond this were open fields. To the right and to the left were similar
+villas in their gardens.
+
+Dummel opened the door and the three men entered the house. The
+commissioner and the valet went in first, Muller following them more
+slowly. His sharp eyes glanced quickly over the coloured tiles of the
+flooring, over the white steps and the carpeted hallway beyond. Once he
+bent quickly and picked up something, then he walked on with his usual
+quiet manner, out of which every trace of excitement had now vanished.
+
+The dull winter sun seemed only to make the gloom of the dark vestibule
+more visible. Johann turned up the light, and Horn, who had visited the
+Professor several times and knew the situation of the rooms, went
+at once to the heavy, carved and iron trimmed door of the study. He
+attempted to open the door, but it resisted all pressure. The heavy
+key was in the inner side of the big lock with its medieval iron
+ornamentation. But the key was turned so that the lower part of the lock
+was free, a round opening of unusual size. Horn made sure of this by
+holding a lighted match to the door.
+
+"You are right," he said to the valet, "the door is locked from the
+inside. We'll have to go through the bedroom. Johann, bring me a chisel
+or a hatchet. Muller, you stay here and open the door when the doctor
+comes."
+
+Muller nodded. Johann disappeared, returning in a few moments with a
+small hatchet, and followed the commissioner through the dining-room. It
+was an attractive apartment with its high wooden panelling and its dainty
+breakfast table. But a slight shiver ran through the commissioner's
+frame as he realised that some misfortune, some crime even might be
+waiting for them on the other side of the closed door. The bedroom door
+also was locked on the inside, and after some moments of knocking and
+calling, Horn set the hatchet to the framework just as the bell of the
+house-door pealed out.
+
+With a cracking and tearing of wood the bedroom door fell open, and in
+the same moment Muller and the physician passed through the dining-room.
+Johann hurried into the bedroom to open the window-shutters, and the
+others gathered in the doorway. A single look showed each of the men
+that the bed was untouched, and they passed on through the room. The
+door from the bedroom to the study stood open. In the latter room the
+shutters were tightly closed, and the lamp had long since gone out. But
+sufficient light fell through the open bedroom door for the men to see
+the figure of the Professor seated at his desk, and when Johann had
+opened the shutters, it was plain to all that the silent figure before
+them was that of a corpse.
+
+"Heart disease, probably," murmured the physician, as he touched the icy
+forehead. Then he felt the pulse of the stiffened hand from which the
+pen had fallen in the moment of death, raised the drooping head and
+lifted up the half-closed eyelids. The eyes were glazed.
+
+The others looked on in silence. Horn was very pale, and his usually
+calm face showed great emotion. Johann seemed quite beside himself, the
+tears rolled down his cheeks unhindered. Muller stood without a sign
+of life, his sallow face seemed made of bronze; he was watching and
+listening. He seemed to hear and see what no one else could see or hear.
+He smiled slightly when the doctor spoke of "heart disease," and his
+eyes fell on the revolver that lay near the dead man's hand on the desk.
+Then he shook his head, and then he started suddenly. Horn noticed the
+movement; it was in the moment when the physician raised up the sunken
+figure that had fallen half over the desk.
+
+"He was killed by a bullet," said Muller.
+
+"Yes, that was it," replied the doctor. With the raising of the body the
+dead man's waistcoat fell back into its usual position, and they could
+see a little round hole in his shirt. The doctor opened the shirt bosom
+and pointed to a little wound in the Professor's left breast. There were
+scarcely three or four drops of blood visible. The hemorrhage had been
+internal.
+
+"He must have died at once, without suffering," said the physician.
+
+"He killed himself--he killed himself," murmured Johann, as if
+bewildered.
+
+"It's strange that he should have found time to lay down the revolver
+before he died," remarked Horn. Johann put out his hand and raised the
+weapon before Horn could prevent him. "Leave that pistol where it was,"
+commanded the commissioner. "We have to look into this matter more
+closely."
+
+The doctor turned quickly. "You think it was a murder?" he exclaimed.
+"The doors were both locked on the inside--where could the murderer be?"
+
+"I don't pretend to see him myself yet. But our rule is to leave things
+as they are discovered, until the official examination. Muller, did you
+shut the outer door?"
+
+"Yes, sir; here is the key."
+
+"Johann, are there any more keys for the outer door?"
+
+"Yes, sir. One more, that is, for the third was lost some months ago.
+The Professor's own key ought to be in the drawer of the little table
+beside the bed."
+
+"Will you please look for it, Muller?"
+
+Muller went into the bedroom and soon returned with the key, which he
+handed to the commissioner. The detective had found something else
+in the little table drawer--a tortoise-shell hairpin, which he had
+carefully hidden in his own pocket before rejoining the others.
+
+Horn turned to the servant again. "How many times have you been out of
+the apartment since last night?"
+
+"Once only, sir, to go to the police station to fetch you."
+
+"And you locked the door behind you?"
+
+"Why, yes, sir. You saw that I had to turn the key twice to let you in."
+
+Horn and Muller both looked the young man over very carefully. He seemed
+perfectly innocent, and their suspicion that he might have turned
+the key in pretense only, soon vanished. It would have been a foolish
+suspicion anyway. If he were in league with the murderer, he could have
+let the latter escape with much more safety during the night. Horn
+let his eyes wander about the rooms again, and said slowly: "Then the
+murderer is still here--or else--"
+
+"Or else?" asked the doctor.
+
+"Or else we have a strange riddle to solve."
+
+Johann had laid the pistol down again. Muller stretched forth his
+hand and took it up. He looked at it a moment, then handed it to the
+commissioner. "We have to do with a murder here. There was not a shot
+fired from this revolver, for every chamber is still loaded. And there
+is no other weapon in sight," said the detective quietly.
+
+"Yes, he was murdered. This revolver is fully loaded. Let us begin the
+search at once." Horn was more excited than he cared to show.
+
+Johann looked about in alarm, but when he saw the others beginning to
+peer into every corner and every cupboard, he himself joined in the
+man-hunt. A quarter of an hour later, the four men relinquished their
+fruitless efforts and gathered beside the corpse again.
+
+"Doctor, will you have the kindness to report to the head Commissioner
+of Police, and to order the taking away of the body? We will look about
+for some motive for this murder in the meantime," said Horn, as he held
+out his hand to the physician.
+
+Muller walked out to the door of the house with the doctor.
+
+"Do you think this valet did it?" asked the physician softly.
+
+"He? Oh, dear, no," replied the detective scornfully.
+
+"You think he's too stupid? But this stupidity might be feigned."
+
+"It's real enough, doctor."
+
+"But what do you think about it--you, who have the gift of seeing more
+than other people see, even if it does bring you into disfavour with the
+Powers that Be?"
+
+"Then you don't believe me yet?"
+
+"You mean about the beautiful Mrs. Kniepp?
+
+"And yet I tell you I am right. It was an intentional suicide."
+
+"Muller, Muller, you must keep better watch over your imagination and
+your tongue! It is a dangerous thing to spread rumours about persons
+high in favor with the Arch-duke. But you had better tell me what you
+think about this affair," continued the doctor, pointing back towards
+the room they had just left.
+
+"There's a woman in the case."
+
+"Aha! you are romancing again. Well, they won't be so sensitive about
+this matter, but take care that you don't make a mistake again, my
+dear Muller. It would be likely to cost you your position, don't forget
+that."
+
+The doctor left the house. Muller smiled bitterly as he closed the door
+behind him, and murmured to himself: "Indeed, I do not forget it, and
+that is why I shall take this matter into my own hands. But the Kniepp
+case is not closed yet, by any means."
