The Case of the Registered Letter | Page 5

than once. And a man with a clear record deserves
the benefit of the doubt. We will take up this case. Detective Muller
will be put in charge of it. And that means, Madam, that we are giving
you the very best assistance the Imperial Police Force affords."
Miss Babette Graumann did not attempt to speak. In a wave of emotion
she stretched out both little hands to the detective and clasped his
warmly. "Oh, thank you," she said at last. "I thank you. He's just like
my own boy to me; he's all the child I ever had, you know."
"But there are difficulties in the way," continued the commissioner in a
business-like tone. "The local authorities in G-- have not asked for our
assistance, and we are taking up the case over their heads, as it were. I
shall have to leave that to Muller's diplomacy. He will come to G-- and
have an interview with your nephew. Then he will have to use his own
judgment as to the next steps, and as to how far he may go in
opposition to what has been done by the police there."
"And then I may go back home?" asked Miss Graumann. "Go home
with the assurance that you will help my poor boy?"
"Yes, you may depend on us, Madam. Is there anything we can do for
you here? Are you alone in the city?"
"No, thank you. There is a friend here who will take care of me. She
will put me on the afternoon express back to G--."
"It is very likely that I will take that train myself," said Muller. "If there
is anything that you need on the journey, call on me."
"Oh, thank you, I will indeed! Thank you both, gentlemen. And now
good-bye, and God bless you!"
The commissioner bowed and Muller held the door open for Miss
Graumann to pass out. There was silence in the room, as the two men
looked after the quaint little figure slowly descending the stairs.
"A brave little woman," murmured the commissioner.

"It is not only the mother in the flesh who knows what a mother's love
is," added Muller.
Next morning Joseph Muller stood in the cell of the prison in G--
confronting Albert Graumann, accused of the murder of John Siders.
The detective had just come from a rather difficult interview with
Commissioner Lange. But the latter, though not a brilliant man, was at
least good-natured. He acknowledged the right of the accused and his
family to ask for outside assistance, and agreed with Muller that it was
better to have some one in the official service brought in, rather than a
private detective whose work, in its eventual results, might bring shame
on the police. Muller explained that Miss Graumann did not want her
nephew to know that it was she who had asked for aid in his behalf, and
that it could only redound to his, Lange's, credit if it were understood
that he had sent to Vienna for expert assistance in this case. It would be
a proof of his conscientious attention to duty, and would insure praise
for him, whichever way the case turned out. Commissioner Lange saw
the force of this argument, and finally gave Muller permission to
handle the case as he thought best, rather relieved than otherwise for his
own part. The detective's next errand was to the prison, where he now
stood looking up into the deep-set, dark eyes of a tall, broad-shouldered,
black-bearded man, who had arisen from the cot at his entrance. Albert
Graumann had a strong, self-reliant face and bearing. His natural
expression was somewhat hard and stern, but it was the expression of a
man of integrity and responsibility. Muller had already made some
inquiries as to the prisoner's reputation and business standing in the
community, and all that he had heard was favourable. A certain
hardness and lack of amiability in Graumann's nature made it difficult
for him to win the hearts of others, but although he was not generally
loved, he was universally respected. Through the signs of nagging fear,
sorrow, and ill-health, printed clearly on the face before him, Muller's
keen eyes looked down into the soul of a man who might be
overbearing, pitiless even, if occasion demanded, but who would not
murder--at least not for the sake of gain. This last possibility Muller
had dismissed from his mind, even before he saw the prisoner. The
man's reputation was sufficient to make the thought ridiculous. But he

had not made up his mind whether it might not be a case of a murder
after a quarrel. Now he began to doubt even this when he looked into
the intelligent, harsh-featured face of the man in the cell. But Muller