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Page 12
"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 half an hour distant from the city. He found his way
easily to Graumann's home, an attractive old house set in a large
garden amid groups of beautiful old trees. When he sent up his card
to Miss Graumann, the old lady tripped down stairs in a flutter of
excitement.
"Did you see him?" she asked. "You have been to the prison? What
do you think? How does he seem?"
"He seems calm to-day," replied Muller, "although the confinement
and the anxiety are evidently wearing on him."
"And you heard his story? And you believe him innocent?"
"I am inclined to do so. But there is more yet for me to investigate
in this matter. It is certainly not as simple as the police here
seem to believe. May I speak to your ward, Miss Roemer? She is at
home now?"
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