+
+When he returned to the study he saw Johann sitting quietly in a corner,
+shaking his head, as if trying to understand it all. Horn was bending
+over a sheet of writing paper which lay before the dead man. Fellner
+must have been busy at his desk when the bullet penetrated his heart.
+His hand in dying had let fall the pen, which had drawn a long black
+mark across the bottom of the sheet. One page of the paper was covered
+with a small, delicate handwriting.
+
+Horn called up the detective, and together they read the following
+words:
+
+"Dear Friend:--
+
+"He challenged me--pistols--it means life or death. My enemy is very
+bitter. But I am not ready to die yet. And as I know that I would be the
+one to fall, I have refused the duel. That will help me little, for
+his revenge will know how to find me. I dare not be a moment without a
+weapon now--his threats on my refusal let me fear the worst. I have an
+uncanny presentiment of evil. I shall leave here to-morrow. With the
+excuse of having some pressing family affair to attend to, I have
+secured several days' leave. Of course I do not intend to return. I
+am hoping that you will come here and break up my establishment in my
+stead. I will tell you everything else when I see you. I am in a hurry
+now, for there is a good deal of packing to do. If anything should
+happen to me, you will know who it is who is responsible for my death.
+His name is--"
+
+Here the letter came to an abrupt close.
+
+Muller and Horn looked at each other in silence, then they turned their
+eyes again toward the dead man.
+
+"He was a coward," said the detective coldly, and turned away. Horn
+repeated mechanically, "A coward!" and his eyes also looked down with
+a changed expression upon the handsome, soft-featured face, framed in
+curly blond hair, that lay so silent against the chair-back. Many women
+had loved this dead man, and many men had been fond of him, for they had
+believed him capable and manly.
+
+The commissioner and Muller continued their researches in silence and
+with less interest than before. They found a heap of loose ashes in the
+bedroom stove. Letters and other trifles had been burned there. Muller
+raked out the heap very carefully, but the writing on the few pieces of
+paper still left whole was quite illegible. There were several envelopes
+in the waste-basket, but all of them were dated several months back.
+There was nothing that could give the slightest clue.
+
+The letter written by the murdered man was sufficient proof that his
+death had been an act of vengeance. But who was it who had carried out
+this secret, terrible deed? The victim had not been allowed the time to
+write down the name of his murderer.
+
+Horn took the letter into his keeping. Then he left the room, followed
+by Muller and the valet, to look about the rest of the house as far as
+possible. This was not very far, for the second story was closed off by
+a tall iron grating.
+
+"Is the house door locked during the daytime?" asked Horn of the
+servant.
+
+"The front door is, but the side door into the garden is usually open."
+
+"Has it ever happened that any one got into the house from this side
+door without your knowing it?"
+
+"No, sir. The garden has a high wall around it. And there is extra
+protection on the side toward the Promenade."
+
+"But there's a little gate there?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"Is that usually closed?"
+
+"We never use the key for that, sir. It has a trick lock that you can't
+open unless you know how."
+
+"You said you went to the theatre yesterday evening. Did your master
+give you permission to go?"
+
+"Yes, sir. It's about a year now that he gave me money for a theatre
+ticket every Saturday evening. He was very kind."
+
+"Did you come into the house last night by the front door, or through
+the garden?"
+
+"Through the garden, sir. I walked down the Promenade from the theatre."
+
+"And you didn't notice anything--you saw no traces of footsteps?"
+
+"No, sir. I didn't notice anything unusual. We shut the side door, the
+garden door, every evening, also. It was closed yesterday and I found
+the key--we've only got one key to the garden door--in the same place
+where I was told to hide it when I went out in the evening."
+
+"What place was that?"
+
+"In one of the pails by the well."
+
+"You say you were told to hide it there?"
+
+"Yes, sir; the Professor told me. He'd go out in the evening sometimes,
+too, I suppose, and he wanted to be able to come in that way if
+necessary."
+
+"And no one else knew where the key was hidden?"
+
+"No one else, sir. It's nearly a year now that we've been alone in the
+house. Who else should know of it?"
+
+"When you looked through the keyhole last night, are you sure that the
+Professor was still alive?"
+
+"Why, yes, sir; of course I couldn't say so surely. I thought he was
+reading or writing, but oh, dear Lord! there he was this morning, nearly
+twelve hours later, in just the same position." Johann shivered at the
+thought that he might have seen his master sitting at his desk, already
+a corpse.
+
+"He must have been dead when you came home. Don't you think the sound of
+that shot would have wakened you?"
+
+"Yes, sir, I think likely, sir," murmured Johann. "But if the murderer
+could get into the house, how could he get into the apartment?"
+
+"There must have been a third key of which you knew nothing," answered
+Horn, turning to Muller again. "It's stranger still how Fellner
+could have been shot, for the window-shutters were fastened and quite
+uninjured, and both doors were locked on the inside."
+
+As he said these words, Horn looked sharply at his subordinate; but
+Muller's calm face did not give the slightest clue to his thoughts. The
+experienced police commissioner was pleased and yet slightly angered at
+this behaviour on the part of the detective. He knew that it was quite
+possible that Muller had already formed a clear opinion about the case,
+and that he was merely keeping it to himself. And yet he was glad to
+see that the little detective had apparently learned a lesson from his
+recent mistake concerning the death of Mrs. Kniepp--that he had somewhat
+lost confidence in his hitherto unerring instinct, and did not care to
+express any opinion until he had studied the matter a little closer. The
+commissioner was just a little bit vain, and just a little bit jealous
+of this humble detective's fame.
+
+Muller shrugged his shoulders at the remark of his superior, and the
+two men stood silent, thinking over the case, as the Chief of Police
+appeared, accompanied by the doctor, a clerk, and two hospital
+attendants. The chief commissioner received the report of what had
+been discovered, while the corpse was laid on a bier to be taken to the
+hospital.
+
+Muller handed the commissioner his hat and cane and helped him into
+his overcoat. Horn noticed that the detective himself was making
+no preparations to go out. "Aren't you coming with us?" he asked,
+astonished.
+
+"I hope the gentlemen will allow me to remain here for a little while,"
+answered Muller modestly.
+
+"But you know that we will have to close the apartment officially," said
+Horn, his voice sharpening in his surprise and displeasure.
+
+"I do not need to be in these rooms any longer."
+
+"Don't let them disturb you, my dear Muller; we will allow your
+keenness all possible leeway here." The Head of Police spoke with calm
+politeness, but Muller started and shivered. The emphasis on the "here"
+showed him that even the head of the department had been incensed at his
+suggestion that the beautiful Mrs. Kniepp had died of her own free
+will. It had been his assertion of this which, coming to the ears of
+the bereaved husband, had enraged and embittered him, and had turned the
+power of his influence with the high authorities against the detective.
+Muller knew how greatly he had fallen from favour in the Police
+Department, and the words of his respected superior showed him that he
+was still in disgrace.
+
+But the strange, quiet smile was still on his lips as, with his usual
+humble deference, he accompanied the others to the sidewalk. Before
+the commissioners left the house, the Chief commanded Johann to answer
+carefully any questions Muller might put to him.
+
+"He'll find something, you may be sure," said Horn, as they drove off in
+the cab.
+
+"Let him that's his business. He is officially bound to see more than
+the rest of us," smiled the older official good-naturedly. "But in spite
+of it, he'll never get any further than the vestibule; he'll be making
+bows to us to the end of his days."
+
+"You think so? I've wondered at the man. I know his fame in the capital,
+indeed, in police circles all over Austria and Germany. It seems hard
+on him to be transferred to this small town, now that he is growing old.
+I've wondered why he hasn't done more for himself, with his gifts."
