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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
had the gift of putting aside his own convictions； when he wanted
his mind clear to consider evidence before him。
Graumann had risen from his sitting position when he saw a stranger。
His heavy brows drew down over his； eyes； but he waited for the
other to speak。
〃I am Detective Joseph Muller； from Vienna；〃 began the newcomer；
when he had seen that the prisoner did not intend to start the
conversation。
〃Have you come to question me again？〃 asked Graumann wearily。 〃I
can say no more than I have already said to the Police Commissioner。
And no amount of cross…examination can make me confess a crime of
which T am not guilty … no matter what evidence there may be against
me。〃 The prisoner's voice was hard and determined in spite of its
note of physical and mental weariness。
〃I have not come to extort a confession from you； Mr。 Graumann；〃
Muller replied gently； 〃but to help you establish your innocence；
if it be possible。〃
A wave of colour flooded the prisoner's cheek。 He gasped； pressed
his hand to his heart； and dropped down on his cot。 〃Pardon me；〃
he said finally； hesitating like a man who is fighting for breath。
〃My heart is weak； any excitement upsets me。 You mean that the
authorities are not convinced of my guilt； in spite of the evidence？
You mean that they will give me the benefit of the doubt … that they
will give me a chance for life？〃
〃Yes； that is the reason for my coming here。 I am to take this
case in hand。 If you will talk freely to me； Mr。 Graumann； I may
be able to help you。 I have seen too many mistakes of justice
because of circumstantial evidence to lay any too great stress
upon it。 I have waited to hear your side of the story from
yourself。 I did not want to hear it from others。 Will you tell it
to me now？ No； do not move； I will get the stool myself。〃
Graumaun sat back on the cot； his head resting against the wall。
His eyes had closed while Muller was speaking； but his quieter
breathing showed that he was mastering the physical attack which
had so shaken him at the first glimpse of hope。 He opened his eyes
now and looked at Muller steadily for a moment。 Then he said： 〃Yes；
I will tell you： my life and my work have taught me to gauge men。
I will tell you everything I know about this sad affair。 I will
tell you the absolute truth； and I think you will believe me。〃
〃I will believe you；〃 said Muller simply。
〃You know the details of the murder； of course； and why I was
arrested？〃
〃You were arrested because you were the last person seen in the
company of the murdered man？〃
〃Exactly。 Then I may go back and tell you something of my
connection with John Siders？〃
〃It would be the very best thing to do。〃
〃I live in Grunau； as you doubtless know； and am the engineering
expert of large machine works there。 My father before me held an
important position in the factory； and my family have always lived
in Grunau。 I have traveled a great deal myself。 I am forty…five
years old； a childless widower； and live with my old aunt； Miss
Babette Graumann； and my ward； Miss Eleonora Roemer； a young lady
of twenty…two。〃 Muller looked up with a slight start of surprise；
but did not say anything。 Graumann continued：
〃A little over a year ago； John Siders； who signed himself as coming
from Chicago； bought a piece of property in our town and came to
live there。 I made his acquaintance in the caf？and he seemed to
take a fancy to me。 I also had spent several years in Chicago； and
we naturally came to speak of the place。 We discovered that we had
several mutual acquaintances there； and enjoyed talking over the
old times。 Otherwise I did not take particularly to the man； and
as I came to know him better I noticed that he never mentioned that
part of his life which lay back of the years in Chicago。 I asked a
casual question once or twice as to his home and family； but he
evaded me every time； and would not give a direct answer。 He was
evidently a German by birth and education； a man with university
training； and one who knew life thoroughly。 He had delightful
manners； and when he could forget his shyness for a while； he could
be very agreeable。 The ladies of my family came to like him； and
encouraged him to call frequently。 Then the thing happened that I
should not have believed possible。 My ward； Miss Roemer； a quiet；
reserved girl； fell in love with this man about whom none of us
knew anything； a man with a past of which he did not care to speak。
〃I was not in any way satisfied with the match； and they seemed to
realise it。 For Siders managed to persuade the girl to a secret
engagement。 I discovered it a month or two ago； and it made me very
angry。 I did not let them see how badly I felt； but I warned Lora
not to have too much to do with the boy； and I set about finding
out something regarding his earlier life。 It was my duty to do this；
as I was the girl's guardian。 She has no other relative living； and
no one to turn to except my aunt and myself。 I wrote to Mr。 Richard
Tressider in Chicago； the owner of the factory in which I had been
employed while there。 John had told me that Tressider had been his
client during the four years in which he practiced law in Chicago。
I received an answer about the middle of August。 Mr。 Tressider had
been able to find out only that John was born in the town of Hartberg
in a certain year。 This was enough。 I took leave of absence for a
few days and went to Hartberg； which； as you know； is about 140 miles
from here。 Three days later I knew all that I wanted to know。 John
Siders was not the man's real name； or； rather； it was only part of
his name。 His full name was Theodor John Bellmann； and his mother
was an Englishwoman whose maiden name was Siders。 His father was a
county official who died at an early age； leaving his widow and the
boy in deepest poverty。 Mrs。 Bellmann moved to G… to give music
lessons。 Theodor went to school there； then finally to colle