Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-10-26
THE BLACK DAGGER.
A COurier's Story.

, My name is Carl Johann Roeckcl
By birth and nationality am a Swiss
but cosmopolitan in every taste and
habit. In my early days regularly
followed the profession of courier, as
do now occasionally when any of my
old patrons or their friends require such
services, which is rather infrequent
the taste of the travelling public having
degenerated into hasty journeys by ex-
press trains, with the consequent loss OF
all enjoyment of the different phases OF
scenery through which the travellers
are passing. In the course of my many
years experience have been witness tc
many strange occurrences, have assisted
in many secret and adventurous un.
Gertaking, and have been subject to
many perils. From among such varied
experiences I give the following strange
story, suppressing for obvious reasons
the real names of those interested.
Many years ago I was engaged as
courier to his Excellency the Honorable
Frederick Eslington, Ambassador Extra
ordinary of His Britannia Majesty King
George, on special secret mission to
one of the great continental powers.
Having finished his duties and success.
fully attained the object of his mission,
we started on our homeward Journey in
the summer of 18--. The period was
one to be long remembered from the
political excitement which existed
throughout all Europe, almost every
Government having unsheathed the
sword. We had travelled considerable
part of the first stage of our return
Journey, when his Excellency, who was
feeling the fatigues of the incessant
travelling in the heavy, rumbling car
riage, said he should stop at the next
town we arrived at, and take rest and
refreshment, both of which he was much
in need of, beside having important
state documents to transcribe. In due
course we arrived at the small town of
S -, on the confines Of Germany,
where we put up. We stayed day and
half there; and [ was then instructed
to have the carriage and horses in readi-
ness to continue our journey. His Ex-
cellency meanwhile had completed his
writings, to which he had assiduouslv
applied himself; and told me, as it was
fine afternoon, he would take short
walk, and on his return resume his
journey at once; and must therefore
make all necessary preparations. He
accordingly left the hotel. But he was
never seen afterward, nor was any thing
known of his fate.
I waited for upward of an hour anx-
ious] y, and then made close search for
him, which [ continued for several days;
but not q trace could I discover of my
master. A villager, however, living
outside the town brought to me at the
hotel pair of overalls, which he stated
he had found in neighboring copse.
recognized the garment as belonging
to his Excellency, and at once repaired
with the villager to the copse, and
closely examined the spot, but found no
trace or sign of any struggle.
Finding it useless to prosecute the
search, I at once returned to London
with his Excellencys travelling gear,
which I handed to his family. The
British Government at once instituted
inquiries, as also did his Excellency's
family, and large rewards were offered
by both, and advertisements widely dis
seminated for any information respect
ing the missing Ambassador; but they
failed ono and all to gain any informa.
ton of, or the slightest clew to, his fate
A certain amount of suspicion attached
to me, but it was only momentary, and
l at once cleared myself of it, and as
sisted the distracted wife and her miss
ing husbands family as much as lay in
my power. Well I remember the ago.
MES of anxiety and suspense caused to
the Ambassadors wife and family by
the distressing calamity. Magisterial
investigation was made, experts were
employed, and every endeavor made to
penetrate the dark veil of mystery sur
rounding the event; but all efforts were
unsuccessful. One of his Majesty's Am
bassadors had completely and mysteri-
ously disappeared, without leaving a
clew to light up the awful obscurity
Which enveloped the tragic occurrence.
Several years had elapsed since the
distressing event, and the memory, the
painful memory, of it was beginning to
fade from my mind, when I happened
to be in Antwerp on short tour
through Belgium with patrons. And,
while istlessly strolllng by myself on
the quay one summers evening, watch.
ing the passengers discriminating from
the newly-arrived steamer, I was &C
costed by a mean. haggard-looking little
men Of beggarly appearance, who spoke
TO me in Flemish.
"Are you not Herr Recke the oouri'
er?" said he.
eyes," replied /. "What do you
want with me? Who are you?"
Il suppose you have quite forgotten
me?" said he.
I stared at him keenly. The mans
features we're somewhat familiar to me-
yet was confused in my remembrance
of how and where I had seen him.
Il do not know you," said I.
eyes, you do, and very WE'LL" replied
he. my name is Ludwig Hull, and ]
have frequently driven you the first
stage out of Vienna. 1 did so wher
you were courier to his Exceuency the
Honorable Ellington, in the summer Of
the year 49,"
(The courier is remembered even
when the patron is forgotten, for it il
to us that landlords and their servants
look for their gratuities.)
T stared at him, and then recognized
the haggard looks.
@True," said III remember you nov
--on DOW t,o~r - uv;!A vo,,e "' -.