+
+"He never will," replied the Chief. "He may win more fame--he may still
+go on winning triumphs, but he will go on in a circle; he'll never forge
+ahead as his capabilities deserve. Muller's peculiarity is that his
+genius--for the man has undeniable genius--will always make concessions
+to his heart just at the moment when he is about to do something
+great--and his triumph is lost."
+
+Horn looked up at his superior, whom, in spite of his good nature, he
+knew to be a sharp, keen, capable police official. "I forgot you have
+known Muller longer than the rest of us," he said. "What was that you
+said about his heart?"
+
+"I said that it is one of those inconvenient hearts that will always
+make itself noticeable at the wrong time. Muller's heart has played
+several tricks on the police department, which has, at other times,
+profited so well by his genius. He is a strange mixture. While he is on
+the trail of the criminal he is like the bloodhound. He does not seem to
+know fatigue nor hunger; his whole being is absorbed by the excitement
+of the chase. He has done many a brilliant service to the cause of
+justice, he has discovered the guilt, or the innocence, of many in cases
+where the official department was as blind as Justice is proverbially
+supposed to be. Joseph Muller has become the idol of all who are engaged
+in this weary business of hunting down wrong and punishing crime. He
+is without a peer in his profession. But he has also become the idol of
+some of the criminals. For if he discovers (as sometimes happens) that
+the criminal is a good sort after all, he is just as likely to warn his
+prey, once he has all proofs of the guilt and a conviction is certain.
+Possibly this is his way of taking the sting from his irresistible
+impulse to ferret out hidden mysteries. But it is rather inconvenient,
+and he has hurt himself by it--hurt himself badly. They were tired of
+his peculiarities at the capital, and wanted to make his years an excuse
+to discharge him. I happened to get wind of it, and it was my weakness
+for him that saved him."
+
+"Yes, you brought him here when they transferred you to this town, I
+remember now."
+
+"I'm afraid it wasn't such a good thing for him, after all. Nothing
+ever happens here, and a gift like Muller's needs occupation to keep
+it fresh. I'm afraid his talents will dull and wither here. The man has
+grown perceptibly older in this inaction. His mind is like a high-bred
+horse that needs exercise to keep it in good condition."
+
+"He hasn't grown rich at his work, either," said Horn.
+
+"No, there's not much chance for a police detective to get rich. I've
+often wondered why Muller never had the energy to set up in business for
+himself. He might have won fame and fortune as a private detective. But
+he's gone on plodding along as a police subordinate, and letting the
+department get all the credit for his most brilliant achievements. It's
+a sort of incorrigible humbleness of nature--and then, you know, he had
+the misfortune to be unjustly sentenced to a term in prison in his early
+youth."
+
+"No, I did not know that."
+
+"The stigma stuck to his name, and finally drove him to take up this
+work. I don't think Muller realised, when he began, just how greatly
+he is gifted. I don't know that he really knows now. He seems to do it
+because he likes it--he's a queer sort of man."
+
+While the commissioners drove through the streets to the police station
+the man of whom they were speaking sat in Johann's little room in close
+consultation with the valet.
+
+"How long is it since the Professor began to give you money to go to the
+theatre on Saturday evenings?"
+
+"The first time it happened was on my name day."
+
+"What's the rest of your name? There are so many Johanns on the calendar."
+
+"I am Johann Nepomuk."
+
+Muller took a little calendar from his pocket and turned its pages. "It
+was May sixteenth," volunteered the valet.
+
+"Quite right. May sixteenth was a Saturday. And since then you have gone
+to the theatre every Saturday evening?"
+
+"Yes, sir.
+
+"When did the owner of the house go away?"
+
+"Last April. His wife was ill and he had to take her away. They went to
+Italy."
+
+"And you two have been alone in the house since April?"
+
+"Yes, sir, we two."
+
+"Was there no janitor?"
+
+"No, sir. The garden was taken care of by a man who came in for the
+day."
+
+"And you had no dog? I haven't seen any around the place."
+
+"No, sir; the Professor did not like animals. But he must have been
+thinking about buying a dog, because I found a new dog-whip in his room
+one day."
+
+"Somebody might have left it there. One usually buys the dog first and
+then the whip."
+
+"Yes, sir. But there wasn't anybody here to forget it. The Professor did
+not receive any visits at that time."
+
+"Why are you so sure of that?"
+
+"Because it was the middle of summer, and everybody was away."
+
+"Oh, then, we won't bother about the whip. Can you tell me of any ladies
+with whom the Professor was acquainted?"
+
+"Ladies? I don't know of any. Of course, the Professor was invited out
+a good deal, and most of the other gentlemen from the college were
+married."
+
+"Did he ever receive letters from ladies?" continued Muller.
+
+Johann thought the matter over, then confessed that he knew very little
+about writing and couldn't read handwriting very well anyway. But he
+remembered to have seen a letter now and then, a little letter with a
+fine and delicate handwriting.
+
+"Have you any of these envelopes?" asked Muller. But Johann told him
+that in spite of his usual carelessness in such matters, Professor
+Fellner never allowed these letters to lie about his room.
+
+Finally the detective came out with the question to which he had been
+leading up. "Did your master ever receive visits from ladies?"
+
+Johann looked extremely stupid at this moment. His lack of intelligence
+and a certain crude sensitiveness in his nature made him take umbrage at
+what appeared to him a very unnecessary question. He answered it with a
+shake of the head only. Muller smiled at the young man's ill-concealed
+indignation and paid no attention to it.
+
+"Your master has been here for about a year. Where was he before that?"
+
+"In the capital."
+
+"You were in his service then?"
+
+"I have been with him for three years."
+
+"Did he know any ladies in his former home?"
+
+"There was one--I think he was engaged to her."
+
+"Why didn't he marry her?"
+
+"I don't know."
+
+"What was her name?"
+
+"Marie. That's all I know about it."
+
+"Was she beautiful?"
+
+"I never saw her. The only way I knew about her was when the Professor's
+friends spoke of her."
+
+"Did he have many friends?"
+
+"There were ever so many gentlemen whom he called his friends."
+
+"Take me into the garden now."
+
+"Yes, sir." Muller took his hat and coat and followed the valet into the
+garden. It was of considerable size, carefully and attractively planned,
+and pleasing even now when the bare twigs bent under their load of snow.
+
+"Now think carefully, Johann. We had a full moon last night. Don't
+you remember seeing any footsteps in the garden, leading away from the
+house?" asked Muller, as they stood on the snow-covered paths.
+
+Johann thought it over carefully, then said decidedly, "No. At least I
+don't remember anything of the kind. There was a strong wind yesterday
+anyway, and the snow drifts easily out here. No tracks could remain
+clear for long."
+
+The men walked down the straight path which led to the little gate in
+the high wall. This gate had a secret lock, which, however, was neither
+hard to find nor hard to open. Muller managed it with ease, and looked
+out through the gate on the street beyond. The broad promenade, deserted
+now in its winter snowiness, led away in one direction to the heart of
+the city. In the other it ended in the main county high-road. This was
+a broad, well-made turnpike, with footpath and rows of trees. A
+half-hour's walk along it would bring one to the little village
+clustering about the Archduke's favourite hunting castle. There was a
+little railway station near the castle, but it was used only by suburban
+trains or for the royal private car.
+
+Muller did not intend to burden his brain with unnecessary facts, so
+with his usual thoroughness he left the further investigation of what
+lay beyond the gate, until he had searched the garden thoroughly. But
+even for his sharp eyes there was no trace to be found that would tell
+of the night visit of the murderer.
+
+"In which of the pails did you put the key to the side door?" he asked.
