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〃The following day about noon； the Commissioner of Police from
G… called at my office in the factory； and informed me bluntly that
John Siders had been found shot dead in his lodgings that morning。
I was naturally shocked； as one would be at such news； in spite of
the fact that I had parted from the man in anger； and that I had no
reason to be particularly fond of him。 What shocked me most of all
was the sudden thought that John had taken his own life。 It was a
perfectly natural thought when I considered his nervousness； and his
peculiar actions of the evening before。 I believe I exclaimed；
'It was a suicide！' almost without realising that I was doing so。
The commissioner looked at me sharply and said that suicide was out
of the question； that it was an evident case of murder。 He
questioned me as to Siders' affairs； of which I told only what every
one here in the village knew。 I did not consider it incumbent upon
me to disclose to the police the disgrace of the man's early life。
I had been obliged to hurt him cruelly enough because of that； and
I saw no necessity for blackening his name； now that he was dead。
Also； as according to what the commissioner said； it was a case of
murder for robbery； I did not wish to go into any details of our
connection with Siders that would cause the name of my ward to be
mentioned。 After a few more questions the commissioner left me。
I was busy all the afternoon； and did not return to my home until
later than usual。 I found my aunt somewhat worried because Miss
Roemer had left the house immediately after our early dinner； and
had not yet returned。 We both knew the girl to be still grieving
over her broken engagement； and we dreaded the effect this last
dreadful news might have on her。 We supposed； however； that she
had gone to spend the afternoon with a friend； and were rather
glad to be spared the necessity of telling her at once what had
happened。 I had scarcely finished my supper； when the door bell
rang； and to my astonishment the Mayor of Grunau was announced；
accompanied by the same Police Commissioner who had visited me
in my office that morning。 The Mayor was an old friend of mine
and his deeply grave face showed me that something serious had
occurred。 It was indeed serious！ and for some minutes I could
not grasp the meaning of the commissioner's questions。 Finally I
realised with a tremendous shock that I … I myself was under
suspicion of the murder of John Siders。 The description given by
the old servant of the man who had visited Siders the evening
before； the very clothes that I wore； my hat and the trousers
spotted by the purple ink； led to my identification as this
mysterious visitor。 The servant had let me in but she had not
seen me go out。
〃Then I discovered … when confronted suddenly with my own revolver
which had been found on the floor of the room； some distance from
the body of the dead man； that this same revolver had been identified
as mine by my ward； Eleonora Roemer； who had been to the police
station at G… in the early afternoon hours。 Some impulse of loyalty
to her dead lover； some foolish feminine fear that I might have
spoken against him in my earlier interviews with the commissioner
had driven the girl to this step。 A few questions sufficed to draw
from her the story of her secret engagement； of its ending； and of
my quarrel with John。 I will say for her that I am certain she did
not realise that all these things were calculated to cast suspicion
on me。 The poor girl is too unused to the ways of police courts； to
the devious ways of the law； to realise what she was doing。 The
sight of my revolver broke her down completely and she acknowledged
that it was mine。 That is all。 Except that I was arrested and
brought here as you see。 I told the commissioner the story of my
visit to John Siders exactly as I told it to you； but it was plain
to be seen that he did not believe me。 It is plain to be seen also；
that he is firmly convinced of my guilt and that he is greatly
satisfied with himself at having traced the criminal so soon。〃
〃And yet he was not quite satisfied；〃 said Muller gently。 〃You see
that he has sent to the Capital for assistance on the case。〃 Muller
felt this little untruth to be justified for the sake of the honour
of the police force。
〃Yes； I'm surprised at that；〃 said Graumann in his former tone of
weariness。 〃What do you think you will be able to do about it？〃
〃I must ask questions here and there before I can form a plan of
campaign；〃 replied Muller。 〃What do you think about it yourself？
Who do you think killed Siders？〃
〃How can I know who it was？ I only know it is not I；〃 answered
Graumann。
〃Did he have any enemies？〃
〃No； none that I knew of； and he had few friends either。〃
〃You knew there was a sum of money missing from his rooms？〃
〃Yes； the sum they named to me was just about the price that he
had received for the sale of his property here。 They did me the
honour to believe that if I had taken the money at all； I had done
so merely as a blind。 At least they did not take me for a thief
as well as a murderer。 If the money is really missing； it was for
its sake he was murdered I suppose。〃
〃Yes； that would be natural；〃 said Muller。 〃And you know nothing
of any other relations or connections that the man may have had？
Anything that might give us a clue to the truth？〃
〃No； nothing。 He stood so alone here； as far as I knew。 Of course；
as I told you； his actions of the evening before having been so
peculiar … and as I knew that he was not in the happiest frame of
mind … I naturally thought of suicide at once； when they told me
that he had been found shot dead。 Then they told me that the
appearance of the room and many other things； proved suicide to have
been out of the question。 I know nothing more about it。 I cannot
think any more about it。 I know only that I am here in danger of
being sentenced for the crime that I never committed … that is
enough to keep any man's mind busy。〃 He leaned back with an intense
fatigue in every line of his face and figure。
Muller rose from his seat。 〃I am afraid I have tired you； Mr。
Graumann；〃 he said； 〃but it was necessary that I should know all
that you had to tell me。 Try and rest a little now and meanwhile
be assured that I am doing all I can to find out the truth of this
matter。 As far as I can tell now I do not believe that you have
killed John Siders。 But I must find some further proofs that will
convince others as well as myself。 If it is of any comfort to you；
I can tell you that during a long career as police detective I have
been most astonishingly fortunate in the cases I have undertaken。
I am hoping that my usual good luck will follow me here also。 I am
hoping it for your sake。〃
The man on the cot took the hand the detective offered him and
pressed it firmly。 〃You will let me know as soon as you have found
anything … anything that gives me hope？〃
〃I will indeed。 And now save your strength and do not worry。 I
will help you if it is in my power。
After leaving the prison； Muller took the train for the village of
Grunau； about hal