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the desk I will upset the inkbottle。 The spots on his clothes will
be another evidence against him。 I will endeavour to get him to
keep my jewelry which is； as you know； of considerable value。 I
will tell him that I am going away for a while and ask him to take
charge of it for me。 I； myself； will take him down to the door and
let him out； when I have satisfied myself that the old servant is
in bed or at least at the back of the house。 The revolver which
shall end my misery is Graumann's property。 I took it from its
place without his knowledge。
The 10；000 gulden which I told my landlady were still in the house；
and which would therefore be thought missing after my death； I have
deposited in a bank in Frankfort in your name。 Here is the
certificate of deposit。
I will endeavour not to hold the revolver sufficiently close to have
the powder burn my clothes。 And I will exert every effort of mind
and body to throw it far from me after I have fired the fatal shot。
I think that I will be able to do this； for I am a very good shot
and I have no fear of death。 One thing more I will do； to turn
aside all suspicion of suicide。 I will write a letter to some
person who does not exist； a letter which will make it appear as if
I were in excellent humour and planning for the future。
And now； good…bye to life。 People have called me eccentric； they
may be right。 This last deed of mine at least； is out of the
ordinary。 No one will say now that ended my life in a moment of
darkened mind； in a rush of despair。 My brain is perfectly clear；
my heart beats calmly； now that I have arranged everything for my
departure from this world of falsehood and unreality。 My last deed
shall go to prove to the world how little actual； apparent facts
can be trusted。
The one thing real； the one thing true in all this world of
falsehood was your love and your trust。 I thank you for it。
THEODOR BELLMANN；
known as
JOHN SIDERS。
Joseph Muller refuses to take any particular credit for this case。
The letter would have come in time to prevent Graumann's conviction
without his assistance； he says。 The only person whose gratitude he
has a right to is Prosecuting Attorney Gustav Schmidt。 He managed
to have the Police Commissioner in G… read the letter in detail to
the attorney。 But Muller himself knows that it failed of its effect；
so far as that dignitary was concerned。 For nothing but open
ridicule could ever convince a man of such decided opinions that he
is not the one infallible person in the world。
But Albert Graumann had learned his lesson。 And he told Muller
himself that the few days of life which might remain to him were a
gift to him from the detective。 He felt that his weak heart would
not have stood the strain and the disgrace of an open trial； even
if that trial ended in acquittal。 Two months later he was found
dead in his bed； a calm smile on his lips。
Before he died he had learned that it was the Undaunted courage of
his timid little old aunt that had brought Muller to take charge of
the case and to free her beloved nephew from the dreaded prison。
And the last days that these two passed together were very happy。
But as aforesaid； Muller refuses to have this case included in the
list of his successes。 He did not change the ultimate result； he
merely anticipated it； he says。
The End