+
+"In the first pail on the right hand side. But be careful, sir; there's
+a nail sticking out of the post there. The wind tore off a piece of wood
+yesterday."
+
+The warning came too late. Muller's sleeve tore apart with a sharp sound
+just as Johann spoke, for the detective had already plunged his hand
+into the pail. The bottom of the bucket was easy to reach, as this one
+hung much lower than the others. Looking regretfully at the rent in
+his coat, Muller asked for needle and thread that he might repair it
+sufficiently to get home.
+
+"Oh, don't bother about sewing it; I'll lend you one of mine," exclaimed
+Johann. "I'll carry this one home for you, for I'm not going to stay
+here alone--I'd be afraid. I'm going to a friend's house. You can
+find me there any time you need me. You'd better take the key of the
+apartment and give it to the police."
+
+The detective had no particular fondness for the task of sewing, and
+he was glad to accept the valet's friendly offering. He was rather
+astonished at the evident costliness of the garment the young man handed
+him, and when he spoke of it, the valet could not say enough in praise
+of the kindness of his late master. He pulled out several other articles
+of clothing, which, like the overcoat, had been given to him by Fellner.
+Then he packed up a few necessities and announced himself as ready to
+start. He insisted on carrying the torn coat, and Muller permitted it
+after some protest. They carefully closed the apartment and the house,
+and walked toward the centre of the city to the police station, where
+Muller lived.
+
+As they crossed the square, it suddenly occurred to Johann that he had
+no tobacco. He was a great smoker, and as he had many days of enforced
+idleness ahead of him, he ran into a tobacco shop to purchase a
+sufficiency of this necessity of life.
+
+Muller waited outside, and his attention was attracted by a large grey
+Ulmer hound which was evidently waiting for some one within the shop.
+The dog came up to him in a most friendly manner, allowed him to pat its
+head, rubbed up against him with every sign of pleasure, and would not
+leave him even when he turned to go after Johann came out of the shop.
+Still accompanied by the dog, the two men walked on quite a distance,
+when a sharp whistle was heard behind them, and the dog became uneasy.
+He would not leave them, however, until a powerful voice called
+"Tristan!" several times. Muller turned and saw that Tristan's master
+was a tall, stately man wearing a handsome fur overcoat.
+
+It was impossible to recognise his face at this distance, for the
+snowflakes were whirling thickly in the air. But Muller was not
+particularly anxious to recognise the stranger, as he had his head full
+of more important thoughts.
+
+When Johann had given his new address and remarked that he would call
+for his coat soon, the men parted, and Muller returned to the police
+station.
+
+The next day the principal newspaper of the town printed the following
+notice:
+
+                      THE GOLDEN BULLET
+
+  It is but a few days since we announced to our readers the sad
+  news of the death of a beautiful woman, whose leap from her
+  window, while suffering from the agonies of fever, destroyed
+  the happiness of an unusually harmonious marriage.  And now we
+  are compelled to print the news of another equally sad as well
+  as mysterious occurrence.  This time, Fate has demanded the
+  sacrifice of the life of a capable and promising young man.
+  Professor Paul Fellner, a member of the faculty of our college,
+  was found dead at his desk yesterday morning.  It was thought at
+  first that it was a case of suicide, for doors and windows were
+  carefully closed from within and those who discovered the corpse
+  were obliged to break open one of the doors to get to it.  And
+  a revolver was found lying close at hand, upon the desk.  But
+  this revolver was loaded in every chamber and there was no other
+  weapon to be seen in the room.  There was a bullet wound in the
+  left breast of the corpse, and the bullet had penetrated the
+  heart.  Death must have been instantaneous.
+
+  The most mysterious thing about this strange affair was
+  discovered during the autopsy.  It is incredible, but it is
+  absolutely true, as it is vouched for under oath by the
+  authorities who were present, that the bullet which was found
+  in the heart of the dead man was made of solid gold.  And yet,
+  strange as is this circumstance, it is still more a riddle how
+  the murderer could have escaped from the room where he had shot
+  down his victim, for the keys in both doors were in the locks
+  from the inside.  We have evidently to do here with a criminal
+  of very unusual cleverness and it is therefore not surprising
+  that there has been no clue discovered thus far.  The only
+  thing that is known is that this murder was an act of revenge.
+
+The entire city was in excitement over the mystery, even the police
+station was shaken out of its usual business-like indifference. There
+was no other topic of conversation in any of the rooms but the
+mystery of the golden bullet and the doors closed from the inside. The
+attendants and the policeman gathered whispering in the corners,
+and strangers who came in on their own business forgot it in their
+excitement over this new and fascinating mystery.
+
+That afternoon Muller passed through Horn's office with a bundle of
+papers, on his way to the inner office occupied by his patron, Chief of
+Police Bauer. Horn, who had avoided Muller since yesterday although he
+was conscious of a freshened interest in the man, raised his head and
+watched the little detective as he walked across the room with his
+usual quiet tread. The commissioner saw nothing but the usual humble
+business-like manner to which he was accustomed--then suddenly
+something happened that came to him like a distinct shock. Muller
+stopped in his walk so suddenly that one foot was poised in the air. His
+bowed head was thrown back, his face flushed to his forehead, and the
+papers trembled in his hands. He ran the fingers of his unoccupied hand
+through his hair and murmured audibly, "That dog! that dog!" It was
+evident that some thought had struck him with such insistence as to
+render him oblivious of his surroundings. Then he finally realised where
+he was, and walked on quickly to Bauer's room, his face still flushed,
+his hands trembling. When he came out from the office again, he was his
+usual quiet, humble self.
+
+But the commissioner, with his now greater knowledge of the little man's
+gifts and past, could not forget the incident. During the afternoon
+he found himself repeating mechanically, "That dog--that dog." But the
+words meant nothing to him, hard as he might try to find the connection.
+
+When the commissioner left for his home late that afternoon, Muller
+re-entered the office to lay some papers on the desk. His duties over,
+he was about to turn out the gas, when his eye fell on the blotter on
+Horn's desk. He looked at it more closely, then burst into a loud
+laugh. The same two words were scribbled again and again over the white
+surface, but it was not the name of any fair maiden, or even the title
+of a love poem; it was only the words, "That dog--"
+
+Several days had passed since the discovery of the murder. Fellner had
+been buried and his possessions taken into custody by the authorities
+until his heirs should appear. The dead man's papers and affairs were
+in excellent condition and the arranging of the inheritance had been
+quickly done. Until the heirs should take possession, the apartment was
+sealed by the police. There was nothing else to do in the matter, and
+the commission appointed to make researches had discovered nothing of
+value. The murderer might easily feel that he was absolutely safe by
+this time.
+
+The day after the publication of the article we have quoted, Muller
+appeared in Bauer's office and asked for a few days' leave.
+
+"In the Fellner case?" asked the Chief with his usual calm, and Muller
+replied in the affirmative.
+
+Two days later he returned, bringing with him nothing but a single
+little notice.
+
+"Marie Dorn, now Mrs. Kniepp," was one line in his notebook, and beside
+it some dates. The latter showed that Marie Dorn had for two years past
+been the wife of the Archducal Forest-Councillor, Leo Kniepp.
+
+And for one year now Professor Paul Fellner had been in the town, after
+having applied for his transference from the university in the capital
+to this place, which was scarce half an hour's walk distant from the
+home of the beautiful young woman who had been the love of his youth.
+
+And Fellner had made his home in the quietest quarter of the city, in
+that quarter which was nearest the Archducal hunting castle. He had
+lived very quietly, had not cultivated the acquaintance of the ladies of
+the town, but was a great walker and bicycle rider; and every Saturday
+evening since he had been alone in the house, he had sent his servant
+to the theatre. And it was on Saturday evenings that Forest-Councillor
+Kniepp went to his Bowling Club at the other end of the city, and did
+not return until the last train at midnight.
