the lamp that went out-第1部分

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The　Case　of　the　Lamp　That　Went　Out

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　LAMP　THAT　WENT　OUT

by　Grace　Isabel　Colbron　and　Augusta　Groner



CHAPTER　I

THE　DISCOVERY


The　radiance　of　a　clear　September　morning　lay　over　Vienna。　　The
air　was　so　pure　that　the　sky　shone　in　brightest　azure　even　where
the　city's　buildings　clustered　thickest。　　On　the　outskirts　of　the
town　the　rays　of　the　awakening　sun　danced　in　crystalline　ether
and　struck　answering　gleams　from　the　dew　on　grass　and　shrub　in
the　myriad　gardens　of　the　suburban　streets。

It　was　still　very　early。　　The　old…fashioned　steeple　clock　on　the
church　of　the　Holy　Virgin　in　Hietzing　had　boomed　out　six　slow
strokes　but　a　short　time　back。　　Anna；　the　pretty　blonde　girl　who
carried　out　the　milk　for　the　dwellers　in　several　streets　of　this
aristocratic　residential　suburb；　was　just　coming　around　the　corner
of　the　main　street　into　a　quiet　lane。　　This　lane　could　hardly　be
dignified　by　the　name　of　street　as　yet；　it　was　so　very　quiet。　　It
had　been　opened　and　named　scarcely　a　year　back　and　it　was　bordered
mostly　by　open　gardens　or　fenced…in　building　lots。　　There　were　four
houses　in　this　street；　two　by　two　opposite　each　other；　and　another；
an　old…fashioned　manor　house；　lying　almost　hidden　in　its　great
garden。　　But　the　quiet　street　could　not　presume　to　ownership　of
this　last　house；　for　the　front　of　it　opened　on　a　parallel　street；
which　gave　it　its　number。　　Only　the　garden　had　a　gate　as　outlet
onto　our　quiet　lane。

Anna　stopped　in　front　of　this　gate　and　pulled　the　bell。　　She　had
to　wait　for　some　little　time　until　the　gardener's　wife；　who　acted
as　janitress；　could　open　the　door。　　But　Anna　was　not　impatient；
for　she　knew　that　it　was　quite　a　distance　from　the　gardener's
house　in　the　centre　of　the　great　stretch　of　park　to　the　little
gate　where　she　waited。　　In　a　few　moments；　however；　the　door　was
opened　and　a　pleasant…faced　woman　exchanged　a　friendly　greeting
with　the　girl　and　took　the　cans　from　her。

Anna　hastened　onward　with　her　usual　energetic　step。　　The　four　houses
in　that　street　were　already　served　and　she　was　now　bound　for　the
homes　of　customers　several　squares　away。　　Then　her　step　slowed　just
a　bit。　　She　was　a　quiet；　thoughtful　girl　and　the　lovely　peace　of
this　bright　morning　sank　into　her　heart　and　made　her　rejoice　in
its　beauty。　　All　around　her　the　foliage　was　turning　gently　to　its
autumn　glory　of　colouring　and　the　dewdrops　on　the　rich…hued　leaves
sparkled　with　an　unusual　radiance。　　A　thrush　looked　down　at　her
from　a　bough　and　began　its　morning　song。　　Anna　smiled　up　at　the
little　bird　and　began　herself　to　sing　a　merry　tune。

But　suddenly　her　voice　died　away；　the　colour　faded　from　her　flushed
cheeks；　her　eyes　opened　wide　and　she　stood　as　if　riveted　to　the
ground。　　With　a　deep　breath　as　of　unconscious　terror　she　let　the
burden　of　the　milk　cans　drop　gently　from　her　shoulder　to　the　ground。
In　following　the　bird's　flight　her　eyes　had　wandered　to　the　side　of
the　street；　to　the　edge　of　one　of　the　vacant　lots；　there　where　a
shallow　ditch　separated　it　from　the　roadway。　　An　elder…tree；　the
great　size　of　which　attested　its　age；　hung　its　berry…laden　branches
over　the　ditch。　　And　in　front　of　this　tree　the　bird　had　stopped
suddenly；　then　fluttered　off　with　the　quick　movement　of　the　wild
creature　surprised　by　fright。　　What　the　bird　had　seen　was　the　same
vision　that　halted　the　song　on　Anna's　lips　and　arrested　her　foot。
It　was　the　body　of　a　man　…　a　young　and　well…dressed　man；　who　lay
there　with　his　face　turned　toward　the　street。　　And　his　face　was　the
white　frozen　face　of　a　corpse。

Anna　stood　still；　looking　down　at　him　for　a　few　moments；　in
wide…eyed　terror：　then　she　walked　on　slowly　as　if　trying　to　pull
herself　together　again。　　A　few　steps　and　then　she　turned　and　broke
into　a　run。　　When　she　reached　the　end　of　the　street；　breathless
from　haste　and　excitement；　she　found　herself　in　one　of　the　main
arteries　of　traffic　of　the　suburb；　but　owing　to　the　early　hour
this　street　was　almost　as　quiet　as　the　lane　she　had　just　left。
Finally　the　frightened　girl's　eyes　caught　sight　of　the　figure　of
a　policeman　coming　around　the　next　corner。　　She　flew　to　meet　him
and　recognised　him　as　the　officer　of　that　beat。

〃Why；　what　is　the　matter？〃　　he　asked。　　〃Why　are　you　so　excited？〃

〃Down　there…in　the　lane；　there's　a　dead　man；〃　　answered　the　girl；
gasping　for　breath。

〃A　dead　man？〃　　repeated　the　policeman　gravely；　looking　at　the　girl。
〃Are　you　sure　he's　dead？〃

Anna　nodded。　　〃His　eyes　are　all　glassy　and　I　saw　blood　on　his　back。〃

〃Well；　you're　evidently　very　much　frightened；　and　I　suppose　you
don't　want　to　go　down　there　again。　　I'll　look　into　the　matter；　if
you　will　go　to　the　police　station　and　make　the　announcement。　　Will
you　do　it？〃

〃Yes；　sir。〃

〃All　right；　then；　that　will　gain　time　for　us。　　Good…bye；　Miss　Anna。〃

The　man　walked　quickly　down　the　street；　while　the　girl　hurried　off
in　the　opposite　direction；　to　the　nearest　police　station；　where　she
told　what　she　had　seen。

The　policeman　reached　his　goal　even　earlier。　　The　first　glance　told
him　that　the　man　lying　there　by　the　wayside　was　indeed　lifeless。
And　the　icy　stiffness　of　the　hand　which　he　touched　showed　him　that
life　must　have　fled　many　hours　back。　　Anna　had　been　right　about　the
blood　also。　　The　dead　man　lay　on　the　farther　side　of　the　ditch；　half
down　into　it。　　His　right　arm　was　bent　under　his　body；　hi