The Lamp That Went Out | Page 4

Commissioner Holzer.
Muller smiled an embarrassed smile as he replied:
"Well ... I haven't found out anything yet except that he is dead, and
that he has been shot in the back. His pockets may tell us something

more."
"Yes, we can examine them at once," said the commissioner. "I have
been delaying that for I wanted you here; but I had no idea that you
would come so soon. I told them to fetch you if you were awake, but
doubted you would be, for I know you have had no sleep for forty-eight
hours."
"Oh, I can sleep, at least with one eye, when I'm on the chase,"
answered the detective. "So it's really only twenty-four hours, you see."
Muller had just returned from tracking down an aristocratic swindler
whom he had found finally in a little French city and had brought back
to a Viennese prison. He had returned well along in the past night and
Holzer knew that the tired man would need his rest. Still he had sent for
Muller, who lived near the police station, for the girl's report had
warned him that this was a serious case. And in serious cases the police
did not like to do without Muller's help.
And as usual when his work called him, Muller was as wide awake as if
he had had a good night's sleep behind him. The interest of a new case
robbed him of every trace of fatigue. It was he alone - at his own
request - who raised the body and laid it on its back before he stepped
aside to make way for the doctor.
The physician opened the dead man's vest to see whether the bullet had
passed completely through the body. But it had not; there was not the
slightest trace of blood upon the shirt.
"There's nothing more for me to do here, Muller," said the physician, as
he bowed to the commissioner and left the place.
Muller examined the pockets of the dead man.
"It's probably a case of robbery, too," remarked the commissioner. "A
man as well-dressed as this one is would be likely to have a watch."
"And a purse," added the detective. "But this man has neither - or at
least he has them no longer."

In the various pockets of the dead man's clothes Muller found the
following articles: a handkerchief, several tramway tickets, a penknife,
a tiny mirror, and comb, and a little book, a cheap novel. He wrapped
them all in the handkerchief and put them in his own pocket. The dead
man's coat had fallen back from his body during the examination, and
as Muller turned the stiffened limbs a little he saw the opening of
another pocket high up over the right hip of the trousers. The detective
passed his hand over the pocket and heard something rattle. Then he
put his hand in the pocket and drew out a thin narrow envelope which
he handed to the commissioner. Holzer looked at it carefully. It was
made of very thin expensive paper and bore no address. But it was
sealed, although not very carefully, for the gummed edges were open in
spots. It must have been hastily closed and was slightly crushed as if it
had been carried in a clenched hand. The commissioner cut open the
envelope with his penknife. He gave an exclamation of surprise as he
showed Muller the contents. In the envelope there were three
hundred-gulden notes.
The commissioner looked at Muller without a word, but the detective
understood and shook his head. "No," he said calmly, "it may be a case
of robbery just the same. This pocket was not very easy to find, and the
money in it was safer than the dead man's watch and purse would be.
That is, if he had a watch and purse - and he very probably had a
watch," he added more quickly.
For Muller had made a little discovery. On the lower hem of the left
side of the dead man's waistcoat he saw a little lump, and feeling of it
he discovered that it was a watch key which had slipped down out of
the torn pocket between the lining and the material of the vest. A sure
proof that the dead man had had a watch, which in all probability had
been taken from him by his murderer. There was no loose change or
small bills to be found in any of the pockets, so that it was more than
likely that the dead man had had his money in a purse. It seemed to be
a case of murder for the sake of robbery. At least Muller and the
commissioner believed it to be one, from what they had discovered thus
far.

The police