+
+And during these evening hours Fellner's apartment was a convenient
+place for pleasant meetings; and nothing prevented the Professor from
+accompanying his beautiful friend home through the quiet Promenade,
+along the turnpike to the hunting castle. And Johann had once found a
+dog-whip in his master's room-and Councillor Leo Kniepp, head of the
+Forestry Department, was the possessor of a beautiful Ulmer hound which
+took an active interest in people who wore clothes belonging to Fellner.
+
+Furthermore, in the little drawer of the bedside table in the murdered
+man's room, there had been found a tortoise-shell hairpin; and in the
+corner of the vestibule of his house, a little mother-of-pearl glove
+button, of the kind much in fashion that winter, because of a desire
+on the part of the ladies of the town to help the home industry of the
+neighbourhood. Mrs. Marie Kniepp was one of the fashionable women of the
+town, and several days before the Professor was murdered, this woman
+had thrown herself from the second-story window of her home, and her
+husband, whose passionate eccentric nature was well known, had been a
+changed man from that hour.
+
+It was his deep grief at the loss of his beloved wife that had turned
+his hair grey and had drawn lines of terrible sorrow in his face--said
+gossip. But Muller, who did not know Kniepp personally although he had
+been taking a great interest in his affairs for the last few days, had
+his own ideas on the subject, and he decided to make the acquaintance of
+the Forest Councillor as soon as possible--that is, after he had found
+out all there was to be found out about his affairs and his habits.
+
+Just a week after the murder, on Saturday evening therefore, the snow
+was whirling merrily about the gables and cupolas of the Archducal
+hunting castle. The weather-vanes groaned and the old trees in the park
+bent their tall tops under the mad wind which swept across the earth and
+tore the protecting snow covering from their branches. It was a stormy
+evening, not one to be out in if a man had a warm corner in which to
+hide.
+
+An old peddler was trying to find shelter from the rapidly increasing
+storm under the lea of the castle wall. He crouched so close to the
+stones that he could scarcely be seen at all, in spite of the light
+from the snow. Finally he disappeared altogether behind one of the heavy
+columns which sprang out at intervals from the magnificent wall. Only
+his head peeped out occasionally as if looking for something. His dark,
+thoughtful eyes glanced over the little village spread out on one side
+of the castle, and over the railway station, its most imposing building.
+Then they would turn back again to the entrance gate in the wall
+near where he stood. It was a heavy iron-barred gate, its handsome
+ornamentation outlined in snow, and behind it the body of a large dog
+could be occasionally seen. This dog was an enormous grey Ulmer hound.
+
+The peddler stood for a long time motionless behind the pillar, then he
+looked at his watch. "It's nearly time," he murmured, and looked over
+towards the station again, where lights and figures were gathering.
+
+At the same time the noise of an opening door was heard, and steps
+creaked over the snow. A man, evidently a servant, opened the little
+door beside the great gate and held it for another man to pass
+out. "You'll come back by the night train as usual, sir?" he asked
+respectfully.
+
+"Yes," replied the other, pushing back the dog, which fawned upon him.
+
+"Come back here, Tristan," called the servant, pulling the dog in by his
+collar, as he closed the door and re-entered the house.
+
+The Councillor took the path to the station. He walked slowly, with
+bowed head and uneven step. He did not look like a man who was in the
+mood to join a merry crowd, and yet he was evidently going to his Club.
+"He wants to show himself; he doesn't want to let people think that he
+has anything to be afraid of," murmured the peddler, looking after him
+sharply. Then his eyes suddenly dimmed and a light sigh was heard,
+with another murmur, "Poor man." The Councillor reached the station
+and disappeared within its door. The train arrived and departed a few
+moments later. Kniepp must have really gone to the city, for although
+the man behind the pillar waited for some little time, the Councillor
+did not return--a contingency that the peddler had not deemed
+improbable.
+
+About half an hour after the departure of the train the watcher came out
+of his hiding place and walked noisily past the gate. What he expected,
+happened. The dog rushed up to the bars, barking loudly, but when the
+peddler had taken a silk muffler from the pack on his back and held
+it out to the animal, the noise ceased and the dog's anger turned to
+friendliness. Tristan was quite gentle, put his huge head up to the
+bars to let the stranger pat it, and seemed not at all alarmed when the
+latter rang the bell.
+
+The young man who had opened the door for the Councillor came out from
+a wing of the castle. The peddler looked so frozen and yet so venerable
+that the youth had not the heart to turn him away. Possibly he was glad
+of a little diversion for his own sake.
+
+"Who do you want to see?" he asked.
+
+"I want to speak to the maid, the one who attended your dead mistress."
+
+"Oh, then you know--?"
+
+"I know of the misfortune that has happened here."
+
+"And you think that Nanette might have something to sell to you?"
+
+"Yes, that's it; that's why I came. For I don't suppose there's much
+chance for any business with my cigar holders and other trifles here so
+near the city."
+
+"Cigar holders? Why, I don't know; perhaps we can make a trade. Come in
+with me. Why, just see how gentle the dog is with you!"
+
+"Isn't he that way with everybody? I supposed he was no watchdog."
+
+"Oh, indeed he is. He usually won't allow anybody to touch him, except
+those whom he knows well. I'm astonished that he lets you come to the
+house at all."
+
+They had reached the door by this time. The peddler laid his hand on the
+servant's arm and halted a moment. "Where was it that she threw herself
+out?"
+
+"From the last window upstairs there."
+
+"And did it kill her at once?"
+
+"Yes. Anyway she was unconscious when we came down."
+
+"Was the master at home?"
+
+"Why, yes, it happened in the middle of the night."
+
+"She had a fever, didn't she? Had she been ill long?"
+
+"No. She was in bed that day, but we thought it was nothing of
+importance."
+
+"These fevers come on quickly sometimes," remarked the old man wisely,
+and added: "This case interests the entire neighbourhood and I will show
+you that I can be grateful for anything you may tell me--of course, only
+what a faithful servant could tell. It will interest my customers very
+much."
+
+"You know all there is to know," said the valet, evidently disappointed
+that he had nothing to tell which could win the peddler's gratitude.
+"There are no secrets about it. Everybody knows that they were a very
+happy couple, and even if there was a little talk between them on that
+day, why it was pure accident and had nothing to do with the mistress'
+excitement."
+
+"Then there was a quarrel between them?"
+
+"Are people talking about it?"
+
+"I've heard some things said. They even say that this quarrel was the
+reason for--her death."
+
+"It's stupid nonsense!" exclaimed the servant. The old peddler seemed to
+like the young man's honest indignation.
+
+While they were talking, they had passed through a long corridor and the
+young man laid his hand on one of the doors as the peddler asked, "Can I
+see Miss Nanette alone?"
+
+"Alone? Oho, she's engaged to me!"
+
+"I know that," said the stranger, who seemed to be initiated into all
+the doings of this household. "And I am an old man--all I meant was that
+I would rather not have any of the other servants about."
+
+"I'll keep the cook out of the way if you want me to."
+
+"That would be a good idea. It isn't easy to talk business before
+others," remarked the old man as they entered the room. It was a
+comfortably furnished and cozily warm apartment. Only two people were
+there, an old woman and a pretty young girl, who both looked up in
+astonishment as the men came in.
+
+"Who's this you're bringing in, George?" asked Nanette.
+
+"He's a peddler and he's got some trifles here you might like to look
+at."
+
+"Why, yes, you wanted a thimble, didn't you, Lena?" asked Nanette, and
+the cook beckoned to the peddler. "Let's see what you've got there," she
+said in a friendly tone. The old man pulled out his wares from his pack;
+thimbles and scissors, coloured ribbons, silks, brushes and combs, and
+many other trifles. When the women had made their several selections
+they noticed that the old man was shivering with the cold, as he leaned
+against the stove. Their sympathies were aroused in a moment. "Why don't
+you sit down?" asked Nanette, pushing a chair towards him, and Lena rose
+to get him something warm from the kitchen.
+
+The peddler threw a look at George, who nodded in answer. "He said he'd
+like to see the things they gave you after Mrs. Kniepp's death," the
+young man remarked,
+
+"Do you buy things like that?" Nanette turned to the peddler.
+
+"I'd just like to look at them first, if you'll let me."
+
+"I'd be glad to get rid of them. But I won't go upstairs, I'm afraid
+there."
+
+"Well, I'll get the things for you if you want me to," offered George
+and turned to leave the room. The door had scarcely closed behind him
+when a change came over the peddler. His old head rose from its drooping
+position, his bowed figure started up with youthful elasticity.
+
+"Are you really fond of him?" he asked of the astonished Nanette, who
+stepped back a pace, stammering in answer: "Yes. Why do you ask? and who
+are you?"
+
+"Never mind that, my dear child, but just answer the questions I have to
+ask, and answer truthfully, or it might occur to me to let your George
+know that he is not the first man you have loved."
+
+"What do you know?" she breathed in alarm.
+
+The peddler laughed. "Oho, then he's jealous! All the better for me--the
+Councillor was jealous too, wasn't he?" Nanette looked at him in horror.
+
+"The truth, therefore, you must tell me the truth, and get the others
+away, so I can speak to you alone. You must do this--or else I'll tell
+George about the handsome carpenter in Church street, or about Franz
+Schmid, or--"
+
+"For God's sake, stop--stop--I'll do anything you say."
+
+The girl sank back on her chair pale and trembling, while the peddler
+resumed his pose of a tired old man leaning against the stove. When
+George returned with a large basket, Nanette had calmed herself
+sufficiently to go about the unpacking of the articles in the hamper.
+
+"George, won't you please keep Lena out in the kitchen. Ask her to make
+some tea for us," asked Nanette with well feigned assurance. George
+smiled a meaning smile and disappeared.
+
+"I am particularly interested in the dead lady's gloves," said the
+peddler when they were alone again.
+
+Nanette looked at him in surprise but was still too frightened to offer
+any remarks. She opened several boxes and packages and laid a number of
+pairs of gloves on the table. The old man looked through them, turning
+them over carefully. Then he shook his head: "There must be some more
+somewhere," he said. Nanette was no longer astonished at anything he
+might say or do, so she obediently went through the basket again and
+found a little box in which were several pair of grey suede gloves,
+fastened by bluish mother-of-pearl buttons. One of the pairs had been
+worn, and a button was missing.
+
+"These are the ones I was looking for," said the peddler, putting the
+gloves in his pocket. Then he continued: "Your mistress was rather fond
+of taking long walks by herself, wasn't she?"
+
+The girl's pale face flushed hotly and she stammered: "You know--about
+it?"
+
+"You know about it also, I see. And did you know everything?"
+
+"Yes, everything," murmured Nanette.
+
+"Then it was you and Tristan who accompanied the lady on her walks?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"I supposed she must have taken some one into her confidence. Well, and
+what do you think about the murder?"
+
+"The Professor?" replied Nanette hastily. "Why, what should I know about
+it?"
+
+"The Councillor was greatly excited and very unhappy when he discovered
+this affair, I suppose?"
+
+"He is still."
+
+"And how did he act after the--let us call it the accident?"
+
+"He was like a crazy man."
+
+"They tell me that he went about his duties just the same--that he went
+away on business."
+
+"It wasn't business this time, at least not professional business. But
+before that he did have to go away frequently for weeks at a time."
+
+"And it was then that your mistress was most interested in her lonely
+walks, eh?"
+
+"Yes." Nanette's voice was so low as to be scarcely heard.
+
+"Well, and this time?" continued the peddler. "Why did he go away this
+time?"
+
+"He went to the capital on private business of his own."
+
+"Are you sure of that?"
+
+"Quite sure. He went two different times. I thought it was because he
+couldn't stand it here and wanted to see something different. He went to
+his club this evening, too."
+
+"And when did he go away?"
+
+"The first time was the day after his wife was buried."
+
+"And the second time?"
+
+"Two or three days after his return."
+
+"How long did he stay away the first time?"
+
+"Only one day."
+
+"Good! Pull yourself together now. I'll send your George in to you and
+tell him you haven't been feeling well. Don't tell any one about our
+conversation. Where is the kitchen?"
+
+"The last door to the right down the hall."
+
+The peddler left the room and Nanette sank down dazed and trembling on
+the nearest chair. George found her still pale, but he seemed to think
+it quite natural that she should have been overcome by the recollection
+of the terrible death of her mistress. He gave the old man a most
+cordial invitation to return during the next few days. The cook brought
+the peddler a cup of steaming tea, and purchased several trifles from
+him, before he left the house.
+
+When the old man had reached a lonely spot on the road, about half way
+between the hunting castle and the city, he halted, set down his pack,
+divested himself of his beard and his wig and washed the wrinkles from
+his face with a handful of snow from the wayside. A quarter of an
+hour later, Detective Muller entered the railway station of the city,
+burdened with a large grip. He took a seat in the night express which
+rolled out from the station a few moments later.
+
+As he was alone in his compartment, Muller gave way to his excitement,
+sometimes even murmuring half-aloud the thoughts that rushed through his
+brain. "Yes, I am convinced of it, but can I find the proofs?" the words
+came again and again, and in spite of the comfortable warmth in the
+compartment, in spite of his tired and half-frozen condition, he could
+not sleep.
+
+He reached the capital at midnight and took a room in a small hotel in
+a quiet street. When he went out next morning, the servants looked after
+him with suspicion, as in their opinion a man who spent most of the
+night pacing up and down his room must surely have a guilty conscience.
+
+Muller went to police headquarters and looked through the arrivals at
+the hotels on the 21st of November. The burial of Mrs. Kniepp had
+taken place on the 20th. Muller soon found the name he was looking
+for, "Forest Councillor Leo Kniepp," in the list of guests at the Hotel
+Imperial. The detective went at once to the Hotel Imperial, where he was
+already well known. It cost him little time and trouble to discover what
+he wished to know, the reason for the Councillor's visit to the capital.
+
+Kniepp had asked for the address of a goldsmith, and had been directed
+to one of the shops which had the best reputation in the city. He had
+been in the capital altogether for about twenty-four hours. He had the
+manner and appearance of a man suffering under some terrible blow.
+
+Muller himself was deep in thought as he entered the train to return
+to his home, after a visit to the goldsmith in question. He had a short
+interview with Chief of Police Bauer, who finally gave him the golden
+bullet and the keys to the apartment of the murdered man. Then the two
+went out together.
+
+An hour later, the chief of police and Muller stood in the garden of
+the house in which the murder had occurred. Bauer had entered from the
+Promenade after Muller had shown him how to work the lock of the little
+gate. Together they went up into the apartment, which was icy cold and
+uncanny in its loneliness. But the two men did not appear to notice
+this, so greatly were they interested in the task that had brought them
+there. First of all, they made a most minute examination of the two
+doors which had been locked. The keys were still in both locks on
+the inside. They were big heavy keys, suitable for the tall massive
+heavily-panelled and iron-ornamented doors. The entire villa was built
+in this heavy old German style, the favourite fashion of the last few
+years.
+
+When they had looked the locks over carefully, Muller lit the lamp that
+hung over the desk in the study and closed the window shutters tight.
+Bauer had smiled at first as he watched his protege's actions, but
+his smile changed to a look of keen interest as he suddenly understood.
+Muller took his place in the chair before the desk and looked over at
+the door of the vestibule, which was directly opposite him. "Yes, that's
+all right," he said with a deep breath.
+
+Bauer had sat down on the sofa to watch the proceedings, now he sprang
+up with an exclamation: "Through the keyhole?"
+
+"Through the keyhole," answered Muller.
+
+"It is scarcely possible."
+
+"Shall we try it?"
+
+"Yes, yes, you do it." Even the usually indifferent old chief of police
+was breathing more hastily now. Muller took a roll of paper and a small
+pistol out of his pocket. He unrolled the paper, which represented
+the figure of a French soldier with a marked target on the breast. The
+detective pinned the paper on the back of the chair in which Professor
+Fellner had been seated when he met his death.
+
+"But the key was in the hole," objected Bauer suddenly.
+
+"Yes, but it was turned so that the lower part of the hole was free.
+Johann saw the light streaming through and could look into the room.
+If the murderer put the barrel of his pistol to this open part of the
+keyhole, the bullet would have to strike exactly where the dead man sat.
+There would be no need to take any particular aim." Muller gazed into
+space like a seer before whose mental eye a vision has arisen, and
+continued in level tones: "Fellner had refused the duel and the murderer
+was crazed by his desire for revenge. He came here to the house, he must
+have known just how to enter the place, how to reach the rooms, and he
+must have known also, that the Professor, coward as he was--"
+
+"Coward? Is a man a coward when he refuses to stand up to a maniac?"
+interrupted Bauer.
+
+Muller came back to the present with a start and said calmly, "Fellner
+was a coward."
+
+"Then you know more than you are telling me now?"
+
+Muller nodded. "Yes, I do," he answered with a smile. "But I will tell
+you more only when I have all the proofs in my own hand."
+
+"And the criminal will escape us in the meantime."
+
+"He has no idea that he is suspected."
+
+"But--you'll promise to be sensible this time, Muller?"
+
+"Yes. But you will pardon me my present reticence, even towards you?
+I--I don't want to be thought a dreamer again."
+
+"As in the Kniepp case?"
+
+"As in the Kniepp case," repeated the little man with a strange smile.
+"So please allow me to go about it in my own way. I will tell you all
+you want to know to-morrow."
+
+"To-morrow, then."
+
+"May I now continue to unfold my theories?" Bauer nodded and Muller
+continued: "The criminal wanted Fellner's blood, no matter how."
+
+"Even if it meant murder," said Bauer.
+
+Muller nodded calmly. "It would have been nobler, perhaps, to have
+warned his victim of his approach, but it might have all come to nothing
+then. The other could have called for help, could have barricaded
+himself in his room, one crime might have been prevented, and another,
+more shameful one, would have gone unavenged."
+
+"Another crime? Fellner a criminal?"
+
+"To-morrow you shall know everything, my kind friend. And now, let us
+make the trial. Please lock the door behind me as it was locked then."
+
+Muller left the room, taking the pistol with him. Bauer locked the door.
+"Is this right?" he asked.
+
+"Yes, I can see a wide curve of the room, taking in the entire desk.
+Please stand to one side now."
+
+There was deep silence for a moment, then a slight sound as of metal
+on metal, then a report, and Muller re-entered the study through the
+bedroom. He found Bauer stooping over the picture of the French soldier.
+There was a hole in the left breast, where the bullet, passing through,
+had buried itself in the back of the chair.
+
+"Yes, it was all just as you said," began the chief of police, holding
+out his hand to Muller. "But--why the golden bullet?"
+
+"To-morrow, to-morrow," replied the detective, looking up at his
+superior with a glance of pleading.
+
+They left the house together and in less than an hour's time Muller was
+again in the train rolling towards the capital.
+
+He went to the goldsmith's shop as soon as he arrived. The proprietor
+received him with eager interest and Muller handed him the golden
+bullet. "Here is the golden object of which I spoke," said the
+detective, paying no heed to the other's astonishment. The goldsmith
+opened a small locked drawer, took a ring from it and set about an
+examination of the two little objects. When he turned to his visitor
+again, he was evidently satisfied with what he had discovered. "These
+two objects are made of exactly the same sort of gold, of a peculiar
+old French composition, which can no longer be produced in the same
+richness. The weight of the gold in the bullet is exactly the same as in
+the ring."
+
+"Would you be willing to take an oath on that if you were called in as
+an expert?"
+
+"I am willing to stand up for my judgment."
+
+"Good. And now will you read this over please, it contains the substance
+of what you told me yesterday. Should I have made any mistakes, please
+correct them, for I will ask you to set your signature to it."
+
+Muller handed several sheets of close writing to the goldsmith and the
+latter read aloud as follows: "On the 22nd of November, a gentleman came
+into my shop and handed me a wedding ring with the request that I should
+make another one exactly like it. He was particularly anxious that the
+work should be done in two days at the very latest, and also that the
+new ring, in form, colour, and in the engraving on the inside, should
+be a perfect counterpart of the first. He explained his order by saying
+that his wife was ill, and that she was grieving over the loss of her
+wedding ring which had somehow disappeared. The new ring could be found
+somewhere as if by chance and the sick woman's anxiety would be over.
+Two days later, as arranged, the same gentleman appeared again and I
+handed him the two rings.
+
+"He left the shop, greatly satisfied with my work and apparently much
+relieved in his mind. But he left me uneasy in spirit because I had
+deceived him. It had not been possible for me to reproduce exactly the
+composition of the original ring, and as I believed that the work was to
+be done in order to comfort an invalid, and I was getting no profit,
+but on the contrary a little extra work out of it, I made two new rings,
+lettered them according to the original and gave them to my customer.
+The original ring I am now, on this seventh day of December, giving to
+Mr. Joseph Mullet, who has shown me his legitimation as a member of
+the Secret Police. I am willing to put myself at the service of the
+authorities if I am called for."
+
+"You are willing to do this, aren't you?" asked Muller when the
+goldsmith had arrived at the end of the notice.
+
+"Of course."
+
+"Have you anything to add to this?"
+
+"No, it is quite complete. I will sign it at once."
+
+Several hours later, Muller re-entered the police station in his home
+town and saw the windows of the chief's apartment brilliantly lighted.
+"What's going on," he asked of Bauer's servant who was just hurrying up
+the stairs.
+
+"The mistress' birthday, we've got company."
+
+Muller grumbled something and went on up to his own room. He knew it
+would not be pleasant for his patron to be disturbed in the midst of
+entertaining his guests, but the matter was important and could not
+wait.
+
+The detective laid off his outer garments, made a few changes in his
+toilet and putting the goldsmith's declaration, with the ring and
+the bullet in his pocketbook, he went down to the first floor of the
+building, in one wing of which was the apartment occupied by the Chief.
+He sent in his name and was told to wait in the little study. He sat
+down quietly in a corner of the comfortable little room beyond which,
+in a handsomely furnished smoking room, a number of guests sat playing
+cards. From the drawing rooms beyond, there was the sound of music and
+many voices.
+
+It was all very attractive and comfortable, and the solitary man sat
+there enjoying once more the pleasant sensation of triumph, of joy at
+the victory that was his alone and that would win him back all his old
+friends and prestige. He was looking forward in agreeable anticipation
+to the explanations he had to give, when he suddenly started and grew
+pale. His eyes dimmed a moment, then he pulled himself together and
+murmured: "No, no, not this time. I will not be weak this time."
+
+Just then the Chief entered the room, accompanied by Councillor Kniepp.
+
+"Won't you sit down here a little?" asked the friendly host. "You will
+find it much quieter in this room." He pulled up a little table laden
+with cigars and wine, close to a comfortable armchair. Then, noticing
+Muller, he continued with a friendly nod: "I'm glad they told you to
+wait in here. You must be frozen after your long ride. If you will wait
+just a moment more, I will return at once and we can go into my office.
+And if you will make yourself comfortable here, my dear Kniepp, I will
+send our friend Horn in to talk with you. He is bright and jovial and
+will keep you amused."
+
+The chief chattered on, making a strenuous endeavour to appear quite
+harmless. But Kniepp, more apt than ever just now to notice the
+actions of others, saw plainly that his genial host was concealing some
+excitement. When the latter had gone out the Councillor looked
+after him, shaking his head. Then his glance fell by chance on the
+quiet-looking man who had risen at his entrance and had not sat down
+again.
+
+"Please sit down," he said in a friendly tone, but the other did not
+move. His grey eyes gazed intently at the man whose fate he was to
+change so horribly.
+
+Kniepp grew uneasy under the stare. "What is there that interests you so
+about me?" he asked in a tone that was an attempt at a joke.
+
+"The ring, the ring on your watch chain," murmured Muller.
+
+"It belonged to my dead wife. I have worn it since she left me,"
+answered the unhappy man with the same iron calm with which he had, all
+these past days, been emphasizing his love for the woman he had lost.
+Yet the question touched him unpleasantly and he looked more sharply at
+the strange man over in the corner. He saw the latter's face turn pale
+and a shiver run through his form. A feeling of sympathy came over
+Kniepp and he asked warmly: "Won't you take a glass of this wine? If you
+have been out in the cold it will be good for you." His tone was gentle,
+almost cordial, but the man to whom he offered the refreshment turned
+from him with a gesture that was almost one of terror.
+
+The Councillor rose suddenly from his chair. "Who are you? What news is
+it you bring?" he asked with a voice that began to tremble.
+
+Muller raised his head sharply as if his decision had been made, and his
+kind intelligent eyes grew soft as they rested on the pale face of
+the stately man before him. "I belong to the Secret Police and I
+am compelled to find out the secrets of others--not because of my
+profession--no, because my own nature compels me--I must do it. I have
+just come from Vienna and I bring the last of the proofs necessary to
+turn you over to the courts. And yet you are a thousand times better
+than the coward who stole the honour of your wife and who hid behind
+the shelter of the law--and therefore, therefore, therefore--" Muller's
+voice grew hoarse, then died away altogether.
+
+Kniepp listened with pallid cheeks but without a quiver. Now he spoke,
+completing the other's words: "And therefore you wish to save me from
+the prison or from the gallows? I thank you. What is your name?" The
+unhappy man spoke as calmly as if the matter scarcely concerned him at
+all.
+
+The detective told him his name.
+
+"Muller, Muller," repeated the Councillor, as if he were particularly
+anxious to remember the name. He held out his hand to the detective.
+"I thank you, indeed, thank you," he said with the first sign
+of emotion he had shown, and then added low: "Do not fear that you will
+have trouble on my account. They can find me in my home." With these
+words he turned away and sat down in his chair again. When Bauer entered
+the room a few moments later, Kniepp was smoking calmly.
+
+"Now, Muller, I'm ready. Horn will be in in a moment, friend Kniepp; I
+know you will enjoy his chatter." The chief led the way out of the room
+through another door. He could not see the ghastly pale face of the
+guest he left behind him, for it was almost hidden in a cloud of thick
+smoke, but Muller turned back once more at the threshold and caught
+a last grateful glance from eyes shadowed by deep sadness, as the
+Councillor raised his hand in a friendly gesture.
+
+"Dear Muller, you take so long to get at the point of the story! Don't
+you see you are torturing me?" This outburst came from the Chief
+about an hour later. But the detective would not permit himself to be
+interrupted in spinning out his story in his own way, and it was nearly
+another hour before Bauer knew that the man for whose name he had been
+waiting so long was Leo Kniepp.
+
+The knowledge came as a terrible surprise to him. He was dazed almost.
+"And I,--I've got to arrest him in my own house?" he exclaimed as if
+horrified. And Muller answered calmly: "I doubt if you will have the
+opportunity, sir."
+
+"Muller! Did you, again--"
+
+"Yes, I did! I have again warned an unfortunate. It's my nature, I
+can't seem to help it. But you will find the Councillor in his house. He
+promised me that."
+
+"And you believe it?"
+
+"That man will keep his promise," said Muller quietly.
+
+Councillor Kniepp did keep his promise. When the police arrived at the
+hunting castle shortly after midnight, they found the terrified servants
+standing by the body of their master.
+
+"Well, Muller, you had better luck than you deserved this time," Bauer
+said a few days later. "This last trick has made you quite impossible
+for the service. But you needn't worry about that, because the legacy
+Kniepp left you will put you out of reach of want."
+
+The detective was as much surprised as anybody. He was as if dazed by
+his unexpected good fortune. The day before he was a poor man bowed
+under the weight of sordid cares, and now he was the possessor of twenty
+thousand gulden. And it was not his clever brain but his warm heart that
+had won this fortune for him. His breast swelled with gratitude as he
+thought of the unhappy man whose life had been ruined by the careless
+cruelty of others and his own passions. Again and again he read the
+letter which had been found on Kniepp's desk, addressed to him and which
+had been handed out to him after the inquest.
+
+  My friend:--
+
+  You have saved me from the shame of an open trial.  I thank you
+  for this from the very depth of my heart.  I have left you a
+  part of my own private fortune, that you may be a free man, free
+  as a poor man never can be.  You can accept this present for it
+  comes from the hand of an honest man in spite of all.  Yes, I
+  compelled my wife to go to her death after I had compelled her
+  to confess her shame to me, and I entered her lover's house with
+  the knowledge I had forced from her.  When I looked through the
+  keyhole and saw his false face before me, I murdered him in cold
+  blood.  Then, that the truth might not be suspected, I continued
+  to play the sorrowing husband.  I wore on my watch chain the ring
+  I had had made in imitation of the one my wife had worn.  This
+  original ring of hers, her wedding ring which she had defiled,
+  I sent in the form of a bullet straight to her lover's heart.
+  Yes, I have committed a crime, but I feel that I am less criminal
+  than those two whom I judged and condemned, and whose sentence I
+  carried out as I now shall carry out my own sentence with a hand
+  which will not tremble.  That I can do this myself, I have you to
+  thank for, you who can look into the souls of men and recognise
+  the most hidden motives, you who have not only a wonderful brain
+  but a heart that can feel.  You, I hope, will sometimes think
+  kindly of your grateful
+
+  LEO KNIEPP.
+
+Muller kept this letter as one of his most sacred treasures.
+
+The "Kniepp Case" was really, as Bauer had predicted, the last in
+Muller's public career. Even the friendliness of the kind old chief
+could not keep him in his position after this new display of the
+unreliability of his heart. But his quiet tastes allowed him to live in
+humble comfort from the income of his little fortune.
+
+Every now and then letters or telegrams will come for him and he will
+disappear for several days. His few friends believe that the police
+authorities, who refused to employ him publicly owing to his strange
+weakness, cannot resist a private appeal to his talent whenever a
+particularly difficult case arises.
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Case of the Golden Bullet, by
+Grace Isabel Colbron, and Augusta Groner
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